Series: Building the Church of the Living God - A Study on Accountability, Humility, and Servanthood

Part One: The Church as the Pillar and Ground of Truth

1 Timothy 3:14-15 KJV

“These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”

Let’s pray together!

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for calling us to serve in Your house. Thank You for Your Word, which teaches us to live and lead rightly. We pray that as we go into today’s episode, You will stir our hearts with a fresh reverence for You. Help us to submit to Your wisdom, walk in Your truth, and lead with love. May everything shared here today glorify You and edify every listener. In Jesus’ mighty name, we pray, amen.

Hi family, welcome to Let’s Talk God ‘N’ Christ! I’m your host, Chuka Anne, and I’m really excited to start this brand-new series with you: “Building the Church of the Living God.” Over the next few episodes, we’re going to have real, honest conversations about accountability, humility, and servanthood—all the heart stuff that truly helps us grow together as the Body of Christ.

Today, we’re starting with a foundational thought—what it means to be part of the Church that God calls the “pillar and ground of truth.” Think of this as our part one—a kind of heart-to-heart that sets the tone for everything else we’ll be exploring.

So let’s dive in.

Let’s get real:

You know, whether you’re a seasoned leader or just starting your journey with Jesus, we all began somewhere. Nobody walks into the Church fully formed or with all the answers—we grow, by grace. And as we grow, God equips us—not with worldly skills—but with spiritual gifts that are part of our new life in Christ. These gifts aren’t random; they are given on purpose, for a purpose.

1 Corinthians 12:7 KJV says,

“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.”
That means God gives these gifts so we can serve each other, build up the Church, and glorify Him—not ourselves.

Now let’s circle back to that verse we started with in 1 Timothy 3:15. Paul was writing to Timothy, reminding him of how important it is to know how to conduct ourselves in God’s house—because the Church isn’t just any gathering; it’s the place where truth is meant to stand tall and unshaken.

Let me break that down a little. When Paul says the Church is the pillar and ground of truth, he’s using some powerful language here. The word “pillar” in Greek means something that upholds, sustains, establishes—you get the idea. And “ground” means something firm, immovable, unwavering. In other words, the Church isn’t meant to bend or break when the winds of culture blow. We are called to stand firm in truth.

And guess what? That truth is God’s Word.

John 17:17 KJV says,

"Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth."
So here’s the big question we’ll be exploring together: How do we, as individuals, help build a Church that actually reflects this truth? And that brings us to three key attitudes: accountability, humility, and servanthood.

1. The Importance of Accountability

Let’s be honest, accountability isn’t always comfortable—but it’s necessary. Romans 14:12 KJV reminds us:

"So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God."

Think about that. Before we’re leaders, or whatever title we might hold, we are first children of God—and we’ll stand before Him, one-on-one, to give an account of how we lived, loved, and led.

Remember King David? When he messed up, he didn’t make excuses. Psalm 51:4 KJV records his heart:

“Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight...”
He understood that ultimately, his accountability was to God; and here’s a gentle but important reminder:

1 Corinthians 3:10-15 talks about how we are all building on the foundation of Christ. Some of us are building with gold, silver, precious stones—others with wood, hay, straw. But one day, everything we build will be tested by fire. So let’s build well.

Here’s a quick checkpoint: before you act or speak in ministry, just ask yourself, “Who’s really getting the glory from this?” If it’s not God, it’s probably not worth doing.
2. The Importance of Humility

Humility is the glue that holds us together. Philippians 2:3-4 KJV encourages us:

"Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves…"

Paul modelled this so well. He wasn’t about titles or applause. 1 Corinthians 3:5-7 reminds us that Paul saw himself (and Apollos) as servants—not superstars. He said, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.”

Translation? No matter how “big” or “small” your role feels, we’re all just vessels—and it’s all about God.
3. The Importance of Servanthood

Finally, servanthood. This one’s close to Jesus’ heart. Mark 10:45 KJV says,

"For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister..."

Jesus served. And not just in word—He washed feet (John 13:3-5). Let that sink in. The Son of God—washing feet. That’s real leadership. That’s real love.

Wrapping Up

So today, we’ve explored how accountability, humility, and servanthood help us build the Church of the living God—the pillar and ground of truth.

In the next part of this series, we’ll dive deeper into what it really means to walk in obedience to God’s Word and how we can serve in love.

Let’s leave with a few questions for reflection:

1. What does it really mean to be accountable to God?
2. How can I show humility in my daily life and ministry?
3. In what ways can I serve others that truly honour God?

Let’s keep growing together.

Recommended Reading:

a. 1 Timothy 3:15
b. Romans 14:12
c. Psalm 51:4
d. Philippians 2:3-4
e. 1 Corinthians 3:5-7
f. Mark 10:45
g. John 13:3-5

Thank you so much for joining today’s conversation. I hope you’ve been blessed and encouraged. Don’t forget to share this with someone, and let’s keep building the Church together—in love, in truth, and for God’s glory.

Until next time, stay blessed and rooted in Christ. Amen.