Steven Goulstone is the pastor at Wellington South Baptist. This post is adapted from his sermon on 16 August 2026, part of the Renew Together series, the annual Arotahi appeal. You can listen to it on our church podcast here.
What does “home” feel like to you? For many, the word that best captures home is safety—a space where we can bring our full selves, be honest about our struggles, and work through conflict in love.
Yet, true safety rarely happens by accident. Building home requires intentional effort. It asks us to reprioritise our lives around the vulnerable, let go of old habits, and actively repair relational damage.
This journey of building home happens both within our personal lives and across our wider community. In the southern suburbs of Wellington, rising housing insecurity and homelessness remind us that a safe home remains out of reach for too many. As followers of Jesus, we are called to embody the dwelling place of God right here, transforming our spaces into places of genuine belonging.
We see this beautifully illustrated in the story of Zacchaeus. Living in wealthy isolation as a despised chief tax collector, his life was turned upside down when Jesus invited Himself into his home. Around that shared table, Zacchaeus encountered divine grace and stepped into his true identity. Salvation did not remain an abstract spiritual concept; it rebuilt his household and spilled into the streets of Jericho as he made fourfold restitution and gave generously to the poor.
Salvation transformed his home, which in turn transformed his community.
As we journey through our Renew Together series, let’s remember that building home begins with welcoming Jesus into our everyday spaces. When we allow Christ to reshape our homes into places of justice, grace, and reconciliation, our entire city feels the impact.
Reflect
Where in your own home or relationships might God be inviting you to do the intentional work of repair, hospitality, or making space for others?
