Message Focus · September 28, 2026
The Glorious Church: From Moses’ Shining Face to Christ in His People
The glory of God was visible on Moses after he met the Lord. The New Testament announces something greater: Christ dwelling in His people by the Holy Spirit.
A promise about the church, not merely a moment
Ephesians 5:25–27 speaks of Christ loving the church, giving Himself for her, cleansing her by the Word and presenting to Himself a glorious church. That passage anchors Pastor Nick Bowlin’s September 27 message, “The End Time Church: The Glorious Church.” It makes the church’s future inseparable from Christ’s own work: He is the One who gives Himself, sanctifies and presents His people.
The sermon’s focus is therefore more demanding than an inspiring description of a gathering. A glorious church belongs to Jesus, receives His Word and is called to holiness. The message asks believers to see what Christ has made possible and then live in response to Him.
Moses carried evidence of an encounter
Exodus 34:29–30 describes Moses coming down from Sinai without realizing that his face shone. The people could see that he had been with God. Bowlin’s notes use that scene as a starting point: the encounter was real enough to be visible, even before Moses noticed it himself.
Paul returns to Moses in 2 Corinthians 3:7–11, then contrasts the glory associated with the old covenant with the surpassing and enduring glory of the ministry of the Spirit. The point is not to minimize Moses’ encounter. It is to grasp Paul’s “how much more”: the new covenant carries a greater glory.
The movement from the mountain to the people
The message then moves from glory seen on one man to God dwelling among and within His people. First Corinthians 3:16 calls believers God’s temple, and Colossians 1:26–27 names the mystery now made known: “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” The church is not asked to manufacture the presence of God. It is called to recognize the One who lives in His people.
That changes how the church understands its identity. The life of the Spirit is not reserved for a platform or a single leader. Acts 2:1–4 says they were all filled with the Holy Ghost. In the sermon’s progression, the contrast is memorable: not one Moses, but a people filled with the Spirit.
Glory becomes visible in life and witness
Matthew 5:14–16 connects light with visible good works that cause others to glorify the Father. Second Corinthians 3:17–18 describes believers being changed from glory to glory as they behold the Lord. For Bowlin, what is within the church should come through its life: transformation is meant to be seen, while the glory still belongs to God.
The sermon also points to Acts 4:31 and 4:33. After prayer, the believers spoke the Word with boldness; the apostles witnessed to the resurrection with great power, and great grace was upon them all. Ephesians 3:20–21 places that power and glory in the church through Christ Jesus, rather than in human achievement.
Watch the whole message
This article follows the pastor’s approved teaching notes and highlights the biblical progression, not a word-for-word transcript of the preached video. Watch the full September 27 message for the complete ministry and context. The message belongs to River Church Frankfurt’s continuing teaching on the end-time church.
River Church Frankfurt gathers in English and German on Sundays at 11:00 and for Wednesday Revival at 19:00 at Alexanderstraße 37 in Frankfurt-Rödelheim. Visitors can plan a first visit through the church’s visitor page.
River Church Frankfurt
Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Watch Pastor Nick Bowlin’s complete September 27 message and explore related teaching in the message archive.
Watch the message