The Altar: A Sacred Space for Encounter and Surrender

For centuries, the altar has been one of the most sacred and symbolic places in the life of God’s people. From the tabernacle in the wilderness to the modern church stage, the altar has always served one purpose: a place where we meet God.

At Ignite, it’s time we reclaim the altar—not just as a piece of furniture or a platform—but as a place of power, presence, and personal transformation.

The Altar in Biblical History
The first mention of an altar is in Genesis 8:20, where “Noah built an altar to Yahweh.” From there, altars became moments of remembrance, repentance, and renewal.

• Abraham built altars everywhere he went to worship and obey (Genesis 12, 13, 22).
• Moses built an altar after victory and called it Yahweh is My Banner (Exodus 17:15).
• Elijah rebuilt the altar on Mount Carmel before calling down fire from heaven (1 Kings 18).

In every generation, the altar represented a place where sacrifices were made, hearts were humbled, and God responded. It wasn’t about the stones or the structure—it was about surrender. A holy collision between the divine and the desperate.

The Altar in Church History
As the early church formed, physical altars assumed new significance. No longer were they used for animal sacrifices, but they still stood as a symbol of Christ’s ultimate sacrifice on the cross. The altar became a space:

• To take communion and remember the body and blood of Jesus.
• To kneel in repentance and receive forgiveness.
• To be commissioned into ministry and mission.
• To bring burdens, tears, and praise.

Sadly, in modern churches, the altar has become more of a forgotten step or a photo backdrop than a place of transformation. It's happening at Ignite..

Why the Altar Still Matters
Church, we don’t come to the altar because we’re perfect—we come because we’re not. The altar is a place of death to self and life in Christ. It’s where we:

• Lay down our sin and pick up grace.
• Intercede for others and experience breakthrough.
• Worship without walls, free from the fear of what others think.
• Unify as the body, shoulder to shoulder, as one family under Christ.

The altar is not just for the desperate—it’s for the devoted. Not just for sinners—it’s for saints who still struggle. It’s not just a moment in service—it’s the beginning of a movement.

How Ignite Can Use the Altar Today
At Ignite Church, I want us to return to our basics. That means prayer. That means repentance. That means seeking God face-to-face.

We will reopen the altar as a space of ministry, not just at the end of a sermon, but whenever the Spirit moves. I want to see:

• Men leading their families to the altar—not out of guilt, but out of godly leadership.
• Students laying down anxiety and picking up purpose.
• Marriages being mended, not in a counselor’s office first, but in the presence of God.
• The church weeping and rejoicing together, because revival starts on our knees.

From Me to You
If you’ve been waiting on a sign to get serious about your walk with Jesus, this is it. Don’t just sit through church. Respond. Don’t just listen. Move. Don’t just observe the altar—approach it.

Jesus died on an altar called the cross. And now, He invites us to come boldly before His throne. Let’s not waste that invitation.

The altar is open, church.

Let’s meet God there—together.

In Love,

Pastor Jody 
Hebrews 4:16 | Romans 12:1 | James 4:8