The Tent of Meeting vs. The Well
Creating Sacred Space to Meet with God
| Tent of Meeting (Exodus 33:7–11) | The Well at Vine & Branch |
| “Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp… and he called it the tent of meeting.” | We set apart an evening, outside the usual rhythm of Sunday services, and call it The Well—a designated space to meet with the Lord. |
| A place where anyone who wanted to seek the Lord could go. | The Well is open to all—anyone hungry, thirsty, or needing to hear from God is invited to come and inquire of the Lord. |
| Set apart from the camp—away from busyness and distractions. | The Well removes us from routine and invites us into holy stillness, away from noise and into God’s presence. |
| The presence of God descended visibly in the cloud. People saw it and were moved to worship. | At The Well, the Holy Spirit is tangibly present. People often sense a holy weight in the room, and it draws them to worship in awe. |
| Moses spoke with the Lord face to face, as a man speaks to a friend. | Jesus now calls us His friends (John 15:15). At The Well, we respond to this sacred relationship through repentance, communion, worship, and stillness before Him. |
| The sight of Moses with God caused others to worship from a distance. | When someone enters into authentic communion with God at The Well, it often inspires others to do the same—standing, weeping, worshiping. |
| Joshua would not leave the tent. He lingered outside. | At The Well, people linger—just as Joshua did—soaking in the Lord’s presence, unwilling to rush out of a sacred moment. |
| The Tent became a place of spiritual leadership and mentoring. | The Well births new leaders and mentors—those who encounter God deeply often become disciplers and spiritual mothers and fathers. |
From Outside the Camp to the Center
Later in Israel’s journey, something shifts:
“The tent of meeting… shall set out in the midst of the camp” – Numbers 2:17
Originally, the Tent was outside the camp, away from daily life. But when the official Tabernacle is constructed, it’s placed in the center of the people. God’s presence is no longer something sought from afar—it becomes the very heart of the community.
“Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.” – Exodus 40:34
Before, the glory would descend occasionally—now it dwells continually. The cloud lifts only when it’s time to move. The Tabernacle becomes a constant reminder that God is with us, not just during holy moments, but at all times.
Now, the cloud—or the Holy Spirit—dwells inside of us.
“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you…?” – 1 Corinthians 6:19
The Well simply provides an environment to quietly and humbly meet the Lord and seek Him. It’s not about performance. It’s not a show. It’s about hosting the Presence of God—who already lives within us—and giving Him our full attention.
So too with The Well. It started as a set-aside space—a kind of tent outside the camp. But now, it’s becoming part of the very center of Vine & Branch Fellowship. It’s not an “extra event.” It’s becoming essential—because God’s presence belongs in the center of our church life, not on the outskirts.
Why Do We Have The Well?
Because we need a sacred space to meet with God.
Because we believe God still speaks face-to-face, and we desperately need to listen in obedience.
Because His presence must be central, not peripheral. The Well isn’t just an event. It’s a declaration that God’s glory doesn’t visit us on occasion—it dwells among us.
Because repentance is our handwashing.
In the Old Testament Tent of Meeting, there were wash basins where priests would cleanse their hands before entering God’s presence—a symbol of the holiness required to draw near. But now, through the blood of Jesus, we are made clean.
“You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.” – John 15:3 “Let us draw near… having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” – Hebrews 10:22
Today, our cleansing is spiritual, through repentance. At The Well, we ask the Lord to search our hearts. In the Consecration Room, we quietly reflect on Scripture at various stations, allowing the Word to examine us and reveal anything God wants to remove from our lives.
When the Holy Spirit exposes sin, pain, or pride, we don’t just acknowledge it—we respond. We repent. And symbolically, we leave it at the foot of the cross—by writing it down on paper and placing it at the foot of the cross in the room. Just as the priest would not enter without cleansing, we come clean before the Lord—not through ritual, but through relationship, surrender, and the mercy of Jesus Christ.
Because many are dry, burned out, or addicted to religious performance, and The Well is a place of refreshing, repentance, communion, healing, and lingering.
Just as with Joshua, some will never want to leave. And those are often the ones God uses next.
What You’ll Experience at The Well
When you arrive at The Well, you’ll enter through the office entrance near the pastor’s office. Soft music will play in the background, creating a peaceful atmosphere. You’ll be guided into what we call the Consecration Room, where you’ll find six stations, each featuring large posters that offer Scripture, prayer models, and simple instructions.
- Three posters will guide you through Scriptures tied to the theme of the month.
- One poster will walk you through the A.C.T.S. prayer model—Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication.
- The fifth station is a communion table, where you can remember the body and blood of Jesus.
- The final station prepares you to enter the Worship Center.
Everyone moves through these stations at their own pace. This time isn’t rushed. The Scriptures are there to examine our hearts, and we ask the Holy Spirit to reveal anything in us that may be standing in the way of intimacy with Him. This is what consecration truly means—setting ourselves apart to be holy, to be ready to encounter the Lord.
Then, you’ll enter the Worship Center. The lights are dim. Most of the chairs have been removed to create a private, sacred space for you to worship, pray, kneel, cry, or rest in God’s presence.
As worship begins, you’ll hear live Scripture readings and songs of worship led by a band that chooses to remain mostly in the shadows, not to perform, but to worship the Lord themselves. Their goal is not to draw attention to themselves, but to point us all to Jesus.
Throughout the evening, you’re invited to respond as the Spirit leads:
- You may kneel at the altar or remain in your seat.
- You might lift your hands in praise or bow in stillness.
- You can ask someone to pray with you, or even wash another’s feet if prompted.
This space is about lingering—laying aside the noise and distractions of life to truly meet with the Lord.
And honestly, many people feel overwhelmed or exhausted by the time The Well rolls around. That’s often when the invitation of Jesus means the most:
“Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28
Come to The Well to find rest, to find peace, and to lay down the burdens of life at the feet of the One who carries them best.
Final Thought
In the wilderness, the Tent of Meeting was a sacred meeting place. Later, the Tabernacle became the heart of Israel’s journey, serving as a dwelling place for God’s constant presence.
At Vine & Branch, The Well is both a sacred meeting place and the beginning of God’s presence becoming the center of everything we do.
So when people ask, “Why The Well?” — tell them this:
Because there’s a place outside the camp, and now, by grace, that place lives among us.
“Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters…” – Isaiah 55:1
In Him, Pastor Chris