ROCK SOLID LIVING

ROCK SOLID LIVING

I Peter 2:4-11I Peter 2:4-11

I Peter 2:4-11 Living TranslationI Peter 2:4-11 Living Translation 4 You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor. 5 And you are living stones you are living stones that God is God is building into his spiritual templebuilding into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. 6 As the Scriptures say, “I am placing a cornerstonecornerstone in Jerusalem, chosen for great honor, and anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”

I Peter 2:4-11 Living TranslationI Peter 2:4-11 Living Translation 7 Yes, you who trust him recognize the honor God has given him. But for those who reject him, “The stone The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstonethe cornerstone.” 8 And, “He is the stone He is the stone that makes people stumble, the rock the rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them.

I Peter 2:4-11 Living TranslationI Peter 2:4-11 Living Translation 9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nationare royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 10 “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.” 11 Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls.

Commitment: Dear Commitment: Dear Lord, thank you for Lord, thank you for calling me to be a calling me to be a priest in your kingdom. priest in your kingdom. Help me reject the idea Help me reject the idea that ministry is for a that ministry is for a select few. I commit to select few. I commit to standing squarely on standing squarely on your Cornerstone, your Cornerstone, Jesus, and standing Jesus, and standing with others who are with others who are servants in your servants in your household.household.

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Jesus Is The Rock… Spoken Of From Ages Jesus Is The Rock… Spoken Of From Ages PastPast

He was the Spiritual Rock Spiritual Rock that accompanied the Hebrews in the Wilderness --I Corinthians 10:1-4

He’s the Living Stone Living Stone which became a mountain and fills the earth --Daniel 2:3,4

The Foundation Stone Foundation Stone which is a sure foundation --Matthew 7:24-27

Jesus Became The Corner Stone Of The Jesus Became The Corner Stone Of The Church… Although Rejected By His Church… Although Rejected By His

ContemporariesContemporaries

• Isaiah saw it coming: “See, I lay a stonestone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstonecornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed.” --Isaiah 28:16

• Jesus claimed to be the CornerstoneCornerstone promised in Psalm 118:22, 23

Jesus Became The Corner Stone Of The Jesus Became The Corner Stone Of The Church… Although Rejected By His Church… Although Rejected By His

ContemporariesContemporaries

• “The Stone The Stone the builders rejected has become the capstonecapstone; The Lord has done this and it is marvelous in our eyes.” --Matthew 21:42

• Peter called Jesus the ‘stonestone the builders rejected’… “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” --Acts 4:11,12

Jesus Promised To Build The Church On Jesus Promised To Build The Church On This Rock Solid Truth: “You Are The This Rock Solid Truth: “You Are The

Christ, The Son Of The Living God!” Christ, The Son Of The Living God!” --Matthew 16:16-18--Matthew 16:16-18

Peter, Nicknamed ‘Rock’ ‘Rock’ By Jesus, Says That We Are Living RocksLiving Rocks --I Peter 2:4-5

““As you come to him, the Living Stone…you As you come to him, the Living Stone…you also, like living stones are built into a also, like living stones are built into a

spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to

God…” God…”

• We are united with other living stonesliving stones

• More than a house, we are a holy household

• We have work to do…offer sacrifices to God

In the arena of your life… In the arena of your life… everywhere, anywhere.everywhere, anywhere.

The Place To Render The Place To Render Such Service To Such Service To

God? God?

Wherever you find yourself is holy ground, your place of ministry. No more focusing on a religious building.

•As aliens and strangers in the world

•Live such lives among the pagans…

•They may see your good works… V. 12

“…“…by doing good you should by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.” V. 15foolish men.” V. 15

Our ‘Sacrificing’ Our ‘Sacrificing’ Should Be So Should Be So

Impressive That It Impressive That It Silents Our CriticsSilents Our Critics

What A Radical Concept… Especially In A Day Of Confusion And Disappointment In Religious Leaders

•Every believer a priest

•All of us standing at eye level

•Ministry taking place wherever your life takes you

Where Is My Priestly Work Taking Place? Where Is My Priestly Work Taking Place? Where Is My Holy Ground?Where Is My Holy Ground?

• God’s call is on our lives… Trained in a college or not

• What would happen if a whole congregation became such priests offering such sacrifices? Let’s find out!

• Is my daily sacrifice causing folk to think better of God?

I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

I trust Him as my Lord and Savior.

Offering:Offering:An Opportunity To An Opportunity To Express the HopeExpress the Hope

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Commitment: Dear Commitment: Dear Lord, thank you for Lord, thank you for calling me to be a calling me to be a priest in your kingdom. priest in your kingdom. Help me reject the idea Help me reject the idea that ministry is for a that ministry is for a select few. I commit to select few. I commit to standing squarely on standing squarely on your Cornerstone, your Cornerstone, Jesus, and standing Jesus, and standing with others who are with others who are servants in your servants in your household.household.

Go Rock Solid!Go Rock Solid!