Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.
Do what it says.
James 1:22
1st Peter Chapter 2 - Living Stone
Sunday Service May 1, 2022
Living Stones
1st Peter 2:1-25
CIT: Life is short live a foundational exiles in this land of shadows and mist, be the living stones upon the cornerstone who is Christ.
CIS: Encourage ROLC to put aside petty issues and nonsense and become living stones in the building that is the church of Christ.
SO: To encourage ROLC to pursue God wholeheartedly and set aside distractions like politics and un-forgiveness. MO: Devotional
Intro: River of Life Church, have you ever met that type of person that is just a no nonsense person? Sometimes you see this people at the shooting range, they are hard and fast about the rules and they let you know even if you step a toe out of line.
Sometimes you see someone who you take great confidence in because they are this way, you are glad when your airline pilot is a non nonsense person! You are happy when you surgeon isn’t a total goofball!
I think in this letter Peter is like this. Especially chapter two. Peter goes straight to the point! He is no nonsense. Essentially this is his favorite grow up message. Put away the toys and lets get down to business.
Like beginning to lift weights or training for a run.
It's time to put in the work, it's time to grow and walk in the life that God is calling you towards.
T/S: Let’s get real
Sam Read Alone
1 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. 4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and
precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual
house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” 7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,“The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” 8 and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
(Congregation Repeat with me)
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
1. Stones upon the Cornerstone
Exp: Jesus is the cornerstone of our faith. This church, our lives, our families, our hope, and our very salvation depends on the completed work of the cornerstone which is Jesus Christ!
We are all built upon him.
Ill: Show Famous cornerstones pics
1. Ct1 named usually when the original construction first goes up. 2. Ct2 Foundational to the structure and the arch which holds all the tension
3. Ct3 Famous and consequential events like the laying of the cornerstone of the U.S Capital
If your root, your cornerstone is Christ. If the reason you go to church, the reason you are here this morning is to walk after Jesus, you are building your life upon the cornerstone. All other foundations are faulty!
Have you tasted that the Lord is good!
App: Do you believe in him? You will not be put to shame. Guess what this cornerstone is also a stumbling block, this series is about following after Jesus in a hostile world. Jesus is the cornerstone. Perhaps but those not build on him he is the stumbling block, if your connected to the cornerstone expect to be a stumbling block by standing firm in your faith! Your faith is fired up in conflict. Jesus didn’t walk around peacefully all the time; he brought contention
Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division division.
Luke 12:51
Jesus was the prince of peace, but he is also the rock that was rejected! The same Jesus that invites children to come to him, and calms the waves, also whips people out of the temple and makes a fool of Satan!
All of this crescendos in verse nine
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
1st Peter 2:9
Peter repeats this idea of being chosen, he knows from firsthand experience with Christ that he was in that darkness and now he was moving to the marvelous light!
Chosen Race: We have inherited the blessing of the people of God!
Royal priesthood: This special relationship in the Old Testament is the now the purview and reality of all believers, men, women, and children who belong to him.
His own possession: You are his and he is yours! (Mind Blown) This is the meaning of redemption.
Why?
T/S: To proclaim his excellence!
2. Live as Exiles and Sojourners
10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. 13 Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, 14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. 17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
Exp: I once was lost, but now I am found! I once was blind but now I see! We are not the same, any Christian who acts the same after they claim to get saved isn’t being for real, we are called to be his people! His chosen and royal people set apart.
The church is called to live apart! We are called out! Ekkelesia: Called out. We are called out of this world. This doesn’t mean we journey off into the west desert and live as a communist camp; but it does mean that we are to live differently. Live in Exile! Live as a Sojourner! Abstain from the passions of the flesh; remember to wage war against sin, don’t let it win or be victorious over you!
Be a boy scout! (Lol I’m not talking literally) live a life that is above reproach, let people see Christ at work in you, and you know, let him actually be at work in you!
Ill: Ready for me to step on toes! (It’s not me it’s God’s Word)
13 Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, 14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good.
Hey this one feels tough to follow! I don’t think I am in the minority when I say that sometime following the governments rules and regulations feels stupid and ridiculous. My Libertarian sensibilities balk at the suggestion that I would remain subject to tyranny.
But Biden ain’t Nero
(Show dating picture)
You might be like me and cannot stand your governor or government, however we have mandate. Be a good subject in the kingdom that you don’t belong in! This is how the underground church survives. Remember you are exiles!
App: However don’t worry, regardless who is president or governor Jesus is still once and for all king! We live in a representative republic, this isn’t a prohibition against running for office, or convincing others or better political ends, but it does mean that this should be our secondary concern. The kingdom of Christ comes first!
Be free in Christ you are under no law. You live in the spirit of grace. Don’t use your freedom in Christ as a cover up for sin!
17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. T/S: Yes that means Biden ): or Trump (:
3. Give up your rights and live free of the burdens of others.
18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. 19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
Exp: Now let’s get even more practical. You ever have that boss? That boss that asks you to come in early, stay late, and vacations days are optional for everyone but himself. Now imagine this boss, also followed you home. Imagine if he was also your wives boss, and now imagine that he could literally sell your children.
Rome was a slave state. It is estimated that 10-20% of Rome were slaves. Guess which church appealed to slaves in particular! (Christianity) Many of the letters in the new testament are written to a mixed audience of slaves, servants and overseers.
Peter does not advocate for a slave revolt. He instead tells slaves to Proverbially pour hot coals on the heads of the masters by being so good at their jobs that they too will come to Christ! He also reminds them of the blessedness of suffering!
Temporary! Light compared to the glory of God and the kingdom that is coming! Jesus answered similarly”Give to Caesar what is Caesar's”
Ill: This sort of surrender and endurance is next level! The world demands its rights! Christians demand nothing.
App: Jesus did this! No tit for tat, no eye for eye. Jesus did what!
22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.
Jesus entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. Have you been recently mistreated? Have you recently been defeated? Does it feel like you have been betrayed or hurt and you just want to go nuclear and rage against that person!
Don’t do it
Entrust yourself to God who judges justly.
24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
Die to sin! Live different
Exiles!
Foreigners
Aliens
Pilgrims
Sojourner
Brother.
By his wounds you are healed! If you need healing, if you need physical healing, or emotional healing, or need prayer of any kind. These altars are open, this place is a place of prayer.
Jesus is our good pastor our Shepard and our overseer!
Let’s go to him now
