1 Peter – A Biblical Foundation for the Church Today Episode 1 – “The Foundation of Revelation”

A study of 1 Peter — a letter written to believers scattered across the Roman world, yet united by a living hope in Christ.

Peter’s words remind us what the Church truly is — not a building, not an institution, but a spiritual people called out by God to reveal His glory in the world.

Transcript

1 Peter – A Biblical Foundation for the Church Today

Episode 1 – “The Foundation of Revelation”

Welcome to A Biblical Foundation for the Church Today.

I’m Pastor Chris Lovell, and in this series, we’re exploring the book of 1 Peter — a letter written to believers scattered across the Roman world, yet united by a living hope in Christ.

Peter’s words remind us what the Church truly is — not a building, not an institution, but a spiritual people called out by God to reveal His glory in the world.

Today, we begin with 1 Peter 1:12, a verse that helps us understand the spiritual nature of the Church — the ekklesia — and how God’s revelation forms its true foundation.

“To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.”

Peter is speaking here about the Old Testament prophets.

They saw glimpses of God’s great plan of salvation — the coming of Christ, the outpouring of grace — but they didn’t see it fulfilled in their lifetime.

They were serving us — the people of the new covenant, the Church — who would one day experience these things firsthand.

Through Christ’s death and resurrection, and through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the mystery they longed to see has now been revealed.

This is the key: The Church is born out of revelation — not out of religion.

When we talk about the Church, it’s easy to picture buildings, denominations, or organizations. But when Peter — or Jesus — used the word church, they used the Greek word ekklesia, which means “those who are called out.”

The ekklesia was never meant to describe an institution or hierarchy. It described a people — men and women called out of darkness into light, gathered by God, and sent into the world to represent His kingdom.

In 1 Peter 2:9, Peter says:

“You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light.”

That’s the heart of the Church — a called-out community, gathered around the revelation of Jesus Christ, living out His mission in the power of the Spirit.

The New Testament uses another powerful image — the Body of Christ.

Paul and Peter both emphasize that believers are living members joined to one another through Christ, the Head.

Peter writes later in his letter (1 Peter 2:5):

“You also, as living stones, are being built up into a spiritual house…”

The Church, then, is not an institution but a living organism — animated by the Holy Spirit.

Every believer is a “living stone,” uniquely placed by God to form His dwelling place on earth.

When Jesus said to Peter in Matthew 16:18,

“You are Peter (Petros), and on this rock (Petra) I will build My Church,”

He wasn’t appointing Peter as the head of an organization.

He was affirming the revelation Peter had just spoken —

“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

That confession became the foundation stone of the ekklesia.

The rock was not Peter the man, but the revelation Peter received — that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God.

Over the centuries, the word “church” has come to describe something very different from what Jesus and Peter envisioned.

The institutional church often refers to buildings, leadership hierarchies, or denominational structures — and while those things can serve God’s purposes, they are not the essence of the Church itself.

The biblical church, the ekklesia, is a spiritual body, united by faith, love, and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.

It doesn’t depend on a location, but on a revelation.

It doesn’t exist for maintenance, but for mission.

It’s not built by human authority, but by Christ Himself.

So when the Catholic Church refers to Peter as “the father of the Church” or “the first pope,” it’s important to clarify that Scripture never assigns him such a title.

Peter was a leader, yes — but he saw himself as a fellow elder (1 Peter 5:1), a servant of Christ, and a living stone among many.

The true foundation of the Church is Jesus Christ alone — and all believers, like Peter, are built upon Him.

Peter says the gospel was “preached to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven.”

This reveals the Church’s power source.

The ekklesia is not sustained by programs or policies, but by the presence of the Holy Spirit.

He empowers us to proclaim Christ, to love one another, and to live holy lives in a world that’s watching.

Without the Spirit, the Church becomes a monument to what God once did.

With the Spirit, the Church becomes a movement through which God is still working.

Peter reminds us that even angels long to look into these things.

That’s how glorious the Church is in God’s eyes — not as a human institution, but as His eternal family, His dwelling place, His witness in the world.

When we gather, pray, worship, and serve, we participate in something far greater than ourselves — the unfolding story of God’s kingdom.

As we reflect on 1 Peter 1:12, let’s remember:

The Church is not a building we attend — it’s a body we belong to.

It’s not an institution managed by people — it’s a Spirit-filled community led by Christ.

Peter was never the architect of the Church — Jesus is.

And upon the revelation of who He is, the ekklesia continues to grow, generation after generation.

In our next episode, we’ll look at 1 Peter 1:13–21, where Peter calls the Church to live in holiness — to reflect the character of the One who called us.

Thanks for joining me on A Biblical Foundation for the Church Today.

Until next time, keep building your life — and your church — on the living Rock, Jesus Christ.