1 Peter – A Biblical Foundation for the Church Today Episode 3 – “Living Stones and a Royal Priesthood”

In this episode, we’re looking at one of the most beautiful and foundational passages in all of Scripture — 1 Peter 2:1–10 — where Peter describes the Church as a spiritual house made up of living stones, built upon Christ, the cornerstone.

Transcript

1 Peter – A Biblical Foundation for the Church Today

Episode 3: “Living Stones and a Royal Priesthood”

Welcome back to A Biblical Foundation for the Church Today.

I’m Pastor Chris Lovell, and in this series we’re walking through the book of 1 Peter — discovering how it defines what the Church, the ekklesia, was always meant to be.

So far, we’ve seen that the Church is built on revelation, not religion, and that we are called to live as a holy people in an unholy world.

Today, we’re looking at one of the most beautiful and foundational passages in all of Scripture — 1 Peter 2:1–10 — where Peter describes the Church as a spiritual house made up of living stones, built upon Christ, the cornerstone.

“Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious,

you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ…

But 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; who once were not a people but are now the people of God,

who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.”

Peter’s imagery here is powerful. He describes believers not as spectators, but as stones — living stones — joined together to form a spiritual house.

This is what Jesus meant when He said, “I will build My Church” — not a building of bricks and mortar, but a community of people joined together by the Spirit, founded upon the revelation of who He is.

The Greek word Peter uses for Church is ekklesia — meaning “the called-out ones.”

It speaks of a people summoned out of darkness, gathered in unity, and sent into the world as God’s visible presence.

So, when Peter says “you are being built up,” he reminds us that the Church is not static — it’s alive, growing, and becoming. It’s not an institution to preserve, but a body to nurture.

The ekklesia is not a place we go — it’s a people we are.

In verses 6–7, Peter quotes the prophet Isaiah:

“Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”

Every building needs a cornerstone — a perfect reference point that determines every other stone’s alignment.

For the Church, that cornerstone is Jesus Christ.

He alone gives shape, direction, and integrity to the entire structure.

Peter contrasts this with the world’s response — some accept the cornerstone, others reject Him.

And that’s still true today: Jesus is either the foundation we build upon or the stone we stumble over.

For the ekklesia, the Church must never build on personality, programs, or tradition — only on Christ Himself.

He is the foundation and the measure of all we do.

Peter uses priestly language to describe the Church — “a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God.”

Under the old covenant, priests were a select few. But under the new covenant, every believer is called into priestly service. We are all ministers before God, offering spiritual sacrifices — our worship, our service, our generosity, our obedience.

This means the ekklesia is not built on a professional clergy and a passive congregation.

It’s a priesthood of all believers, where every member has a vital part to play.

When the Church lives this out, it becomes vibrant, participatory, and powerful — not a crowd watching ministry, but a community doing ministry together.

Peter continues:

“You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people.”

This is covenant language — echoing Exodus 19, when God first called Israel to be His treasured possession. Now, Peter applies those words to the ekklesia — the Church — showing that God’s plan has always been to have a people who belong to Him and reflect His glory.

Our identity shapes our mission.

We’re not just saved from sin — we’re saved for purpose.

We exist to proclaim the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvellous light.

That means the Church’s holiness, unity, and worship aren’t for our own benefit — they’re for the world’s awakening.

We are God’s chosen people on display for His glory.

So how does this passage shape the Church today in practical terms?

It reminds us that every local fellowship must build on Christ, not on culture. Our message, structure, and mission must align with the Cornerstone Himself, reflecting His heart rather than the trends of the world or the traditions of man. It also calls us to see every believer as a minister. Pastors and leaders are called to equip, but every member of the Body has a gift to bring — whether through prayer, teaching, hospitality, worship, or acts of mercy. When every “living stone” takes its rightful place, the whole house grows strong.

This passage also urges us to cultivate spiritual unity, because stones only form a structure when they’re connected. Division weakens the Church, but humility, forgiveness, and love strengthen it. True ekklesia life is about learning to fit together and walk in harmony. Finally, Peter reminds us to live as a holy people in public life. The ekklesia isn’t called to retreat behind church walls, but to carry the light of Christ into workplaces, schools, families, and communities. Every believer becomes a visible witness of God’s mercy and grace, showing the world what it truly means to belong to Him.

Let’s always remember that the Church is not an organisation to be managed — it’s a living, breathing temple where God’s presence dwells.

It’s made up of people like you and me — redeemed, chosen, and placed by the Master Builder Himself.

As living stones, we’re not just joined to Christ — we’re joined to one another.

And when we align our lives with Him, the whole structure becomes a testimony of His glory.

In our next episode, we’ll explore how the Church is called to reveal Christ through humility, endurance, and love — even in suffering.

We’ll discover how trials refine our faith and strengthen our witness as the ekklesia in the world.

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

Until next time, keep building on the Rock, keep serving as priests of grace, and keep shining His marvellous light to the world.