The catalyst of grace
1 Peter 2 v 4 – 10
Living Stones for God’s House
4You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honour.
5And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests.[a] Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. 6 As the Scriptures say,
“I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem,[b] chosen for great honour, and anyone who trusts in him
will never be disgraced.”[c]
7 Yes, you who trust him recognize the honour God has given him.[d] But for those who reject him,
“The stone that the builders rejected
has now become the cornerstone.”[e]
8And,
“He is the stone that makes people stumble,
the rock that makes them fall.”[f]
They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them.
9But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests,[g] 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.
Hosea 2 v 23
At that time, I will plant a crop of Israelites And raise them for myself.
I will show love to those I called “Not loved.”
And those I called “Not my people.”
I will say “Now you are my people” and they will reply, “You are our God.””
Romans 2 v 4
Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean NOTHING to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?
•Living stones – gifts: discipling, teaching, prophetic, mercy, hospitality, wisdom etc.
•Royal
•Priests
•Bowl of rotting fruit
•Grace – “Nothing less than the death of God can save me.”
•Trigger of “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.”
•We have all the gifts our Father wants to give us. We now want the outpouring of his grace to set us apart and motivate us to tell the world around us. We are a movement to see the world around us saved. Grace is the answer.
•Grace- Be convinced of the faithfulness, kindness and power of God
•Grace – Believe that Nothing less than the death of God can save me.
•Grace- He loves me unconditionally
•Grace – It is by his Holy Spirit that I will know this
•Grace – To forgive and receive forgiveness.
Questions
1.What motivates you to share the love of Jesus?
2.Have you reflected on the grace that saved you and allowed the Holy Spirit to apply the love of Jesus to you, recently?
3.Pray for each other that the Holy Spirit will reveal himself again to you.
4.As a living stone, where do you fit in His building?