Building a Spiritual House Through Grace and Community
Summary
In our journey with the Lord, we come to understand the profound nature of our sin, the boundless grace of our God, and the singular hope we have in this world. This understanding is the bedrock of experiencing God's goodness. Reflecting on a time when I witnessed God's grace in action, I recall a season at a previous church where, week after week, students came to know Christ. This was not due to eloquent preaching or stirring worship, but because God was moving among us, and the gospel was being shared.
We must cultivate a deep desire for the spiritual nourishment found in God's Word, much like a newborn craves milk. This desire leads to growth in our salvation and a profound experience of God's goodness. Peter uses the metaphor of living stones to illustrate this growth, reminding us that as believers, we are being built into a spiritual house with Christ as our cornerstone. This is not a solitary endeavor; we are joined with others, forming a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
The church is not a collection of isolated individuals but a spiritual house rooted in Christ. We need each other, and we need the church. It is a misconception to think we can walk this path alone or that the church's foundation is its leaders. We are all part of the royal priesthood, called to offer spiritual sacrifices.
Financial sacrifice, time, and praise are all offerings we can present to God. Our church is growing, and with growth comes increased needs. We are called to contribute, to be part of the work God is doing in our midst. Our sacrifices, whether small or large, play a role in the building of God's kingdom.
In closing, I am reminded of the steadfastness of our faith in Christ, regardless of life's challenges. We are to be a spiritual house, serving and loving in community, rooted in Christ. Our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness, and we dare not trust in anything else.
Key Takeaways:
- The transformative power of God's grace is not contingent on human efforts but on His sovereign will. As we share the gospel, it is God who softens hearts and draws people to Himself, resulting in changed lives and salvation. This truth should humble us and inspire us to be faithful in evangelism, trusting in God's ability to save. [43:57]
- Spiritual growth is akin to the natural instinct of a newborn for milk. Our souls must yearn for the pure spiritual milk of God's Word, which nourishes and matures our faith. This desire is not a passive wish but an active pursuit that shapes our daily lives and priorities, leading us to deeper communion with God. [45:14]
- As living stones, we are intricately connected to Christ, the cornerstone, and to one another, forming a spiritual house. This imagery emphasizes the communal aspect of our faith, where individual believers come together to create a dwelling place for God's presence, reflecting the unity and interdependence designed by our Creator. [48:34]
- The concept of the priesthood of all believers revolutionizes our understanding of ministry and service. Every believer is called to be a priest, offering spiritual sacrifices to God. This calling elevates the role of each member of the church, empowering us to serve and minister in various capacities as an act of worship. [56:23]
- Our response to God's goodness should be one of sacrifice and praise. The sacrifices we offer—our time, resources, and worship—are not just religious duties but expressions of gratitude and love towards God. These offerings are a testament to the work He is doing in our lives and through our church community. [01:00:35]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1 Peter 2:1-10
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Peter mean when he instructs believers to "rid yourselves of all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander"? ([35:10])
2. How does Peter describe the desire for God's Word in 1 Peter 2:2, and what metaphor does he use to illustrate this? ([36:45])
3. According to 1 Peter 2:5, what are believers being built into, and what is their role in this spiritual house? ([48:01])
4. What does Peter mean by calling believers "a royal priesthood" in 1 Peter 2:9, and how does this change the understanding of ministry? ([55:15])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it important for believers to actively lay down sins such as malice, deceit, and hypocrisy, according to the sermon? ([35:10])
2. How does the metaphor of newborn infants craving milk help us understand our need for spiritual nourishment from God's Word? ([36:45])
3. What does it mean to be "living stones" and how does this imagery emphasize the communal aspect of faith? ([48:01])
4. How does the concept of the priesthood of all believers empower individual members of the church to serve and minister? ([55:15])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's grace in a profound way. How did this experience shape your understanding of His goodness? ([43:48])
2. In what ways can you cultivate a deeper desire for God's Word in your daily life, similar to how a newborn craves milk? ([36:45])
3. How can you contribute to the spiritual house that is the church? Are there specific ways you can offer your time, resources, or talents? ([48:01])
4. What are some practical steps you can take to live out your role as part of the "royal priesthood"? How can you offer spiritual sacrifices in your daily life? ([55:15])
5. Consider the different types of sacrifices mentioned in the sermon (financial, time, praise). Which of these do you find most challenging, and how can you work on offering this sacrifice more consistently? ([59:02])
6. How can you ensure that your faith is not built on anything less than Jesus' blood and righteousness, especially during challenging times? ([06:50])
7. What specific actions can you take this week to serve and love in your church community, reflecting the unity and interdependence described in the sermon? ([48:01])
Devotional
Day 1: Sovereignty in Salvation
God's grace is a transformative power that operates independently of human effort. It is His sovereign will that softens hearts and draws individuals to Himself. As believers share the gospel, they participate in a divine process where the ultimate outcome—changed lives and salvation—rests in God's hands. This understanding should instill humility and inspire a faithful commitment to evangelism, trusting in God's ability to save. It is a reminder that while human vessels are used, it is the Holy Spirit who convicts and converts the soul. [43:57]
"For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." (Philippians 2:13)
Reflection: How can you adjust your approach to sharing your faith to more fully rely on God's power rather than your own abilities?
Day 2: Yearning for Spiritual Nourishment
Just as a newborn instinctively craves milk, so should our souls long for the pure spiritual milk of God's Word. This yearning is an active pursuit that requires dedication and shapes our daily lives, leading us to deeper communion with God. It is through this nourishment that our faith is matured and our understanding of God's goodness is enhanced. The desire for God's Word should be a driving force in our lives, prompting us to seek Him with fervor and diligence. [45:14]
"Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation." (1 Peter 2:2)
Reflection: What practical steps can you take to increase your hunger for God's Word on a daily basis?
Day 3: Building a Spiritual House Together
Believers are not isolated stones but are being built into a spiritual house with Christ as the cornerstone. This image illustrates the communal nature of faith, where each person is connected to Christ and to one another. The church is a dwelling place for God's presence, reflecting the unity and interdependence He designed. As living stones, believers are called to come together, supporting and strengthening each other in their walk with God. [48:34]
"As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house." (1 Peter 2:4-5)
Reflection: In what ways can you actively contribute to the building up of your church community as a 'living stone'?
Day 4: The Priesthood of All Believers
The priesthood of all believers is a revolutionary concept that empowers every Christian to serve as a priest, offering spiritual sacrifices to God. This calling transcends traditional roles within the church, inviting each member to minister and serve in various capacities as an act of worship. It is a reminder that service to God is not limited to a select few but is the privilege and responsibility of every believer. [56:23]
"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." (1 Peter 2:5)
Reflection: What are some spiritual sacrifices you can offer to God this week, and how can you incorporate them into your daily routine?
Day 5: Sacrifice and Praise as Response
Our response to God's goodness is to offer sacrifices of time, resources, and worship. These are not mere religious duties but heartfelt expressions of gratitude and love towards God. Our offerings are a testament to His work in our lives and through our church community. As we contribute to the growth of God's kingdom, our sacrifices, no matter the size, have a significant role. [01:00:35]
"Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name." (Hebrews 13:15)
Reflection: What specific sacrifice can you make this week as an act of worship and gratitude towards God?
Quotes
"You've tasted the sweetness of the Lord. If we can grasp the depth of our sin, the grace of our God, and the only hope in this world, then we have experienced that goodness of God." [43:57] (Download | )
"Man, that's what we should be shooting for. We all need this deep desire, this yearning as if nothing else matters until we get in the word." [42:37] (Download | )
"We are living stones with Christ as our cornerstone. We are living stones with Christ as our cornerstone." [48:34] (Download | )
"We are called to offer spiritual sacrifices to God. The priest at certain times of the year would go into the temple. They would go in and they would make a sacrifice on the day of atonement." [57:29] (Download | )
"Save some extra money. Don't go out to eat as much. Maybe don't do the things that you always do every week, cut something out, and you give it to the Lord. What a great sacrifice." [01:00:35] (Download | )
"It's a command to desire the pure, spiritual milk of the Lord. I'm reminded of Psalm 42. As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul longs for you, God." [40:15] (Download | )
"We are now the temple. We are being built into spiritual houses. We are now the priest. We're all the priest. And so we all, as a priest, our duty and our privilege is to offer spiritual sacrifices." [58:30] (Download | )
"I want to be a spiritual house, part of this house, serving, loving, working together in community, offering spiritual sacrifices as a priest." [01:02:59] (Download | )
"The very breath in our lungs should be evidence of our need to give praise to God. Sure, we can praise Him in private. But what about an active outward expression of praise in a worship service?" [01:00:35] (Download | )
"We're not all separated. It isn't just you and the Lord. You and the Lord is the foundation, but then all of a sudden, we're going to start being built into spiritual houses." [54:11] (Download | )
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