Building Together: Embracing Our Identity as Living Stones

Devotional

Day 1: Unity as Living Stones

As living stones, we are called to be part of a spiritual house, united in purpose and filled with the Holy Spirit. This unity is not merely about physical gathering but about being spiritually connected and committed to the mission of the church. Just as bricks come together to form a house, our collective strength as a community multiplies our impact, enabling us to fulfill our mission more effectively. This unity allows us to be a dwelling place for God's presence, where our individual lives contribute to a greater purpose. [10:00]

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (ESV): "Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple."

Reflection: How can you actively contribute to the unity and mission of your church community this week?

Day 2: Embracing Our Holy Priesthood

As a holy priesthood, we are set apart to serve God and others, moving beyond a consumer mindset to one of service. This involves asking God what He desires from us and offering our lives as spiritual sacrifices. Our role as priests is to mediate God's presence to the world, serving as conduits of His love and grace. This calling requires a shift in perspective, where we prioritize serving over being served, reflecting our commitment to God's purposes. [16:40]

1 Peter 2:9 (ESV): "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."

Reflection: In what specific ways can you serve others this week, reflecting your role as part of a holy priesthood?

Day 3: Offering Spiritual Sacrifices

Our spiritual sacrifices should be valuable and heartfelt, reflecting our love and devotion to God. These sacrifices are not about earning His favor but are expressions of our gratitude for His grace. This involves digging deep within ourselves to offer what is most precious, whether it be our time, resources, or acts of worship. As we offer these sacrifices, we align our hearts with God's will, allowing Him to work through us in powerful ways. [23:51]

Hebrews 13:15-16 (ESV): "Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God."

Reflection: What is one precious thing you can offer to God this week as a spiritual sacrifice?

Day 4: Grace and Effort in Spiritual Growth

Grace is not opposed to effort but to earning. Our spiritual sacrifices are not for earning salvation but are responses to the grace we have received. This understanding helps us live out our faith authentically, recognizing that our efforts are a natural outflow of the grace that empowers us. As we strive to grow spiritually, we do so with the knowledge that it is God's grace that enables and sustains us in our journey. [27:52]

2 Peter 1:5-7 (ESV): "For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love."

Reflection: How can you balance effort and reliance on God's grace in your spiritual growth this week?

Day 5: Surrender and Elevation

As we surrender to God's work in our lives, He elevates us to new spiritual heights. This journey involves allowing God to reveal and heal areas of our lives, leading to greater freedom and purpose. Surrendering requires humility and trust, as we let go of control and allow God to guide us. In this process, we experience transformation and are empowered to live out our calling with renewed strength and vision. [35:12]

James 4:10 (ESV): "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to surrender control to God, and how can you begin to do so today?

Sermon Summary

In this season, God is guiding us on a transformative journey as a church. We are embarking on an eight-week exploration of 1 Peter 2:5, which speaks to our identity as "living stones" being built into a spiritual house. This verse will serve as the foundation for our teachings, as we delve deeper into its meaning and implications for our lives. As living stones, we are not just passive participants; we are alive and active, filled with the Holy Spirit, and called to be part of something greater than ourselves.

The concept of being a living stone emphasizes our role in the body of Christ. Just as bricks come together to form a house, we are called to unite as a community, building a spiritual house where God's presence dwells. This unity is not just about physical gathering but about being spiritually connected and committed to the mission of the church. Our individual lives, like individual temples, are meant to worship God, equip others, and reach the world. Yet, when we come together, there is a multiplication of power and purpose that cannot be achieved alone.

We are also called to be a holy priesthood, set apart for God's purposes. This means moving beyond a consumer mindset, where we expect to be served, to a servant mindset, where we seek to serve God and others. Our spiritual sacrifices, whether they be our time, resources, or acts of worship, should be valuable and heartfelt, reflecting our deep commitment to God. These sacrifices are not about earning God's favor but are expressions of our love and devotion to Him.

As we journey through this series, we will explore various spiritual sacrifices that please God. This process involves digging deep within ourselves to offer what is most precious to Him. It is a journey of surrender, where we allow God to work in our hearts, revealing areas that need healing, forgiveness, or trust. As we go low in humility and surrender, God elevates us to new spiritual heights.

Key Takeaways

1. Living Stones and Spiritual House: We are living stones, filled with the Holy Spirit, called to be part of a spiritual house. Our unity as a church multiplies our impact, much like how two can send ten thousand to flight. This collective strength is essential for fulfilling our mission. [10:00]
2. Holy Priesthood and Service: As a holy priesthood, we are set apart to serve God and others. This requires a shift from a consumer mindset to one of service, where we ask God what He desires from us and offer our lives as spiritual sacrifices. [16:40]
3. Spiritual Sacrifices: Our sacrifices should be valuable and heartfelt, reflecting our love for God. They are not about earning His favor but are expressions of our devotion. This involves digging deep within ourselves to offer what is most precious. [23:51]
4. Grace and Effort: Grace is not opposed to effort but to earning. Our spiritual sacrifices are not for earning salvation but are responses to the grace we have received. This understanding helps us live out our faith authentically. [27:52]
5. Surrender and Elevation: As we surrender to God's work in our lives, He elevates us to new spiritual heights. This journey involves allowing God to reveal and heal areas of our lives, leading to greater freedom and purpose. [35:12]
** [35:12]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[03:58] - Introduction to Living Stones
[05:30] - Conversion and Baptism into the Body
[10:00] - Building a Spiritual House
[11:34] - Purpose of the Church
[12:38] - The Power of the Gathered Church
[14:11] - Multiplication of Impact
[15:17] - The Role of Online Church
[16:40] - Holy Priesthood Explained
[20:02] - Consumerism vs. Service
[22:37] - Offering Spiritual Sacrifices
[23:51] - The Value of Sacrifices
[27:52] - Grace and Effort
[30:43] - Exploring Spiritual Sacrifices
[31:42] - Sacrifice of Praise
[32:37] - Application and Response
[34:36] - Surrender and Elevation
[35:12] - Vision of New Heights
[36:24] - Closing Prayer and Worship

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does 1 Peter 2:5 mean when it refers to believers as "living stones"? How does this imagery relate to the concept of a spiritual house? [03:58]
According to the sermon, what is the significance of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer, as illustrated in John 20:22? [05:30]
How does the sermon describe the role of individual believers in the body of Christ, and what analogy is used to explain this? [10:00]
What are the three primary goals of the church as mentioned in the sermon, and why is the order important? [11:34]

Interpretation Questions

How does the concept of being a "living stone" challenge the idea of passive participation in the church? What implications does this have for individual believers? [10:00]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that the gathered church multiplies its impact compared to individual believers acting alone? [14:11]
How does the sermon explain the transition from a consumer mindset to a servant mindset within the church? What are the responsibilities of a "holy priesthood"? [16:40]
What does the sermon suggest about the nature of spiritual sacrifices and their significance in the life of a believer? [23:51]

Application Questions

Reflect on your role as a "living stone" in the church. How can you actively contribute to building a spiritual house in your community? [10:00]
Consider the idea of spiritual sacrifices. What is one area of your life where you can offer a heartfelt sacrifice to God this week? [23:51]
How can you shift from a consumer mindset to a servant mindset in your church involvement? What practical steps can you take to serve others more effectively? [16:40]
Think about a time when you felt disconnected from the church community. What steps can you take to become more spiritually connected and committed to the mission of the church? [12:38]
How can you ensure that your spiritual sacrifices are not about earning God's favor but are genuine expressions of your love and devotion to Him? [27:52]
Reflect on the sermon’s message about grace and effort. How can you balance effort in your spiritual life without falling into the trap of trying to earn salvation? [27:52]
What is one specific area in your life where you need to surrender to God's work? How can you take steps to allow God to elevate you to new spiritual heights? [35:12]

Sermon Clips

"I'm excited for this season for us as a church. I really am, because I don't say this lightly, but I feel like God has given me a little strategic plan over the next few months, like just from here to there, what he's trying to do, what he's saying, what he's speaking, and kind of taking us along this journey. And so I'm just really excited for the Sunday mornings and what we're going to be looking at, but also for the Wednesday nights." [00:00:56]

"When you gave your life to Jesus Christ, you're not just a stone. You are a living stone. In John chapter 2, verse 20, a verse I want to look at really quickly, it says, and with that he breathed on them and said, receive the Holy Spirit. The reason I wanted to look at that verse is because of the word receive. It says, receive the Holy Spirit. And the word receive actually means to take right now." [00:04:55]

"I believe that everyone should have some type of conversion moment. Meaning, like yes, maybe for some of us, you've got a radical conversion moment. You turned away, far away, and then you had that moment at camp or whatever. But even if you were born in the church and you've come to church like every Sunday for your entire life, there had to come a moment where it was no longer coming to church because mom and dad brought you." [00:05:35]

"And it's kind of like a brick that is all by itself and it's missing, coming together as a living stone being built into a spiritual house or the body of Christ. So right now, this is my physical body. I have an eyeball right here, my right eye that I can see out of. So if I close this eye, I can still see out of my right eye, although I don't want to do that because, wow, that threw me off a little bit." [00:09:20]

"He's taking these living stones and he's putting them together to build this spiritual house. To worship. Wayne Cordon talks about the gathered church and he talks about the primary goal of the church is three things. To worship him, equip the saints, and reach the world. And the order matters. And when you look at 1 Corinthians chapter 6, verse 19 through 20, it says this. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit?" [00:11:34]

"There's something about when we're being built together as a spiritual house that unlocks something that you just can't get on your own. I'll tell you, I love online church. I think it's a great option for people. There's some people right now, if our internet is working, they are watching because we have a few people that are sick. Anybody know someone that's sick right now? It's going around." [00:15:04]

"this book is separated or set apart from all of the other books it's a it's a special book and it uses the word holy to be a holy priesthood now the word uh priests they were exclusive or elite individuals and what i love it saying here is that now like every member is a priest you are a part of a holy priesthood and i want us just give me a few minutes to to help us like paint the picture help you understand because what i love what peter is doing here is he is painting a picture of a kingdom that is like no other kingdom where it's not just an elite group of elect you know select individuals no it's every living stone is being built into a spiritual house and every member in that uh that kingdom every member apart they're a holy priesthood they are a priest and priest had responsibilities they had jobs what was their job it was to minister to the lord minister to others it was to serve the lord that's what it means to serve others" [00:16:53]

"The only problem, though, with this kind of culture, this kind of mindset, is that we come into church with the same mindset, and we come in expecting to be about us, sometimes and not about Him. 1 Corinthians chapter 11 kind of talks about this. If you want to read a chapter sometime this week, I would encourage this one to read, because what it says is, it actually says that some are taking the Lord's Supper in an unworthy manner, and you're bringing judgment upon yourself, and some of you are sick, and some have even died." [00:20:02]

"And what it's saying is, as we offer up a spiritual sacrifice, it's something that is valuable and precious. If you are digging deep within the earth to find this valuable thing, that you are going to bring, you spent time, you spent resources, you spent energy to dig this out of the earth. What is painting a picture is if you are offering a spiritual sacrifice, it's not, oh, I got some lint in my pocket. Here you go. It's not something that was easy, half -hearted, lazy, or whatever it is." [00:23:51]

"Grace is not opposed to works it is opposed to earning it's not opposed to effort it's opposed to earning um let me let me help us understand very uh simply how that actually works okay so let's just say you committed a horrific crime and you go stand before the judge and the judge is a perfect judge, so it means he can't just let you off the hook. The crime was committed, and there has to be a payment, and so you're standing before the judge, and he says this, you know what?" [00:27:52]

"you have been saved through faith so now he paid the price I accept that he I'm adopted into the family and now relationship with him because I love him so much I want to find out what he cares about I want to put forth the effort because of relationship so I'm not sacrificing for I'm I'm sacrificing from and as we do that as it says through uh let's go back let's see if I can find it first Peter 2 5 there we go through the meditation of Jesus Christ which really means as I as I think through him I I I put my thoughts on him my attention upon him I I focus upon him I find out what he wants I bring to him these acceptable sacrifices and as we do that I'm we do that it is this sweet aroma it is Philippians 4 18 the thing sent from you a sweet smelling aroma an acceptable sacrifice well pleasing to God" [00:28:07]

"What I felt like he was saying for me, for you, and for us, is he's digging and we're surrendering. We're going low. We're letting them have every area that he's showing us. And at the same time, he's elevating. And it was like this, you go low, you take steps down, you go up. So if you could just close your eyes and bow your heads for one moment." [00:35:12]

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