Embracing Our Role as God's Priesthood
Summary
In the sermon, I was reminded of the privilege and responsibility that comes with being a part of the Christian church. As inheritors of the blessings promised to the Old Testament people, we are called to be a priesthood, offering sacrifices and declaring praises to God. This is not about earning salvation through works, but rather about fulfilling the priestly role we were designed for. Our first acceptable sacrifice is faith in Jesus, and we are saved for good works, not through them. As believers, we all function as priests, ministering to the Lord and then to others.
The sermon also emphasized the concept of believers as God's dwelling place. Through Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, God now permanently dwells with his people in the form of the Holy Spirit. This makes us a sort of temple or tabernacle, a place where God dwells. We are living stones, built up as a spiritual house to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus. This is a better time because we are a holy priesthood already because of the Holy Spirit. We are already God's dwelling place, and God has made a way for us to experience his goodness once again and to share that with the world.
Key Takeaways:
- We are called to be a priesthood, offering sacrifices and declaring praises to God. This is not about earning salvation through works, but rather about fulfilling the priestly role we were designed for ([25:41]).
- As believers, we all function as priests, ministering to the Lord and then to others ([28:46]).
- Through Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, God now permanently dwells with his people in the form of the Holy Spirit. This makes us a sort of temple or tabernacle, a place where God dwells ([17:14]).
- We are living stones, built up as a spiritual house to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus ([18:41]).
- Our hope is not for this world. Our hope is when we lift our eyes to the horizon and we see that there is a conclusion to the story and the conclusion to the story is God dwelling with his people intimately once again ([38:38]).
Study Guide
Main Points from the Sermon:
1. We are written into the story of the church, and when we gather, we are on duty for the Lord and His people, not for ourselves. We are part of a larger narrative that is not centered on us. #!!29:35!!#
2. Our culture's priorities are reflected in where we place our attention and time. This can be seen in the rapid adoption of new technologies and social media platforms, which often distract us from our responsibilities and roles within the church. #!!31:04!!#
3. We have a priestly role within the church, ministering to the Lord and to others. This role involves sacrifices of praise to God and acts of service to others. #!!34:39!!#
4. We are saved for good works, not through good works. Our faith in Jesus is our first acceptable sacrifice, and we are called to offer further sacrifices through our actions and service. #!!27:26!!#
5. Our spiritual worship involves offering our whole lives to God. This is what it means to love God with all our heart, mind, and strength. Our hope is in God dwelling with His people intimately once again. #!!38:38!!#
Bible Chapters for the Group to Read:
1. Hebrews 13
2. Ephesians 2
3. Romans 12
4. Acts 2
5. Revelation 21
Discussion Guide:
Observation Questions:
1. What does it mean to be "on duty" for the Lord and His people when we gather at church?
2. How does the rapid adoption of new technologies and social media platforms reflect our cultural priorities?
3. What are the responsibilities of our priestly role within the church?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of ministering to the Lord and to others manifest in our daily lives?
2. What does it mean to be saved for good works, not through good works?
3. How can we offer our whole lives as a spiritual worship to God?
Application Questions:
1. How can we shift our focus from ourselves to the Lord and His people when we gather at church?
2. In what ways can we resist the distractions of our culture and prioritize our responsibilities and roles within the church?
3. How can we live out our priestly role within the church, offering sacrifices of praise to God and acts of service to others?
Devotional
Day 1: We Are Part of God's Larger Narrative
We often view our lives as individual stories, separate from the grand narrative of God's plan. However, the Bible teaches us that we are part of a larger story, intricately woven by God. Our lives are not just about us, but about God's purpose and plan for the world.
Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent situation where you felt you were the author of your own story. How could you have shifted your focus to see yourself as part of God's larger narrative?
Day 2: Gathering for God and His People
When we gather as a church community, it's easy to focus on our own needs and desires. However, the Bible calls us to gather not just for our own sake, but for the Lord and His people. Our gatherings should be centered on worshiping God and serving others.
Hebrews 10:24-25 - "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
Reflection: Think about the last time you gathered with your church community. Were you there for your own sake or for the Lord and his people? How can you shift your focus from yourself to God and others in future gatherings?
Quotes
1. "When we come to church, we are on duty. I'm not there for me, I'm there for the Lord and his people. This is not us that is in the story, this is a story that we are written into and we get to partake in it together." - 29:33
2. "We have fallen into the trap that we think we are the cornerstone. We think that church is about us and we choose our church experiences as we choose a Netflix movie. We are missing our priestly role when we approach it in this way." - 33:34
3. "Privilege involves responsibility. Those who have inherited Israel's blessing need to also take up their work to do, declaring praises to God and reflecting what good he has done to them." - 25:12
4. "Grace doesn't mean that you don't have to do anything and much less that you can do whatever you want. Grace isn't opposed to works, it's opposed to merit in the sense of earning your salvation. We are priests called to offer sacrifices and to witness." - 25:12
5. "Jesus' requirement is merely your whole life, everything, no big deal. This is what loving God with all of our heart, all of our mind, all of our strength looks like. Our hope is when we lift our eyes to the horizon and we see that there is a conclusion to the story and the conclusion to the story is God dwelling with his people intimately once again." - 38:02
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