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A Firm Faith for Tough Times. 1 Peter 2:4-12. A Faith that shows others the goodness of God. Scripture:. Task List (Dump your distracting thoughts and “to do’s” here to help you stay focused.) .
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1 Peter 2:4-12 A Faith that shows others the goodness of God
Scripture: Task List (Dump your distracting thoughts and “to do’s” here to help you stay focused.) So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. 1 Peter 2:1 Meditation Meditation: Peter is writing to the churched – those who tend to view evil as the overt and external acts of sin. God knows we are more subtle than that. The evil of the righteous appears in the twisting of facts, allow places of duplicity, and jealous/envious attitudes toward others than manifest in mean conversation. I lift up my hands to your commands, which I love, and I meditate on your decrees, (Psalm 119:48). Action Steps: • Fear God more than man • Be ruthless with the truth • Be thankful for what I have • Watch your mouth
Last Week… A faith that makes life count by • Getting ready to learn • Exercising self-control • Living in light of Christ’s coming • Living life for God’s purpose
1 Peter 2:4-12 (NLT) 4 You 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 honor. 5 And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple.
1 Peter 2:4-12 (NLT) What’s more, you are his holy priests. 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, chosen for great honor, and anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”
1 Peter 2:4-12 (NLT) 7 Yes, you who trust him recognize the honor God has given him. But for those who reject him, “The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.” 8 And, “He is the stone that makes people stumble, the rock that makes them fall.”
1 Peter 2:4-12 (NLT) They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them. 9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, 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.
1 Peter 2:4-12 (NLT) 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.” 11 Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls.
1 Peter 2:4-12 (NLT) 12 Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.
1 Peter 2:5a. (NLT)5 And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple.
How We Are Built (Ephesians 2:20-21) • “Built Together” • Foundation – Apostles & Prophets • Cornerstone – Christ • Carefully Joined Together
“Spiritual House” And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit, (Ephesians 2:22, NIV)
We show God’s goodness in tough times by coming together in greater unity to purposefully demonstrate the reality of God’s love through our love for one another.
What’s more, you are his holy priests.* Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God, (1 Peter 2:5b.).
Delivered to Serve Exodus 19:5-6 (NLT)5 Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me. 6 And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation.’ This is the message you must give to the people of Israel.”
Role of the Priesthood • Conducted the Sacrifices • Oversaw the Administration of the Temple • Conducted Purification Ceremonies • Carried the Urim and Thummim • Judged in Civil Matters • Championed Holiness • Represented the people to God and God to the people
Life as Worship Romans 12:1 (NLT)1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.
The Priesthood of the Believer Colossians 3:17 (NLT)17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.
We Show God’s Goodness in Tough Times by Living Every Moment as an Act of Worship and Seeing Ourselves as Representatives of Christ in Every Situation
Priests with a Purpose • 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
My Story • Before (without) Christ… • How I gave my life to Christ… • How my life is different with Christ…
The Power of a Simple Testimony John 9:25 (NIV)He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”
The man with a testimony is never at the mercy of a man with an argument.
We Show God’s Goodness in Tough Times when We Tell the Story of How God Has Made a Difference in Our Lives.
Live Your Story 1 Peter 2:11-12 (NLT)11 Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. 12 Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.
The greatest challenge against the truth of the gospel is not the argument of the critic or the immorality of our culture, but the failure of Christ followers to live lives that testify to the transforming power of Christ.
The Opportunity of Tough Times Ephesians 5:15-16 (NLT)15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.
We Show God’s Goodness in Tough Times when We Live Our Lives in a Way that Attracts Others to the Truth of the Gospel.