Sunday, August 6, 2023 | Gus Hacker

1 Peter 2:4-8 (NIV):

As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says:

“See, I lay a stone in Zion,
    a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and the one who trusts in him
    will never be put to shame.”

Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,

“The stone the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone,”

and,

“A stone that causes people to stumble
    and a rock that makes them fall.”

They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.

We should come to Him continuously.

Hebrews: Come to Him because He knows our weaknesses and He sympathizes with us.

God gives mercy and grace when we come to Him.

Christ is the cornerstone of our spiritual house.

1 Corinthians 3:11 — Jesus Christ is our only foundation.

Ephesians 4:15 — Christ is the head of the church.

We are the living stones.

Our church should be full of love, the fruits of the Spirit, and unity to demonstrate that God is the head.

When people are head of the church, you get conflict. Passion and zeal disappear. Church becomes a sense of duty.

Do we still have a passion for Christ today, after years of following?

Because we are the temple, we need each other.

If you are going to build a house, you need a bunch of bricks, not just one.

We are not finished yet. God is still working on us.

The church gives up on its people sometimes, but should rather allow for God to continue working on us.

Focus on your zeal for the Lord.