Built Together as a Spiritual House (1 Peter 2:4-10)
This sermon considers what it truly means to be a Christian in light of God's presence within the community of believers. It invites listeners to understand their new identity, their calling to active service, and the source of power for both.
This sermon explains how Christians are living stones built into a spiritual house and a holy priesthood through community. This collective identity and active service are powered by Jesus Christ becoming the precious cornerstone of one's life.
Overview
The sermon opens by contrasting the world's various attempts to "change the world" with the underlying issue of a "radically wrong with the human heart." The preacher introduces 1 Peter 2:4-10 as the passage that reveals God's true way to transform lives and the world, by focusing on what believers become in Christ.
First, Christians become "living stones being built into a spiritual house," meaning a temple where the Holy Spirit dwells. The sermon traces God's desire for presence from Eden through the Old Testament tabernacle and temple. With Jesus' death, the veil separating humanity from God's glory was ripped, allowing His presence to dwell within all believers, particularly as they are "fit together" in community, for individual significance cannot be realized apart from other believers.
Second, believers are called to be a "holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." This shifts from the passive laity of the Old Testament to an active role for every Christian. These spiritual sacrifices include praise, confessing Christ's name (sharing faith), doing good, and sharing with others. The sermon stresses that all Christians must engage in "output" ministry, acknowledging that the "least in the kingdom of God is greater than" John the Baptist in terms of the power available to them.
Finally, the sermon addresses where this power comes from: relating to Jesus as the "cornerstone." This means Jesus must be the foundational layer of one's identity, more fundamental than ethnicity, career, or past experiences. He becomes this precious cornerstone when one understands how profoundly precious they are to Him, evident in His willingness to be rejected and give everything up for them on the cross.
Key points
- Societal problems ultimately stem from a "radically wrong" human heart, which resists God's presence.
- When one becomes a Christian, they are like "living stones" being built into a "spiritual house," a temple where the Holy Spirit dwells.
- This indwelling of the Holy Spirit is most fully experienced and effective within the community of believers; individual purpose is realized when "fit together" with others.
- All Christians are part of a "holy priesthood" called to active "output" ministry, offering spiritual sacrifices like praise, sharing faith, and doing good.
- Jesus declared that the "least in the kingdom of God is greater than" John the Baptist, indicating the unique power available to New Testament believers.
- The power to live out the Christian calling comes from relating to Jesus as the "cornerstone," the deepest foundation of one's identity.
- Jesus becomes precious and foundational to us when we grasp that we are profoundly precious to Him, as demonstrated by His rejection on the cross for our sake.
In Tim Keller's words
“There is something radically wrong with the human heart.”
“The imagery of the living stones being built into a single unit implies that the significance and purpose of individual Christians cannot be realized apart from community with other believers.”
“The least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
Outline
- I. Introduction: The Human Heart and Real World Change (1 Peter 2:4-10)
- A. The World's Search for Change
- B. The Root Problem: The Human Heart
- C. God's Way to Change the World: 1 Peter 2
- II. When You Become a Christian: What You Become
- A. Living Stones Built into a Spiritual House (Temple of the Holy Spirit)
- B. The Broken Relationship with God and His Plan of Restoration
- C. God's Presence: From Eden to Tabernacle/Temple
- D. Jesus' Death and the Rending of the Veil: God's Presence in All Believers
- E. The Necessity of Community: Being "Fit Together"
- 1. You cannot be fixed by yourself.
- 2. The shaping power of the gathered people of God.
- III. What You're Called to Do: A Holy Priesthood Offering Spiritual Sacrifices
- A. The Shift from Passive Laity to Active Priests
- B. Spiritual Sacrifices: Praise, Confessing His Name, Doing Good, Sharing
- C. No "Unemployed Christians": The Obligation to "Output" Ministry
- 1. The unique gifts and experiences of each believer.
- D. The "Least in the Kingdom of God" is Greater than John the Baptist
- E. The Challenge for Large Churches to Foster Priesthood of All Believers
- IV. Where You Get the Power to Do This: Jesus as Cornerstone
- A. Jesus as the Foundation of Your Life
- 1. The "uttermost foundation of stone" of your identity.
- 2. Jesus as primary identity (e.g., Christian first, ethnicity/profession second).
- B. Jesus Becomes Precious to You
- 1. Everything else becomes expendable.
- 2. Realizing you are precious to Jesus makes him precious to you.
- C. The Cornerstone of a Whole New World
Scripture references
- 1 Peter 2:4-10
- Genesis 15
- Genesis 32
- Isaiah 4
- 2 Peter 1:3
- Hebrews 13:15-16
- Matthew 11:11
- John 1:14
- 2 Corinthians 3
4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
1 After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.
2 And Abram said, Lord God, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?
1 And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.
2 And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God’s host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.
1 And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.
2 In that day shall the branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
1 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?
2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
Insights
The world’s deeper problems stem from a human heart unwilling to bear God’s presence.
True individual purpose flourishes only when built together within a community of faith.
God's presence now transforms every believer into an active priest in the world.
Questions & answers
What does the sermon mean by the "human heart" being "radically wrong"?
It means that at the deepest level, humanity desires to be its own master and often cannot bear God's presence, leading to widespread violence, decay, and suffering in the world.
How are Christians "living stones" and a "spiritual house"?
Christians are like individual building blocks being fitted together to form a spiritual temple where God's Holy Spirit dwells. This signifies the continuation of God's presence, which was once confined to the tabernacle and temple.
Why does the sermon emphasize community for Christians?
The sermon argues that individual significance and purpose cannot be fully realized apart from community with other believers. God inhabits believers "as a people," and healing from life's distortions occurs through whole relationships within the church.
What are "spiritual sacrifices" that Christians offer?
According to Hebrews 13, these include a "sacrifice of praise," confessing Jesus' name (sharing faith), doing good, and sharing with others. These are acts of "output" ministry that are pleasing to God.
What does it mean for Jesus to be the "cornerstone" of one's life?
It means Jesus must be the "uttermost foundation of stone" of one's identity, more fundamental than any other aspect like ethnicity, profession, or past experiences. He must be the primary layer of who you are.
How does Jesus become "precious" to believers?
Jesus becomes precious when believers realize they are precious to Him, evidenced by His willingness to be rejected and give up everything for them on the cross. This understanding then makes Him supremely valuable to them.
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