The Church as the Temple, 1 Peter 2:4-10

Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 2:4-10

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture:

“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,
    a cornerstone chosen and precious,
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,

“The stone that the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone,”[a]

and

“A stone of stumbling,
    and a rock of offense.”

They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.

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. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Sermon Outline:

  1. Living Stones

  2. The Pattern of Heavenly Worship

  3. The Practice of New Testament Churches

The Best is Yet to Come, Jude 1:24-25

Scripture Reading: Jude 24-25

24 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

Sermon Outline:

  1. The Worship of God

  2. The Identity of God

  3. The Character of God

  4. The Ability of God

  5. Our Future with God

Responding to False Teachers, Jude 20-21

Scripture Reading: Jude 1:20-21

20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.

Sermon Outline:

  1. A Hopeful Contrast

  2. A Heartfelt Responsibility