January 21, 2018
Sermon Message by Rev. Dr. Parrish Bridges
"Who Do You Think You Are?"
LISTEN to the SERMON MESSAGE HERE
The Committed Life (Part 2)
Who Do You Think You Are? 1 Peter 2:1-10
What does God say about you?
As part of God’s family….
- 1. I am acceptable. (verse 4) - “Come to Him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet CHOSEN and precious in God’s sight…”
- ν Romans 15:7 – “WELCOME ONE ANOTHER, therefore, just as CHRIST HAS WELCOMED YOU for the glory of God.”
- 2. I am valuable. (verse 4) - “yet chosen and PRECIOUS…”
- ν 1 Corinthians 7:23 – “You were BOUGHT WITH A PRICE…”
- ν 1 Corinthians 6:20 – “For you were BOUGHT WITH A PRICE; therefore, glorify God in your body.”
What determines value?
- a. It depends on what somebody is willing to pay for something.
- b. It depends on who has owned it in the past.
- 3. I am capable, and competent to handle what happens in life. (verse 5) - “Like living stones, let yourself be built into a spiritual house, to BE A HOLY PRIESTHOOD, to OFFER SPIRITUAL SACRIFICES acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
- ν 2 Timothy 1:9 – “[He] who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to His own purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began…”
- 4. I am forgivable. (verse 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.”
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New Testament Reading: 1 Peter 2: 1-10 (NIV) New International Version
1) Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2) Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3) now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
The Living Stone and a Chosen People
4) As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— 5) 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. 6For 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.
7) 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,” 8) 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.
9) But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10) Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
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Prayer of Confession
Is it possible, Lord, that we get along so well because we never really take a stand? Could it be that people never raise their eyebrows at us simply because we try so hard to conform? Is it conceivable that others never ask about the hope that is in us because the evidence of that hope is not obvious? Could it be that people do not challenge our faith because they are not aware of that faith? If these things are true, Lord, we stand humbled before You, begging that You will forgive our timidity, and beseeching You to help strengthen the courage of our convictions.
Amen.
