1 Peter 2 at verse 4.
And 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.
And so on down through the following verses.
We have in recent weeks been looking at something of what the Bible has to say to us about the health of the church.
And we have looked at the way in which Paul speaks to Timothy in 2 Timothy to show to us something of the way in which the church is formed and the purpose of the church.
And the last time we looked at it, we saw from John chapter 15 the way in which the church is united to the person of Christ in that message of Jesus himself as showing the church as divine.
And to continue to think of these things and to just to remind ourselves as we do go into this passage to the way in which we were looking at the importance of understanding our identity as the children of God.
And understanding our identity within the church of Christ and understanding the role that we have within his church.
And the more that we understand all of these things, the more we are prepared and equipped to be the healthy church that the New Testament speaks of.
When we read this letter of 1 Peter, we see that there is a significant change going on at this stage in the letter.
Where he has begun by looking at the individual salvation of those who are born again, those who are elect, those who are chosen, those who have the hope of salvation in their hearts.
There is an individualistic focus in the first part of the letter.
As we move into this section, we see that there is more of a focus not on the individual, but on the church as a gathering of Christian people.
And that's a significant shift as he seeks to encourage those people who are struggling in their faith.
And we want to bear that in mind as we go and look at this passage.
There is that shift.
And it's an important one, not only for Peter's readers, but it's an important one for ourselves.
Because we can become caught up in our individual salvation and be obsessed with only our individual salvation.
And by being so obsessed, forgetting that we belong to the church, which is the gathering of the people of God.
We understand a healthy church by understanding that we are a gathering of Christians who believe in the Lord Jesus, but who are a body of people that do so.
And bearing that in mind, I want to look at these verses and to think of the church and its organisation as God's temple.
And first of all, we want to notice the design.
And we see the design in two particular ways.
We see the design, first of all, in the way in which there is development in the ministry of the gospel and in the mission of Christ's church.
And we see that development probably for us in verse number four, as you come to him.
It's a simple way of summarising what happens when we, as unbelievers, come to faith in the Lord Jesus and come to follow him.
And at the beginning of the letter, Peter has made it clear that those who do come to him are those who are called out of darkness.
They are those who are called out of darkness.
Peter has made it clear that those who are called out of darkness.
And when we do come to the Lord Jesus, we are coming to a living stone.
And why would Peter use the image of a stone to speak of the Lord Jesus Christ?
It is because he is connecting the message to the church and the message concerning the church to those people, connecting it with the Old Testament.
A great lesson for them and for us all that the Bible is a whole and we understand better what it says when we take it as a whole and when we see these connections.
And so the stone is a stone in Psalm 118.
The stone is a stone in Isaiah chapter 8.
The stone is a stone in Isaiah chapter 28.
It is a stone that is chosen by God.
As I read in this passage itself, it's precious in the eyes of God.
It's a stone prepared by God.
And we look at the history of the building of the Old Testament temple in the days of Solomon.
And we see that there were quarried stones.
They were prepared and dressed by the stone cutters and then brought and placed in their place in the temple.
And so it is true about the Lord Jesus himself.
He is the stone that the builders rejected.
But he is a stone prepared by God.
And the way in which God himself prepares and dresses the Lord Jesus in the sense of making him the perfect saviour that he is.
He is the stone that the builders rejected and that God has chosen.
And that stone is a living stone.
And the expectation of the church in the Old Testament was that the Messiah would come.
He would be the stone that fulfilled these prophecies.
And he would be the living stone on the basis of his resurrection.
So that Jesus, as the stone is rejected by the enemies of the church when he is crucified,
is the Jesus who is the stone who is vindicated by God in the resurrection
when he raises him up on the third day and when he ascends up into glory.
He's a living stone.
He is the life-giving stone.
He breathed on the disciples in John 20 and he said,
Receive the Holy Spirit.
In Acts chapter 2, he is at God's right hand and he pours out the Holy Spirit upon the church.
He is the life-giving spirit.
And when we think of God's design,
we think of the unity of the design of God
in the building of his church
where our lives are derived from the one resurrection life
of the one Messiah who is the living stone.
And as scattered people of God,
Christians here this evening,
our life is derived from the Lord Jesus
in the glory of his resurrection
and the glory of his sitting at God's right hand.
And because of that,
there is necessarily a unity
and a harmony
that belongs to the very life
of the church of Christ in the world.
Our life is derived from him by God's design
and so there is that sense of unity.
But the design takes us further than that
because in God's design,
there is a formation.
And the formation is that we ourselves
as living stones
are being built up as a spiritual house.
By coming to faith in the Lord Jesus,
we are united to him
and we become living stones with him.
And all of these living stones
are not to be seen like stones scattered across the ground
wherever we physically might live.
The stones are not scattered like that,
although they are physically
in God's eyes and in God's church.
we are gathered together
in a spiritual house.
The spiritual house that is spiritual
because it is where God resides,
it's where the presence of God is found,
and it is where the people of God
are to be found
as one structure
built together of all those who are Christians
so that
they are one
in all of their activities.
They are one in the presence of God,
around the presence of God.
And in this other surprising image or metaphor,
like a temple,
that we are stones in that temple.
And it's, of course,
a temple that's
full of the vibrancy
of the life of Jesus himself
through each individual stone,
but a vibrancy that finds its fulfillment
as all of these stones are bound together
in the church of Christ
to give her that sense of fullness
based on the life of Jesus
to which they are united
and around which they are bound
as those who have the Spirit of God
in their hearts.
And so tonight,
in God's design,
we are God's temple.
We are individuals,
as far as we are individuals,
stones,
but we belong together
because God's Spirit is in our hearts
and God is building one church
as one temple
in the fulfillment of his purpose.
And as sure as there is a unity of design
because we have the same life in Jesus,
there is also the unity of God's design
by the way in which structurally we are one.
So wherever we go,
we are one temple.
Wherever we go,
we are one unit of people
who have the presence of God.
And we go to our homes this evening
once this meeting is over in God's providence
and we will scatter.
But the reality and the fact of our oneness
as the structural temple of God
through which he is working
does not change.
And that's cause for our rejoicing
that you and I belong together
and that we are built up together
in God's temple
and that we are developed in our faith
because of that wonderful union
and relationship
that God has established
according to his design.
So there is the design.
We are God's temple.
Secondly,
there is a designation.
We're not simply in the building
and have no calling
or no designation.
It's not a case of just placing us there
and leaving us there.
We have a designation
and we have a calling.
And the calling is,
not surprisingly,
because we are talking about
a spiritual house,
a temple,
we are talking about
being a holy priesthood.
And at the very beginning,
it's worth highlighting the fact
that this is plural
and not singular.
He's not saying that
we are holy priests,
but that we are a holy priesthood.
One unit,
the tribe of Levi,
they were the priesthood.
And so we,
as the children of God,
we are the priesthood.
combined together
in that sense of unity.
And we know that the priesthood
in the Old Testament
had basically two functions.
They were to be
in the presence of God
and they were to come
from the presence of God
to the people.
And so Peter is saying to them
that they are to be
that holy priesthood
that have initially
the first step
of going into the presence of God,
and receiving from God
and coming from there
to go out to the people.
The priesthood
based upon God's structure
of the church
in the Old Testament
that here and now
it is applied to them
and tonight applied
to you and to me.
that there is a unity
because of our designation
and it means that
we have a shared function
in serving God.
So whatever we're doing
in the cells of God,
we're doing it collectively
as one.
We don't leave each other behind.
It's the one body,
the one structure,
the one temple
as one
serving God,
going into God
and coming out
from God
and so
fulfilling our function.
We serve
not as individuals,
we serve
as a temple,
as a group,
as a priesthood.
And because of that
designation,
there is something
that must be true
of the character
of those who are
so designated.
And what must be true
is that they must be
a holy priesthood.
In chapter 1
of this letter,
Peter speaks
about their conduct.
He speaks about
their need to be holy
and he reminds him
that they are to be holy
because God is holy.
The words of God
to his covenant people
in the Old Testament
and places like
Leviticus chapter 11,
you shall be holy
because I am holy.
There is a necessity
attached to their designation
and the role
as those who are
serving God
that they are
to be holy.
And holy
not just in the sense
of being set apart
to the service of God
and in their status
as those who are
in the priesthood,
but holiness
also
in the sense
of lifestyle.
And Peter
speaks repeatedly
about their conduct
and how their conduct
should be aligned
with who they are
as the children of God
and aligned
with the holiness
of God
which is the display
of the character
of God
which we have summarized
in his word.
A holy priesthood.
And
tonight you and I
as we serve God
designated by him
to be his priests,
we do so
as those
who together
in the unity
of the designation
that we
live collectively
a life together
and serving God
aligned with
the word
of God.
And that means
there is no
scattering,
there is no
dispersion,
there is no
departure from
this is the way
you are to walk
in it.
It's the consistency
of life,
a life that is
lived according
to the word
of God.
And so
in God's designation
we have this
beautiful picture
of a healthy
church
that is one
in its service,
that is one
in its holiness
and that moves
around serving God
with that holy
unity and harmony
that makes it
effective
in the service
of God.
And that's
the challenge
for all of us
this evening.
We may
understand our
designation
and we need
to,
but we must
not ignore
the character
required of
those who are
so designated
to serve the
Lord
that you and
I are faced
with a challenge
every day
of aligning
our lives
with the word
of God,
of realigning
our lives
with the word
of God,
of going
through that
process of
repentance
and of
restoration
through God's
forgiveness
that keeps us
living in
commune with
him.
That's the
challenge.
Serving
together,
wholly
together,
and therefore
prepared and
ready to be
the people
that God
wants us to
be,
to be the
healthy church
that is
healthy in
all that
the church
does.
That brings
me 30 to
the direction.
There is
a service,
but it is
particular.
And the
direction for
the service
has a
double
focus.
And the
first focus
is that
in the
same way
as the
priests
have a
bi-directional
ministry,
so they
go into
God and
they come
out from
God and
go to
the people.
And so
the direction
that Peter
gives to
this
temple of
people who
are living
and who
are serving
God is
first of
all that
they have
a ministry
a service
of worship.
It takes
priority
above
everything
else.
And that's
again what we
read in
version number
five.
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.
Of course
we're not
required anymore
to offer
physical
sacrifices.
that belong
to the
Old
Testament
but
nevertheless
we as
the
children
of
God
are
here
to
offer
spiritual
sacrifices
that are
acceptable
to
God.
And they
are
spiritual
not in
the sense
of being
mystical
in any
way.
They are
spiritual
because
we are
indwelt
by the
Spirit
of God
individually.
The
church is
indwelt
by the
Spirit
of God
collectively
and from
the life
that the
Spirit
of God
gives
to us
we offer
spiritual
holy
spiritual
sacrifices
that arise
from our
relationship
with
God.
And I'm
suggesting to
you that
the primary
focus of
that is
the public
worship of
God.
That this
mobilized
temple of
God which
is the
church of
Christ
with
people who
are called
to serve
God and
that they
are mobilized
first of
all together
in the
unity of
direction
moving into
the public
worship
of God.
And we
know from
the teaching
of the
Bible and
we learn
that from
our own
life's
experience
that that's
where our
strength is
found.
That as we
go in,
yes,
to the
presence of
God
privately
and
individually
there is
blessing and
encouragement.
But there
is greater
blessing and
greater
encouragement
when all of
the people
of God
join together
in the
worship of
God and
in the
harmony of
the unity
of that
worship
discover what
it is to
be the
people of
God,
to be the
church that
God is
building,
to be the
church that
God has
his hand
upon and
the church
in whom
dwells the
very spirit
of God.
And again,
we are
challenged by
that sense
of the
importance
of having
that unity
and the
direction that
we take
in the
worship of
God,
that we
do so
together,
that we
are encouraged
to not
to forget
those who
are around
us,
that we
are encouraged
to remember
that this is
what we
should be
doing together
and that
we are
encouraged to
support each
other so
that we
don't fail
in this
marvelous
movement of
coming into
the presence
of God
as a
congregation
of God's
people to
worship him
in public.
It's
essential for
our personal
health.
More
importantly,
it's
essential for
the health
of the
congregation,
for the
health of
the church
of Christ.
Christ.
And I
think it
is fair
to say
that this
is the
priority.
If we
don't hear
from God
in the
worship of
God,
we have
nothing to
say to
the world.
If we
don't hear
from God,
we can
make it
up as
we go
along,
when we
go out
and speak
to the
world.
we
must,
first of
all,
hear
from
God.
What
is God
saying
about
where we
are,
where we
are as
individuals,
where we
are as
the
mobile
temple
of God?
What
is God
saying
about
us as
to
where
we
are
and
where
our
community
is and
where
our
town
is,
where
those
who
are
around
us
are?
We
need
to
hear
what
God
is
saying
to
us.
And
because
of that,
our
church
should
be
filled
with
the
people
of
God
who
long
to
hear
from
God.
Our
prayer
meaning
itself
should
be
filled
in
the
same
way.
Those
who
are
longing
to
hear
from
God
because
of
the
sense
of
being
called
by
God
to
serve
God
and
to
have
something
to
say
to
the
people
who
are
not
the
people
of
God
as
yet.
It's
a
challenge.
It's
where
we
need
to
encourage
one
another
as the
writer
to
the
Hebrews
speaks
of
encouraging
one
another
so that
we do
not
fail
to
gather
together
as
the
people
of
God.
There is
that
direction
where we
move
together
in
worship
and
let's
ensure
that
we
move
in
that
way
and
that
when
we
do
worship
we
are
yes
individual
voices
and
individual
prayers
and
desires
that
collectively
we
are
waiting
to
hear
from
God
to
speak
to
us
personally
to
prepare
us
to
speak
to
others
so
that
we
are
strengthened
and
equipped.
The
direction
the
priest
goes
first
of
all
to
God
and
then
the
direction
of course
that
the
priest
also
comes
from
God
and
goes
to
the
world
and
that's
what
Peter
refers
to
in
verse
number
nine
where
it
reminds
them
referring
to
the
church
in
Exodus
chapter
19
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
we have
a message
we have
a proclamation
God has
told us
what the
message is
he has
informed us
anew
through the
worship of
his name
what that
message is
he has
reminded us
who we
are
and who
we are
who we
are
and who
have
to go
and tell
that
to those
who are
outside
God's
church
and outside
the
Christian
community
those who
have not
yet come
to believe
in the
Lord Jesus
Christ
as their
saviour
proclaim
the
excellencies
the
things that
are not
only
superior
but that
are unique
to God
as the
God who
designed
our salvation
as the
God who
designed
it around
his son
whom he
sent into
the world
as the
God who
designed
our salvation
calling us
from where
we were
in our
darkness
and bring
us into
his
marvellous
light
connecting
us
with the
man who
is the
light of
the world
so that
we become
the light
of the
world
and so
that
because of
all of
these
things
concerning
which we
learn more
and more
about as
we worship
God
concerning
these
things
we are
engaged
in telling
others
the
marvellous
salvation
that is
ours
we see
more of
it's
marvellous
worship
we are
excited
more about
it as
we learn
more about
it
and because
of that
process
of our
own
development
and enjoyment
of our
salvation
so
to those
who are
around us
the
healthy
church
there is
God's
design
in order
to ensure
that the
church
works
as it
should
there is
the
designation
to remind
us
that we
are here
to serve
God
and there
are these
directions
for public
worship
and for
telling
others
for being
the witnesses
that God
has called
us to be
and so we
move from
the public
worship of
God
where we
are united
as one
moving
mobile body
of
Christians
worshipping
God
we are
mobilised
in the
same way
to be
the witnesses
that God
has called
us to be
and it's not
as if I move
from the
worship of
God
where many
are gathered
and we're
mobilised from
there and
the number
diminishes
as we go
to witness
to the
world
the
healthy
church
is united
together
in the
worship
of God
and in
that
oneness
and unity
and harmony
moves
together
in the
witness
of the
gospel
to speak
the gospel
to the
world
around us
that's what
Peter wanted
them to
understand
about the
church
it's not
just about
their individual
salvation
it's about
Christ's
church
and that's
a message
for ourselves
from God's
word this
evening
yes it's
important
that we
are individually
saved
and we
understand
that
but that's
in God's
eyes a
means to
an end
there is a
serving
to be done
there is a
way in which
we are to
engage with
God
and to
engage with
the world
and we
trust and
pray that
God will
bless to
us these
thoughts
and enable
us to be
mobilised
as one
in worship
and in
witness
and to
be that
effective
people of
God
that makes
an impact
on the
community
around us
may God
bless these
thoughts to
us
so we're
going to
conclude by
saying to
God's praise
in Psalms
66
and sing
Psalms
it's a
psalm that
speaks of
the way in
which we
are to
tell other
people
what God
has done
for us
and we're
going to
sing at
verse number
16
it's on
page 84
if you're
using the
psalm book
psalm 66
at verse
16
come all
who fear
our God
I'll tell
what he
has done
I cried
out to
him
with my
mouth
his
praise
was
on
my
tongue
from
verse 16
to the
end
of the
psalm
to
God's
praise
for
come
all
who
fear
our
God
I'll
tell
what
he
has
done
I
cried
unto
him
with
my
mouth
his
praise
was
on
my
tongue
if
I
had
chelic
sin
the
Lord
would
not
have
heard
but
surely
when
I
pray
to
him
God
listen
to
my
word
forever
God
he
prays
who
hears
me
from
above
he
has
not
turned
thou
in
my
prayer
or
kept
from
me
his
love
the
grace
of
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
the
love
of
God
the
Father
and
the
fellowship
of
the
Holy
Spirit
be
with
you
all
now
and
forever
more
Amen
Thank you.