WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.000 My name is Matthew Capone, and I'm the pastor here at Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church, 00:00:05.000 --> 00:00:07.719 and it's my joy to bring God's Word to you today. 00:00:08.120 --> 00:00:11.120 A special welcome if you're new or visiting with us. 00:00:12.000 --> 00:00:12.780 We're glad you're here. 00:00:13.660 --> 00:00:14.259 And we're... 00:00:14.259 --> 00:00:15.000 Is this going in and out? 00:00:16.679 --> 00:00:17.280 Oh, okay. 00:00:17.400 --> 00:00:17.620 Sorry. 00:00:19.480 --> 00:00:21.980 We're glad we have backup sound equipment. 00:00:23.019 --> 00:00:26.920 We're glad that you're here, and we're glad that you're here not because we're trying to fill seats, 00:00:26.920 --> 00:00:29.800 but because we're following Jesus together as one community. 00:00:30.260 --> 00:00:35.820 And as we follow Jesus together, we become convinced that there's no one so good that they don't need God's grace, 00:00:36.179 --> 00:00:37.980 and no one so bad that they can't have it, 00:00:38.340 --> 00:00:41.719 which means that God has something to say to everyone in His Word. 00:00:41.799 --> 00:00:44.480 He has something to say to people who have been Christians their entire lives, 00:00:45.259 --> 00:00:48.600 people who have been Christians for maybe a very short amount of time, 00:00:49.200 --> 00:00:51.299 and perhaps people who wouldn't consider themselves Christians, 00:00:51.420 --> 00:00:54.640 people who have doubts or questions or objections about Christianity. 00:00:54.820 --> 00:00:59.560 God speaks all of those things in His Word, and so that's why we come back to it week after week. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:03.640 If you've been with us, you know that we're in the book of 1 Peter, 00:01:03.759 --> 00:01:05.159 and the book of 1 Peter is a letter. 00:01:05.859 --> 00:01:07.980 It's a letter written by a man named Peter, 00:01:08.159 --> 00:01:11.920 and he writes it to churches that are in modern-day Turkey. 00:01:12.260 --> 00:01:14.879 These churches are in the first century A.D. 00:01:14.879 --> 00:01:18.039 And he writes to them because they are facing some challenges. 00:01:18.239 --> 00:01:20.899 They are feeling out of place in the world, 00:01:21.000 --> 00:01:24.219 and they're facing opposition from the world because they're Christians, 00:01:24.319 --> 00:01:25.579 because they follow after Jesus. 00:01:26.840 --> 00:01:30.340 And so Peter writes to them to encourage them and also to instruct them. 00:01:30.560 --> 00:01:33.140 He writes to them to encourage them that Jesus is worth it. 00:01:33.699 --> 00:01:35.679 Jesus is worth living for and loving for. 00:01:35.759 --> 00:01:37.859 He's worth suffering for and dying for. 00:01:37.859 --> 00:01:41.640 And he also writes to them to instruct them how they should live in this world 00:01:41.640 --> 00:01:43.359 as people who follow God. 00:01:44.560 --> 00:01:48.459 We have been sort of going back and forth between instruction and encouragement. 00:01:48.560 --> 00:01:51.560 Near the beginning of the letter, it was almost exclusively encouragement, 00:01:51.900 --> 00:01:54.280 and then we had a couple places of instruction. 00:01:54.420 --> 00:01:55.620 And now we're back to encouragement, 00:01:55.620 --> 00:01:58.920 as Peter has been talking about the community of God 00:01:58.920 --> 00:02:01.099 and how people are to act towards each other in the church. 00:02:01.239 --> 00:02:04.000 Last week, we looked at how we get along in the church 00:02:04.000 --> 00:02:06.959 and the putting away of malice and slander and hypocrisy. 00:02:07.659 --> 00:02:09.580 And now we continue to look at the church community, 00:02:09.740 --> 00:02:12.919 asking questions like, how is it different than other communities? 00:02:14.219 --> 00:02:17.139 And what does the church as a community have to do with suffering? 00:02:17.259 --> 00:02:20.599 If this is a book about people who are facing opposition for being Christians, 00:02:21.060 --> 00:02:22.020 they're feeling out of place, 00:02:22.039 --> 00:02:24.199 if they're suffering for the name of Jesus Christ, 00:02:24.500 --> 00:02:26.960 what does God's community, the church, have to do with that? 00:02:28.020 --> 00:02:31.259 It's with those questions that we come to chapter 2, 00:02:31.520 --> 00:02:32.639 and you're going to find this. 00:02:32.639 --> 00:02:33.780 It's in your worship guide. 00:02:34.479 --> 00:02:37.500 You'll also find it in your Bible or on your phone. 00:02:38.520 --> 00:02:39.719 And we're going to be starting at verse 4. 00:02:39.800 --> 00:02:42.099 And as we come to this, remember that this is God's word. 00:02:43.759 --> 00:02:46.680 And God tells us that while the grass may wither and the flowers fade, 00:02:47.400 --> 00:02:48.860 his word stands forever. 00:02:49.800 --> 00:02:51.920 That's why we read now, starting at verse 4, 00:02:52.539 --> 00:02:56.340 as you come to him, a living stone rejected by men, 00:02:56.420 --> 00:02:58.439 but in the sight of God, chosen and precious, 00:02:59.139 --> 00:03:03.479 you yourselves, like living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house. 00:03:04.000 --> 00:03:05.580 To be a holy priesthood. 00:03:05.719 --> 00:03:10.699 To offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 00:03:10.699 --> 00:03:12.780 For it stands in Scripture, 00:03:13.219 --> 00:03:15.679 behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, 00:03:16.419 --> 00:03:18.319 a cornerstone chosen and precious. 00:03:19.079 --> 00:03:22.060 And whoever believes in him will not be put to shame. 00:03:22.060 --> 00:03:25.439 So the honor is for you who believe, 00:03:25.439 --> 00:03:27.240 but for those who do not believe, 00:03:27.780 --> 00:03:30.900 the stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. 00:03:30.900 --> 00:03:34.900 And a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense. 00:03:35.580 --> 00:03:37.939 They stumble because they disobey the word, 00:03:38.340 --> 00:03:39.700 as they were destined to do. 00:03:41.360 --> 00:03:44.460 Please pray with me as we come to this portion of God's word. 00:03:46.760 --> 00:03:50.500 Father in heaven, we thank you for your word that you give to us, 00:03:50.560 --> 00:03:55.620 that you haven't left us alone like orphans in a merciless universe. 00:03:55.620 --> 00:03:59.980 You haven't left us in the dark to stumble alone. 00:04:01.580 --> 00:04:05.860 But instead, you have given us your words as your instruction, 00:04:06.000 --> 00:04:08.800 that we would know the way to walk in this world. 00:04:09.840 --> 00:04:12.620 We ask that you'd send your Holy Spirit now to help us, 00:04:13.020 --> 00:04:14.740 that we would listen carefully, 00:04:15.500 --> 00:04:18.280 that we would understand that you would open our eyes 00:04:18.280 --> 00:04:20.319 and unstop our ears and soften our hearts, 00:04:20.319 --> 00:04:23.579 that we'd be able to believe and see and understand 00:04:23.579 --> 00:04:26.620 everything that is written about you in your word. 00:04:27.699 --> 00:04:31.519 We ask these things not because we have earned them or deserve them, 00:04:32.180 --> 00:04:34.459 but because Jesus has earned them for us. 00:04:34.779 --> 00:04:36.199 And so we ask them in his name. 00:04:36.980 --> 00:04:37.199 Amen. 00:04:40.980 --> 00:04:42.000 As many of you know, 00:04:42.079 --> 00:04:46.459 there's all sorts of things that go on at our church throughout the week. 00:04:46.560 --> 00:04:49.100 And sometimes I get to see more of those than others because I'm here. 00:04:49.100 --> 00:04:51.939 And I think it was last, now, two summers ago 00:04:51.939 --> 00:04:54.260 that I told you about the shelter of the wing out there 00:04:54.260 --> 00:04:56.220 that people hide under during the hailstorms. 00:04:57.320 --> 00:05:00.020 Another thing that I observe is we have several Bible studies 00:05:00.020 --> 00:05:02.280 that meet at our church throughout the week 00:05:02.280 --> 00:05:03.600 that aren't associated with our church. 00:05:03.700 --> 00:05:04.560 They just use our building. 00:05:04.680 --> 00:05:05.500 We open it up to them. 00:05:06.680 --> 00:05:08.720 And there's one that meets on Thursdays. 00:05:09.480 --> 00:05:11.780 And we have asked this Bible study group 00:05:11.780 --> 00:05:13.879 and really a lot of the groups that meet 00:05:13.879 --> 00:05:17.320 to park over on the east side, our east parking lot. 00:05:17.319 --> 00:05:21.139 That's the door that we unlock, the entrance that's open. 00:05:21.839 --> 00:05:23.719 Makes it easier for them to come in that way. 00:05:24.819 --> 00:05:27.939 And of course I see these cars as I come in throughout the week, 00:05:28.060 --> 00:05:29.939 especially when I come in on Wednesdays and Thursdays 00:05:29.939 --> 00:05:31.139 and these groups meet. 00:05:31.600 --> 00:05:32.819 And this group on Thursday, though, 00:05:32.819 --> 00:05:34.839 there's one thing that's happened several times 00:05:34.839 --> 00:05:37.159 that I've noticed as I've come in. 00:05:38.039 --> 00:05:40.560 And so you have all these cars over on the east side, 00:05:40.560 --> 00:05:45.100 and yet there's one car over on the west side 00:05:45.100 --> 00:05:45.899 right here behind me. 00:05:47.899 --> 00:05:50.439 And the car that always parks on the west side 00:05:50.439 --> 00:05:52.519 is a black Porsche. 00:05:55.019 --> 00:05:56.620 Now, I'm not criticizing this person. 00:05:56.699 --> 00:05:59.120 If I had a black Porsche, I would also park on the west side. 00:06:01.439 --> 00:06:03.600 Okay, this is not a judgment on anyone's character. 00:06:04.220 --> 00:06:05.899 This person is wise in the ways of the world. 00:06:05.899 --> 00:06:11.979 In fact, often I try to find a parking spot away from other cars 00:06:11.979 --> 00:06:14.000 so that people aren't going to scratch my car 00:06:14.000 --> 00:06:15.419 or knock their doors into it. 00:06:16.419 --> 00:06:18.659 And my car is much less valuable than a Porsche, right? 00:06:21.399 --> 00:06:25.899 But as I would see this car week after week for several times, 00:06:26.779 --> 00:06:28.739 the last time as I saw it and I walked into the church, 00:06:28.740 --> 00:06:29.379 I thought, 00:06:29.780 --> 00:06:33.560 you can stay safe 00:06:33.560 --> 00:06:36.480 and never be hurt, 00:06:37.480 --> 00:06:39.639 but you'll always be alone. 00:06:42.879 --> 00:06:45.840 You can stay far away from all the other cars. 00:06:45.939 --> 00:06:46.720 You can guarantee 00:06:46.720 --> 00:06:50.040 that no other door will ever hit your door. 00:06:52.060 --> 00:06:55.639 You can guarantee that no one will ever scratch your bumper. 00:06:55.639 --> 00:07:00.439 And you'll always be by yourself. 00:07:02.860 --> 00:07:04.120 You'll always be alone 00:07:04.120 --> 00:07:06.319 on the other side of the parking lot. 00:07:09.459 --> 00:07:12.079 Peter writes this letter to these people here 00:07:12.079 --> 00:07:14.060 and he makes not a point but an assumption. 00:07:15.339 --> 00:07:17.120 There is no such thing 00:07:17.120 --> 00:07:18.800 as a Christian 00:07:18.800 --> 00:07:20.060 parked alone. 00:07:20.060 --> 00:07:24.660 There is no such thing 00:07:24.660 --> 00:07:25.379 as a Christian 00:07:25.379 --> 00:07:26.839 out by themselves 00:07:26.839 --> 00:07:28.519 on the west side of the parking lot. 00:07:30.600 --> 00:07:31.980 Instead, he gives us this image 00:07:31.980 --> 00:07:33.259 of what it's supposed to look like 00:07:33.259 --> 00:07:34.000 for the community 00:07:34.000 --> 00:07:34.660 and the church. 00:07:34.759 --> 00:07:35.879 We see in verse 5, 00:07:36.420 --> 00:07:36.980 he tells them, 00:07:37.079 --> 00:07:38.720 you yourselves are like living stones 00:07:38.720 --> 00:07:39.920 and you're being built up 00:07:39.920 --> 00:07:41.259 into a spiritual house. 00:07:42.500 --> 00:07:43.300 And you're coming, 00:07:43.399 --> 00:07:44.079 verse 4 to him, 00:07:44.139 --> 00:07:45.019 he's talking about Jesus 00:07:45.019 --> 00:07:46.100 who's a living stone 00:07:46.100 --> 00:07:47.060 rejected by men 00:07:47.060 --> 00:07:48.060 but in the sight of God 00:07:48.060 --> 00:07:48.860 chosen 00:07:48.860 --> 00:07:49.959 and precious. 00:07:50.100 --> 00:07:50.459 In other words, 00:07:50.519 --> 00:07:51.540 this is God's design 00:07:51.540 --> 00:07:52.319 for his people. 00:07:52.420 --> 00:07:53.600 Not that they would be isolated 00:07:53.600 --> 00:07:54.060 and alone 00:07:54.060 --> 00:07:54.639 like stones 00:07:54.639 --> 00:07:55.540 who are scattered around 00:07:55.540 --> 00:07:55.959 but instead 00:07:55.959 --> 00:07:56.819 they are stones 00:07:56.819 --> 00:07:58.199 connected intimately 00:07:58.199 --> 00:07:58.819 and directly 00:07:58.819 --> 00:07:59.660 to one another 00:07:59.660 --> 00:08:00.980 as part of one house. 00:08:03.259 --> 00:08:03.920 God's intention 00:08:03.920 --> 00:08:04.939 is not for his people 00:08:04.939 --> 00:08:05.939 to be isolated 00:08:05.939 --> 00:08:07.600 following him 00:08:07.600 --> 00:08:08.259 as individuals 00:08:08.259 --> 00:08:08.860 but instead 00:08:08.860 --> 00:08:09.680 that they would be like 00:08:09.680 --> 00:08:10.360 these stones 00:08:10.360 --> 00:08:11.779 who are part of one structure 00:08:11.779 --> 00:08:12.860 which means 00:08:12.860 --> 00:08:14.199 that they are close together. 00:08:14.199 --> 00:08:17.079 means that they are rubbing up 00:08:17.079 --> 00:08:17.860 against each other. 00:08:19.060 --> 00:08:19.939 Means that people 00:08:19.939 --> 00:08:20.800 are trying to find 00:08:20.800 --> 00:08:22.120 exactly how they can fit 00:08:22.120 --> 00:08:22.879 into the structure 00:08:22.879 --> 00:08:23.599 and work around 00:08:23.599 --> 00:08:24.459 all the other people 00:08:24.459 --> 00:08:25.399 who are building together 00:08:25.399 --> 00:08:26.079 to create 00:08:26.079 --> 00:08:28.099 this one mission, 00:08:28.279 --> 00:08:29.519 this one group of people, 00:08:29.639 --> 00:08:30.659 this one temple, 00:08:30.779 --> 00:08:31.719 this spiritual house. 00:08:33.299 --> 00:08:34.419 Now that's not really 00:08:34.419 --> 00:08:35.460 the point that Peter 00:08:35.460 --> 00:08:36.580 is making in this passage. 00:08:36.700 --> 00:08:37.399 It's his assumption. 00:08:37.559 --> 00:08:38.399 Why is it his assumption? 00:08:38.519 --> 00:08:39.240 Because of course 00:08:39.240 --> 00:08:40.399 that's the category 00:08:40.399 --> 00:08:41.220 that the Bible has 00:08:41.220 --> 00:08:41.759 for Christians 00:08:41.759 --> 00:08:42.879 that they would always be 00:08:42.879 --> 00:08:44.879 together as God's people. 00:08:45.820 --> 00:08:47.340 They would not be isolated 00:08:47.340 --> 00:08:47.860 and alone 00:08:47.860 --> 00:08:48.740 scattered around 00:08:48.740 --> 00:08:49.360 like individuals. 00:08:49.500 --> 00:08:50.039 He doesn't say 00:08:50.039 --> 00:08:51.100 you are like stones 00:08:51.100 --> 00:08:52.419 who are in random places 00:08:52.419 --> 00:08:53.000 in the field. 00:08:54.000 --> 00:08:55.240 Now we have some stones 00:08:55.240 --> 00:08:56.240 that are in random places 00:08:56.240 --> 00:08:56.720 in the field. 00:08:58.240 --> 00:08:59.399 But we also have a building. 00:09:00.519 --> 00:09:01.279 And Peter's telling them 00:09:01.279 --> 00:09:02.259 that being in the church 00:09:02.259 --> 00:09:03.259 is much more 00:09:03.259 --> 00:09:04.000 like the building 00:09:04.000 --> 00:09:05.000 than being scattered. 00:09:05.100 --> 00:09:05.539 These are people 00:09:05.539 --> 00:09:06.620 who are joined together 00:09:06.620 --> 00:09:07.600 as one body. 00:09:09.679 --> 00:09:10.559 Another way of putting it 00:09:10.559 --> 00:09:11.000 would be this. 00:09:11.080 --> 00:09:11.500 If you 00:09:11.500 --> 00:09:13.620 said, 00:09:13.720 --> 00:09:13.879 you know, 00:09:14.000 --> 00:09:14.539 I am 00:09:14.539 --> 00:09:16.600 I'm a Christian. 00:09:16.759 --> 00:09:17.340 I love Jesus. 00:09:17.500 --> 00:09:18.659 I follow after him. 00:09:19.360 --> 00:09:20.440 I love what he taught. 00:09:20.519 --> 00:09:21.919 I believe he forgave me 00:09:21.919 --> 00:09:22.899 of my sins. 00:09:23.639 --> 00:09:24.940 I just can't really 00:09:24.940 --> 00:09:25.820 stand other Christians. 00:09:27.200 --> 00:09:27.559 So, 00:09:27.960 --> 00:09:28.279 I say, 00:09:28.379 --> 00:09:28.539 you know, 00:09:28.580 --> 00:09:29.440 the church is great 00:09:29.440 --> 00:09:30.840 for people who 00:09:30.840 --> 00:09:32.220 need that 00:09:32.220 --> 00:09:33.480 kind of thing. 00:09:35.200 --> 00:09:36.200 It's pretty messy 00:09:36.200 --> 00:09:37.360 and it's not necessary. 00:09:37.559 --> 00:09:38.419 We don't really see that 00:09:38.419 --> 00:09:39.080 in the New Testament. 00:09:39.620 --> 00:09:40.300 It's really more 00:09:40.300 --> 00:09:41.160 just these believers 00:09:41.160 --> 00:09:42.180 who are following after. 00:09:42.300 --> 00:09:42.540 You know, 00:09:42.580 --> 00:09:43.160 if I do come, 00:09:43.220 --> 00:09:44.660 maybe I'll come to a church 00:09:44.660 --> 00:09:45.280 and I'll just kind of 00:09:45.280 --> 00:09:46.860 be there on the back row 00:09:46.860 --> 00:09:48.180 but I'll make sure 00:09:48.180 --> 00:09:49.520 that no one ever knows my name 00:09:49.520 --> 00:09:51.520 and I don't have to, 00:09:52.060 --> 00:09:52.220 you know, 00:09:52.300 --> 00:09:53.240 no one will ever scratch 00:09:53.240 --> 00:09:54.480 the side of my car door, 00:09:54.540 --> 00:09:54.680 right? 00:09:54.680 --> 00:09:55.860 I'll never be in this community 00:09:55.860 --> 00:09:56.860 where someone could actually 00:09:56.860 --> 00:09:57.300 hurt me 00:09:57.300 --> 00:09:57.860 or do something 00:09:57.860 --> 00:09:59.020 that would offend me 00:09:59.020 --> 00:09:59.740 or challenge something 00:09:59.740 --> 00:10:00.259 that I believe. 00:10:00.259 --> 00:10:01.139 if you said that 00:10:01.139 --> 00:10:05.139 to someone living 00:10:05.139 --> 00:10:06.059 in East Berlin 00:10:06.059 --> 00:10:07.439 in the 1960s 00:10:07.439 --> 00:10:10.059 or you said it 00:10:10.059 --> 00:10:10.720 to someone living 00:10:10.720 --> 00:10:11.639 in communist Russia 00:10:11.639 --> 00:10:12.759 in the 1970s 00:10:12.759 --> 00:10:13.799 or the 1980s 00:10:13.799 --> 00:10:15.720 or you said it 00:10:15.720 --> 00:10:16.439 to a Christian 00:10:16.439 --> 00:10:17.279 living in Pakistan 00:10:17.279 --> 00:10:18.200 in 2019 00:10:18.200 --> 00:10:19.039 or in China 00:10:19.039 --> 00:10:20.000 in 2019, 00:10:20.679 --> 00:10:22.159 they would not 00:10:22.159 --> 00:10:22.840 understand 00:10:22.840 --> 00:10:24.100 what kind of crazy talk 00:10:24.100 --> 00:10:24.679 you were saying 00:10:24.679 --> 00:10:28.799 because that is 00:10:28.799 --> 00:10:29.699 the only way 00:10:29.699 --> 00:10:31.000 they know how to survive. 00:10:32.639 --> 00:10:33.299 The recipients 00:10:33.299 --> 00:10:34.299 of Peter's letter 00:10:34.299 --> 00:10:35.539 are living in a culture 00:10:35.539 --> 00:10:37.299 where they are feeling 00:10:37.299 --> 00:10:38.159 out of place. 00:10:39.259 --> 00:10:40.059 Of course, 00:10:40.579 --> 00:10:41.459 they are together 00:10:41.459 --> 00:10:42.500 like living stones. 00:10:44.179 --> 00:10:45.199 This is not even 00:10:45.199 --> 00:10:46.299 Peter's word of instruction. 00:10:46.439 --> 00:10:47.639 He's just encouraging them. 00:10:47.819 --> 00:10:48.819 As you walk together 00:10:48.819 --> 00:10:49.599 in this world, 00:10:50.379 --> 00:10:51.779 this is how you're making it. 00:10:51.799 --> 00:10:52.379 You're not just 00:10:52.379 --> 00:10:53.019 a group of people. 00:10:53.179 --> 00:10:54.099 You are a group 00:10:54.100 --> 00:10:55.120 of living stones 00:10:55.120 --> 00:10:55.659 that are founded 00:10:55.659 --> 00:10:56.980 on the living stone. 00:10:59.700 --> 00:11:00.600 If you were to talk 00:11:00.600 --> 00:11:01.200 to some of those 00:11:01.200 --> 00:11:01.580 other people 00:11:01.580 --> 00:11:02.540 from different places 00:11:02.540 --> 00:11:03.379 and different times 00:11:03.379 --> 00:11:03.800 in the history 00:11:03.800 --> 00:11:04.240 of the church, 00:11:04.320 --> 00:11:04.639 they would say, 00:11:04.720 --> 00:11:05.180 of course, 00:11:05.840 --> 00:11:07.399 of course we're living stones. 00:11:07.500 --> 00:11:08.420 Of course we're together 00:11:08.420 --> 00:11:10.360 working towards one mission. 00:11:10.840 --> 00:11:13.639 How else would we survive? 00:11:15.460 --> 00:11:16.759 How else would we make it? 00:11:18.399 --> 00:11:19.580 Of course we're not 00:11:19.580 --> 00:11:20.700 an isolated Christian 00:11:20.700 --> 00:11:21.700 somewhere out there 00:11:21.700 --> 00:11:23.120 disconnected from other Christians. 00:11:24.100 --> 00:11:25.440 That would be nonsensical. 00:11:26.639 --> 00:11:27.700 There's no other way 00:11:27.700 --> 00:11:28.279 I would be able 00:11:28.279 --> 00:11:28.800 to make it 00:11:28.800 --> 00:11:29.700 in communist Russia. 00:11:29.700 --> 00:11:30.600 There's no other way 00:11:30.600 --> 00:11:31.180 that I would be able 00:11:31.180 --> 00:11:32.659 to survive East Berlin. 00:11:32.860 --> 00:11:33.700 There's no other way 00:11:33.700 --> 00:11:34.340 that I would be able 00:11:34.340 --> 00:11:34.879 to make it. 00:11:36.139 --> 00:11:36.840 The recipients 00:11:36.840 --> 00:11:37.519 of this letter 00:11:37.519 --> 00:11:39.000 understand what it's like 00:11:39.000 --> 00:11:40.659 to live in a culture 00:11:40.659 --> 00:11:41.100 and a world 00:11:41.100 --> 00:11:42.220 where they don't feel 00:11:42.220 --> 00:11:43.560 like they belong. 00:11:45.519 --> 00:11:46.700 Peter encourages them 00:11:46.700 --> 00:11:47.519 that not only 00:11:47.519 --> 00:11:48.460 do they belong, 00:11:48.600 --> 00:11:49.500 but they are part 00:11:49.500 --> 00:11:50.480 of this living 00:11:50.480 --> 00:11:51.519 spiritual house 00:11:51.519 --> 00:11:52.980 put together 00:11:52.980 --> 00:11:54.079 with other Christians 00:11:54.079 --> 00:11:58.340 and founded on Jesus. 00:12:03.019 --> 00:12:04.279 I say that Peter 00:12:04.279 --> 00:12:05.059 is writing to 00:12:05.059 --> 00:12:06.840 encourage and instruct 00:12:06.840 --> 00:12:07.360 these people 00:12:07.360 --> 00:12:08.100 and he's encouraging 00:12:08.100 --> 00:12:09.000 them with this 00:12:09.000 --> 00:12:10.860 and instructing them. 00:12:10.960 --> 00:12:12.360 How else would you survive 00:12:12.360 --> 00:12:14.679 in that culture, 00:12:14.799 --> 00:12:15.439 in that world, 00:12:15.519 --> 00:12:16.840 without some kind 00:12:16.840 --> 00:12:18.160 of alternate community? 00:12:22.800 --> 00:12:23.899 Christianity is lived 00:12:23.899 --> 00:12:25.780 out in the church, 00:12:26.180 --> 00:12:27.280 in the context 00:12:27.280 --> 00:12:27.960 of the church 00:12:27.960 --> 00:12:29.019 with other Christians. 00:12:30.820 --> 00:12:31.600 Peter doesn't say 00:12:31.600 --> 00:12:33.100 there's these living stones 00:12:33.100 --> 00:12:33.700 and there's also 00:12:33.700 --> 00:12:34.720 kind of these random stones 00:12:34.720 --> 00:12:35.259 that aren't part 00:12:35.259 --> 00:12:35.780 of the building, 00:12:36.340 --> 00:12:37.680 but they're connected 00:12:37.680 --> 00:12:38.600 to Jesus somehow. 00:12:41.040 --> 00:12:42.580 No, every stone, 00:12:42.720 --> 00:12:43.639 every stone is part 00:12:43.639 --> 00:12:44.100 of the house. 00:12:44.100 --> 00:12:47.040 And so every one 00:12:47.040 --> 00:12:47.680 of God's people 00:12:47.680 --> 00:12:48.460 has a place 00:12:48.460 --> 00:12:50.519 connected not just 00:12:50.519 --> 00:12:50.899 to him, 00:12:50.980 --> 00:12:51.720 but to each other. 00:12:53.879 --> 00:12:55.440 If you truly believe 00:12:55.440 --> 00:12:57.000 that you are 00:12:57.000 --> 00:12:57.740 what we talked about 00:12:57.740 --> 00:12:58.759 in chapter 1, 00:12:58.800 --> 00:12:59.159 verse 1, 00:12:59.220 --> 00:12:59.779 if you believe 00:12:59.779 --> 00:13:00.899 that you are an exile 00:13:00.899 --> 00:13:02.740 and a stranger 00:13:02.740 --> 00:13:03.480 in this world, 00:13:04.639 --> 00:13:05.720 then you're going 00:13:05.720 --> 00:13:06.680 to find your people 00:13:06.680 --> 00:13:07.460 really fast. 00:13:10.519 --> 00:13:11.340 If you have not 00:13:11.340 --> 00:13:12.100 found your people 00:13:12.100 --> 00:13:12.800 really fast, 00:13:12.920 --> 00:13:13.460 God's people, 00:13:13.560 --> 00:13:13.920 the church, 00:13:13.919 --> 00:13:14.799 then you do not 00:13:14.799 --> 00:13:15.479 truly believe 00:13:15.479 --> 00:13:16.360 you are an exile 00:13:16.360 --> 00:13:16.919 and a stranger. 00:13:21.299 --> 00:13:22.079 And so Peter 00:13:22.079 --> 00:13:23.419 encourages these people, 00:13:24.000 --> 00:13:24.559 letting them know 00:13:24.559 --> 00:13:25.819 that they're not just 00:13:25.819 --> 00:13:27.799 an assortment 00:13:27.799 --> 00:13:28.419 of individuals, 00:13:28.639 --> 00:13:29.639 but they are actually 00:13:29.639 --> 00:13:30.519 the place 00:13:30.519 --> 00:13:32.039 where God's power resides. 00:13:32.179 --> 00:13:33.360 They are living stones 00:13:33.360 --> 00:13:35.719 based on the living stone. 00:13:38.099 --> 00:13:39.000 Now we might see 00:13:39.000 --> 00:13:39.599 some language here 00:13:39.599 --> 00:13:40.259 that's familiar 00:13:40.259 --> 00:13:41.279 because he's telling us 00:13:41.279 --> 00:13:41.959 not just that these 00:13:41.959 --> 00:13:42.799 are people who belong 00:13:42.799 --> 00:13:43.779 into community together, 00:13:43.779 --> 00:13:44.379 but he tells us 00:13:44.379 --> 00:13:45.419 the nature of this community. 00:13:45.419 --> 00:13:46.139 Verse 4, 00:13:48.279 --> 00:13:49.480 they are coming to him 00:13:49.480 --> 00:13:50.500 that is Jesus, 00:13:51.559 --> 00:13:52.679 a living stone 00:13:52.679 --> 00:13:53.879 rejected by men, 00:13:53.959 --> 00:13:54.959 but in the sight of God, 00:13:55.120 --> 00:13:56.159 chosen and precious. 00:13:57.000 --> 00:13:58.059 Where have we heard 00:13:58.059 --> 00:14:00.100 chosen before 00:14:00.100 --> 00:14:00.779 in 1 Peter? 00:14:00.779 --> 00:14:06.399 in chapter 1, 00:14:06.399 --> 00:14:06.899 verse 1, 00:14:06.939 --> 00:14:07.339 we were told 00:14:07.339 --> 00:14:08.259 they were not just 00:14:08.259 --> 00:14:08.899 exiles, 00:14:09.399 --> 00:14:10.939 but they were also 00:14:10.939 --> 00:14:11.459 elect. 00:14:12.279 --> 00:14:13.120 Remember I explained 00:14:13.120 --> 00:14:13.759 to you that elect 00:14:13.759 --> 00:14:14.720 is related to our 00:14:14.720 --> 00:14:15.620 English word election 00:14:15.620 --> 00:14:16.819 where we choose someone 00:14:16.819 --> 00:14:17.980 and so that people 00:14:17.980 --> 00:14:19.220 are chosen by God. 00:14:20.720 --> 00:14:21.959 The same language here 00:14:21.959 --> 00:14:22.720 is applied to Jesus. 00:14:22.879 --> 00:14:24.019 He was also chosen 00:14:24.019 --> 00:14:24.720 by God, 00:14:24.720 --> 00:14:27.500 but rejected by men. 00:14:29.820 --> 00:14:31.180 What kind of spiritual 00:14:31.180 --> 00:14:32.220 house is this? 00:14:33.100 --> 00:14:34.040 What kind of stone 00:14:34.040 --> 00:14:34.660 are you? 00:14:36.000 --> 00:14:37.100 You're a stone, 00:14:37.740 --> 00:14:39.639 lowercase s, 00:14:40.200 --> 00:14:41.080 that looks like 00:14:41.080 --> 00:14:41.779 the stone, 00:14:42.680 --> 00:14:43.259 uppercase, 00:14:43.560 --> 00:14:44.240 capital S. 00:14:46.000 --> 00:14:47.000 What is happening 00:14:47.000 --> 00:14:47.740 to you, 00:14:48.100 --> 00:14:48.720 he's encouraging 00:14:48.720 --> 00:14:49.680 these people with this, 00:14:50.120 --> 00:14:50.680 what's happening 00:14:50.680 --> 00:14:51.580 to you is simply 00:14:51.580 --> 00:14:52.519 following the pattern 00:14:52.519 --> 00:14:53.100 of what happened 00:14:53.100 --> 00:14:53.639 to Jesus. 00:14:55.240 --> 00:14:57.319 Jesus was chosen. 00:14:58.740 --> 00:14:59.480 The stone. 00:14:59.600 --> 00:15:00.120 You are stones, 00:15:00.199 --> 00:15:00.899 you're also chosen. 00:15:02.899 --> 00:15:04.159 Jesus was rejected 00:15:04.159 --> 00:15:05.079 as a stone. 00:15:05.980 --> 00:15:07.120 You were also rejected. 00:15:08.699 --> 00:15:09.799 Jesus is living. 00:15:12.059 --> 00:15:13.299 He's a living stone, 00:15:13.379 --> 00:15:13.840 verse 4. 00:15:14.399 --> 00:15:14.919 Guess what? 00:15:15.019 --> 00:15:16.000 You are also alive. 00:15:17.240 --> 00:15:18.639 You have the spiritual life 00:15:18.639 --> 00:15:19.379 that we've talked about 00:15:19.379 --> 00:15:19.960 that comes from 00:15:19.960 --> 00:15:20.620 the new birth 00:15:20.620 --> 00:15:21.559 that Jesus taught about 00:15:21.559 --> 00:15:22.500 in John chapter 3. 00:15:22.519 --> 00:15:23.500 and Peter has referenced 00:15:23.500 --> 00:15:24.600 multiple times now. 00:15:26.360 --> 00:15:27.439 So he's encouraging 00:15:27.439 --> 00:15:27.879 these people, 00:15:28.000 --> 00:15:28.899 you belong to this 00:15:28.899 --> 00:15:29.620 powerful house 00:15:29.620 --> 00:15:31.199 and what you are experiencing, 00:15:31.360 --> 00:15:31.960 what you're going through, 00:15:32.019 --> 00:15:32.819 the type of stone 00:15:32.819 --> 00:15:33.360 that you are, 00:15:33.639 --> 00:15:34.980 is connected to Jesus, 00:15:35.120 --> 00:15:35.819 the great stone. 00:15:37.419 --> 00:15:38.179 And so everything 00:15:38.179 --> 00:15:39.799 that's true about Jesus, 00:15:40.980 --> 00:15:41.779 I shouldn't say everything, 00:15:41.879 --> 00:15:42.679 many things that are true 00:15:42.679 --> 00:15:43.039 about Jesus, 00:15:43.139 --> 00:15:44.240 the pattern of Jesus' life 00:15:44.240 --> 00:15:46.399 is also true about you. 00:15:48.079 --> 00:15:51.059 Jesus experienced honor 00:15:51.059 --> 00:15:51.839 and glory. 00:15:51.839 --> 00:15:55.199 If you follow the stone 00:15:55.199 --> 00:15:56.379 and his path of suffering, 00:15:57.079 --> 00:15:58.079 rejected by men, 00:15:58.979 --> 00:16:00.859 you will also experience 00:16:00.859 --> 00:16:01.779 honor and glory. 00:16:03.779 --> 00:16:05.579 What is true of the stone 00:16:05.579 --> 00:16:07.859 is also true of the stones. 00:16:07.860 --> 00:16:11.680 Peter's giving us an image here 00:16:11.680 --> 00:16:13.980 that has many different facets 00:16:13.980 --> 00:16:14.879 and elements to it. 00:16:14.919 --> 00:16:16.279 We could talk all day 00:16:16.279 --> 00:16:17.340 about all the different ways 00:16:17.340 --> 00:16:18.360 that these stones 00:16:18.360 --> 00:16:19.680 interact with each other 00:16:19.680 --> 00:16:20.419 and what this image 00:16:20.419 --> 00:16:21.480 teaches us about 00:16:21.480 --> 00:16:22.840 what it means to be a Christian. 00:16:22.919 --> 00:16:23.480 But fundamentally, 00:16:23.639 --> 00:16:24.139 he's telling us 00:16:24.139 --> 00:16:25.080 that we're in a community. 00:16:27.600 --> 00:16:28.419 We're being built 00:16:28.419 --> 00:16:29.720 into a spiritual house 00:16:29.720 --> 00:16:32.560 and everything that we're doing 00:16:32.560 --> 00:16:33.860 is based on Jesus 00:16:33.860 --> 00:16:35.080 as our foundation. 00:16:35.240 --> 00:16:36.320 He's the cornerstone. 00:16:37.700 --> 00:16:39.259 We still see cornerstones today, 00:16:39.360 --> 00:16:39.500 right? 00:16:39.540 --> 00:16:40.259 You go by a building, 00:16:40.360 --> 00:16:41.420 you'll see a large stone, 00:16:41.519 --> 00:16:42.240 sometimes on a corner, 00:16:42.320 --> 00:16:43.240 and often you know 00:16:43.240 --> 00:16:43.860 it's the cornerstone 00:16:43.860 --> 00:16:44.940 because it has the date, 00:16:45.040 --> 00:16:45.899 the year that the building 00:16:45.899 --> 00:16:47.700 was built chiseled into it. 00:16:49.279 --> 00:16:50.019 That's how you know 00:16:50.019 --> 00:16:51.440 that's the cornerstone. 00:16:52.300 --> 00:16:53.000 That's the stone 00:16:53.000 --> 00:16:53.960 that lays the foundation 00:16:53.960 --> 00:16:54.980 for the rest of the building. 00:16:55.560 --> 00:16:56.700 Jesus is the stone 00:16:56.700 --> 00:16:58.540 that lays the foundation 00:16:58.539 --> 00:16:59.240 for the church. 00:17:01.599 --> 00:17:02.319 And so how does the church 00:17:02.319 --> 00:17:03.339 help us walk 00:17:03.339 --> 00:17:03.980 as a community 00:17:03.980 --> 00:17:04.839 through suffering? 00:17:05.619 --> 00:17:06.559 Well, it helps us walk 00:17:06.559 --> 00:17:07.519 because it is a community 00:17:07.519 --> 00:17:09.159 and it's not just any community, 00:17:09.240 --> 00:17:10.180 it's the living community. 00:17:12.019 --> 00:17:12.639 And also, 00:17:12.759 --> 00:17:13.659 as we've talked about before, 00:17:13.740 --> 00:17:15.059 it's suffering makes sense. 00:17:16.220 --> 00:17:17.319 As the cornerstone, 00:17:17.460 --> 00:17:18.099 so the stones. 00:17:19.240 --> 00:17:20.119 Of course, 00:17:20.440 --> 00:17:22.119 we will be rejected by men. 00:17:22.220 --> 00:17:22.460 Why? 00:17:23.659 --> 00:17:24.960 Because Jesus was too. 00:17:26.920 --> 00:17:27.720 Of course, 00:17:27.839 --> 00:17:28.339 we're living. 00:17:28.339 --> 00:17:28.720 Why? 00:17:29.199 --> 00:17:30.379 Because Jesus is living. 00:17:30.500 --> 00:17:31.539 He's given us new life. 00:17:34.699 --> 00:17:35.619 Of course, 00:17:35.959 --> 00:17:38.259 we will experience these things 00:17:38.259 --> 00:17:39.779 because as the stone, 00:17:40.480 --> 00:17:41.419 so the stones. 00:17:44.519 --> 00:17:46.019 And so application here is simple. 00:17:46.119 --> 00:17:46.939 Don't be surprised 00:17:46.939 --> 00:17:49.919 when you face 00:17:49.919 --> 00:17:50.740 what the stone faced. 00:17:52.039 --> 00:17:53.019 Don't be surprised 00:17:53.019 --> 00:17:54.779 when you are rejected as well. 00:17:54.779 --> 00:17:57.700 and take comfort. 00:17:58.259 --> 00:17:59.319 You're with Jesus. 00:18:01.639 --> 00:18:03.440 You are part of the building 00:18:03.440 --> 00:18:04.319 that lasts. 00:18:05.480 --> 00:18:07.059 You are part of the living building. 00:18:07.059 --> 00:18:10.119 Peter here is comforting 00:18:10.119 --> 00:18:11.720 and encouraging his readers. 00:18:11.720 --> 00:18:14.019 as you feel out of place 00:18:14.019 --> 00:18:14.559 in the world, 00:18:14.559 --> 00:18:16.160 realize that you are part 00:18:16.160 --> 00:18:17.319 of the building, 00:18:17.460 --> 00:18:18.400 the true building 00:18:18.400 --> 00:18:19.839 that lasts. 00:18:19.940 --> 00:18:20.700 You're part of the building 00:18:20.700 --> 00:18:21.420 you have lost 00:18:21.420 --> 00:18:22.500 and you are losing 00:18:22.500 --> 00:18:25.259 things that don't matter 00:18:25.259 --> 00:18:26.420 eternally. 00:18:26.420 --> 00:18:29.180 and you have gained 00:18:29.180 --> 00:18:30.019 and you are gaining 00:18:30.019 --> 00:18:31.480 things that do matter 00:18:31.480 --> 00:18:32.980 eternally. 00:18:35.460 --> 00:18:36.680 And so you are part 00:18:36.680 --> 00:18:37.160 of something 00:18:37.160 --> 00:18:38.100 so much greater 00:18:38.100 --> 00:18:40.060 and so much more glorious 00:18:40.060 --> 00:18:41.880 than you realize. 00:18:41.880 --> 00:18:46.560 and you are doing it together. 00:18:49.520 --> 00:18:50.600 You are not doing it 00:18:50.600 --> 00:18:51.500 alone and isolated 00:18:51.500 --> 00:18:52.300 but you are doing it 00:18:52.300 --> 00:18:53.180 rubbing shoulders 00:18:53.180 --> 00:18:54.160 with other people, 00:18:54.240 --> 00:18:54.920 having conflict 00:18:54.920 --> 00:18:56.220 with other people, 00:18:56.780 --> 00:18:57.440 rejoicing 00:18:57.440 --> 00:18:58.620 with other people, 00:18:58.740 --> 00:19:00.060 working side by side 00:19:00.060 --> 00:19:01.100 with other people, 00:19:01.640 --> 00:19:03.020 having hospitality 00:19:03.020 --> 00:19:04.620 with other people. 00:19:06.100 --> 00:19:07.640 You are a living stone. 00:19:07.780 --> 00:19:09.220 You cannot separate yourself 00:19:09.220 --> 00:19:10.680 from the other stones 00:19:10.680 --> 00:19:11.980 any more 00:19:11.980 --> 00:19:12.779 than you can separate 00:19:12.779 --> 00:19:14.560 yourself from the stone. 00:19:19.019 --> 00:19:20.180 This community, however, 00:19:20.240 --> 00:19:21.140 is not just a 00:19:21.140 --> 00:19:22.900 gathering of people 00:19:22.900 --> 00:19:24.360 connected to Jesus, 00:19:24.440 --> 00:19:25.080 although it is. 00:19:26.320 --> 00:19:27.340 And it's not just 00:19:27.340 --> 00:19:28.259 that what's true of Jesus 00:19:28.259 --> 00:19:29.120 is true of them, 00:19:29.220 --> 00:19:30.240 but they also have 00:19:30.240 --> 00:19:31.539 a mission and a purpose 00:19:31.539 --> 00:19:32.279 as a community. 00:19:33.620 --> 00:19:34.640 They don't exist 00:19:34.640 --> 00:19:35.660 just so these stones 00:19:35.660 --> 00:19:36.860 can be side by side. 00:19:37.960 --> 00:19:38.940 It doesn't exist 00:19:38.940 --> 00:19:39.759 just so these stones 00:19:39.759 --> 00:19:40.360 can avoid 00:19:40.359 --> 00:19:41.579 loneliness in the world 00:19:41.579 --> 00:19:43.579 or they can have 00:19:43.579 --> 00:19:44.479 companions like any 00:19:44.479 --> 00:19:45.119 other group would 00:19:45.119 --> 00:19:45.799 have companions, 00:19:46.579 --> 00:19:48.359 but they have a purpose. 00:19:48.500 --> 00:19:49.059 And we're going to get 00:19:49.059 --> 00:19:50.039 even more into this 00:19:50.039 --> 00:19:50.459 next week, 00:19:50.519 --> 00:19:51.079 so this is really 00:19:51.079 --> 00:19:52.219 just whetting your appetite. 00:19:52.399 --> 00:19:53.299 This is an appetizer 00:19:53.299 --> 00:19:54.939 for chapter 2, 00:19:55.000 --> 00:19:55.539 verse 9, 00:19:56.039 --> 00:19:57.179 which when Peter gives us 00:19:57.179 --> 00:19:57.939 the mission statement 00:19:57.939 --> 00:19:58.500 of the church. 00:20:00.099 --> 00:20:00.939 But he tells us 00:20:00.939 --> 00:20:01.539 the reason here. 00:20:01.619 --> 00:20:02.219 You yourselves 00:20:02.219 --> 00:20:03.639 are like living stones 00:20:03.639 --> 00:20:05.000 with a purpose. 00:20:05.139 --> 00:20:06.000 You're being built up 00:20:06.000 --> 00:20:07.139 as a spiritual house 00:20:07.140 --> 00:20:09.840 to be a holy priesthood, 00:20:10.360 --> 00:20:13.100 to offer spiritual sacrifices 00:20:13.100 --> 00:20:14.340 acceptable to God 00:20:14.340 --> 00:20:15.840 through Jesus Christ. 00:20:18.259 --> 00:20:19.320 In other words, 00:20:19.440 --> 00:20:20.259 you exist 00:20:20.259 --> 00:20:23.400 to be the place 00:20:23.400 --> 00:20:24.340 of God's presence. 00:20:25.160 --> 00:20:25.980 That was the purpose 00:20:25.980 --> 00:20:26.520 of the temple 00:20:26.520 --> 00:20:27.280 in the Old Testament. 00:20:28.280 --> 00:20:29.900 You exist to be a place 00:20:29.900 --> 00:20:30.960 of God's holiness, 00:20:31.960 --> 00:20:32.820 which is the section 00:20:32.820 --> 00:20:33.820 that we just finished, 00:20:33.820 --> 00:20:35.080 a place where God's ways 00:20:35.079 --> 00:20:35.819 are lived out, 00:20:36.359 --> 00:20:38.059 where everyone can look 00:20:38.059 --> 00:20:39.299 and see what it looks like 00:20:39.299 --> 00:20:40.199 when people follow 00:20:40.199 --> 00:20:41.099 what God has commanded. 00:20:43.939 --> 00:20:44.859 And then finally, 00:20:45.039 --> 00:20:46.619 to offer spiritual sacrifices, 00:20:47.619 --> 00:20:49.059 which here means 00:20:49.059 --> 00:20:49.819 that their lives 00:20:49.819 --> 00:20:50.500 of obedience, 00:20:51.439 --> 00:20:52.639 as they honor God 00:20:52.639 --> 00:20:53.359 and live together 00:20:53.359 --> 00:20:54.039 as a community 00:20:54.039 --> 00:20:54.699 of integrity, 00:20:54.779 --> 00:20:56.159 as difficult as it is 00:20:56.159 --> 00:20:57.019 in the world, 00:20:57.519 --> 00:21:00.619 is a beautiful sacrifice 00:21:00.619 --> 00:21:01.299 before God. 00:21:03.319 --> 00:21:04.359 Peter's encouraging 00:21:04.359 --> 00:21:05.059 these people 00:21:05.059 --> 00:21:06.259 who are perhaps wondering 00:21:06.259 --> 00:21:07.619 why is it worth it 00:21:07.619 --> 00:21:08.479 to live a life 00:21:08.479 --> 00:21:09.039 of holiness 00:21:09.039 --> 00:21:10.519 if it's not getting me 00:21:10.519 --> 00:21:11.539 anything in this world. 00:21:11.619 --> 00:21:12.679 And he reminds them 00:21:12.679 --> 00:21:14.379 that they are part 00:21:14.379 --> 00:21:15.179 of the living building 00:21:15.179 --> 00:21:16.039 and that their obedience 00:21:16.039 --> 00:21:16.819 is something that's 00:21:16.819 --> 00:21:18.199 offered up to God 00:21:18.199 --> 00:21:20.879 and that he delights in. 00:21:22.419 --> 00:21:23.419 We're going to talk more 00:21:23.419 --> 00:21:24.839 about this priesthood 00:21:24.839 --> 00:21:25.679 next week. 00:21:26.500 --> 00:21:27.119 So I'll just give you 00:21:27.119 --> 00:21:28.159 a little bit of an appetizer. 00:21:28.259 --> 00:21:28.859 The priesthood 00:21:28.859 --> 00:21:30.279 had the responsibility 00:21:30.279 --> 00:21:31.740 to represent God 00:21:31.740 --> 00:21:32.279 to the people 00:21:32.279 --> 00:21:33.559 and represent 00:21:33.559 --> 00:21:34.859 the people to God. 00:21:36.099 --> 00:21:37.019 They were a part 00:21:37.019 --> 00:21:37.620 of God's people 00:21:37.620 --> 00:21:39.620 and now Peter tells them 00:21:39.620 --> 00:21:40.400 that all of them 00:21:40.400 --> 00:21:41.259 are a priesthood. 00:21:42.839 --> 00:21:43.279 In other words, 00:21:43.359 --> 00:21:44.319 part of their mission 00:21:44.319 --> 00:21:45.220 is to represent 00:21:45.220 --> 00:21:46.359 as a whole people, 00:21:46.440 --> 00:21:47.279 as a spiritual temple, 00:21:47.380 --> 00:21:48.259 to represent God 00:21:48.259 --> 00:21:48.819 to the world. 00:21:51.359 --> 00:21:52.599 It's part of everyone 00:21:52.599 --> 00:21:55.200 seeing what it looks like, 00:21:55.259 --> 00:21:56.339 what this countercultural 00:21:56.339 --> 00:21:57.279 community is. 00:21:57.339 --> 00:21:58.120 These people who are 00:21:58.120 --> 00:21:59.380 doing what we talked 00:21:59.380 --> 00:22:00.180 about last week, 00:22:00.260 --> 00:22:01.140 they're putting off 00:22:01.140 --> 00:22:03.180 slander and hypocrisy 00:22:03.180 --> 00:22:04.220 and malice and instead 00:22:04.220 --> 00:22:05.300 they're loving one another 00:22:05.300 --> 00:22:06.740 earnestly from a pure heart. 00:22:07.320 --> 00:22:08.020 They're a priesthood 00:22:08.020 --> 00:22:08.680 to show the world 00:22:08.680 --> 00:22:09.380 what it looks like 00:22:09.380 --> 00:22:10.200 when people truly 00:22:10.200 --> 00:22:10.880 love each other. 00:22:13.160 --> 00:22:14.080 They're a priesthood 00:22:14.080 --> 00:22:15.140 to show what it looks like 00:22:15.140 --> 00:22:16.160 when people put off 00:22:16.160 --> 00:22:16.720 the passions 00:22:16.720 --> 00:22:17.780 that Peter mentioned 00:22:17.780 --> 00:22:19.840 a couple sections ago 00:22:19.840 --> 00:22:21.860 where they're walking 00:22:21.860 --> 00:22:22.600 with integrity, 00:22:22.800 --> 00:22:23.460 putting off 00:22:23.460 --> 00:22:25.380 the addictions 00:22:25.380 --> 00:22:26.220 that cause them 00:22:26.220 --> 00:22:27.180 to hurt themselves 00:22:27.180 --> 00:22:27.780 and each other. 00:22:29.380 --> 00:22:32.520 Peter writes 00:22:32.520 --> 00:22:33.280 to these people 00:22:33.280 --> 00:22:34.000 to give them 00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:35.140 tremendous encouragement 00:22:35.140 --> 00:22:36.140 that they would know 00:22:36.140 --> 00:22:37.000 that as they live 00:22:37.000 --> 00:22:38.200 their lives before God 00:22:38.200 --> 00:22:39.220 they are not in vain. 00:22:42.260 --> 00:22:43.000 But instead 00:22:43.000 --> 00:22:43.980 they're taking part 00:22:43.980 --> 00:22:44.520 of something 00:22:44.520 --> 00:22:45.260 that is living 00:22:45.260 --> 00:22:45.840 and will live, 00:22:45.920 --> 00:22:46.760 something that's lasting 00:22:46.760 --> 00:22:47.720 and will last 00:22:47.720 --> 00:22:48.540 and something that is 00:22:48.540 --> 00:22:49.420 honoring and pleasing 00:22:49.420 --> 00:22:49.840 to God 00:22:49.840 --> 00:22:50.760 and that will continue 00:22:50.760 --> 00:22:52.660 beyond anything else 00:22:52.660 --> 00:22:53.380 in the world 00:22:53.380 --> 00:22:54.220 where they exist 00:22:54.220 --> 00:22:55.580 that will one day perish. 00:22:55.579 --> 00:22:59.460 and so they can take 00:22:59.460 --> 00:23:00.359 tremendous hope 00:23:00.359 --> 00:23:01.379 and encouragement 00:23:01.379 --> 00:23:02.000 and faith 00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:02.579 from knowing 00:23:02.579 --> 00:23:03.980 that they are stones 00:23:03.980 --> 00:23:05.480 connected to the stone. 00:23:09.059 --> 00:23:10.399 He continues to encourage 00:23:10.399 --> 00:23:11.079 them in this way 00:23:11.079 --> 00:23:11.740 in verse 7 00:23:11.740 --> 00:23:12.159 he says, 00:23:12.259 --> 00:23:13.299 so the honor is for you 00:23:13.299 --> 00:23:13.980 who believe. 00:23:15.339 --> 00:23:15.939 In other words, 00:23:16.019 --> 00:23:17.279 while you may have shame 00:23:17.279 --> 00:23:18.199 in this world 00:23:18.199 --> 00:23:19.079 because of following 00:23:19.079 --> 00:23:19.759 after Jesus, 00:23:19.759 --> 00:23:23.079 you have honor 00:23:23.079 --> 00:23:23.980 in the world to come 00:23:23.980 --> 00:23:24.960 and honor that matters. 00:23:27.720 --> 00:23:28.759 And there's an implicit 00:23:28.759 --> 00:23:29.339 warning there, 00:23:29.400 --> 00:23:30.519 if you have honor 00:23:30.519 --> 00:23:31.599 in this world, 00:23:32.039 --> 00:23:32.619 be careful 00:23:32.619 --> 00:23:35.319 because honor 00:23:35.319 --> 00:23:35.920 in this world 00:23:35.920 --> 00:23:36.839 does not last 00:23:36.839 --> 00:23:40.039 and you may have shame 00:23:40.039 --> 00:23:41.379 in the world to come 00:23:41.379 --> 00:23:42.819 and the things that matter. 00:23:47.259 --> 00:23:48.379 You're a living stone. 00:23:49.759 --> 00:23:50.779 And you're part 00:23:50.779 --> 00:23:51.660 of a spiritual house. 00:23:51.779 --> 00:23:52.180 You're connected 00:23:52.180 --> 00:23:53.259 to other people. 00:23:54.839 --> 00:23:55.579 You're connected 00:23:55.579 --> 00:23:56.259 to Jesus, 00:23:56.460 --> 00:23:57.259 the living stone, 00:23:57.900 --> 00:23:58.720 the great stone. 00:24:00.039 --> 00:24:00.940 And you follow 00:24:00.940 --> 00:24:01.440 after him 00:24:01.440 --> 00:24:02.160 knowing that what's 00:24:02.160 --> 00:24:02.819 true of him 00:24:02.819 --> 00:24:04.059 is also true of you. 00:24:05.660 --> 00:24:06.480 Encourage living 00:24:06.480 --> 00:24:06.980 in a world 00:24:06.980 --> 00:24:07.619 where sometimes 00:24:07.619 --> 00:24:08.259 it doesn't seem 00:24:08.259 --> 00:24:09.359 valuable or worth it, 00:24:09.460 --> 00:24:10.740 holding on to the hope 00:24:10.740 --> 00:24:11.539 and the promise 00:24:11.539 --> 00:24:12.259 that there's honor 00:24:12.259 --> 00:24:13.220 for you who believe 00:24:13.220 --> 00:24:13.839 and that this is 00:24:13.839 --> 00:24:15.440 a spiritual house, 00:24:15.500 --> 00:24:16.480 a holy priesthood 00:24:16.480 --> 00:24:17.099 whose obedience 00:24:17.099 --> 00:24:17.799 is accepted 00:24:17.799 --> 00:24:18.900 and honoring to God 00:24:18.900 --> 00:24:19.460 who will give 00:24:19.460 --> 00:24:20.900 consequences for it 00:24:20.900 --> 00:24:21.900 of glory and reward 00:24:21.900 --> 00:24:22.539 that will last 00:24:22.539 --> 00:24:23.360 into eternity. 00:24:28.319 --> 00:24:29.559 You are taking part 00:24:29.559 --> 00:24:30.059 in something 00:24:30.059 --> 00:24:31.140 that is so much greater 00:24:31.140 --> 00:24:32.900 and so much more glorious, 00:24:33.140 --> 00:24:33.819 Peter is telling 00:24:33.819 --> 00:24:35.460 his audience here, 00:24:35.579 --> 00:24:36.039 the recipients 00:24:36.039 --> 00:24:36.779 of this letter. 00:24:39.059 --> 00:24:40.039 And then finally, 00:24:40.259 --> 00:24:41.200 he gives them 00:24:41.200 --> 00:24:42.640 what's often called 00:24:42.640 --> 00:24:43.880 the scandal 00:24:43.880 --> 00:24:44.539 of the gospel. 00:24:44.539 --> 00:24:44.599 people. 00:24:46.399 --> 00:24:47.200 Many people 00:24:47.200 --> 00:24:47.899 are offended 00:24:47.899 --> 00:24:48.920 by Christianity 00:24:48.920 --> 00:24:51.319 and in a sense, 00:24:51.799 --> 00:24:52.500 it is offensive. 00:24:52.619 --> 00:24:53.159 They should be 00:24:53.159 --> 00:24:55.119 for the reasons 00:24:55.119 --> 00:24:55.859 that's given here 00:24:55.859 --> 00:24:56.319 which is that 00:24:56.319 --> 00:24:57.079 there are only 00:24:57.079 --> 00:24:58.099 two ways to live. 00:24:59.980 --> 00:25:00.700 I've said before, 00:25:00.759 --> 00:25:01.180 many people 00:25:01.180 --> 00:25:02.180 in this world 00:25:02.180 --> 00:25:02.659 would think of there 00:25:02.659 --> 00:25:03.500 being three ways 00:25:03.500 --> 00:25:04.099 to live, right? 00:25:04.139 --> 00:25:04.480 You're either 00:25:04.480 --> 00:25:05.539 a super good person 00:25:05.539 --> 00:25:06.339 like Mother Teresa, 00:25:06.339 --> 00:25:08.980 you're a super terrible 00:25:08.980 --> 00:25:10.319 person like Adolf Hitler, 00:25:11.159 --> 00:25:11.779 or you're just 00:25:11.779 --> 00:25:12.819 a normal good person. 00:25:13.859 --> 00:25:14.959 Just doing what 00:25:14.959 --> 00:25:15.459 you need to do, 00:25:15.539 --> 00:25:16.099 you're being a good 00:25:16.099 --> 00:25:16.399 neighbor, 00:25:16.579 --> 00:25:16.959 you're going to be 00:25:16.959 --> 00:25:17.539 fine, right? 00:25:18.539 --> 00:25:19.259 But the Bible 00:25:19.259 --> 00:25:20.000 just says there's not 00:25:20.000 --> 00:25:20.699 three kinds of people, 00:25:20.779 --> 00:25:21.139 there's actually 00:25:21.139 --> 00:25:22.059 two kinds of people. 00:25:22.899 --> 00:25:24.000 Here, they're presented 00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:24.939 as those who build 00:25:24.939 --> 00:25:25.459 on the stone 00:25:25.459 --> 00:25:26.220 or those who stumble 00:25:26.220 --> 00:25:26.859 on the stone. 00:25:28.299 --> 00:25:28.879 They're either 00:25:28.879 --> 00:25:30.359 those who accept 00:25:30.359 --> 00:25:31.819 Jesus and his offer 00:25:31.819 --> 00:25:32.399 of salvation 00:25:32.399 --> 00:25:33.339 or those who do not. 00:25:33.339 --> 00:25:36.299 There's not 00:25:36.299 --> 00:25:37.579 super good people 00:25:37.579 --> 00:25:38.419 and super bad people 00:25:38.419 --> 00:25:39.059 and normal people. 00:25:39.159 --> 00:25:39.639 In fact, the Bible 00:25:39.639 --> 00:25:40.779 tells us that all people 00:25:40.779 --> 00:25:41.619 are sinners 00:25:41.619 --> 00:25:42.599 and deserve God's 00:25:42.599 --> 00:25:43.599 judgment and his wrath. 00:25:45.679 --> 00:25:46.740 But God offers 00:25:46.740 --> 00:25:47.399 his salvation 00:25:47.399 --> 00:25:48.859 to anyone and everyone 00:25:48.859 --> 00:25:49.799 who puts their faith 00:25:49.799 --> 00:25:50.439 in him. 00:25:51.199 --> 00:25:52.939 Because this living stone 00:25:52.939 --> 00:25:53.759 is living 00:25:53.759 --> 00:25:56.000 and it reminds us 00:25:56.000 --> 00:25:56.720 that he is risen 00:25:56.720 --> 00:25:57.459 from the dead, 00:25:57.559 --> 00:25:58.740 that Jesus died. 00:25:58.839 --> 00:25:59.899 He lived a perfect life 00:25:59.899 --> 00:26:00.559 that we couldn't. 00:26:02.439 --> 00:26:03.279 He died, 00:26:03.439 --> 00:26:04.240 and suffered the penalty 00:26:04.240 --> 00:26:05.019 for our sins 00:26:05.019 --> 00:26:05.539 and then, 00:26:05.619 --> 00:26:06.599 as 1 Corinthians 15 00:26:06.599 --> 00:26:07.099 tells us, 00:26:07.119 --> 00:26:08.179 he conquered death 00:26:08.179 --> 00:26:09.199 and rose again 00:26:09.199 --> 00:26:09.799 from the dead. 00:26:11.759 --> 00:26:12.759 And he did that 00:26:12.759 --> 00:26:13.659 to pay the price 00:26:13.659 --> 00:26:14.259 for our sins 00:26:14.259 --> 00:26:14.839 so that anyone 00:26:14.839 --> 00:26:15.339 and everyone 00:26:15.339 --> 00:26:16.899 who has faith in him 00:26:16.899 --> 00:26:19.339 can have what 00:26:19.339 --> 00:26:20.259 verse 7 talks about, 00:26:20.339 --> 00:26:21.279 the honor is for you 00:26:21.279 --> 00:26:21.980 who have believed. 00:26:22.980 --> 00:26:23.519 And so there's only 00:26:23.519 --> 00:26:24.359 two kinds of people. 00:26:25.919 --> 00:26:26.579 Peter gives these 00:26:26.579 --> 00:26:27.439 quotations from the 00:26:27.439 --> 00:26:27.899 Old Testament. 00:26:28.039 --> 00:26:29.019 This idea of the stone 00:26:29.019 --> 00:26:29.659 shows up in the 00:26:29.659 --> 00:26:30.379 Old Testament over 00:26:30.379 --> 00:26:30.959 and over again 00:26:30.959 --> 00:26:32.179 as a sign for the Messiah 00:26:32.179 --> 00:26:33.059 that's going to come 00:26:33.059 --> 00:26:34.039 and save God's people 00:26:34.039 --> 00:26:34.839 from their sins. 00:26:35.240 --> 00:26:36.579 And even in the Old Testament, 00:26:37.000 --> 00:26:38.359 what Peter says here 00:26:38.359 --> 00:26:38.859 is clear, 00:26:38.960 --> 00:26:39.679 that this stone 00:26:39.679 --> 00:26:40.259 is going to be 00:26:40.259 --> 00:26:41.039 a cornerstone. 00:26:42.659 --> 00:26:43.480 Verse 6, 00:26:43.480 --> 00:26:45.980 And whoever believes in him 00:26:45.980 --> 00:26:47.039 will not be put to shame. 00:26:48.860 --> 00:26:50.360 Whoever builds their life 00:26:50.360 --> 00:26:51.259 on the stone 00:26:51.259 --> 00:26:52.799 will experience 00:26:52.799 --> 00:26:53.960 the life of the stone. 00:26:56.220 --> 00:26:57.420 Whoever builds their life 00:26:57.420 --> 00:26:58.079 on the stone 00:26:58.079 --> 00:26:58.759 will experience 00:26:58.759 --> 00:27:00.039 the life of the stone. 00:27:00.039 --> 00:27:01.980 And there's only 00:27:01.980 --> 00:27:02.680 one other option. 00:27:02.819 --> 00:27:03.299 Verse 7, 00:27:03.299 --> 00:27:05.440 The honor is for you 00:27:05.440 --> 00:27:05.879 who believe, 00:27:05.960 --> 00:27:06.359 but for those 00:27:06.359 --> 00:27:07.299 who do not believe, 00:27:07.399 --> 00:27:08.079 the stone that the 00:27:08.079 --> 00:27:08.819 builders rejected 00:27:08.819 --> 00:27:10.099 has become the cornerstone 00:27:10.099 --> 00:27:12.119 and a stone of stumbling 00:27:12.119 --> 00:27:13.859 and a rock of offense. 00:27:16.180 --> 00:27:16.940 The image here 00:27:16.940 --> 00:27:17.359 is of people 00:27:17.359 --> 00:27:18.579 walking around looking, 00:27:18.680 --> 00:27:19.399 trying to figure out 00:27:19.399 --> 00:27:20.000 how they're going to 00:27:20.000 --> 00:27:20.779 build their building. 00:27:23.159 --> 00:27:24.119 And they come across 00:27:24.119 --> 00:27:24.680 this stone, 00:27:24.819 --> 00:27:25.059 Jesus, 00:27:25.240 --> 00:27:25.680 verse 7, 00:27:25.720 --> 00:27:26.220 and these builders 00:27:26.220 --> 00:27:26.899 reject it. 00:27:28.119 --> 00:27:29.319 This is not the stone 00:27:29.319 --> 00:27:30.359 that they want to build on. 00:27:31.339 --> 00:27:32.479 And so instead of being 00:27:32.479 --> 00:27:33.500 a stone that it builds on, 00:27:33.539 --> 00:27:34.139 it becomes a stone 00:27:34.139 --> 00:27:34.959 they stumble on. 00:27:37.779 --> 00:27:38.379 Peter's helping 00:27:38.379 --> 00:27:39.219 these people understand 00:27:39.219 --> 00:27:40.099 that that stone 00:27:40.099 --> 00:27:40.979 that was spoken of 00:27:40.979 --> 00:27:42.219 throughout the Old Testament 00:27:42.219 --> 00:27:42.819 is Jesus. 00:27:45.099 --> 00:27:46.059 And so those people 00:27:46.059 --> 00:27:47.259 are building their lives 00:27:47.259 --> 00:27:48.019 on the stone 00:27:48.019 --> 00:27:48.879 that will last. 00:27:48.979 --> 00:27:49.719 And even as they live 00:27:49.719 --> 00:27:50.639 life in this world, 00:27:51.519 --> 00:27:53.000 and they see the people 00:27:53.000 --> 00:27:53.639 around them having 00:27:53.639 --> 00:27:54.839 all kinds of success 00:27:54.839 --> 00:27:55.579 and accomplishments 00:27:55.579 --> 00:27:56.599 and experiences, 00:27:57.859 --> 00:28:00.259 those foundations 00:28:00.259 --> 00:28:01.160 will not last. 00:28:02.700 --> 00:28:03.920 But the sacrifices 00:28:03.920 --> 00:28:04.599 and the life 00:28:04.599 --> 00:28:05.299 that they build 00:28:05.299 --> 00:28:06.420 on the living stone 00:28:06.420 --> 00:28:07.259 will last. 00:28:10.039 --> 00:28:11.039 When it talks here 00:28:11.039 --> 00:28:11.579 in verse 8 00:28:11.579 --> 00:28:12.859 about those stumbling 00:28:12.859 --> 00:28:13.779 because they disobey 00:28:13.779 --> 00:28:14.180 the word, 00:28:14.240 --> 00:28:14.839 it's talking about 00:28:14.839 --> 00:28:16.279 people who reject 00:28:16.279 --> 00:28:17.339 the cornerstone. 00:28:17.460 --> 00:28:18.339 They reject the offer 00:28:18.339 --> 00:28:18.960 of the gospel 00:28:18.960 --> 00:28:20.579 that Jesus gives. 00:28:23.140 --> 00:28:24.099 They're not willing 00:28:24.099 --> 00:28:24.700 to confess 00:28:24.700 --> 00:28:25.379 and repent 00:28:25.379 --> 00:28:26.220 of their sins 00:28:26.220 --> 00:28:26.779 and recognize 00:28:26.779 --> 00:28:27.740 that without Jesus 00:28:27.740 --> 00:28:28.619 they're without hope. 00:28:28.619 --> 00:28:30.239 But instead 00:28:30.239 --> 00:28:30.779 these are people 00:28:30.779 --> 00:28:31.279 who believe 00:28:31.279 --> 00:28:31.959 that they can build 00:28:31.959 --> 00:28:32.419 their lives 00:28:32.419 --> 00:28:33.239 on another stone. 00:28:35.199 --> 00:28:35.859 But instead 00:28:35.859 --> 00:28:36.879 the hope of Peter's 00:28:36.879 --> 00:28:37.419 readers that he 00:28:37.419 --> 00:28:38.259 extends out to them 00:28:38.259 --> 00:28:38.779 is that they have 00:28:38.779 --> 00:28:39.359 built their lives 00:28:39.359 --> 00:28:40.139 on the stone, 00:28:40.199 --> 00:28:40.879 the only stone 00:28:40.879 --> 00:28:41.399 that matters. 00:28:43.319 --> 00:28:44.199 And as they build 00:28:44.199 --> 00:28:45.039 it on the stone, 00:28:45.139 --> 00:28:46.339 that stone is Jesus. 00:28:46.479 --> 00:28:47.059 He's the one 00:28:47.059 --> 00:28:47.699 who gives them 00:28:47.699 --> 00:28:49.039 hope and life. 00:28:49.039 --> 00:28:54.139 So what does 00:28:54.139 --> 00:28:55.399 Christian community 00:28:55.399 --> 00:28:56.319 look like? 00:28:57.619 --> 00:28:58.200 What does 00:28:58.200 --> 00:28:58.879 Christian community 00:28:58.879 --> 00:28:59.420 have to do 00:28:59.420 --> 00:29:00.000 with suffering? 00:29:03.000 --> 00:29:03.920 Well, it looks like 00:29:03.920 --> 00:29:05.079 a community of stones 00:29:05.079 --> 00:29:06.180 who are all next 00:29:06.180 --> 00:29:06.759 to each other, 00:29:07.259 --> 00:29:08.420 part of the same building. 00:29:10.839 --> 00:29:11.899 They're not isolated, 00:29:12.039 --> 00:29:12.619 hiding away 00:29:12.619 --> 00:29:13.359 from each other, 00:29:14.379 --> 00:29:15.339 avoiding getting hurt, 00:29:15.339 --> 00:29:17.519 but instead 00:29:17.519 --> 00:29:18.199 they're right up 00:29:18.199 --> 00:29:18.779 against each other. 00:29:18.859 --> 00:29:19.359 There's friction, 00:29:19.480 --> 00:29:19.639 right? 00:29:23.079 --> 00:29:24.000 These stones 00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:25.379 aren't just together 00:29:25.379 --> 00:29:26.459 on some mission, 00:29:26.839 --> 00:29:27.799 but they're on 00:29:27.799 --> 00:29:28.639 a specific mission. 00:29:30.539 --> 00:29:31.399 They're on a mission 00:29:31.399 --> 00:29:32.119 to live out 00:29:32.119 --> 00:29:32.759 God's ways 00:29:32.759 --> 00:29:33.299 in the world. 00:29:36.139 --> 00:29:36.899 And they're not 00:29:36.899 --> 00:29:37.559 doing that 00:29:37.559 --> 00:29:38.419 powerless. 00:29:38.619 --> 00:29:39.059 It's not a 00:29:39.059 --> 00:29:39.959 pie-in-the-sky hope, 00:29:40.019 --> 00:29:40.740 but they're doing that 00:29:40.740 --> 00:29:41.339 because there's a 00:29:41.339 --> 00:29:41.859 living stone 00:29:41.859 --> 00:29:42.480 that's giving them 00:29:42.480 --> 00:29:42.899 that power. 00:29:42.900 --> 00:29:43.620 They're basing 00:29:43.620 --> 00:29:44.620 their mission 00:29:44.620 --> 00:29:45.240 on Jesus 00:29:45.240 --> 00:29:47.320 who rose from the dead 00:29:47.320 --> 00:29:48.000 and offers that 00:29:48.000 --> 00:29:48.920 very same power 00:29:48.920 --> 00:29:49.540 to them. 00:29:50.259 --> 00:29:50.880 Paul tells us 00:29:50.880 --> 00:29:52.160 in Ephesians 1 00:29:52.160 --> 00:29:53.080 that the power 00:29:53.080 --> 00:29:54.000 that rose Jesus 00:29:54.000 --> 00:29:54.759 from the dead 00:29:54.759 --> 00:29:55.540 is the same power 00:29:55.540 --> 00:29:56.540 that's at work in us. 00:29:58.200 --> 00:29:58.940 And these people 00:29:58.940 --> 00:29:59.780 can be encouraged 00:29:59.780 --> 00:30:00.680 as they go on 00:30:00.680 --> 00:30:01.200 this mission 00:30:01.200 --> 00:30:02.060 because when they 00:30:02.060 --> 00:30:03.060 meet discouragement 00:30:03.060 --> 00:30:03.759 and setback 00:30:03.759 --> 00:30:04.320 and failure, 00:30:04.500 --> 00:30:05.200 they know that 00:30:05.200 --> 00:30:06.180 that is the pattern 00:30:06.180 --> 00:30:07.120 of Jesus, 00:30:07.300 --> 00:30:07.740 and so that will 00:30:07.740 --> 00:30:08.380 be their pattern 00:30:08.380 --> 00:30:08.820 as well. 00:30:10.580 --> 00:30:11.540 And they can also 00:30:11.540 --> 00:30:12.240 take encouragement 00:30:12.240 --> 00:30:12.900 knowing that 00:30:12.900 --> 00:30:13.920 Jesus' pattern 00:30:13.920 --> 00:30:15.039 was one of honor 00:30:15.039 --> 00:30:15.579 and glory, 00:30:15.700 --> 00:30:16.680 and so that will 00:30:16.680 --> 00:30:18.120 be their pattern 00:30:18.120 --> 00:30:18.519 too. 00:30:18.880 --> 00:30:19.380 Verse 7. 00:30:21.240 --> 00:30:21.880 That what's true 00:30:21.880 --> 00:30:22.279 of Jesus 00:30:22.279 --> 00:30:23.400 is true of them, 00:30:24.519 --> 00:30:25.839 and that this purpose 00:30:25.839 --> 00:30:26.559 is one that they 00:30:26.559 --> 00:30:27.259 would be a place 00:30:27.259 --> 00:30:28.099 of God's holiness 00:30:28.099 --> 00:30:29.000 and his presence 00:30:29.000 --> 00:30:29.680 in the world, 00:30:29.819 --> 00:30:31.099 living out God's ways 00:30:31.099 --> 00:30:32.960 before the entire world. 00:30:33.920 --> 00:30:34.839 Not because they're 00:30:34.839 --> 00:30:35.440 better than them 00:30:35.440 --> 00:30:36.400 or superior to them, 00:30:36.440 --> 00:30:37.079 but because they are 00:30:37.079 --> 00:30:38.299 connected to the 00:30:38.299 --> 00:30:38.859 living stone. 00:30:38.859 --> 00:30:41.859 And finally, 00:30:42.379 --> 00:30:43.059 Peter tells them 00:30:43.059 --> 00:30:44.119 that this is the stone 00:30:44.119 --> 00:30:45.159 and it's the only 00:30:45.159 --> 00:30:46.039 stone they can build 00:30:46.039 --> 00:30:46.299 on. 00:30:47.919 --> 00:30:48.539 And so as they're 00:30:48.539 --> 00:30:49.399 suffering and looking 00:30:49.399 --> 00:30:50.299 perhaps for other 00:30:50.299 --> 00:30:50.659 options, 00:30:50.779 --> 00:30:51.359 he reminds them 00:30:51.359 --> 00:30:51.979 that this is the 00:30:51.979 --> 00:30:52.500 only one. 00:30:55.519 --> 00:30:56.379 And so it's for 00:30:56.379 --> 00:30:57.059 this reason 00:30:57.059 --> 00:30:58.879 that no matter 00:30:58.879 --> 00:30:59.799 what we face 00:30:59.799 --> 00:31:00.579 in this world 00:31:00.579 --> 00:31:02.279 and no matter 00:31:02.279 --> 00:31:03.039 what temptations 00:31:03.039 --> 00:31:03.639 we have 00:31:03.639 --> 00:31:04.599 to walk away 00:31:04.599 --> 00:31:05.419 from the building 00:31:05.419 --> 00:31:06.579 that God is creating 00:31:06.579 --> 00:31:07.519 through his church, 00:31:07.519 --> 00:31:10.599 that we take 00:31:10.599 --> 00:31:11.960 faith and hope 00:31:11.960 --> 00:31:13.059 and confidence, 00:31:14.359 --> 00:31:15.160 knowing that what 00:31:15.160 --> 00:31:16.079 verse 6 says 00:31:16.079 --> 00:31:16.559 is true, 00:31:16.700 --> 00:31:17.480 whoever believes 00:31:17.480 --> 00:31:17.960 in him 00:31:17.960 --> 00:31:19.440 will not be put 00:31:19.440 --> 00:31:19.879 to shame. 00:31:23.139 --> 00:31:24.059 Will you believe 00:31:24.059 --> 00:31:24.400 in him? 00:31:27.920 --> 00:31:28.960 Will you build 00:31:28.960 --> 00:31:29.599 your life 00:31:29.599 --> 00:31:30.799 on the stone? 00:31:34.720 --> 00:31:35.420 Let's pray.