1. 1 Saints and Stones 1 Peter 2:4-10

2. 2 Saints & Stones ~ 1 Peter 2:4-10 Peter tells us … who we are in Christ - identity what we have in Christ - inheritance For those going through tough times Upbeat words – a sense of belonging

3. 3 Saints & Stones ~ 1 Peter 2:4-10 How does Peter go about it? He shines the spotlight on Jesus … and only then does he talk about us: Jesus is ‘the living Stone’ ~ we are ‘living stones’ we are what we are because he is who he is

4. 4 If we want to walk on water, we have to keep our eyes glued on Jesus Two things we need to remember: our status in Christ our standing in Christ Danger of losing the ‘wow’ factor …

5. 5 Saints & Stones ~ 1 Peter 2:4-10 We become complicated in our faith – sophisticated saints Peter says: ‘Keep it simple!’ Walking with God – a mixture of fun, faith, and facts Six titles – God’s affirmation of us

6. 6 Saints & Stones ~ 1 Peter 2:4-10 living stones in a spiritual house priests in the same temple a chosen race a holy nation a people for God’s own possession a people who have received mercy

7. 7 Saints & Stones ~ 1 Peter 2:4-10 #1 ‘living stones in a spiritual house’ Jesus Christ is … the living Stone (4a) the rejected stone (4b) a stepping / stumbling stone (8) the chosen / precious stone (4c) the cornerstone (6)

8. 8 Saints & Stones ~ 1 Peter 2:4-10 Christ is the Rock of our salvation he is the Rock of ages he is the Rock that ‘became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth’ he offers shelter and security he is impregnable, immovable, and irreplaceable

9. 9 Saints & Stones ~ 1 Peter 2:4-10 ‘as you come to him …’ (4) picture of a worshipper in the OT he sees us not only as we are, he sees what we can become by grace God sees the end product – another life in the image of Jesus

10. 10 Saints & Stones ~ 1 Peter 2:4-10 ‘… you also, like living stones …’ (5) quarried from the pit of sin cemented into God’s building we are where he wants us to be we’re there together – unity we’re not alone, lots of other stones

11. 11 Saints & Stones ~ 1 Peter 2:4-10 ‘… to you … this stone is precious’ (7) he forgives us as sinners he chastens us as sons he loves us as saints he calms storms ‘lead me to the rock …’ (Psalm 61:2)

12. 12 Saints & Stones ~ 1 Peter 2:4-10 ‘a people … who received mercy’ God oozes compassion – he pitied us God came looking for us a classic case of before and after the Charles Wesley experience …

13. 13 Saints & Stones ~ 1 Peter 2:4-10 Long my imprisoned spirit lay, Fast bound in sin and nature’s night; Thine eye diffused a quickening ray – I woke, the dungeon flamed with light; My chains fell off, my heart was free. I rose, went forth, and followed thee.

14. 14 Saints & Stones ~ 1 Peter 2:4-10 ‘that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light’ (9) to influence our generation to impact our world for Jesus there’s no identity crisis for us – it’s all because of Jesus