Tex t A Discipleship Pattern 7 Foundational Stones

If a friend of yours became a Christian, what would you teach him? Where would you start?

Did someone teach you specific things or did they just tell you to attend church regularly? Did your church seem to have a plan on how to help a new believer grow to maturity? What things should we teach our children? How should we disciple them? Is scripture just a lot of books with random information or are there common denominators and patterns we can follow?

Paul often taught very similar things to all the churches. As we will see today, 1st Peter also has a very simple pattern to follow.

1 Peter 1 & 2 7 Foundational Stones

1st Peter 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

1st foundational stone YOU’VE BEEN GIVEN A NEW BIRTH

2nd foundational stone SO……LIVE A NEW LIFE

1st Peter 1:13-16 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

1st Peter 1:17-19 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish of spot.

3rd stone By…..drinking the Word of GOD You’ve been given NEW BIRTH So….live a NEW LIFE

1st Peter 1:22 - 2:3 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; …..like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation——

4th stone with the sacrifices of prayer, praise, and good works. You’ve been given a NEW BIRTH So….live a NEW LIFE By…drinking the Word of God

1st Peter 2:4-5 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.

A holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices? What sacrifices? Psalm 141:1-2 “Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.” Revelation 8 - prayers of the saints Hebrews 5:7- Jesus our high priest ‘offers’ up prayers and supplications As priests….we are to be intercessors. PRAYER- like incense

Praise Hebrews 13:15- “Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.” Psalms- many

Good works Hebrews 13:16- “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. Hebrews 13:16- “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. Acts 10:3-4 Cornelius Acts 10:3-4 Cornelius Philippians 4:18 Epaphroditus Philippians 4:18 Epaphroditus

5th stone in the fellowship of GOD’s people. You’ve been given a NEW BIRTH So….live a NEW LIFE By…drinking the Word of God With the sacrifices of prayer, praise & good works.

1st Peter 2:9-10 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. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people;

the fellowship of believers… Living stones A spiritual house A chosen race A royal priesthood/ a holy priesthood A holy nation A people for his own possession

6th stone while witnessing to those around you. You’ve been given a NEW BIRTH So….live a NEW LIFE By…drinking the Word of God With the sacrifices of prayer, praise & good works In the fellowship of God’s people

1st Peter 2:12-4:19 verse 12- Keep your conduct among the Nations honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. verse 15- For this is the will of God that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 3:15- Always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you…

7th stone with Jesus as your example of suffering. You’ve been given a NEW BIRTH So….live a NEW LIFE By…drinking the Word of God With the sacrifices of prayer, praise & good works In the fellowship of God’s people While witnessing to those around you.

1 Peter 2:18-4:19 verse 21- For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

Stones 6 & 7 are cemented together! If we share with others, we will experience persecution. If we aren’t experiencing much persecution, we probably aren’t sharing enough.

This is difficult for most Westerners. Most of us have not experienced much suffering for our faith. However, we must not export our theology of suffering. We must teach the Bible.

You’ve been given a new birth (left hand out) So….live a new life (right hand out) By..drinking the Word of God (hands like a book) W/ the sacrifices of prayer, praise and good works (hands up) In the fellowship of God’s people (arms around) While witnessing to those around you (scattering seeds) W/ Jesus as your example of suffering (on cross)