1. Following Peter

2. When were you chosen for something? Rejected? How did it feel?

3. A LETTER TO STRANGERS (Part 2)

4. This is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it. (1 Peter 5:12) KEY VERSE

5. What do we get? Redeemed from former empty way of life New birth Living hope Inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade Deliverance from God’s wrath on Day of Judgment

6. What do we do? Believe Rejoice (even though we suffer “a little while”) Live as strangers here in reverent fear Love one another deeply from the heart Act now – don’t delay

7. Today’s Topic: The History of ROCK

8. Genesis: “Rock of Israel” Exodus: Rock Water Deuteronomy: “Their rock is not like our Rock”; “forgot the Rock” Joshua: Rock PilesSamuel: “The Lord is my Rock, my fortress”Rock Psalms: 18:2, 19:14, 31:2-3, 62:1-8, 95:1Isaiah: No other Rock (44:6-8)

9. Simon’s New Name “On this rock...” Big Finish to Sermon on the Mount

10. 24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

11. 4 As you come to him, the living Stone— rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

12. 6 For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”

13. So, how does Jesus -- the “Living Stone” – fit into the History of Rock? What does it mean for us to be “living stones”?

14. What does it mean for us to be a “holy priesthood”? What are “spiritual sacrifices”? How do we offer ‘em? Psalm 51:17 Romans 12:1 Hebrews 13:15-16 So, if we believe/trust in the Rock, what happens?

15. 7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” 8 and, “A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.

16. Contrast the perspectives of the Rock from a believer vs. unbeliever standpoint. What’s the deal with “destined for”?

17. Ultimate destiny rests on whether one eventually accepts God’s mercy as extended in Christ. Those who persist in their rejection of the gospel of Jesus Christ will inevitably find themselves shamed by the ultimate judgment of God. (Baker Exegetical Commentary on 1 Peter)

18. 9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

19. What are we called here? What are we supposed to do? What do we get?