The Stones That Cry Out

1 Peter 2:4-10
November 1, 2020
Chris Seidman

Matthew 6:9-13 (NIV)
“‘Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed by your name,
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.’”

1 Peter 2:4-10 (NIV)
As you come to him, the living Stone – rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him – 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.

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.”

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,” 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.

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. 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.

1 Peter 2:4a (NIV)
As you come to him, the living Stone … .

1 Peter 2:4b (NIV)
… rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him … .

1 Peter 2:5 (NIV)
… 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.

1 Peter 2:6a (NIV)
For in Scripture it says:

“See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone … .”

1 Peter 2:7a (NIV)
Now to you who believe, this stone is precious.

1 Peter 2:7 (NIV)
But to those who do not believe,

“The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone … .”

1 Peter 2:8a (NIV)
… and, “A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.”

1 Peter 2:8 (NIV)
They stumble because they disobey the message – which is also what they were destined for.

1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)
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.

Luke 19:40 (NIV)
“I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

1 Peter 2:10 (NIV)
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.

Mark 16:6-7 (NIV)
“He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell the disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”

Communion

Have you been going about your relationship with Jesus as though He was an add-on, or have you been seeking to align your life with Him?
If Jesus is your cornerstone, what in your life needs to be brought into alignment with Him? (His will, His teachings, His values, etc.)
If you had a stone, whose name would you write on it? Would you pray for them to one day be a living stone?