1 Peter 2:1–12 (ESV)

3 Changes We Need to Make In Order to Have Christ-Driven Abundant Influence

1) Out With

Reveal Answer

and In With

Reveal Answer

(v.1-3)

• “So put away…” What is the “So” referring to in the text?
  
  • 1 Peter 1:13–16
    -As Jesus-followers, we are to no longer be intoxicated by the ideologies and promoted mannerisms of this world, which exalt self or people. Rather we are to be “Sober-minded,” that is spiritually sensible, reasonable, and intentional, as we fully embrace hope and life in Jesus.
  • We are to be obedient, as opposed to disobedient, children and no longer conform to self-satisfying, selfish, and ignorant passions and knee-jerk reactions. Rather we are to seek after mature and serious holiness in all that we think and do.
• We are to put away the old childish, impulsive, careless, self-centered ways that reflected a destructive and dying culture and long for pure spiritual nourishment that provides us with growth and maturity as embrace salvation from sin and death that comes only through Jesus!
• Peter writes, “if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.”
  
  • If the idea of abandoning the ways of this world and embracing spiritual maturity seem like a step backwards for you, then you may not have actually come to a saving faith in Christ and truly seen His goodness.
  • Peter is calling them to walk towards that which they have experienced and know that Christ is good. Peter is reminding them that Jesus is far better that what this world has to offer! His ways are not over bearing and burdensome.
  • Matthew 11:28–30
• If we are to be the Salt of the Earth and embrace the Abundant Influence God has given us, we must recall, retain, and focus on the goodness of Christ as we put away our impulsive selfishness and embrace and crave spiritual maturity!
  
  • John 3:30–31

2) Out With

Reveal Answer

and In With A

Reveal Answer

Reveal Answer

(v.4-8)

• When Christ is center of our lives and our reason for everything we do, our lives are stable and built on a solid foundation.
  
  • Jesus must be the cornerstone that sets the reference and direction for every other piece of our lives.
    `- If you reject Jesus as your cornerstone and build your life upon something else, then His life, purposes, and standards will be a stumbling block that brings offense and annoyance.
  • If we place higher value on anything other than Jesus or we view the world through any lens other than Jesus, we will be unstable and our perspective will be skewed.
• There is only one way to ensure internal and eternal stability in our lives: Look to Jesus as the cornerstone and adjust our lives to be in alignment with Him.
• Peter says that we are living stones being built up as a spiritual house for the purpose of worshipping God and present to Him worthy, adequate, and proper sacrifices of praise that glorify and magnify Him!
  
  • We are to live in such a way that put Him on display for others and give the Glory He is due!
  • Peter says it is an honor to glorify the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
• We cannot have the Abundant Influence we are gifted with through Jesus if our lives are not in alignment with Jesus. The world around us will not be influenced to come to Jesus if we are continually stumbling over Him and we display instability because our lives are not in alignment with Him.

3) Out With

Reveal Answer

and In With A

Reveal Answer

Reveal Answer

(v.9-12)

• For far too long, Christian have used the excuse of insignificance to cover their purpose of living out their faith for Jesus.
  
  • “Well who am I? I’m nobody special. I’m just one person. What difference can I really make? God can’t really do anything through me. I’m not really that kind of person…blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah…”
• You are a somebody because you are His!
• Peter says, you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession!
• We don’t belong to this world or have permanent ties to anything but God and God alone! We are healed. We are holy. We are His!
  
  • Don’t you think for one second you are nobody special. If Jesus holds you in His grip you were saved on purpose for purpose!
  • You are His for the purpose of proclaiming the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness and into His marvelous light!
• You may have once been insignificant in this world, but you are not who you were. You have a New Identity that is defined by Jesus!
  
  • You are eternally significant because you are to now cut ties with the dark passions of the flesh display the marvelous light of Christ!
• We are to live as mature, solid, new people in Christ! When we do, we will draw some heat from this world, but when the world draws attention to us saying that we are haters, bigots, and intolerant evildoers, people lost in darkness will see Jesus on display in us and turn to God and glorify Him.
• If we are to have abundant influence in this world we must no longer see ourselves as insignificant, but rather we are purposefully and eternally relevant in Jesus!

CLOSING

Will you dedicate your life to embracing the Abundant Influence that God wants to have in you and through you?

Thoughts for Later

What are some ways that adults display childish mentalities in our world today?