DO THE BEST THINGS
Text: 1 Peter 2:1-12
2 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;
10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
1. Live Life Evangelistically (v. 12)
- The key element of our effectiveness evangelistically is not so much what we say, but what people
The message of Jesus Christ must be proclaimed, but that message must be a
We are living in a culture where people may no longer be willing or able to hear what we have to say about Jesus Christ, but you can count on this, they will still be
- Jesus said, “…that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
2. Eat Properly And Grow In Maturity (v. 2)
Verse 2 is discipleship in a nutshell -
Peter was not saying to these Christians that they needed an insatiable appetite for gaining
3. Serve In Ministry (vv. 5, 9)
- What is the work of a priest?
Priesthood of believers - every saved person is called to serve God.
The question we need to be asking as priests, servants of God, when we come to church is, “Can
4. Identify Yourself Peculiarly (v. 9)
- As believers, we have been chosen by God. We are a people for God’s own possession.
We are connected and identified with God on the vertical plane.
A priesthood is a fellowship of priests. Doesn’t it make sense that if we are living in the worst of times that we
- We need each other’s fellowship, encouragement, and example.
- How do we get these things? By identifying with one another. By being identified with one another in terms of community on the horizontal plane.
5. Sacrifice Worshipfully (v. 5)
- In the worst of times we can come to the best place, the presence of God and worship Him.
Peter says that we as a holy priesthood are to offer to God spiritual sacrifices. We worship God.
What are these spiritual sacrifices?
Let’s let the Word of God tells us what are sacrifices should be.
1) Living
2)
3) Tithes, offering, and
Bottom Line – The
of times is the
of times to do the
things.
- Imagine. What would your life or the lives of those around you look like if you made the choice to do the best things?