Sermon Nuggets Mon June 22
Verses 1 Pet 2:4-12
(vs 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 capstone,")
Theme- Foundations of Faith
There are many who can point to what is feels like to be rejected. I became aware of the circumstance of one man who at the age of 7 was forced out along with his family from their home. His mother died when he was 9 and shyness was his way of handling it. When he got out of the home and on his own at 22 he lost his job as a store clerk. He was rejected from law school because his grades were inferior. At 23 he borrowed money to become a partner in a small store. But 3 years later his business partner died, leaving him a huge debt that took years to repay.
When he was 28 he asked a young lady to marry him for they had been dating for four years. She said no. An earlier youthful love he shared with a lovely girl, ended in heartache at her young death. At 37 he had failed twice to get elected to a political office. But when he finally won, two years later he lost the reelection.
When he was 42 adding to an additional heartache to an already unhappy marriage his 4 hour old son died. 43 he was rejected for Land Officer at 45 he ran for Senate and lost, 2 years later he was defeated for nomination for Vice President 49 he ran again for Senate and lost.
Add to this an endless barrage of criticism, misunderstanding, ugly and false rumors and deep periods of depression and you realize its no wonder he was rejected by many people. However it was said of him after his death "There lies the most perfect ruler of men the world has ever seen ..and now he belongs to the ages." Of course, if you haven't guessed by now we nationally recognize the importance of Abraham Lincoln.
His presidency marked the turning point of our country for freedom to all people. After the civil war a new nation was born. A nation based on the premise that all men were free and equal. Yet throughout his lifetime people rejected him.
Winston Churchill also knew what rejection was like. He failed in school. He ran for political office and lost. He was not considered acceptable by most of his society, but when the time came for war he was asked to lead the country during the darkest periods of England and the one figure upon whom the country gained strength.
That same scene of leadership recognized after many rejections is repeated all through history.
That is the story of Jesus! Jesus himself was rejected by men and looked down upon by his society. But the building block that was thrown away was used as the cornerstone of a whole new world.
Peter wanted to remind the rejected Christians of the prophecy of Jesus and this was how God worked in the Old Testament too. The people of God, though rejected of men, are the ones God uses and blesses to change the world.
As we consider the foundation of our faith is based on the person of Jesus Christ, we also realize we as His followers are part of a bigger plan. He uses us in different ways to accomplish his purposes. Sometimes we are used as a result of rejections and failures. The point is not to concentrate on those experiences, but where they bring us as we continue to trust the Lord.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Tues June 23, 2009
Verses- 1 Peter 1:4-6 As you come to him, the living Stone-- rejected by men 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."
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 capstone,"
8 and, "A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall." They stumble because they disobey the message-- which is also what they were destined for.
What Does it Mean to be a Spiritual House?
Last week we conducted a funeral for Tunney Lepinski, a master mason. It was fun to see him work around the church and laying the foundation for the addition to our parsonage. I wasn’t aware how much work was done that no one would see. He dug deep the foundation and poured cement upon which he installed stakes (rebars) and foundation blocks, many of them he filled with more cement and staggered these metal rods that held all together. He measured, and laid a line and added mortar and spaced them just right.
To build a strong house one needed a good foundation. There are many figures used to point to the people of God as a building that God is making. The foundation is to be Jesus for this building. The parable of the wise and foolish man illustrates the importance of listening only to the Word of God or also applying and obeying the word of God. The foundation upon which the house is build makes all the difference in the world when the storms come. One stands and one doesn’t.
The concept of the cornerstone also points to a building. The cornerstone is a stone placed at the corner, or the intersecting angle, where two walls of a building come together. In biblical times, buildings were often made of cut, squared stone. By uniting two intersecting walls, a cornerstone helped align the whole building and tie it together.
Peter quoted Psalm 118:22 when he preached before the Sanhedrin in Acts 4. He boldly proclaimed that "Jesus Christ of Nazareth," crucified and raised from the dead, was the stone rejected by the builders who has now become the chief cornerstone. This chief cornerstone, Jesus Christ, is the foundation of the church, because "there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" and in Him "the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord" (Eph. 2:21). All who believe in Jesus find a solid Rock on which to build their lives.
Such a building, the church, is founded on the Living Stone. Jesus is compared to a living Stone the capstone of the builders, a take off from the prophecy that He was rejected by men, but he is God's chosen one. Isaiah referred to that in the 53rd chapter. Jesus is God's anointed, but people didn't want Him. It is hard to imagine the rejection of one who loves so much. Yet who of us haven't felt rejection and misunderstanding at some time? We must come to the one rejected by others.
He is the living Stone, I guess compared to dead stones. I like that comparison. There are dead spiritual houses you know. People in Peter's day came to the temple to find God, but the temple was not where God was dwelling any longer. Instead of coming to the dead stones of the temple, come to the living stone of Jesus Christ.
I think we can have that same problem where lots of people give far more attention to the worship buildings than they do to their own relationship with Jesus. It is no question that people find it much easier to raise money to improve or build buildings than to raise money for evangelism, literature or outreach. That is true all over America. Many missionaries come home from furlough and look at our buildings in an entirely different light after seeing the great Spiritual needs and the material poverty of their country. They see many people of the world alive in Christ and yet have nothing the world thinks is important. There are spiritually dead churches but alive to material things.
Now we praise God that we have the facility that we have at Stanchfield Baptist. It does cost money to keep it going. We have heating and cooling expenses. In our culture people expect these conveniences. We could not meet if we had no heat in the winter. We have nice places so Sunday School classes could meet individually and not be interrupted by others.
But I remember hearing our beloved friend, Melvin Christenson, talk about the time as Sunday School Superintendent taking a tour around the church facilities when there were over 300 people in Sunday school. Classes were meeting in boiler rooms and behind curtains and it was quite a commotion. The needs were great and the vision was given to expand the facilities to be used as a building for discipleship, worship, and fellowship to the glory of God. We needed a bigger building. People gave to that need. The need was there because there was something happening back in the 50s. The war was over. People were renewing the spiritual foundations of our country. People were working once again. Thanksgiving was in the air. Yes, families were bigger, but people had a dependency on Christ. That happens after a war.
Likewise there are dead stones spiritually. People carry on religious activity but not based on faith in the living Lord. We need a living Stone, not just to edify us but to save us from our sin. Jesus is that corner stone upon which the church of Christ is built and it is not a building of mortar and brick, but love and sacrifice. Salvation is found in no other name than Jesus Christ. If He is not the foundation and cornerstone of our congregation we are also dead. He is alive and calls us to commit ourselves to Him and He will build His church.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Weds June 24
Verses- 1 Peter 2:5… 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.
Eph 2:21-22
21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.
22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
What does it mean to be Living Stones?
As we think about Jesus, the foundation for the living house, we also see that we are the living stones that are build upon the foundation of faith. We are told that God is the builder. The church of Jesus Christ is a living church, planned, and designed by God. There is no other plan but the Christian Church, made up of believers from every nation, tribve and tongue, to demonstrate the glory of God and faith in Christ.
You are here because God planned it. Jesus is looked on differently by believers than those who reject him and do not believe in him. The very one who saves and is precious to some is the very one who brings destruction to others.
When Jesus asked his disciples who they thought He was they told Him what people were saying. “They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." (Matt 16:14-16)
Some churches teach that Peter is the rock and foundation upon which the church is built. That is the interpretation that also declares apostolic succession and the place of the Pope as God’s representative to the earth until Jesus comes again. But this passage in his letter denies that. Why not let Peter himself interpret the theology of the church. Jesus is the corner stone upon which the people of faith place their trust. Jesus said I will build My church. It isn’t Peter, or other pastors, nor Stanchfield members, but God is building His church using of us according to His will. Each time someone else receives Jesus another stone is taken from the pit of sin and cemented by grace into the building of God. It may look to us that the church is a pile of rubble and ruins, but God sees the total structure as it grows.
We all are part of that building. We too are like living stones, not only chosen, but the very ones God uses to build his house which is His Kingdom.
We are a temple in two ways. First we are a temple individually as believers in Jesus Christ. Our bodies house a living God. The hymn writer declares, “We serve a living savior who is in the world today. I know that he is living whatever men may say. I see his hand of mercy I hear his voice of cheer and just the time I need Him he's always here. He lives. I know He lives for he lives within my heart.”
Our faith is in Christ we are part of His building.
The second aspect of the temple or the building is for all the people who trust in Christ. Together the people of God are stones to complete the building in which God is honored. We each are brick and mortar based on the faith. Together we represent God to a world. We cannot do it alone or by ourselves.
Peter's first century readers were spread out to around 7 providences. They needed the reminder they were not alone. They were part of a much larger group and much larger design. There is a unity of God's people that transcends all local and individuals assembles and fellowships. We belong to each other because we belong to Christ. We must not permit our differences to destroy the spiritual unity that is based on faith in Jesus Christ as savior and Lord. There will be some minor doctrinal difference in some matters among churches, but there is someone greater that allows us to look beyond our difference to carry out the job God' calls us to do.
We are founded on the cornerstone; We are chosen and built by God; We are individually and corporately part of God's temple.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Thurs June 25, 2009
Verses 1 Peter 2:5… 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.
1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
What Does it mean to be a Holy Priesthood?
While Peter is talking about the Spiritual House he is thinking about the temple of God make now with mankind. WE are the people in whom the presence of God dwells by His spirit. While thinking about that he jumps to another metaphor realizing that priests serve God in unique ways, just like we are called to a holy vocation in serving God no matter how we might earn our living. One of the Baptist distinctives is the Priesthood of believers.
Jesus, of course, is the high priest. He served the Father. Offered Himself as a sacrifice for our sins taking on the metaphor of both a priest and the lamb that was sacrificed. He did it on behalf of the people who are sinners. He offers prayers and intercedes before the throne of His Father in heaven. He separated Himself in holiness.
Because of the perfect priest now each individual believer has the privilege of coming into the presence of God. We do not come to Him through any person on earth but only through the one mediator, Jesus Christ.
Let's look at three implications of a priest and how the church fulfills that. First we are to be servants of God. We are chosen by God and anointed for service by the Holy Spirit.
Sometimes there is the feeling that the pastor is the priest of the church and is paid to serve the Lord and carry out the work of the ministry. Many laymen think we pay the pastor to do the ministry. That is false concept according Scripture. We are all servants of God. We all must be using our gifts as priest serving Him. God has a ministry for you. It may not be in the pulpit or classroom, but are you personally using your talents for God's sake?
As His priests today we must work together under the direction of our great High Priest. All we do is for His glory. What are you doing to serve God and glorify Him?
Secondly, we are to offer sacrifices to God. What sacrifices do we offer? There are many indicated in the Bible. Ps 51:17 The sacrifices to God are a broken spirit and a contrite heart. We can't approach God on an equal basis, or with heart filled with pride. He is the king and creator and we are sinners. We have broken His law and fallen short and come with humbleness and brokenness and leave us unto the Lord to do with as he pleases. Ps 51 was expression of David after his sin.
Romans 12:1,2 We are told to offer our bodies as living sacrifices to God. You are not your own you have been bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your bodies. Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit.
Hebrews 13:15,16 Praise and thanksgiving unto Him is sacrifice.
Sharing makes God pleased. It is good to hear reports of people who honor God with their lips, with song, with thankful hearts. This is worship from the heart. It is easy to grumble complain and be critical, but those are not to be sacrifices unto God, he wants thanksgiving. There is much he wants us to center our attention upon.
Phil 4:10-20 reminds us that part of our sacrifice is our money and our gifts and our tithes and our offerings. The Bible speaks often of the importance of giving unto Christ as an expression of our worship and our obligations as priests.
Also in Romans 15:16 We are to be witnesses and the people we witness to become our sacrifices for His glory.
A third aspect of the job is to present God's way by which men and women are cleansed from their sin and are able to commune with God. In other words we become people who represent God to one another- both to fellow believers as well as to a lost world. We are to declare the message of God to all people.
Peter is pointing that every believer has the obligations not just the paid preacher. We are asking you to share your faith, if by no other reason that to invite someone to hear the good news and renewal of our own minds into the joy of Christ.
Pastor Dale
Sermon Nuggets Fri June 26, 2009
Verses 1 Pet 2:9-12 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, 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.
11 Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.
12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
What Does it mean to be a Holy Nation?
In addition to the metaphors of the Corner Stone, the Living Stones, the Building, the Temple, and the Priesthood, Peter compares the church to a Holy Nation. We are united by God's rule, chosen for His purpose.
Peter takes the terms described in the Old Testament and addresses the born again people as a unique race, belonging to God in a better way that even what the Jews experienced. In contrast to the disobedient and rebellious nation of Israel, God's people today are His chosen and holy nation. The church today is supposed to be what Israel was meant to be.
The term Peter uses is a chosen race. Just like the Jews were chosen so is the church. We are people especially picked by God for Himself. That unites us regardless of the color of our skin. This speaks of the grace of God. God did not choose Israel because they were a great people, but because He loved them. God has chosen us purely for the same reasons- His love and grace.
God has called us unto Himself and we belong to Him. The word implies a personal possession. One of the things that give value is ownership. Heirlooms have value because of who owned it, not only because it is old, but you are related to someone important to you.
As a holy nation our citizenship is in heaven so we obey heaven's laws and seek to please heaven's Lord.
We are to be strangers and aliens of this world. We ought to be aliens by not really belonging to the world and thereby abstaining from sinful desires. At our state of the union address the President is seeking for our government to address major problems we are facing. God is the leader of our nation and there are major problems he wants us to face. God does have the right answers. It begins by control and confronting our lusts. We continue by the recognition that God's nation is not of this world.
As aliens we are in war against Satan. He is after our soul and more than anything desires to destroy you and me. We will lose if we give in to the lusts of this earth. We need to depend on Christ consistently. There are so many ways and reasons to fall.
Holiness becomes a witness to the world around us. In the First century Christians were slandered by their world. They were treated as a separated group because they did not believe or act like their neighbors. Christians were called cannibals. They were called immoral assumed with sexual activity because they practiced a “love feast” (communion) and outsiders misunderstood. There were other labels, “Anti Jewish” “Dishonoring to parents by leaving the faith” “Enemy to Caesar”.
Plato said, "I will live in such a way that no man will believe false reports" That is what Peter is saying. Stop wagging tongues by living above the reports.
Unfortunately many evangelists and professing Christians are worthy of the insults. There have been far too many examples of immorality, embezzlement, abuses among staff. There have been fraud and deceit. Certainly the secular sources love to promote and reveal such things and perhaps falsely accuse as well, but one thing sure, too many Christians in all levels of life live hypocritically. They promote public piousness, when evil abounds in their hearts.
We need to demonstrate holiness that God be glorified. We are called to be a nation where our leader is not only honored and obeyed but loved and allowed to function within each life that we work and serve Him together.
When I was on the Indian reservation on of the elders hit me with a touch question. “You say that there is but one way to worship and serve the Great Spirit. Yet, why do you white people differ so much about it? You have the same great book but there are many differing churches. They do not get along. We have been abused by the white man’s religions and taken from our homes and had our rivers and lake polluted, our game reduced and made to live in certain areas. Is that the teaching of your God?”
Do you wonder why witnessing is so hard among the Indian people?
We are to be a Holy Nation unto the Lord. Let's be what he calls us to be.
Pastor Dale
