1 Peter 2:4-10
Saints
and
Stones
1
Saints & Stones ~ 1 Peter 2:4-10
Peter tells us …
 who we are in Christ - identity
 what we have in Christ - inheritance
For those going through tough times
Upbeat words – a sense of belonging
2
Saints & Stones ~ 1 Peter 2:4-10
How does Peter go about it?
He shines the spotlight on Jesus …
and only then does he talk about us:
Jesus is ‘the living Stone’ ~ we are
‘living stones’

we are what we are because he is
who he is
3
Saints & Stones ~ 1 Peter 2:4-10
If we want to walk on water, we
have to keep our eyes glued on Jesus
Two things we need to remember:
 our status in Christ
 our standing in Christ
Danger of losing the ‘wow’ factor …
4
Saints & Stones ~ 1 Peter 2:4-10
We become complicated in our faith –
sophisticated saints
Peter says: ‘Keep it simple!’
Walking with God – a mixture of fun,
faith, and facts
Six titles – God’s affirmation of us
5
Saints & Stones ~ 1 Peter 2:4-10






living stones in a spiritual house
priests in the same temple
a chosen race
a holy nation
a people for God’s own possession
a people who have received mercy
6
Saints & Stones ~ 1 Peter 2:4-10
#1 ‘living stones in a spiritual house’
Jesus Christ is …
 the living Stone (4a)
 the rejected stone (4b)
 a stepping / stumbling stone (8)
 the chosen / precious stone (4c)
 the cornerstone (6)
7
Saints & Stones ~ 1 Peter 2:4-10





Christ is the Rock of our salvation
he is the Rock of ages
he is the Rock that ‘became a huge
mountain and filled the whole earth’
he offers shelter and security
he is impregnable, immovable, and
irreplaceable
8
Saints & Stones ~ 1 Peter 2:4-10
‘as you come to him …’ (4)



picture of a worshipper in the OT
he sees us not only as we are, he
sees what we can become by grace
God sees the end product – another
life in the image of Jesus
9
Saints & Stones ~ 1 Peter 2:4-10
‘… you also, like living stones …’ (5)





quarried from the pit of sin
cemented into God’s building
we are where he wants us to be
we’re there together – unity
we’re not alone, lots of other stones
10
Saints & Stones ~ 1 Peter 2:4-10
‘… to you … this stone is precious’ (7)




he
he
he
he
forgives us as sinners
chastens us as sons
loves us as saints
calms storms
‘lead me to the rock …’ (Psalm 61:2)
11
Saints & Stones ~ 1 Peter 2:4-10
‘a people … who received mercy’

God oozes compassion – he pitied us
God came looking for us
a classic case of before and after

the Charles Wesley experience …


12
Saints & Stones ~ 1 Peter 2:4-10
Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray –
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free.
I rose, went forth, and followed thee.
13
Saints & Stones ~ 1 Peter 2:4-10
‘that you may declare the praises of
him who called you out of darkness
into his wonderful light’ (9)




to influence our generation
to impact our world for Jesus
there’s no identity crisis
for us – it’s all because of Jesus
14