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1 Peter 2:4-12 ESV

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

I. OUR LIVING FOUNDATION (4)
A. Jesus is not just our foundation but our Living foundation.
B. Jesus is first stone laid in place by God in forming the Kingdom of God.

II. STACKED ON TOP OF JESUS (5)
A. God has made us living stones stacked on top of Jesus through the resurrection.
B. God is forming us into a community, a church, built on foundation of Jesus.

III. PUT TOGETHER FOR A PURPOSE (6-10)
A. God intends we form a priesthood making Him known.
B. God does not intend for us to be pioneers but a priesthood.
C. Our differences work in a synergy that lets us do work of God together more effectively than we could alone.
D. We have been put together to proclaim the excellence of Jesus.

IV. BORN TO SEEK GOOD OF OTHERS (11-12)
A. The church should be known for the good we support and do and not just what we are against.
B. The prominent place of the church in America may fall but the church itself is eternal and can never fall.

V. A POST-CHRISTIAN AMERICA
A. Despite what we assume, being American & Christian are not the same thing.
B. Americans need to be resurrected and not just revived.

VI. SILENCING OUR CRITICS
A. The Holy Spirit convicts of sin. We share & live the Gospel.
B. Instead of protesting the government, let’s partner with them and make ourselves indispensable to them.

APPLICATION:
1. Freedom in Christ is the freedom to say yes to Jesus and no to the flesh.
2. Make following Jesus at least as much about what we pursue as what we avoid.