The Church: A People With A Place & Purpose

 

Title: The Church: A People With A Place & Purpose

1 Peter 2: 4-10

I found this: You may not agree with all of it: I thought it was a good way to introduce the message this morning:

This is my church. It is composed of people just like me. It will be friendly if I am. It will do a great work if I work. It will make generous gifts to many causes if I am generous. It will bring others into its fellowship if I bring them. Its seats will be filled if I fill them. It will be a church of loyalty and love, of faith and service. If I who make it what it is, am filled with these, Therefore, with God’s help, I dedicate myself to the task of being all these things I want my church to be.

Theme: If you were to describe the church, how would it be?

I believe Peter has the best description in his first letter to his readers in Asia Minor: To him the church was….

 

A PEOPLE – 1 Peter 2:9 (Read) 

 

The church is more than just a building, or a place of religious identify, we are a people.

1. And more than that we are a chosen people.

(The ekklesia – The called out ones – to be His children/servants. 

2. We are a priesthood – a bridge for the cause of Christ to the world. We are a holy – or set apart people to perform the purposes of God. We are not to play with the world.

3. And the one thing we need to always remember is that we are a people who belong to God. We are not our own, but we are His people.

 

There is a famous story of a Spartan King who boasted to a visiting monarch about the walls of Sparta.

1.      The visiting monarch looked around and could see no walls.

2.      He said to the Spartan king: “Where are these walls about which you boast so much?”

3.      His host pointed to his bodyguard of magnificent troops.

4.      “These, he said, “are the walls of Sparta!”

5.      “Every man a brick.”

 

Peter brings out in this passage that we as Christians are “living stones” who are put in place to make a spiritual house.

1.      We have a place with God, with His people.

2.      Satan wants to destroy this spiritual house. When things go wrong, or get slow, he wants us to quit. And crumble.

 

Ts. Peter also describes the church as having….

 

A PURPOSE – 1 Peter 2:9b (Read)

 

I like how Peter describes the church here…(We are) “His own special people..” How does it feel to be thought of as “special”

1. In this world, people make other people feel small.

2. Growing up, have you ever been chosen last a number of times.

3. How did that make you feel? Not very good, I’m sure.

4. God chose us to be with Him (before the foundation of the world. (Eph. 1:4) That should make us feel very good.

 

But God chose us to fulfill a purpose for our lives. What is that?

1. “To proclaim the praises of Him (God) who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”
2. God rescued us through Jesus Christ from the darkness and destruction of sin, to share in His grace and glory.
3. People need to hear about this. So they will turn to God.

 

A Pastor was making a wooden trellis to support a climbing vine.

As he was pounding away, he noticed that a little boy was watching him. The youngster didn’t say a word, so the preacher kept on working, thinking the lad would leave. But he didn’t.

Please at the thought that his work was being admired, the pastor said: “Well son, trying to pick up some pointers or gardening.”

No replied the boy, “I’m just waiting to hear what a preacher says when he hits his thumb with a hammer.”

The world is watching & listening to see what kind of people we are. Are we praising God for what He has done for us in our lives, not only by what we say, but how we live?

 

Ts. Finally Peter describes the church has having…

 

A PROVISION – 1 Peter 2:10

Like the nation of Israel we were people who needed God’s provision of mercy.

1.      We needed to be saved from the chains of sin, and the penalty of selfish disobedience.

2.      God provided that through His Son Jesus Christ.

3.      Now we are a people with a precious provision.

4.      The mercies of God, and the gift of eternal life.

 

In a courtroom, when a person is found guilty, he or she faces punishment.

1.      But the wonderful thing about God’s courtroom is that when we admit our guilt, we are offered mercy!

2.      We are all guilty and face an eternal life-sentence of death.

3.      Yet the penalty for sin is meted out only to those who refuse to acknowledge their sin, and who reject God’s forgiveness through Jesus Christ.

 

Conclusion: Peter wanted his readers (and us) to know for a fact that through the Lord Jesus Christ, we are the people of God, with a purpose, and a provision. Have you claimed your right to be apart of God’s family. Have you made Jesus Savior, and Lord of your life? You can today!