Eirene Christian Fellowship 40 Days on the Mount

Spring 2004 Discovering Biblical Purpose for the Church

A House that Glorifies God

Lesson V (Leader) Passage: I Peter 2:4-10
4 And coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected by men, but choice and precious in the sight of God, 5 you also, as living s stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through p J Jesus Christ. 6 For this is contained in Scripture: F Behold I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone, B A And he who believes in Him shall not be disappointed. 7 This precious value, then, is for you who believe. But for those who disbelieve, The stone which the builders rejected, this became the very corner stone, 8 and a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense f for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, a and to this doom they were also appointed. 9 But you are chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for Gods own possession, that you may proclaim the B e excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 for you once were not a people, but now o you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Context
The epistle of I Peter was written to Christians who were suffering severe persecution for their faith in Jesus Christ. God had used the persecution against Christians to place them throughout the known Gentile world, to serve as lights in a world hostile and alien to Jesus Christ (I Pet. 1:1). Therefore, this epistle could be understood as a handbook written to Christians for how to serve as ambassadors living in a hostile foreign land. Peter emphasized to this group of believers that their new faith required a new conduct (2:1-3). God would use the new conduct to glorify himself and shine his glorious grace before an unbelieving and hostile world. Consequently, as Christians, our conduct in the world serves as a light that God uses to glorify himself. In I Peter 2:4-10, the writer uses the image of a temple to demonstrate the role of Christians in the world. The OT temple was built for the sole purpose as a place to glorify and honor God. God has now moved his presence into a new temple, the church (Christians), as the dwelling place to glorify himself.

Discussion Study Questions

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Who is the living stone in v.4? Who are the living stones in v.5? How are the living stones (v.5) to be like the living stones (v.4)? Why is God building up the living stones? What does it mean to serve as a holy priesthood? What are the spiritual sacrifices? (v.5) In v.6, the precious stone or better the cornerstone is a metaphor for Jesus Christ. Jesus is the cornerstone of the church. V.6-8 describes two responses to the cornerstone. Can you name them? What does this say about the role of the church that glorifies God? What does it mean to be a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a people for Gods own possession? (v.9a) Why has God chosen the church? What does it mean to proclaim the excellencies of him? (v.9b) What is the significance of v.10? How does this passage glorify God to the world?

Eirene Christian Fellowship 40 Days on the Mount

Spring 2004 Discovering Biblical Purpose for the Church

Interpretative Principles
1. The House that glorifies God glorifies him through spiritual growth. The word edification simply means to build up. As the church grows and is strengthened in its spiritual identity and mission, it becomes a church that gives glory to God. Just as a building is built brick by brick, God is building his church brick by brick. He is building each individual stone piece by piece. And when the church is completely built up, it will serve as a house that houses the glory of God. The House that glorifies God glorifies him through worship. In the OT, the saints worshipped God by offering sacrifices of bulls, lambs, and goats. The coming of Jesus Christ completely transformed our worship. Christians are now called to worship the Lord in spirit and in truth (Jn. 4:24). Christians glorify God as we offer spiritual sacrifices of worship and praise in a corporate context. This gives new meaning to the Scripture written in Ps. 34:8: O taste and see that the Lord is good. Our corporate worship environment serves as a banquet table for unbelievers to taste and see that the Lord is truly good. We know the Lord is good. While we worship and feast on the Lord, unbelievers are motivated to taste the Lord. The House that glorifies God glorifies him through lifestyles. Phrases such as are chosen race, a royal priesthood, a h holy nation, a people for Gods own possession are terms that were used to describe Israels role to glorify God. God specifically chose Israel to represent his character to the nations. He brought Israel out of Egypt to use them as a vessel to glorify his name among the nations. It would be through this light that God would draw Gentiles into a relationship with him. Unfortunately, Israel dishonored Gods name among the Gentiles and never understood her responsibility to glorify God in a hostile world. This banner has been passed to the church. The church has the unique privilege of serving as Gods personal vessel to glorify Him. The House that glorifies God glorifies him as a corporate reflection of Gods attributes. V.9 is a passage that is reminiscent of the glory of God upon the temple. When Gods glory rested in the temple, all the beauty of Gods glory radiated through out the temple for everyone to see how excellent and wonderful God truly is. Likewise, we glorify God as a church when his character radiates through our corporate witness for everyone to see.

2.

3.

4.

Discussion Application Questions:

1. What does this say about the importance of Sunday worship and spiritual growth? In what ways does worship serve as a corporate witness to God? Do you think your troubles are relative to Gods purpose for corporate worship and growth in your life? How so? What would our church look like if we sought to glorify God in the manner just discussed? Who in our church exemplifies an attitude of glorifying God in worship? What can you do to affirm them this week? If our church was serious about living this way, what types of things would have to change? What wouldnt have to change at all? Be specific. What is God saying to us about how important worship and spiritual growth are to his church? Should the church have this focus in its mission statement? How has this study affected your attitude toward church, worship, personal growth, and lifestyle? How will you express your faith in those areas differently?

2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Closing Prayer: 2

Eirene Christian Fellowship 40 Days on the Mount

Spring 2004 Discovering Biblical Purpose for the Church

A House that Glorifies God

Lesson V (Student) Passage: I Peter 2:4-10
4 And coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected by men, but choice and precious in the sight of God, 5 you also, as living s stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through p J Jesus Christ. 6 For this is contained in Scripture: F Behold I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone, B A And he who believes in Him shall not be disappointed. 7 This precious value, then, is for you who believe. But for those who disbelieve, The stone which the builders rejected, this became the very corner stone, 8 and a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense f for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, a and to this doom they were also appointed. 9 But you are chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for Gods own possession, that you may proclaim the B e excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 for you once were not a people, but now o you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Context
The epistle of I Peter was written to Christians who were suffering severe persecution for their faith in Jesus Christ. God had used the persecution against Christians to place them throughout the known Gentile world, to serve as lights in a world hostile and alien to Jesus Christ (I Pet. 1:1). Therefore, this epistle could be understood as a handbook written to Christians for how to serve as ambassadors living in a hostile foreign land. Peter emphasized to this group of believers that their new faith required a new conduct (2:1-3). God would use the new conduct to glorify himself and shine his glorious grace before an unbelieving and hostile world. Consequently, as Christians, our conduct in the world serves as a light that God uses to glorify himself. In I Peter 2:4-10, the writer uses the image of a temple to demonstrate the role of Christians in the world. The OT temple was built for the sole purpose as a place to glorify and honor God. God has now moved his presence into a new temple, the church (Christians), as the dwelling place to glorify himself.

Discussion Study Questions

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Who is the living stone in v.4? Who are the living stones in v.5? How are the living stones (v.5) to be like the living stones (v.4)? Why is God building up the living stones? What does it mean to serve as a holy priesthood? What are the spiritual sacrifices? (v.5) In v.6, the precious stone or better the cornerstone is a metaphor for Jesus Christ. Jesus is the cornerstone of the church. V.6-8 describes two responses to the cornerstone. Can you name them? What does this say about the role of the church that glorifies God? What does it mean to be a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a people for Gods own possession? (v.9a) Why has God chosen the church? What does it mean to proclaim the excellencies of him? (v.9b) What is the significance of v.10? How does this passage glorify God to the world?

Eirene Christian Fellowship 40 Days on the Mount

Spring 2004 Discovering Biblical Purpose for the Church

Interpretative Principles
1. 2. 3. 4. The House that glorifies God glorifies him through _________________________. The House that glorifies God glorifies him through ________________________________. The House that glorifies God glorifies him through ___________________________________. The House that glorifies God glorifies him as a _______________________________________ of Gods attributes.

Discussion Application Questions:

1. What does this say about the importance of Sunday worship and spiritual growth? In what ways does worship serve as a corporate witness to God? Do you think your troubles are relative to Gods purpose for corporate worship and growth in your life? How so? What would our church look like if we sought to glorify God in the manner just discussed? Who in our church exemplifies an attitude of glorifying God in worship? What can you do to affirm them this week? If our church was serious about living this way, what types of things would have to change? What wouldnt have to change at all? Be specific. What is God saying to us about how important worship and spiritual growth are to his church? Should the church have this focus in its mission statement? How has this study affected your attitude toward church, worship, personal growth, and lifestyle? How will you express your faith in those areas differently?

2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Closing Prayer: