Introduction: If Any Body Knew Any Thing About Stones, It Was Peter

Living Stones pt 1

1 Peter 2:4-8 (King James Version)
4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

Introduction: If any body knew any thing about stones, it was Peter.

Christ called Peter a stone. He finally lived up to his name.

In Israel, stones are everywhere. So, Peter was familiar to stone language.

Peter attempts to explain Jesus to the world in that dispensation of time.

The God of Israel was called the ROCK, so he would call Jesus the

“Rock Of Ages”, the Stone.

First, let us notice:

 The Living Stones

 Peter Describes The Savior As A Living Stone

 1 Peter 2:6 (King James Version)
6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, ……

 1 Peter 2:4 (King James Version)
4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, …..,

Chief….speaks of the main stone
Corner…speaks of the uniting
Stone…speaks of the stability

I) He Is a Strong Stone

 Matthew 16:18 (King James Version)
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

 Satan has tried to get rid of the Church for thousands of years and has used various ways to try to destroy the church. However, he had not been successful.

II) He Is A Strategic Stone

 1 Peter 2:6 (King James Version)
6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

 Without it the building would not stand.

 This stone holds all the other stones together. This stone is indispensable.

A) Same With The Church Today

 1 Corinthians 3:11 (King James Version)
11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

1) To many people has tried to build on other foundations, but when the storms of life come, it will not stand.

 Matthew 7:24-27 (King James Version)
24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

Some try to build on the Sand Of Works
Some try to build on the Sand Of Religion

III) He Is a snubbed Stone

 1 Peter 2:7 (King James Version)
7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, (rejected)…rejected after put to test. Etc. the same is made the head of the corner,

 John 1:11 (King James Version)
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

IV) He is A Selected Stone

A) He Was Elected By The Father

 1 Peter 2:4 (King James Version)
4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,

1) Man may have rejected Him, but He was elected and chosen of God to build His church on.

B) He Was Esteemed By The Father

C) The word PRECIOUS means highly esteemed and valuable.

V) He Is A Stumbling Stone

 1 Peter 2:8 (King James Version)
8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

 two truths:

A) Their Faithlessness

 1 Peter 2:7 (King James Version)
7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

1) Those that stumble over Him and are still stumbling over Him, was caused by disbelief.

(1st) Those that get saved have to trust Him. Romans 10:10

B) Their Fate

 Because of their disbelief and rejection> V.8 states their fate or lot. V.8 – Last Phrase- whereunto also they were appointed.

1) They have an appointment to go to Hell.

(1st) Jesus is either a stepping-stone to Heaven, OR a stumbling stone to HELL.

(2nd) No one can be neutral about Jesus.

 You either RECEIVE Him, OR You Reject Him.

 Either you rise on Him, OR you fall on him.

 Either you are saved by Him, or you will be judged by Him.

2) What you decide about Jesus, will determine what Jesus will do with you.

 Matthew 21:44 (King James Version)
44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.