Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction:

In the beginning of this chapter, Peter gives us the key to spiritual maturity - we need to lay aside the sinful attitudes that characterized our behaviour before we came to Christ.

Here specifically he calls out malice, hyprocrisy, envy and slander.

As we struggle to shed these attitudes (since we are still in the flesh), we draw closer to the Lord.

This is all part of the Lord’s greater plan to build His church.

What is next in the plan?

What are God’s plans for us?

In the next few verses, Peter will explain to us how, once we put our faith in the Lord, He will integrate us into His kingdom.

We are not to be passive, rather we need to stay close to the Lord in prayer and the Word, and do as He commands.

As we do that, we become part of His project to call His people into a new kingdom.

These Christians, whom Peter is writing to, scattered across the world, are united as members of that kingdom.

They are building blocks of the new temple - the first and second temples were physical models of this new Temple, which is organic and spiritual.

When you come to Christ, God has a plan for you, and every other Christian.

If you are not a Christian, God has a plan for you as well, but it is not in His new kingdom.

If you reject Christ, then when you stand before Him in judgement when you die, He will want none of you.

Key Question/Interrogative: How does God integrate us into His kingdom?

Imperative: We must conform ourselves to Christ, as we take up our new roles in the kingdom.

Transition: God’s Kingdom here is pictured as the the New Temple, who’s cornerstone is Christ with Christians forming its structure and priesthood.

How to build a Temple

Purpose of the Temple - where God meets His people.

5 “But you shall seek the Lord at the place which the Lord your God will choose from all your tribes, to establish His name there for His dwelling, and there you shall come.

6 “There you shall bring your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the contribution of your hand, your votive offerings, your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herd and of your flock.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 update.

(1995).

(Dt 12:5–7).

La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

Temple is God’s design

Select the materials (done)

Process the materials

Assemble the materials

Man and operate the Temple

First Point: The Cornerstone of the entire temple (v4)

Rejected by men - Christ and us - makes it hard to come to Him

Choice in the sight of God - Christ and us

The cornerstone is the foundation of the entire structure - it must be strong to hold everything together.

The cornerstone is this case in indestructible - nothing compares

The rock in the desert that Moses drew water from

The stone that shattered the image in Daniel.

We are drawn to the cornerstone.

We are conformed in the image of the cornerstone.

All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version.

(2016).

(Jn 6:37).

Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Illustration: Gold and Iron Pyrite

Argumentation: We should be drawn to the profane.

Faith healers, prosperity

Oprah

Apostates - smooth talking preachers.

Exhortation, seek the Christ of the Bible any way you can, and emulate and follow Him.

Second Point: The building blocks or stones.

(v 5)

More comparison to the Temple.

Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him.

For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version.

(2016).

(1 Co 3:16–17).

Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?

You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price.

So glorify God in your body.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version.

(2016).

(1 Co 6:19–20).

Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.

22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version.

(2016).

(Eph 2:19–22).

Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God.

Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version.

(2016).

(Re 3:12).

Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.:

Calvin: Peter no doubt meant to exhort the faithful to consecrate themselves as a spiritual temple to God; for he aptly infers from the design of our calling what our duty is.

We must further observe, that he constructs one house from the whole number of the faithful.

For though every one of us is said to be the temple of God, yet all are united together in one, and must be joined together by mutual love, so that one temple may be made of us all.

Then, as it is true that each one is a temple in which God dwells by his Spirit, so all ought to be so fitted together, that they may form one universal temple.

This is the case when every one, content with his own measure, keeps himself within the limits of his own duty; all have, however, something to do with regard to others.

stones of the temple are strong, solid, heavy, robust stones.

This is what God seeks to make us.

people are the building blocks of the new temple.

They must be of the highest quality composition and free of impurities as these weaken the structure.

This is where the priesthood works.

Welcoming people to the kingdom, leading them to Christ, Spiritual sacrifices.

1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 update.

(1995).

(Ro 12:1).

La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me;

to one who orders his way rightly

I will show the salvation of God!”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version.

(2016).

(Ps 50:23).

Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

What are those sacrifices?

Service, offerings, spiritual gifts, John Chau (Sentinelese missionary).

Illustrations: Koreans thank you gifts.

Thank you notes.

Argumentation: What the world says about John Chau and Jim Eliot.

Third Point: Attitudes toward the cornerstone(vv6-8).