1 Peter 2:4-12
4 As you come to him, the living Stone--rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him--
5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
6 For in Scripture it says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame."
7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone,"
8 and, "A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall." They stumble because they disobey the message--which is also what they were destined for.
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
11 Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.
12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

1. Jesus was Rejected by Men but Chosen by God

It will always be this way; it will always be the narrow road. It's confusing, because the world rejects Christ "a little". It's easy to compromise to accommodate other people's faith. Example: Jesus is the only way. He is, but other churches play it down. As a result, the centrality of Jesus doesn't have much impact. Try taking that position in Iran. It's offensive there, for sure.

2. Jesus is the Living Stone

Temple to Diana (Artemis) was in Ephesus. It is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. What was in it? Scholars think probably a meteorite. They erected a statue of a woman inside. Peter talks about the "living stone," and "pure spiritual milk". The cornerstone holds the building together. Jesus holds us together. We're tempted to substitute other things to stick together . . . like friendliness and love.

Love doesn't hold marriages together. Jesus holds marriages together, not just love. Marriages are better that way. Jesus, not just common interests holds us together as friends. Everyone has to be Jesus-focused and Jesus-centered. The cornerstone makes people stumble when they disobey the word. Sometimes feel confused, when the real issue is sin and disobedience.

3. Who Are We? As a young Christian does, we want to know who we are. We're living stones, being built into a spiritual house. As a stone, you'll never amount to much. But a building is bigger than I am. It's exciting that we are part of something really big. We're a royal priesthood, a holy priesthood. Priests mediated between men and God, and offered sacrifices. There is no mediator under the New Covenant.

1 Timothy 2:5
For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

It's the nature of man and religion to look for a mediator. Disappointment by leaders can lead to a crisis of faith. This shouldn't be! Leaders don't mediate. You have direct access. 1 Peter 2:5 says that we offer spiritual sacrifices which are acceptable to God. Here are four spiritual sacrifices:

a. Romans 12:1
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship.

We offer our bodies as living sacrifices and offer our life to God.

b. Ephesians 5:2
and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

The challenge is to imitate God. (This is rare, usually the text says to imitate Christ.) A life of love is our spiritual sacrifice as well. It is pleasing to God.

c. Philippians 4:18
I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.

The financial support of Paul was a spiritual sacrifice and part of worship.

d. Hebrews 13:15
Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that confess his name.

The fruit of lips that confess his name. Praise is sacrifice to God. This is so important to God, that we praise and worship him. A big part of our worship is to praise and thank God from the heart. We have to think about doing good. Don't just wander through life. Sacrifice is our inward response to God in gratitude and faith.

We're a chosen people as well. We are chosen by grace, not by merit. Since we're chosen, we will be persecuted. That's what happens when God chooses. That's what exclusiveness brings. We're chosen to declare God's praises, out loud with our lips. We're also chosen to live SUCH a good life that people notice. Even our enemies should take notice and praise God. Ask myself, "Do I live like that?" Live a good life with a purpose, to save people. I need to get convicted about being radical as I follow Jesus.