Jesus Loves Church

Pastor Sam Perez In this talk, pastor Sam Perez teaches God's heart for the local church. Sam is a pastor who planted the Grace Reformed Church of Jersey City, NJ. In his spare time, he enjoys hanging with his wife and 4 children.

PASSAGE | 1 Peter 2:4-10, 1 Corinthians 12:12-26

1 Peter 2:4-10 ESV As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, [5] you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. [6] For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” [7] So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” [8] and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. [9] But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. [10] Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 1 Corinthians 12:12-26 ESV For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. [13] For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. [14] For the body does not consist of one member but of many. [15] If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. [16] And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. [17] If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? [18] But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. [19] If all were a single member, where would the body be? [20] As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. [21] The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” [22] On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, [23] and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, [24] which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, [25] that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. [26] If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Read the passages above.
Is it possible to be a believer (living stone) and not be part of a local church (spiritual house)? See 1 Peter 2:4-5.
In one or two sentences, summarize the descriptions of the Church in 1 Peter 2:9. Why would the emphasis in God’s redemptive work be on the collective body of Christ and not on individual Christians?
According to 1 Cor 12-13, how does the body of Christ demonstrate both unity and diversity? List three evidences for each.
In what ways are you tempted to say “Because I'm an eye, I do not belong to the body” (1 Cor 12:16) or "I have no need of you” (v 21)?
What must change in your life for you to enjoy the blessings of living in active fellowship within a local church that embraces other believers and serves them? List four concrete steps.