1 Peter 2:4-12


Read 1 Peter 2:4-12

4 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 ccornerstone 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 fdestined to do.

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, ia people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you jout 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.

11 Beloved, I urge you as lojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

Discuss

  1. What stood out to you from the passage? What questions did it raise?

  2. What does this passage tell us about how the world often responds to Jesus?

  3. How does Jesus’ rejection challenge the way we measure worth, success or credibility?

  4. What are some ways people today stumble over Jesus or fail to recognise his value? When might their response cause us to question our own confidence in him?

  5. How ought each of the descriptors that Peter gives about the church’s idenity shape how we view ourselves as christians?

  6. How is the identity that god has given us different from building an identity around our achievements, reputation or others’ approval

  7. According to verse 9, what purpose has God given his people? What might this look like in our everyday conversations and relationships?

  8. What do you think that verses 11 and 12 (read these verses) would look like in our context?

    Apply

  9. When you feel pressure or rejection because of your faith, which response is most tempting:
    a)compromising to fit in,
    b)keeping your faith hidden,
    c) fighting back?

    How could remembering Jesus’ rejection and your identity in him change your response?

  10. Think of a relationship or area of your life where you fear rejection. What could it look like this week to speak honestly about Jesus and show genuine care for that person?

Pray