The Cornerstone

This is the second sermon in the What Mean These Stones? series. I preached this sermon May 31, 2009.

Text: 1 Peter 2:4-10

Introduction: The dictionary defines the cornerstone as the foundation on which something is constructed, or the starting place. Today we lay the foundation of our memorial.
Remember, last week I shared that whether we intend to or not we are building a memorial we are all leaving behind something that will define who we were that may serve as an example to others. What we leave behind is important and you are now working on it. So I asked two questions about the memorial you are building. Does it indicate God’s powerful work in your life and does it indicate you have an intimate relationship with God? In order for the memorial you are building to indicate these things you must start with the right foundation. That foundation is Christ. If you are building on any other foundation the memorial you leave behind will be trivialized and will have no lasting impact.
Peter describes the foundation, the corner stone. It is this cornerstone that I urge you to begin with today! How does Peter describe it?

A Living Stone
Vs 4 –the living stone is Christ.
-disallowed or rejected of men – meaning they examined the stone but rejected it for lack of value.
-the obvious meaning of which is those that reject Christ.
Vs 5 – you are a living stone! this spiritual building is Christ’s church
-priesthood – all believers are priests – we have direct access to God.
What are the spiritual sacrifices? Prayer, thanksgiving, praise, repentance, offering our bodies to God as a living sacrifice for his service, financial giving, practical and loving service to others.
The living stone makes you a living stone as well in God’s temple that He is constructing.
Ephesians 2:2020: And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21: In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. -you’re body is the temple of Christ

A Precious Stone
Vs 6 – cornerstone
-Is 28:16 16: Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
Psalm 118:22 22: The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. 23: This is the LORD's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.
-the church is built on Jesus Christ. Your life dear Christian must be built on Christ!
-Matthew 7: 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.
Vs 7 (Back in verse 4 he is called precious)
-the builders rejected this stone – people trying to build their own lives and seeing this stone of no value
-Yet God takes this stone that is rejected by many and makes it the chief foundation stone.
Is Jesus a precious stone to you? 1 Peter 1:19 tells us we have been redeemed by the precious blood of the lamb.
-The Kingdom of heaven is like a pearl
-Matthew 13:45 45: Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 46: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.

A Stumbling Stone
Vs 8 for some it is a stumbling stone
1 Cor 1 18: For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 19: For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20: Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21: For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 22: For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24: But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
Vs 9 – chosen – identifies how valuable you are to God – he came seeking you – to seek and to save that which was lost.
-royal priesthood – the priests of God’s kingdom – we serve royalty in a royal position
-holy nations – set apart as God’s people
-declare his wonderful attributes
Vs 10-God’s own possession
You are bought with a price.- you and I are ordinary people of extraordinary value!