what makes you so special?

I. God is Building You into a Temple v4-10.

I Peter 2:4-6 As you come to him, the living Stone — rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him — 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. 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.”

I Peter 2:7-8 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious I Peter 2:7-8 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,” 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.

I Peter 2:9-10 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. 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.

I. God is Building You into a Temple. A. This temple is the church.

I. God is Building You into a Temple. A. This temple is the church. I Corinthians 3:16-17 - Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.

I. God is Building You into a Temple. A. This temple is the church. I Corinthians 3:16-17 - Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.

I. God is Building You into a Temple. A. This temple is the church. I Corinthians 3:16-17 - Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.

I. God is Building You into a Temple. A. This temple is the church. I Corinthians 3:16-17 - Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.

I. God is Building You into a Temple. A. This temple is the church. II Corinthians 6:16 - We are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”

I. God is Building You into a Temple. A. This temple is the church. II Corinthians 6:16 - We are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”

I. God is Building You into a Temple. A. This temple is the church. II Corinthians 6:16 - We are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”

I. God is Building You into a Temple. A. This temple is the church. Ephesians 2:19 - Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household . . .

I. God is Building You into a Temple. A. This temple is the church. Ephesians 2:19 - Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household . . .

I. God is Building You into a Temple. A. This temple is the church. Ephesians 2:19 - Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household . . .

I. God is Building You into a Temple. A. This temple is the church. Ephesians 2:19 - Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household . . . John 14:2-3 - I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

I. God is Building You into a Temple. A. This temple is the church. Hebrews 3:6 - But Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.

I. God is Building You into a Temple. A. This temple is the church. Hebrews 3:6 - But Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.

I. God is Building You into a Temple. A. This temple is the church. Hebrews 3:6 - But Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.

I. God is Building You into a Temple. B. Lord Jesus is the chief corner-stone 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.” - v6

I. God is Building You into a Temple. B. Lord Jesus is the chief corner-stone Ephesians 2:20-22 - . . . built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

I. God is Building You into a Temple. B. Lord Jesus is the chief corner-stone 1. Cornerstone (ἀκρογωνιαῖος) = at the extreme angle or corner.

I. God is Building You into a Temple. B. Lord Jesus is the chief corner-stone 2. The world rejects Him because He is not suitable enough for them. 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, - v7

I. God is Building You into a Temple. B. Lord Jesus is the chief corner-stone 3. The world stumbles over Him because they don’t accept the gospel. “A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” - v8

I. God is Building You into a Temple. C. You are a living brick!

I. God is Building You into a Temple. C. You are a living brick! 1. Living bricks are holy royal priests. . . . 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. - v5

I. God is Building You into a Temple. C. You are a living brick! 1. Living bricks are holy royal priests. . . . 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. - v5 a. Holy (ἅγιος) = sacred, holy, set apart for as special.

I. God is Building You into a Temple. C. You are a living brick! 1. Living bricks are holy royal priests. 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. - v9 b. Royal (βασίλειος) = kingly.

I. God is Building You into a Temple. C. You are a living brick! 2. Chosen. Why would God choose you? 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. - v9

I. God is Building You into a Temple. C. You are a living brick! 2. Chosen. Why would God choose you? 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. - v10 a. Because you needed to be accepted!

I. God is Building You into a Temple. C. You are a living brick! 2. Chosen. Why would God choose you? 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. - v10 b. Because you needed mercy!

I. God is Building You into a Temple v4-10. II I. God is Building You into a Temple v4-10. II. How Can You Become a Usable Brick? - v11-12

I Peter 2:11-12 Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 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.

II. How Can You Become a Usable Brick? A. As a royal priest - you offer spiritual sacrifices.

II. How Can You Become a Usable Brick? A. As a royal priest - you offer spiritual sacrifices. 1. By teaching. Romans 15:16 - Be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God.

II. How Can You Become a Usable Brick? A. As a royal priest - you offer spiritual sacrifices. 2. By mediating.

II. How Can You Become a Usable Brick? A. As a royal priest - you offer spiritual sacrifices. 3. By offering. Romans 12:1-2 - 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. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.

II. How Can You Become a Usable Brick? A. As a royal priest - you offer spiritual sacrifices. 4. By renewing your mind. Romans 12:1-2 - 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. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.

II. How Can You Become a Usable Brick? A. As a royal priest - you offer spiritual sacrifices. B. As chosen people - don’t stumble over the chief cornerstone.

II. How Can You Become a Usable Brick? B. As chosen people - don’t stumble over the chief cornerstone. They stumble because they disobey the message — which is also what they were destined for. - v8 1. What you must do: obey the message & accept Jesus as Lord.

II. How Can You Become a Usable Brick? B. As chosen people - don’t stumble over the chief cornerstone. . . . 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. - v5 2. How can you be usable? Be teachable!

II. How Can You Become a Usable Brick? A. As a royal priest - you offer spiritual sacrifices. B. As chosen people - don’t stumble over the chief cornerstone. C. As an alien & stranger - abstain from sinful desires.

II. How Can You Become a Usable Brick? C. As an alien & stranger - abstain from sinful desires. Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. - v11 1. Sinful Desires (ἐπιθυμία) = passionate longing, lust.

II. How Can You Become a Usable Brick? C. As an alien & stranger - abstain from sinful desires. 2. What will eventually happen? 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. - v12

So - what makes you so special So - what makes you so special? You’re a brick God is molding into His Holy Temple! So - be a usable one!