LIVING STONES IN A SPIRITUAL TEMPLE
LESSON FOR THE JUNIOR CLASSES
STUDY SCRIPTURE:
1 PETER 2 : 1-12
Key Verse
“You also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
1 Peter 2: 5
INTRODUCTION
Stones are known for their strength, their permanence, their beauty either in their natural shape or when they are carved into all kinds of forms. But in this Lesson we are looking at stones which are living and which are lively. They move around showing purpose, producing beauty, showing long life is possible, and teaching all kinds of great lessons for persons to learn.
The Apostle Peter spoke to the members of all the churches to make them know that God had created a new Temple when Jesus shed His blood and died on the Cross of Calvary. His blood was most precious and His sacrifice removed sin for all who believed in Him as their Saviour and Redeemer. Redemption came because He shed His blood in the final and complete sacrifice which was powerful and so removed sin and defeated Satan and all His works.
Jesus was the foundation stone in this new Temple. All who believed in Him were living, active, and powerful and stable priests of God and were given power through Him to work to lead many to salvation and redemption. Jesus was the chief cornerstone on which the new Temple was based and His followers were living and strong parts of the Temple, building it up by bringing many others to faith in Jesus Christ. When they came to Christ they too would become living, active, and lively stones doing the work of God.
As priests of God they would offer spiritual sacrifices. They would love, care for, help, witness about the person, the life, and the ministry of Jesus. They would as great ambassadors for Christ represent Jesus on earth. He was holy, wise, did marvellous acts of kindness and mercy and so would the living stones. They would not envy others, but help them, encourage them, point them to the source of their salvation. They as priests would live holy lives and offer persons access to God. They would teach people the laws of God and show them how to live beautiful lives and lives of compassion. They would show anyone they met the way to eternal life which was through Jesus Christ. They would teach all that God is good and they would receive the blessings of redemption when they came to believe in Him.
This is a grand, rewarding, and powerful ministry all the believers in Jesus have. Their job is to show the love of God to all men, women, and children. Their task is to work as fellow labourers with the Holy Spirit to bring others to God and to love as He loved.