Bible Study

Bible study is the 2nd and 3rd Sundays of each month instead of a regular service.

This is when we delve deeper in the scriptures, like the Bereans, to better understand what we are reading. Some people think we should not question God, but there are times when those hard questions nag at you like “why did God let the satan attack Job” or when a hard saying of Jesus like “if you call someone a fool you are liable to the fire of gehenna” just gets in the way of your faith. All over the Bible the Psalmists and prophets were constantly asking God some tough questions when they don’t understand what’s happening to them. And so, we, like them should not shy away from asking too. We might not get all the answers we are looking for, but we come away with a better understanding of the passages we are studying and knowing that our God is a big and does not feel threatened by our questioning.

Week 5 – Christ, the Living Cornerstone

October 18, 2015

Study
Questions

Study

The First Letter of Peter: Holy Living in the Midst of Fiery Trials.

Christ is the Living Cornerstone, the chief stone in the building up of God’s spiritual temple. Without this Stone (Jesus), there is no building (Church). God selected this “stone” which is precious and valuable without which no one can come into his presence, yet men have rejected Him as unnecessary. He (Jesus) is the stone that makes people stumble and a Rock at which men take offense. We, Believers as “living stones” are being built up into that spiritual house called the Church, and as a royal priesthood, we offer up daily our bodies as living sacrifices (our praise, our deeds of righteousness, confession of sins, etc.) as worship to God. (Rom 12:1- I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

God is the one who chose us, gave us an identity and fill us with his mercy day by day. How awesome a God is that!

Questions

What is promised for anyone who trusts in this “chief cornerstone” (Jesus)?
What will happen to those who reject Him?
How does Peter describe the Believer?
What are we called out of and into?
Because we are now God’s chosen people we will receive God’s __________?

Answers

We will honored and not be put to shame
This Stone will be a rock of offense and a stumbling block and they will get dishonor and be ashamed.
Living stones, a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession. A “priests” we don’t offer bulls and goats but daily sacrifices of righteous works and praise and worship that is holy and acceptable to God (Rom 12:1)
We are called out of the darkness of Satan and sin into the marvelous light of our Lord Jesus.
God’s people/children

Selected Scripture Verses

I Peter 2:4-10

(4) As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— (5) 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. (6) 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.”
(7) Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,

“The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone,”
(8) and,

“A stone that causes people to stumble
and a rock that makes them fall.”
They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.

(9) But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (10) 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.

Rom 12:1

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Bible Study

Open Hands Church