6. September MemoryVerse:
John 14:6 ESV
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth,
and the life. No one comes to the Father except
through Me.”
7. Sign Up Sheets for Prayer Leaders for
November 7, 2016, for the Prayer Gathering at
the State Capitol.
Prayer LeaderTeam Meetings will take place
Sundays, September 25 and October 30, 5:00
p.m. in E412.
8. We received ten (10) prayer leaders last Sunday,
we only need thirty (30) more!
Please encourage your members to say yes.
9. Fall Bible Study with Don Gann
Daily from
09/26/2016 to 09/28/2016
9:15 AM - 11:30 am
CLC Dining Room
2nd Floor in the Christian Life Center
14. 1 Peter 2:11-20
Living as Strangers
September 25, 2016
First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi
USA
15. James 1:19-25 ESV
Hearing and Doing theWord
19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person
be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;
20 for the anger of man does not produce the
righteousness of God. 21Therefore put away all
filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive
with meekness the implanted word, which is able
to save your souls.
16. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers
only, deceiving yourselves.
23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a
doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his
natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at
himself and goes away and at once forgets
what he was like.
James 1:19-25 ESV
18. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law,
the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no
hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will
be blessed in his doing.
James 1:19-25 ESV
19. Peter wrote 1 Peter to encourage believers to
be good witnesses to their persecutors, and to
remember that their suffering would lead to
glory (1 Peter 1:6-7; 4:13-14; 5:10).
(The Insanity of Obedience by Nik Ripken)
22. The time to prepare for a crisis is not during the
middle of the crisis.
Peter had another purpose in mind than just
encouraging the believers who were being
persecuted.
23. He knew that a "fiery trial" of official
persecution was about to begin from the
Roman Empire (1 Peter 4:12).
Governments feel that they need to be in
control of things – all things and they like to
have lists of things that they approve of:
religions, etc.
24. When the church began in Jerusalem, it was
looked on by the Romans as a "sect" of the
Jews.
The first Christians were Jews and they met in
theTemple precincts.
25. The Roman government took no official action
against the Christians since the Jewish religion
was accepted and approved.
But when it became clear that Christianity was
not a "sect" of Judaism, Rome had to take
steps.
29. While the church may not go through the Great
Tribulation,Warren Wiersbe believes that these
latter days will bring much suffering and
persecution to the people of God.
31. 1 Peter 2:1-10 ESV
A Living Stone and a Holy People
1 So put away all malice and all deceit and
hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like
newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual
milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation
— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is
good.
33. 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.
34. 6 For it stands in Scripture:
“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,
a cornerstone chosen and
precious, and whoever believes in Him will
not be put to shame.”
35. 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,”
36. 8 and
“A stone of stumbling,
and a rock of offense.”
They stumble because they disobey the word,
as they were destined to do.
37. 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood,
a holy nation, a people for His own possession,
that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him
Who called you out 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.
1 Peter 2:1-10 ESV
39. 1 Peter 2:1-3 ESV
A Living Stone and a Holy People
1 So put away all malice and all deceit and
hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like
newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual
milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation
— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is
good.
40. If you're a parent, you know how newborn
babes crave milk.
In the middle of the night, they want milk.
When you're trying to study, they want milk.
Every few hours they want milk.
41. Peter says we're to be the same way.
He doesn't say if we're newborn babes, or when
we're newborn babes, but rather we're to
continue all the days of our lives as newborn
babes, craving the sincere milk of theWord.
42. If we are all in theWord together, the result will
be unity.
This group of people at FBCJ would never get
together like we do for any other reason except
theWord.
43. We have different interests, political
inclinations, ideas, philosophies, and
backgrounds.
However, as we study theWord, we are knit
together in unity.
44. That is why we are to lay aside the slow-burning
anger of malice, the trickery of guile, and the
divisiveness of hypocrisy, envy, and evil
speaking.
46. No matter how good the meal Jan prepares for
me is, if I stop off at McDonald's on the way
home and eat a couple of Quarter Pounders
with large fries—and super-size the whole
deal—when I get home, I won't be interested in
what she has.
47. When people stop reading or studying the
Word, it's because they're eating the junk food
of the world.
That's why Peter says, "First lay aside the junk
and then you will desire the milk of theWord."
48. 1 Peter 2:4-5a ESV
4 As you come to Him, a living stone rejected by
men but in the sight of God chosen and
precious,5a you yourselves like living stones
49. Peter says not only are we children in the same
family, but we are stones in the same building.
The building isn't the church—the body is!
We are the living stones.
50. People enjoy the sanctuary here at First Baptist
Church Jackson.
Why?
It's not just because the building is beautiful and
worshipful but it's because the fragrance of the
church (the body) is left behind.
51. These buildings are nothing more than
buildings.
But because the church is here worshiping and
praying, studying and fellowshipping with the
Lord, the environment is filled with the
fragrance of Jesus.
52. 1 Peter 2:5b
5b are built up a spiritual house,
That we are living stones who are being built
up, or fit together, as a spiritual house brings to
mind a most interesting Scripture.
53. 1 Kings 6:7 ESV
7When the house was built, it was with stone
prepared at the quarry, so that neither hammer
nor axe nor any tool of iron was heard in the
house while it was being built.
56. When the stones were taken to theTemple
Mount, they could be fit together in silence.
We're living stones being fit together for an
eternalTemple in Heaven.
57. This life on Earth is the quarry, which explains
why we always feel like we're being chipped
and chiseled.
"Why am I next to this blockhead?" you ask, or,
"Why are they part of the family?"
You know why?
59. You see, God puts us right next to the very
people He knows will smooth us down so He
can build us up into aTemple for His glory.
60. The problem is, I try to get away from the
blockhead I'm rubbing against.
But because God puts us in fixes to fix us, He
puts us with people and in situations He knows
will shape us most effectively.
62. If we don't learn this, we'll go from fix to fix until
finally we say, "Okay, Lord. I'm not going to try
to fix this, or wiggle out of that, but I'm going to
embrace and accept whereYou have me
because I knowYou're shaping me for eternity."
63. 1 Peter 2:5c-8 ESV
5c 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 cornerstone chosen and
precious, and whoever believes in Him will
not be put to shame.”
65. 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,”
66. 8 and
“A stone of stumbling,
and a rock of offense.”
They stumble because they disobey the word,
as they were destined to do.
1 Peter 2:5c-8 ESV
67. According to tradition, during the construction
of Solomon’sTemple, work went smoothly until
the builders were unable to locate the
cornerstone.
Word was sent to send the missing stone up to
theTemple Mount.
68. "We sent that stone a long time ago," the
quarriers replied.
The builders were confused until one of them
remembered a perfectly cut stone that was
tossed into the KidronValley because no one
knew what to do with it.
70. "It was a mistake to marry him," she cries.
"I can't figure her out," he sighs.
"This is unworkable. Let's quit," they say.
The same thing happened to Jesus.
72. Instead of saying, "Dump them," you and I must
be those who look at people and situations and
say, "I bet this is the Cornerstone working in my
life. Jesus is using this situation in some way I
can't figure out. It doesn't fit in with my
thinking. It doesn't work according to my
calculation or design—but somehow, even as
He was rejected, this could very well be a key to
what He is doing in my life."
74. 1 Peter 2:9a EVS
9a But ye are a chosen generation, a royal
priesthood,
Not only are we children in the same family and
stones in the same building, but we are priests
in the sameTemple.
75. The Power of Sacrifice
ATopical Study of 1 Peter 2:9
“I'm a preacher” says Jon Courson.
“There's nothing I'd rather be, for there is
nothing as fulfilling as being in ministry.”
76. “As a minister, I get to see people's eternal
destiny changed.”
“I get to share the Good News of what Jesus did
on the Cross of Calvary with people who are not
sure where they will spend eternity.”
77. “I get to see marriages turn around and families
discover a Foundation upon which they can
build successfully.”
“There's nothing I would rather do than be in
the ministry.”
78. Guess what.
Our text tells us we are in the ministry every bit
as much as he is — for we are all chosen to be a
royal priesthood.
"Wait a minute," you say. "How can I be in the
ministry? I've never been ordained."
79. Really?
Didn't Jesus say, "You have not chosen Me, but I
have chosen you and ordained you that you
should go and bring forth much fruit" (see John
15:16)?
"Well," you say, "if I'm an ordained minister,
where's my office?"
80. If you work at a bank, your office is in a bank.
If you work atWal-Mart, it's atWal-Mart.
If you go to school, your office is on your
campus.
If you are retired, you are working from home!
82. When we understand this, it changes
everything because we see ourselves not as a
banker, a student, or a truck driver, but as a
minister of the Gospel who has been uniquely
placed in a given arena to make an impact for
the kingdom of God.
83. Truly, we are a royal priesthood, ordained and
assigned by no less than the King of kings!
What is a priesthood?
84. In the OldTestament, the priesthood consisted
of a specific group of men who would stand
before God on behalf of the people, and before
the people on behalf of God but in the New
Testament, the entire church is a priesthood.
85. "If that's the case," you say, "it was the job of
the OldTestament priests to offer sacrifices to
the Lord. How does that apply to us?"
Consider the following five sacrifices we, the
NewTestament priesthood, are instructed to
offer.
86. Five SacrificesWe are to Offer
1) The Sacrifice of Self.
2) The Sacrifice of Souls.
3) The Sacrifice of Stuff.
4) The Sacrifice of Song.
5) The Sacrifice of Service.
87. 1) The Sacrifice of Self.
Romans 12:1 KJV
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the
mercies of God, that ye present your
bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable
unto God, which is your reasonable service.
90. Thus, daily, even hourly, we pray:
"Today, Father, I give my eyes toYou. May I
look at people the wayYou do. I give My
lips toYou. May I speak words that are in
harmony withYour heart. I give my hands
toYou. May they reach out in love. I give
my feet toYou. Please guard and guide my
steps. I give my body toYou, Lord, a living
sacrifice.”
91. If God wants to say something about
Himself to someone, He no longer has a
mouth on this Earth so He may choose to
use your mouth.
92. Five SacrificesWe are to Offer
1) The Sacrifice of Self.
2) The Sacrifice of Souls.
3) The Sacrifice of Stuff.
4) The Sacrifice of Song.
5) The Sacrifice of Service.
93. 2) The Sacrifice of Souls.
Romans 15:16 KJV
16That I should be the minister of Jesus
Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the
Gospel of God, that the offering up of the
Gentiles might be acceptable, being
sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
94. When you witness atWal-Mart, the bank or
around your neighborhood, when you
speak in such a way that people can see
you're a Christian—be it as you give a word
of testimony, or as you turn the
conversation in some way to the goodness
and grace of God—you are offering a well-
pleasing sacrifice to the Lord.
96. Five SacrificesWe are to Offer
1) The Sacrifice of Self.
2) The Sacrifice of Souls.
3) The Sacrifice of Stuff.
4) The Sacrifice of Song.
5) The Sacrifice of Service.
97. 3) The Sacrifice of Stuff.
Philippians 4:18 KJV
18 But I have all, and abound: I am full,
having received of Epaphroditus the things
which were sent from you, an odour of a
sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-
pleasing to God.
99. He knows our tendency to buy things we
can't afford with money we don't have in
order to impress people we don't like.
Therefore, He says, "I want you to give—
not because I need the money, but because
you need to be released from the bondage
of materialism."
100. When you give to the Lord, you're not just
supporting a ministry, but you are giving
away a bit of your selfishness and
greediness.
Doing so is pleasing in God's sight.
101. Five SacrificesWe are to Offer
1) The Sacrifice of Self.
2) The Sacrifice of Souls.
3) The Sacrifice of Stuff.
4) The Sacrifice of Song.
5) The Sacrifice of Service.
102. 4) The Sacrifice of Song.
Hebrews 13:15 KJV
15 By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice
of praise to God continually, that is, the
fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name.
104. You might feel like you've messed up.
But when you come before the Father with
a bouquet of praise, saying, "Lord, I know I
made a bad mistake, but I loveYou!"
His heart is touched.
105. Maybe singing praise songs isn't your
thing.
If you choose to lift hands, or bow the
knee, or sing anyway, you're sacrificing
your own comfort, shyness, image or
feeling of inadequacy.
Then it becomes a true sacrifice of praise.
106. As is the case with the sacrifice of our stuff,
God doesn't need to be praised.
We need to praise.
God doesn't need affirming.
He doesn't suffer from low self-esteem.
107. He's not saying, "Am I really the Holy and
Anointed One? Am I really sweeter than
honey?Thanks for reminding Me because I
was questioning that this morning."
108. No!
That's not it!
God knowsWho He is, and He also knows
we need to acknowledgeWho He is in
order that we might be reminded.
109. Five SacrificesWe are to Offer
1) The Sacrifice of Self.
2) The Sacrifice of Souls.
3) The Sacrifice of Stuff.
4) The Sacrifice of Song.
5) The Sacrifice of Service.
110. 5) The Sacrifice of Service
Hebrews 13:16 ESV
16 Do not neglect to do good and
to share what you have, for such
sacrifices are pleasing to God.
111. When you write a thank-you note to
someone, when you tell a brother you see
the Lord in him, or when you affirm a sister
in her faith, you offer the sacrifice of
service.
112. When you mow someone's lawn or bake
someone cookies, you're doing good and
offering a sacrifice which is well-pleasing to
God.
"Okay," you might be saying, "I understand I'm
in the priesthood, and I understand the
sacrifices I am supposed to offer.To be honest,
however, the idea of sacrifice just doesn't
appeal to me."
113. Sacrifice may not appeal to you, but I'll bet
success does.
Sacrifice secures success because sacrifice
releases power, and great sacrifice releases
great power!
115. God’s enemy can no longer fight against
such a great sacrifice.
The reason God is calling you and me to be
a priesthood that offers sacrifices is
because He knows that sacrifice secures
success.
117. May God help us to understand that
sacrifice is not something that simply
causes us pain or agony.
The sacrifice God calls us to is to set us free
in order that we might be successful and
powerful in life and ministry.
118. If you want little success or little power,
give little sacrifices.
But if you want great success and great
power, say, "I'm going to praise the Lord
even if it is inconvenient for me & my
family."
119. Or, "Instead of gossiping in the lunchroom
at work, I'm going to slip away to a quiet
spot and thank the Lord for His goodness
to me.”
Or, "I'm going to share the Lord with kids
at school."
Or, "I'm going to give to someone in need."
122. 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are
now the people of God: which had not obtained
mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
1 Peter 2:9b-10 KJV
123. As children of the same family, stones in the
same building, priests in the sameTemple, we
are also citizens of the same nation.
People look at us and say, "What a peculiar
group you are."
124. Any nation that would heavily fine a person for
destroying an eagle's egg, yet actually
encourage the destruction of a human embryo
is peculiar indeed.
Therefore, I'm glad a culture like that looks at us
as being strange!
125. True story from Cathy Jeffcoat:
“I love having the opportunity to share stories
with you, my friends.”
“I had lunch with a first year Mississippi College
Law student last Sunday. During our time
together, I asked her, why did you visit First
Baptist Jackson the first time?”
126. “She replied, ‘After I moved here, I selected a
hair salon and during my appointment, I had
two employees at the hair salon invite me to
First Jackson the following Sunday morning. I
knew I had to attend, if individuals are in the
workplace sharing and inviting people to the
church they are a part of.’”
127. “This person joined one of the Single Adult
Sunday School classes last Sunday.”
“That is what it is all about, being Jesus Hands
and Feet in our City.”
128. “Take time prior to Sunday, pick up your phone
or send an e-mail to someone you have not
seen in a few weeks or someone who has
visited in your Sunday School Class, let them
know they are important to God’s Kingdom.”
129. The Plan of Hope & Salvation
John 3:16 ESV
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son,
that whoever believes in him should not perish but have
eternal life.”
John 14:6 ESV
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the
life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
130. Romans 3:23 ESV
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23a ESV
23a For the wages of sin is death,
• Death in this life (the first death) is 100%.
• Even Jesus, the only one who doesn’t deserve death,
died in this life to pay the penalty for our sins.
• The death referred to in Romans 6:23a is the second
death explained in Revelation 21:8.
131. Revelation 21:8 ESV
8 “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as
for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters,
and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns
with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
Romans 6:23b ESV
23b but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our
Lord.
132. Romans 5:8 ESV
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still
sinners, Christ died for us.
Revelation 21:7 ESV
7 "The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will
be his God and he will be my son.”
Romans 10:9-10 explains to us how to be conquerors.
133. Romans 10:9-10 ESV
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is
Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from
the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one
believes and is justified, and with the mouth one
confesses and is saved.
Romans 10:13 ESV
13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be
saved.”
134. If you have questions or would like to know more, Please,
contact First Baptist Church Jackson at 601-949-1900 or
http://firstbaptistjackson.org/contact/