Summary: Jesus was rejected by men, but He was chosen by God, and precious.

You too may

have been rejected by people, but you are chosen by God, too! We are called to offer up spiritual
sacrifices of worship. What are those spiritual sacrifices?
Scripture: 1 Peter 2:4-2:9 (add scripture)
Sermon:
A CHOSEN GENERATION #2: WORSHIPPERS
JOKE:
A southern pastor was completing a sermon on self-control. With great expression he said, "If I
had all the beer in the world, Id take it and pour it into the river."
With even greater emphasis he said, "And if I had all the wine in the world, Id take it and pour it
into the river."
And then finally, he said, "And if I had all the whiskey in the world, Id take it and pour it into
the river." Sermon complete, he then sat down.
The song leader stood very cautiously and announced with a smile, "For our closing song, let us
sing Hymn #365: Meet me at the river!"
OPENING: Last week we started a series in First Peter called, A Chosen Generation.
We learned that we are all chosen by God, and that we are called to crave the pure milk of
Gods Word so that we can grow thereby.
KEY TEXT: Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God
and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to
offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ But you are a chosen
generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the
praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:4-9).
I. Jesus was rejected by men, but He was chosen by God, and precious.
II. You too may have been rejected by people, but you are chosen by God, and precious to Him!
III. We are called to offer spiritual sacrifices of worship. What is worship?
THE FIRST THREE THINGS WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WORSHIP:
1) Worship is more than music.
STORY: When Matt Redmans pastor banned music in their church to teach them about worship,
he wrote the song, The Heart of Worship. Ill bring you more than a song, for a song in itself, is
not what you have required. You search much deeper within, through the way things appear.
Youre looking into my heart. Also, worship is not about a certain style of music.
2) Worship is not for your benefit.
In The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren makes this great statement, If you have ever said, I
didnt get anything out of worship today, you worshipped for the wrong reason. Worship isnt
for you. Its for God.
3) Worship is not part of your life it is your life.
Worship is a lifestyle of the spiritual sacrifices we offer to God.

FOUR SPIRITUAL SACRIFICES:

1. OFFER A SACRIFICE OF OUR BODIES.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of Gods mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices,
holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. (Romans 12:1).
Will we use our bodies for doing what is right, or what is wrong?
Daily choice will I use my hand to hit and hurt someone, or to heal and help?
2. OFFER SACRIFICES OF DOING GOOD:
Dont forget to do good and to share what you have with those in need, for such sacrifices are
very pleasing to God. (Hebrews 13:16).
Every good deed we do every time we share with others is an act of worship.
3. OFFER SACRIFICES OF MONEY OR MATERIAL POSSESSIONS:
Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from
you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. (Hebrews 13:16).
This is why we call giving offerings an act of worship to the Lord.
4. OFFER SACRIFICES OF PRAISE:
Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips,
giving thanks to His name. (Hebrews 13:15).
One of the ways we worship God is through verbal praise and thanksgiving.
HOW TO PRAISE AND WORSHIP: In corporate celebration
a. FROM THE HEART.
- John 4:23 - we must worship in spirit
(Have you ever found yourself with your hands raised, singing, Lord I give you my heart, while
thinking about something else?)
b. ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE.
- John 4:23 - we must worship in truth
c. IN SONG:
- Psalm 149:1 - Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, And His praise in the assembly of saints
d. IN THE DANCE
- Psalm 149:3 - Let them praise His name with the dance
e. CLAPPING OUR HANDS
- Psalm 47:1a - - Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples!
f. SHOUTING
- Psalm 47:1b - Shout to God with the voice of triumph!
g. BOWING
- Psalm 95:6 - Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker
h. LIFTING OUR HANDS
- Psalm 134:2 - Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, And bless the Lord
i. JOYFULLY
- Psalm 100:2 - Serve the Lord with gladness
BIBLE STORY:
21 Then David came to Ornan, and Ornan looked and saw David. And he went out from the threshing
floor, and bowed before David with his face to the ground. 22 Then David said to Ornan, "Grant me the
place of this threshing floor, that I may build an altar on it to the Lord. You shall grant it to me at the full

price, that the plague may be withdrawn from the people." 23 And Ornan said to David, "Take it to
yourself, and let my lord the king do what is good in his eyes. Look, I also give you the oxen for burnt
offerings, the threshing implements for wood, and the wheat for the grain offering; I give it all." 24 Then
King David said to Ornan, "No, but I will surely buy it for the full price, for I will not take what is yours
for the Lord, nor offer burnt offerings with that which costs me nothing." 25 So David gave Ornan six
hundred shekels of gold by weight for the place. 26 And David built there an altar to the Lord, and offered
burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called on the Lord; and He answered him from heaven by fire on
the altar of burnt offering. (1 Chron. 21:21-26).
One of the most important factors of worship is that it must involve sacrifice.
CLOSING CHALLENGE:
What is God calling you to sacrifice or surrender to Him today?
Are you willing to offer your body as a living sacrifice?
Are you willing to offer sacrifices of doing good deeds?
Are you willing to offer sacrifices in your finances or material possessions?
Are you willing to offer sacrifices in praise? Like King David who danced before the Lord with all of
his might?

Summary: Do you remember on the playground when team captains would choose teams? Were
you one of the captains, or were you one of the ones picked last? God has chosen YOU and He
picked you FIRST! You are chosen by God!
Scripture: 1 Peter 2:1-2:9 (add scripture)
Sermon:
A CHOSEN GENERATION #1: WORD WARRIORS
OPENING TEXT:
1 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 2 as
newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, 3 if indeed you
have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by
men, but chosen by God and precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual
house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6
Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect,
precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame." 7 Therefore, to you
who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, "The stone which the builders
rejected Has become the chief cornerstone," 8 and "A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense."
They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. 9 But you are a
chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may
proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. (1 Peter
2:1-9).
You are a chosen generation! What does it mean to be chosen by God?
ILLUSTRATION: Do you remember on the playground when two team captains would choose
teams? Were you one of the captains, or were you one of the ones picked last? I was often picked
last. But God has chosen YOU and He picked you FIRST! You are chosen by God!

 God has called us to the kingdom for such a time as this! We are going to look at this Scripture
for the next 3 weeks. This week, we are going to focus on the first three verses.
1 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 2 as
newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, 3 if indeed you
have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
This morning I want to talk to you about the Word of God and how He wants us to become
Word Warriors!
TEXT: How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth. (Psalm
119:103).
Therefore I love Your commandments More than gold, yes, than fine gold. (Psalm 119:127).
STORY: The new pastor was asked to teach a boys Sunday school class in the absence of the
regular teacher. He decided to see what they knew, so he asked who knocked down the walls of
Jericho. All the boys denied having done it, and the preacher was appalled by their ignorance. At
the next elders meeting he told about the experience. "Not one of them knows who knocked
down the walls of Jericho," he lamented. The group was silent until finally one seasoned veteran
spoke up. "Preacher, this appears to be bothering you a lot. But Ive known all those boys since
they were born and theyre good boys. If they said they didnt know, I believe them. Lets just
take some money out of the maintenance fund, fix the walls, and let it go at that."
BIBLE STORY: Lets look at someone who was radically changed by the Word:
Josiah was an 8 year old boy whose grandpa Manasseh was the most wicked King in Judah;
who led the nation into idolatry and even sacrificed children.
He was a boy whose dad Amon became king when Josiah was 6, but Amon was so wicked he
was assassinated two years later by his own servants.
Josiah was raised in hell and didnt have good examples in his life, but he didnt have a victim
mentality, and refused to become just like his biological dad.
Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem And he
did what was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in all the ways of his father David (notice that
David wasnt his biological dad David was his great, great, great, great grandfather, and Josiah chose
him for a role-model). Now it came to pass, in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, that the king sent
Shaphan the scribe, to the house of the Lord. (2 Kings 22:1-3a).
- paraphrase v. 4-7: Josiah told Shaphan to help rebuild the house of the Lord.
Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, "I have found the Book of the Law in the house
of the Lord." And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it. So Shaphan the scribe went to the
king, bringing the king word, saying, "Your servants have gathered the money that was found in the
house, and have delivered it into the hand of those who do the work, who oversee the house of the Lord."
Then Shaphan the scribe showed the king, saying, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a book." And Shaphan
read it before the king. (2 Kings 22:8-10).
- when Josiah got a hold of the Word of God, it changed Josiahs life!
- QUOTE: One Word from God can change YOUR life forever!
- You dont have to be just like your dad, or be bound by anything in your past you can break free!
8 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD READ THE BIBLE:
1. You will be blessed! Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are the undefiled who walk (order their

conduct and conversation) in the law of the Lord. (Psalm 119:1, Amplified).
Quote Psalm 1 & Joshua 1:8.
2. Gods Word will make you pure! How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to
Your word Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. (Psalm 119:9,11).
Gods Word gives us power to resist temptation. Thats how Jesus defeated the devils temptations by
quoting the Word!
3. You will see amazing and miraculous things! Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from
Your law. (Psalm 119:18).
The Bible is full of miracles, but remember Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today
and forever and He still does miracles today!
4. Gods Word will revive you. My soul clings to the dust; revive me according to Your word (Psalm
119:25).
You want revival? It will never happen apart from Gods Word getting into your heart!
5. Gods Word reveals His love to us. The earth, O Lord, is full of your mercy and lovingkindness; teach
me your statutes. (Psalm 119:64).
Gods Word reveals His LOVE to us.
6. Gods Word reveals His faithfulness. Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven. Your
faithfulness endures to all generations; You established the earth, and it abides. (Psalm 119:89-90).
The more we know Gods Word, the more we know and trust His faithfulness.
7. Gods Word gives wisdom and direction. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
(Psalm 119:104-105).
Gods Word shows us the path for living life on Planet Earth.
8. Gods Word will give you great peace. Great peace have they who love your law, nothing shall offend
them or make them stumble. (Psalm 119:165).
CLOSING CHALLENGE:
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may
proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9).
God wants us to be Word Warriors so we can proclaim His praises!
We are a chosen generation He has called us out of darkness, into His light!
Now He wants us as individuals, and as a church to be the light of the world, a city set on a hill!
Jesus is calling all of us to go into our world our circle of influence and share the Good News about
Gods love (Matthew 28:19).

Summary: God has called us to be body builders to build up His body! When you become a
Christian, you are not joining a religion, but becoming a part of a family. Like pieces of a puzzle,
we are all fitted together in the body of Christ.
Scripture: 1 Peter 4:8-4:11 (add scripture)
Sermon:
A CHOSEN GENERATION #3: BODY BUILDERS
OPENING TEXT:
Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious,
you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up
spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ But you are a chosen generation, a
royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of

Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:4-9).
INTRODUCTION: We are a chosen generation, called to proclaim Gods praises.
This tells us that we are living stones, and that we are being built up into a spiritual house. God
has called us to be body builders to build up His body!
When you become a Christian, you are not joining a religion, but becoming a part of a family.
We are all members of the same family with God as our Father.
This is our membership Sunday we welcome five new members into our family!
Paul talks about this theme: Under his direction, the whole body is FITTED TOGETHER
perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole
body is healthy and growing and full of love. (Eph. 4:16).
ILLUSTRATION: Give everyone a puzzle piece. Like pieces of a puzzle, we are all fitted
together in the body of Christ. When you do a puzzle, and you have one or two pieces missing,
what do you notice? Not the beauty of the whole picture, but the place where the missing pieces
should be.
JOKE: Coach Shug Jordan at Auburn University asked his former Line-backer Mike Kollin, who
was then playing for the Miami Dolphins, if he would help him do some recruiting. Mike said,
"Sure, coach. What kind of player are you looking for?" The coach said, "Well Mike, you know
theres that fellow, you knock him down, he just stays down?" Mike said, "We dont want him,
do we, coach?" "No, thats right. Then theres that fellow, you knock him down and he gets up,
you knock him down again and he stays down." Mike said, "We dont want him either do we
coach?"Coach said, "No, but Mike, theres a fellow, you knock him down, he gets up. Knock him
down, he gets up. Knock him down, he gets up. Knock him down, he gets up." Mike said,
"Thats the guy we want isnt it, coach?" The coach answered, "No, Mike, we dont want him
either. I want you to find the guy whos knocking everybody down. Thats the guy we want."
KEY TEXT:
8 Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude
of sins. 9 Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay. 10 God has
given gifts to each of you from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Manage them well so that
Gods generosity can flow through you. (1 Peter 4:8-10).
THREE THINGS WE CAN DO TO BE BODY BUILDERS:
1. Love everyone deeply.
2. Be hospitable to all people.
3. Minister your gifts to others.
I. LOVE EVERYONE DEEPLY.
v.8 Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a
multitude of sins.
Another translation calls us to love fervently. With full strength or maximum effort.
Jesus said, A new commandment I give you, that you love one another as I have loved you. By
this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love one for another. (John 13:3435).

 Jesus calls us to love each other totally, unconditionally, and sacrificially.

II. BE HOSPITABLE TO ALL PEOPLE.
v. 9 - Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.
Lets look at the early church in Acts: Now all who believed were together, and had all things in
common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So
continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their
food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the
Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:44-47). The believers shared their
lives and everything together.
MY TESTIMONY: Of my first church Solid Rock in Regina the people invited me into their homes
and showed me love, acceptance and forgiveness.
We want our church to be a city on a hill, a lighthouse in our community, and this will happen as we
start loving deeply, being hospitable, and using our gifts
III. MINISTER YOUR GIFTS TO OTHERS:
v. 10 God has given gifts to each of you from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Manage them well so
that Gods generosity can flow through you.
1. How many people are given a gift? Each of you. Everyone!
2. What are we to do with our gifts? Manage them well. Discover & develop!
3. Why? So Gods generosity can flow out of us blessed to be a blessing!
Get our CD You are Gods Masterpiece message all about gifts!
THE PURPOSE OF OUR BEING BODY BUILDERS:
If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be
glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. (1
Peter 4:11b).
Its not just to bring comfort and blessing to others. Ultimately, we want our lives to bring honour and
glory to God! We are blessed to be a blessing!
CLOSING TEXT: To lead into our Water Baptism
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the
Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am
with you always, even to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:19-20).

I am almost too much in awe to comment.

We are Gods people, His possession, having received mercy at the Cross! We abide in His
marvelous light! [Sometimes I forget that, but how amazing! I am His daughter! I have His
light!]

And as His beloved children, we are also a chosen race, priests, a nation. We are the new Israel,
Gods people!
God called Abraham to bless the nations through his descendants, the nation of Israel.

God calls us to bless the nations because of Abrahams descendant, Jesus.

How?
We get to PROCLAIM HIS EXCELLENCIES! We get to tell others about the light that shines in
our hearts because of His merciful sacrifice on our behalf.
So, let us PROCLAIM!
Todays Readings: Ezekiel 43:1-44:31, Psalm 134:1-3, Proverbs 29:7, 1 Peter 2:1-25.
See About for what Im up to with these daily posts. Your daily blogger, Holiday Longing
(Reproduce with permission only).

Proclaim His Excellencies

1 Peter 2.4-10 is absolutely important in that these Christians
needed the greatest amount of encouragement possible. Here are
the benefits God has given each of us by grace. These are our
spiritual privileges - treasured possessions that belong to us as
children of God. 2.4 - all of these blessings are ours when we
come to Him.
I.
Separation.
A. 2.9 - we are a holy nation.
1. We are a holy people. Separated or set apart by God.
2. Exodus 19.6; Leviticus 19.2; Deuteronomy 7.6; Isaiah 62.12.
B. What does this mean? We are a sanctified people.
1. Hebrews 10.10, 14-15 - sanctification is bound up in salvation.
2. 1 Corinthians 1.30 - wisdom; righteousness; sanctification; redemption.
C. Sanctification is more than state. It is a progressive life pattern.
D. What its not: Isolation from the world; The separation of the Pharisees; or stoicism.
E. What it is: Personal intimacy with Jesus. See James 4.8.
II.

Possession.
A. 2.9 - a people for Gods own possession.
1. See Exodus 19.5; Isaiah 43.21.
2. Possession means that we have been acquired or purchased for a price.
B. We are Gods own possession because He paid the price. Acts 20.28; Titus 2.13-14.
III. Illumination.
A. 2.9 - called out of darkness into His marvelous light.
1. Darkness? It is the disastrous state of sin.
2. Darkness refers to two things: ignorance & immorality.
B. What does it mean now that we are in the light?
1. We not only know whats right - we do whats right.
2. From Ephesians 2.1-3, 12 to 2.13-14, 19-21.
C. Ephesians 2.19-21 fits well with 1 Peter 2.10.
1. Now, we are the people of God. Peter is thinking back to Hosea 1.6-10.
2. Lamentations 3.22 - He has forgiven us of our sin.
3. Why? Isaiah 55.1-7; Titus 3.5-7; Psalm 136.1.
D. Illumination.
1. 2.9 - we proclaim His excellencies...
a.Proclaim - only place in the Bible where this word is used.
b.Advertise. Publish. Tell out. Telling something otherwise unknown.
2. Proclaim what? The excellencies of God.
a.Greek: the ability to do heroic deeds.
3.We have the privilege to be an announcer of the mighty heroic deeds of the living God who
has called us into His service.
4. 2 Corinthians 5.20 - ambassadors for Christ. Ephesians 1.3-4.
Conclusion:
A.
All our spiritual privileges should overwhelm us.
B.
May we live out a life of gratitude with thanksgiving