The Big Church

PRAY: It's so good, heavenly Father, to spend time reading and reflecting on your Word. Please show me something new about your Son Jesus today.

READ: 1 Peter 2:4-10

REFLECT: Have you ever heard someone say, "Jesus is my personal Lord and Savior"? No doubt, people who say that are sincere and want us to know of their deep commitment to following Jesus. That's a good thing. But to some, the statement sounds a little exclusive, as if the Christian faith is about "me and Jesus, and no one else."

In our passage today, the apostle Peter opens our eyes to another important truth about Jesus: saying yes to following him makes us part of a big group called the church.

To describe the church, Peter uses a picture of bricks and mortar but gives it a new spiritual meaning. The church is like a "spiritual house" (v. 5) made up of Jesus ("the living Stone" (v. 4) and his followers ("living stones" [v. 5)). In other words, the church is not a physical building; it's a "people belonging to God" (v. 9), with Jesus Christ as its cornerstone (v. 6). He's not a lifeless, granite memorial from the past. Jesus is alive and present in his church today (v. 4). Those who reject that fact will stumble and fall (vv. 4, 7-8). All those who follow Jesus- past, present, and future--become like him and are connected (v. 5).

The church I attend used to meet in an old building of gray stone. Over the years, the congregation has grown, so recently, we had to expand the facilities. When the new building was finally completed, we saw that one of the walls had been built around a large stone cross. It makes a lasting statement about what we believe: this church is built around Jesus Christ. That's exactly what the apostle Peter is saying in this passage; only the church he's referring to is much bigger.

APPLY: Are you one of "the living stones" in God's "spiritual house"? How do you know?

PRAY: Spend some time praying for the church you attend most often. Ask God to give you a deeper understanding of what it means to be a "living stone" in the big church.

Discussion Questions for "Who Is Jesus?"

1. What would you say is the most common understanding of Jesus today? That is, what does "the average person" believe about Jesus?
2. What have you learned about Jesus from movies, plays, television, or novels? How is Jesus portrayed in popular culture?
3. How and when did you first learn about Jesus? Has your understanding of Jesus changed over the years? If so, how?
4. How would you describe your view of Jesus today?
5. Do you think it matters what people believe about Jesus? Why?
6. Do you think Christians should actively try to persuade non-Christians to believe in Jesus? Why or why not?
7. Do you think Jesus is different from any of the world's greatest religious leaders? If so, how?

The Essential Jesus (Part 2): The Need for a Savior

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