1 Peter 2:4-5 As you come to him, the living Stone–rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him– 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.
- Why does Peter refer to Jesus as “the living Stone”? What are the qualities of this living Stone?
- What is significant about believers being described as “living stones”? What is the image that Peter has in mind here?
- What are the “spiritual sacrifices” that are acceptable to God that believers offer?
1 Peter 2:6-8 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.” Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone,’” and, “A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message–which is also what they were destined for.
- What is the significance and context of the scripture references in this section? (See Isaiah 28:16, Psalm 118:22-23)
- How does one “trust in him”? What are the benefits of doing this?
- What does it mean to “disobey the message”?
1 Peter 2:9-12 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 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. Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
- How is the body of believers described in this section? What do each of these mean to you?
- What are believers commanded to do in this section and why?