Sep. 21, 2025

Pastor Dave's sermon begins at 24:55 min into the video. The music "Give Me Jesus", "Precious Child", "Spirit of the Living God" , "Spirit Song" ,"Shout To The Lord" , "I Surrender All", and "White As Snow" are licensed under CCLI Copyright #2723035 and Streaming Media #22024223 licenses.

Following on from “Living Stones,” Pastor Dave continued his message through 1 Peter 2:4-10, focusing on what it means to be believers in Christ. After opening with a heartfelt prayer for revival and comfort for those grieving, he began this powerful passage about our identity as God's people.

Jesus, Our Living Stone - The passage begins with Jesus as "a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious." Pastor Dave explained how many people today still stumble over the truth that Jesus is the only way to God. As Jesus declared, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." This remains true regardless of what people think. But for those who believe and trust Him for salvation, "He is precious—a treasure beyond compare."

Pastor Dave reminded us that the Gospel is beautifully simple: "We are all sinners, separated from God by our sin. Jesus paid the penalty for our sin on the cross, taking our place. Whoever believes in Him will be saved." He extended an invitation to anyone who hadn't yet placed their faith in Jesus, saying, "There's no better way to live than in relationship with God through His Son."

Our Identity as Holy and Royal Priests - One of the most striking parts of the message was when Pastor Dave asked, "Have you ever considered yourself holy or royal?" According to verses 5 and 9, believers are being built into "a spiritual house, a holy and royal priesthood." He explained that we're holy not because of our own goodness or rule-keeping, but because Christ's righteousness has been given to us. We're also royal, connected to Jesus Christ, "the King of Kings, the supreme ruler of all."

As priests, we have incredible access to God. Pastor Dave noted that in the Old Testament, only the high priest could enter God's presence after specific rituals. "But through Christ's sacrifice, the veil was torn, granting us free access to God at any time." As this holy and royal priesthood, we represent God to people and people to God.

Living as Priests Today - The Old Testament priesthood offers parallels for us today:

1. Serving Under the High Priest: Old Testament priests served under a high priest; we serve under Jesus, our Great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14). All we do is under His authority.
2. Consecrated: Old Testament priests were set apart through ceremonial washing. We are consecrated by the blood of Christ.
3. Anointed: Priests were anointed with oil; we are anointed by the Holy Spirit, signifying His presence in our lives.
4. Clothed in Righteousness: Priests wore special garments; we are clothed in Christ’s righteousness (Ephesians 6).
5. Offering Sacrifices: Priests made offerings to God; we offer spiritual sacrifices, which we’ll explore further.
6. Blessing Others: Priests blessed God’s people (Numbers 6:24-26). We, too, are called to bless others, speaking life and kindness, not cursing or evil, even to those who oppose us. We declare God’s love, forgiveness, and call to repentance.
7.  He emphasized our calling as God's representatives: "We encounter people who may never enter a church but will meet us in the marketplace, workplace, or neighborhood. Our calling is to speak blessing, pray for them, and share the love of a holy, righteous God."

Offering Spiritual Sacrifices - As priests, we offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Pastor Dave outlined four key types:

First, our prayers are like incense, "a sweet aroma to God" (Revelation 5:8). Second, we offer praise - "the sacrifice of praise, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name" (Hebrews 13:15). Pastor Dave encouraged passionate worship, saying we shouldn't offer "half-hearted hallelujahs or timid thanksgiving." Third, we offer good deeds and sharing, noting that "simple acts of kindness, like complimenting someone or sharing resources, honor Him." Finally, we offer our very lives as "living sacrifices" (Romans 12:1), though he humorously noted that unlike Old Testament sacrifices, "we keep crawling off the altar."

Proclaiming His Excellence - The passage calls us to "proclaim the praises" of God who called us "out of darkness into His marvelous light." Pastor Dave urged us to tell others of God's goodness and share how He has transformed our lives. "As priests, we are world-changers, called to make Jesus famous in our spheres of influence. Don't let those around you remain unaware of His love and forgiveness."

He closed with two challenging questions: "What is God saying to you through His Word and Spirit today? How will you respond?" The message left us reflecting on the incredible privilege of being God's priests, representing Him in this world and offering spiritual sacrifices that please Him.