“Living as an Advertisement”
I Peter 2:1-10
Preparation: Put a cut-out of an advertisement in each of the bulletins. I will make reference to it at the end of the message.
Illustration: Read a full page newspaper ad. Have you ever considered the fact that we are like full page ads, advertising Jesus Christ?
Whether we realize it or not; whether we like it or not, we are an advertisement of Jesus Christ.
The tone of I Peter is a warm pastoral one, full of encouragement. The basic problem that these early Christians were facing was living for God in the midst of a society ignorant of the true God and unfriendly toward those who did. Because they were Christians, they were misunderstood and subjected to unjust treatment. Peter’s pastoral purpose is to help these early believers see their temporary sufferings in the full light of the coming eternal glory.
Transition:
1:3-9 After opening his letter with a majestic ascription to the great mercy of God that caused us to be born again.
1:13-2:10 Deals with living in the light of that great salvation that we have. This included:
· (1:13-16) Living in holiness,
· (1:17-21) Living in holy fear of God, and
· (1:22-25) Living in love for one another
We will be looking at I Peter 2:1-10. I want to call it Living as an Advertisement.
1. Our Foundation for Advertising is Living Like Jesus (vv. 1-3)
Illustration: Ghandi
Ghandi was once asked why he wasn’t a Christian. He responded by saying, “If I saw a person who said they were a Christian, actually act like Christ, I might consider it.”
Actions do often speak louder than words. There needs to be a foundation laid that will not crack when we are shaken. We have good reasons for telling others the good news of salvation and new life in Christ. But has to be upon a bedrock of a lifestyle that imitates our Lord, to the best of our ability.
a. The kind of lifestyle that damages our testimony (v. 1)
Peter is saying that we need to turn away from those kinds of behaviors listed in v. 1.
The world and Satan are constantly bidding for our affection and allegiance. They would want us to value what the world values, and participate in a sinful lifestyle because it clouds our view of God and makes us poor advertisements of Jesus.
Sin has a way of dragging us down and blinding us to the liberating truths of God’s blessings. For example, when we are living in sin:
· We don’t feel the warmth of God’s approval.
· We don’t experience cleansing of forgiveness.
· We don’t handle stressful situations well, for we try to defend ourselves in a reactionary way instead of a Christ-like, trusting way.
· We don’t see God’s providential hand working in our lives to guide us.
· We don’t feel peace in our souls.
· We become blinded to God’s unfolding plans.
· We lose faith in God’s goodness and faithfulness.
· We don’t pray for God’s will anymore.
· Our view of God becomes smaller and smaller, until He is just a manageable deity that we come to only out of our convenience.
And when people see this in our lives, it greatly damages our testimony. They’re not likely to want to listen to anything we have to say.
b. The kind of lifestyle that develops our testimony (v. 2)
Illustration: Feeding a newborn baby
A baby doesn’t keep you guessing when she’s hungry, she let’s you know (“Whaaaaaa!”). And when a baby is hungry, nothing is going to pacify them for long. They just keep crying until you feed them. If any of you have ever bottle-fed a little baby, you know that there isn’t much to it. Just stick the nipple in the close vicinity of the babies mouth and PLUNK! The child takes over from there. It’s natural to them…
That’s how it ought to be with Christians. We are to be like newborn babies that cry often for God’s Word, and have it be a natural part of our daily lives.
The word, “if” in v. 3 can be translated “since.” Since we have been saved (“tasted the kindness of the Lord”), don’t stop there! Keep yearning for the Bible so that we can grow in respect to our salvation and not remain infants.
If we neglect our spiritual food in the Bible, we run the risk of being swayed into a sinful mindset, and ruining our spiritual growth and advertisement to others.
When we climb the mountains of life, the Bible is our rope of courage to cling onto.
In the valleys, it is our staff of guidance.
When the storms come, it is our umbrella of assurance.
When we tread the desert stretches, it is our canteen of unlimited fresh water to revive us.
Application: What are some creative things that we could be doing in our lives to help soak in the word of God and make its values our own?
· Attending a home Bible study – or starting one!
· A special quiet time where you can get alone with God
· Monday morning men’s prayer breakfasts before going to work
· Wednesday evening
· Sunday school
· Getting involved with an accountability partner or group…
How precious is the word of God! How can we afford to leave it out of our lives? “Long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,” Peter says.
Our world needs to see an advertisement of Christ that is genuine.
2. Our Encouragement in Advertising is Leaning On Jesus (vv. 4-5)
Notice how Peter uses the term “living” in this book:
· Peter describes our hope of salvation as a living hope (1:3)
· salvation comes through the imperishable, living word of God (1:23)
· Jesus is then called a living stone (v. 4)
· we as believers too are referred to as living stones (v. 5)
Bottom line: Where Jesus is, there is life!
Apart from Jesus there is despair, darkness, hopelessness, sadness, fear, and doom. But life with Jesus as our Savior is the real life, indeed! There is hope, light, forgiveness, assurance, joy, courage, and anticipation for the future.
The body of believers that we call the Church is made up of individuals that have a living faith, not a dead one!
What are some of the encouragements these verses give us?:
a. Stability in our Salvation (v. 4)
“coming to Him” – means as we come to Him regularly. This is not in reference to becoming saved in the first place. This is referring to Christians regularly coming to Jesus to lean on Him for strength and stability in an ever changing and unforgiving world.
If we remember the situation that these Christians were in, we can see how this would be a word of great encouragement to them - and to us! They were despised by the world as merely tolerated foreigners (1:1). Do you ever feel like a tolerated foreigner?
What other struggles are you facing in life right now?
Loneliness? Fear of death? Regrets from your past? Frustration with money issues? Health problems? Strife in the home or with extended family?
Whatever we may be struggling with, we are reminded that we stand upon the Solid Rock in Jesus Christ. We come to Him as our source of life, hope, and salvation.
b. Comfort in our Company (v. 5a)
We are like bricks in the unbroken walls of the faithful in a “spiritual house.”
· Saints of the distant past: Abraham, Joseph, Gideon, Isaiah, David, Peter, Paul, Augustine, Calvin, Luther, Wycliffe, John and Charles Wesley, D.L. Moody, Amy Carmichael…
· Saints of our church’s past: Think about the names of those who are on the walls of our Heritage Hall: Pastor Rosene, Pastor Thorne, …. Everett Ryden, David Rosentrater, and Marjorie Youngbloom?
· Saints today: Hugh Tadlock, Marion Johnson, Kendra Scott…
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. (Heb 12:1)
If they were faithful in their advertising of Jesus, we are in good company and can be encouraged to do the same.
c. Purpose in our Priesthood (v. 5b)
You may say, “I don’t know how to be like a priest!” Or, “I’m not really the kind of a person that acts all spiritual... like, I can’t see myself as a preacher!”
Because we are believers, we are priests, whether we like it or not. Peter is explaining that we all can do ministry, not just a select few! That’s encouraging to know that we are all useful to God and He wants to use us for His glory!
Notice some of the contrasts between the priesthood of the Old and New Testaments:
OT NT
· temporary eternal
· limited to a few open to every believer
· access to God was indirect access to God is direct b/c we
through priests are a holy priesthood
· phys. place of worship at temple spiritual place of worship in our hearts
· physical sacrifices made spiritual sacrifices of praise/thanks made
What are some “spiritual sacrifices” that we all can make?
· Spiritual sacrifices of a life of obedience (Rom. 12:1),
Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
· Praise and thanksgiving to God (Heb. 13:15),
Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name…
· Practical ministries to the needs of others (Heb. 13:16)
…And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
· Living in humility before others (John 13:1-17 –washing other’s feet)
More specifically:
· Taking spiritual leadership in the home – family prayer, Bible reading, devotionals
· Mowing the grass for someone who is unable.
· Helping out with an organization like Big Brothers/Big Sisters, or Meals on Wheels.
· Becoming a persistant, fervent prayer warrior for the specific needs of missionaries around the world.
· Helping in the music ministry, or nursery, or Sunday School in the church. Focus on finding and using your spiritual gifts.
· Be creative! What else can you think of?
This isn’t the time to hide our faith. This is a time for us to stand strong in the midst of a culture that misaligns us. We’re given encouragement from Christ Himself that we have Stability, Comfort, and a Purpose. We’ve got a job to do!
3. Our Message in Advertising is the Gospel of Jesus (vv. 6-8)
To describe the gospel message, Peter continues to use the “stone” imagery for Christ drawing from three Old Testament passages: (Isa 28:16; Ps 118:22; and Isa 8:14)
a. Christ the Corner Stone (v. 6)
So what exactly is a cornerstone?
In ancient times, the cornerstone was the visible support on which the rest of the building relied for strength and stability. Also, the cornerstone was the primary foundation-stone laid on the outside corner of where a building was going to be built. The architect used the angles of this structure as a standard for the angle measurements for all of the walls and cross-walls of the structure.
It is by Jesus Christ that the Father measures all things and fixes the ultimate standard for all who come to Him! We are being built in line with Christ: sharing all the angles of His life, experiencing both His rejection as well as His glory.
Upon Jesus Christ, the Church built. It is not built upon greed, worldly power and ambition, upon zealous televangelists, or money. The universal church from all ages is built upon the solid rock of Jesus. He is called the Corner Stone.
How do you become a part of this spiritual house that Christ is building?
Believe in Christ as your Savior
Look at verse 6, “He who believes in Him shall not be disappointed.” Believing in Christ will never cause you eternal disappointment. The offer is out there for us to put our faith in Him for salvation.
What is the gospel?
1. Christ died for our sins
Jesus Christ took upon Himself the sins of the entire world and paid the penalty for it so that we wouldn’t have to pay for it ourselves.
Our sins separated us from God so that we were in an adversarial relationship with Him. But when we put our faith in Christ alone, our sins are washed away and Jesus’ righteousness is placed within us. We are given a new life of freedom and friendship with God. Because of the cross, we have forgiveness!
2. He was raised on the third day
Jesus did not stay dead in the tomb, but He rose from the dead and was witnessed by many people before He ascended. If Christ did not raise from the dead, then our faith is useless. You might as well believe in the Easter bunny to save you! But since Christ did rise from the dead, it guaranteed that all that He said of Himself was true and that His promise of eternal life was trustworthy.
He showed that the life of God was more powerful than the curse of sin - and Jesus carried the weight of all the sins of the whole world for all time on His shoulders at the cross. Whereas death comes to all, those who put their trust in Jesus will live for an eternity with God. Because of the resurrection, we have hope and assurance!
Friends, this is the message that we must be advertising! The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the need to have a personal faith in Him!
· Our lifestyles must match our convictions, so that when we open our mouths we are not undermined by accusations of hypocrisy that can stick.
· We are given encouragement by the Son of God Himself to be an advertisement for Him.
So then… there comes a time when what we’ve got to do is introduce people to the Savior by means of sharing the message of the good news!
The only way that we could have been built upon Christ the Cornerstone is by faith in the gospel. The same is true for the people we rub shoulders with.
b. Christ the Stumbling Stone (vv. 7-8)
There are going to be people who reject the offer for salvation. Rather than being built upon the cornerstone of Christ, they stumble over Him and spend eternity judged for their decision. (v. 8)
They are not necessarily people who are hardened criminals or people who have lived lives plagued with sin. They are often times church going, Bible-totin’, Amen-saying people who think that they have done “all the right things” to get them into heaven but have really missed the point.
Very sick people know that they need to see a doctor. People who are self-righteous and think they’ve struck a deal with God don’t realize how sick they really are and therefore never turn to the doctor of souls, Jesus for salvation.
Illustration: Sin has been paid for by Christ. It is like a check has been handed to you for a million dollars. It doesn’t do you any good until you go and cash it!
Don’t let that be true of any of you. The offer is given. Now take it!
Here is the point that I’m wanting to make: We need to always remember that the primary message that we bring to our world is that of salvation in Jesus Christ. In other words, that if we are going to ever see heaven, we must be built upon the Cornerstone, and not trip over the Stumbling stone.
Many Christians busy themselves with a message that falls short of the gospel: Politics, the Abortion issue, Y2K, homeschooling, feeding the poor, or other social causes…
· Many of them are good and noble issues, but they aren’t the gospel of salvation in Christ.
· We must get back to the basics of what our message is all about – and advertise that!
4. Our Challenge in Advertising is Proclaiming Jesus (vv. 9-10)
· I believe the first eight verses of this entire passage build up to these two main verses.
Notice in verse 9, Peter applies to the church various terms originally spoken concerning Israel (cf. Ex. 19:1-6; Deut 4:20; 7:6; Isa 43:20-21).
But this does not mean that the church is Israel or even that the church replaces Israel in the plan of God. Romans 11 should help us to guard against that misinterpretation. The functions that Israel was called into existence to perform in its day of grace the church now performs in a similar way. In the future, according to Paul, God will once again use Israel to bless the world (cf. Rom. 11:13-16, 23-24).
· Chosen Race - God initiated in bringing us to Him.
· Royal Priesthood - We have dignity b/c of our union with Jesus
· Holy Nation - God has set us apart for His use and glory
· People for God’s own possession - We belong to God.
Seeing what incredible spiritual privileges we have been given and all the honor that has been bestowed on us because of Jesus our Savior, what is our response?
We are saved to proclaim! We are not to hide the faith that we have, but to share it often and with passion! We are to proclaim the excellencies of God!
What are some of the excellencies or virtues of our great God? [Name several!]
· To proclaim His excellencies is to advertise the noble acts of God in our lives and in history. We are to advertise God’s greatness, in our actions and in our words to impact people around us!!!
· We have come to know the excellencies of God all because of our relationship with Jesus.
· If you have been “called out of the darkness and into His marvelous light” – You have a story you can tell! WE’VE GOT TO JUST DO IT!
Conclusion:
Wanted: A hard working, devoted disciple of Jesus Christ who wants to be used for His glory to proclaim the excellencies of God to this lost world. Anyone can apply. Young, old, and everyone in between are welcome. Must be willing to carry his or her own cross. Pay may not be immediate, but the rewards are lavish and last for all eternity. If interested, simply call on God in prayer. He will use anyone willing to live as an advertisement for His Son. Equal Opportunity Employer.
WE ARE SAVED – TO PROCLAIM!
You are an advertisement for Christ. But are you a full-page color ad, or a hidden personal ad tucked away in a forgotten corner of the newspaper?
An effective newspaper ad draws the attention of a lot of people… but in the end, a newspaper ad will just burn. But you are an advertisement that will last for all eternity!
Summary:
1. Our Foundation for Advertising is Living Like Jesus
2. Our Encouragement in Advertisement is Leaning On Jesus
3. Our Message in Advertising is the Gospel of Jesus
4. Our Challenge in Advertising is Proclaiming Jesus
Closing: Mention the cut-out ad in the bulletin. Encourage them to put it in their Bible or on their refrigerator at home as a reminder of their duty to advertise Jesus Christ.
