Summary: Each Christian has been selected by God for a specific ministry purpose. Have you found yours?

1 Pet 2:1-9 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all guile, 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; (NKJ)

Introduction: When I read, “We are a chosen generation,” I am reminded of another verse where Jesus says; “Many are called, but few are chosen.” This gives us a picture of divine selection. While it is God’s will for all to be saved, not everyone submits to God’s will. But once we have submitted to God, we become His chosen.

I. What are we chosen for?

A. We are chosen to be part of God’s family.

1. I Peter 1:23 born again.

2. Rom 8:15 “you received the Spirit of

adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."

3. Rom 8:16-17 The Spirit Himself bears

witness with our spirit that we are children

of God,

17 and if children, then heirs-- heirs of

God and joint heirs with Christ,

B. We are chosen to be part of His body.

1. 1 Cor 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ,

and members individually.

2. Eph 5:30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.

3. Eph 4:16 from whom the whole body, joined

and knit together by what every joint

supplies, according to the effective working

by which every part does its share, causes

growth of the body for the edifying of

itself in love.

C. We are chosen to be His ministers.

1. 2 Cor 4:1 Therefore, since we have this

ministry, as we have received mercy, we do

not lose heart.

2. 2 Cor 5:18-20 Now all things are of God,

who has reconciled us to Himself through

Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry

of reconciliation,

19 that is, that God was in Christ

reconciling the world to Himself, not

imputing their trespasses to them, and has

committed to us the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ,

as though God were pleading through us: we

implore you on Christ’s behalf, be

reconciled to God.

3. Eph 4:11-12 And He Himself gave some to be

apostles, some prophets, some evangelists,

and some pastors and teachers,

12 for the equipping of the saints for the

work of ministry, for the edifying of the

body of Christ,

II. We have become His special people.

A. A royal priesthood.

1. We are to offer up Spiritual sacrifices to

God.

2. We have access to the holy of holies by His

blood.

3. We have the privilege of interceding for

others.

B. A holy nation.

1. We have been set apart for God.

2. Our sins have been purged.

3. We can live in God’s presence daily.

C. A proclamation of praise to God.

1. We’re not perfect but we live in forgiveness.

2. Matt 5:16 "Let your light so shine before

men, that they may see your good works and

glorify your Father in heaven.

3. People are looking to the church to find

God. It is up to us Christian how much of

the Lord they see.