Embrace Weird | 1 Peter 2:4-10 Notes
You Belong Here: Discovering Your Place in God’s Building Project
Have you ever wondered what place you have in the church? Perhaps you’ve felt like you don’t quite fit in — socially, spiritually, or otherwise. Maybe you feel inadequate, reluctant to commit, or cynical after being hurt by church experiences. These feelings are more common than you might think, but here’s a truth that might surprise you: if you’re a follower of Jesus, you are a priest, and you have a place!
In 1 Peter 2:5 and 9, the apostle Peter calls all believers “a holy priesthood” and “a royal priesthood.” That language might sound strange, but understanding it can transform how we see ourselves and our role in God’s family.
The Priesthood of All Believers
In the Old Testament, priests served God on behalf of the people — working in the temple, offering sacrifices for sin. It was a role reserved for the tribe of Levi. But the New Testament introduces something radical: every Christian is called to be a priest. Martin Luther recovered this truth during the Reformation, arguing from 1 Peter 2:9 that all believers share in this priestly calling because of their union with Jesus.
This doesn’t do away with church leadership. It raises the bar for all of us. In our consumer-driven culture, where we’re used to paying for services, it’s easy to turn up at church expecting to be served. But the priesthood of all believers says we’re called to contribute, not just consume.
Living Stones, Built Together
Peter describes the church as “living stones” being built into a spiritual house, with Jesus as the cornerstone—the foundation on which everything is built and the capstone that holds it all together (1 Peter 2:4-5). We are living stones only because we are connected to him.
This means we’re not meant to do the Christian life alone. We belong to a people, part of a building project bigger than ourselves.
Three Things Priests Do
So what does it look like to live as a priest? Peter gives us three things:
We Worship Christ (1 Peter 2:4-5). Old Testament priests offered animal sacrifices repeatedly. Jesus has already offered the once-and-for-all sacrifice for sin. Our response is to offer our whole lives as worship — not to earn God’s favour, but because we’ve already been saved by Christ’s sacrifice. Whatever we offer, however feeble, is acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
We Stand on Christ (1 Peter 2:6-8). Jesus is our foundation. The promise of verse 6 is stunning: “Whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” We all carry shame — from things we’ve done or things done to us. The gospel says Jesus takes our shame and gives us honour. We never move on from this Christ in our lives, our families, or our church.
We Proclaim Christ (1 Peter 2:9-10). We are called to “proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” (1 Peter 2:9). When we think something is excellent, we naturally talk about it. If we’re convinced that knowing Christ is truly excellent, shouldn’t we speak about him — even in a single sentence?
Always Messy, Always Worth It
Let’s be honest: the church can be messy. People will let you down. But Jesus hasn’t given up on his building project.
The early church father Polycarp embodied this. At 86 years old, facing execution, he declared: “Eighty-six years I have served him and he has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my king who saved me?” A lifetime as a living stone — worshipping Christ, standing firm, proclaiming his excellencies with his final breath.
That’s the church Jesus is building. Always a bit messy, always a little weird, but always worth it. And you belong here.
From Our Church Speaks
HOME GROUP QUESTIONS
KICKOFF
Have you ever been part of a building project — big or small — that didn’t go to plan? What happened?
What stood out to you from the sermon, and what questions did it raise?
Prayer for our time in God’s word.
Read 1 Peter 2:4-10
- What strikes you from the passage?
- What images or identity words does Peter use to describe believers?
BIG IDEA: YOU BELONG HERE
[4] As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, [5] you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:4–5 ESV)
Peter tells scattered, marginalised Christians that they are living stones being built into God’s house — a holy and royal priesthood. The sermon asked: “What place do I have in the church?” The answer from this passage is that every believer belongs, and every believer has a role. As priests, we worship Christ, stand on Christ, and proclaim Christ.
WE WORSHIP CHRIST (1 Peter 2:4-5)
- What does it mean to offer your whole life as a “spiritual sacrifice”? How is that different from trying to earn God’s favour?
- The sermon said even our “lamest attempts to sacrifice” are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. How does that free you to serve without fear of inadequacy?
WE STAND ON CHRIST (1 Peter 2:6-8)
- What are the two responses to Jesus in this passage, and what are the consequences of each?
- “Whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” What kinds of shame do people carry, and how does standing on Christ address that?
WE PROCLAIM CHRIST (1 Peter 2:9-10)
- How does remembering “once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people” shape the way you see yourself?
- What would people around you — at work, uni, online — think you think is excellent, based on what you talk about?
- What’s one way you could proclaim the excellencies of Christ this week — even in a single sentence?
Prayer: In response to the passage.
Vision Prayer: Father God, by your grace, enable our church to be a city of refuge within the city of Brisbane. Empower me this week, by your Spirit, to offer one person the refuge, security, and hope found in Christ Jesus. Amen.