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Small Group Questions “ Cornerstone Or Stumbling Stone?” 1 Peter 2:4-8

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Small Group Questions “ Cornerstone Or Stumbling Stone?” 1 Peter 2:4-8 Discussion Questions Read 1 Peter 2:4-8 Small Group Questions 2. Peter says in verse 4, “As you come to him, the “ Cornerstone or Stumbling Stone?” living Stone.” Who is Peter talking about? 1 Peter 2:4-8 a. There are several Old Testament verses that prophesy about Jesus and refer to him as a Previous message summary: Peter tells his readers to stone. Read Isaiah 28:16, Isaiah 51:1-2, get rid of all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy and Psalm 118:19-24, Daniel 2:26-35. What do slander of every kind since they have been born again to these prophecies confirm about Jesus? a completely different kind of life in Christ. And as they rid themselves of sin, Christians are called to crave the word b. In what way is Jesus the living stone or of God so that they can grow to maturity in their faith. cornerstone for the Christian and the church? Read Matt. 16:13-18. What we learned: In order for us to be everything that c. What is a cornerstone? What is the function of God intends for us, we must lay aside sin and crave the a cornerstone? What is the significance of very thing that conforms us into the image of Christ, which Jesus being the cornerstone? What does this is the Word of God. If we want to grow to maturity as say about how important Jesus is in the life of Christians, we must be committed to a consistent diet of a Christian? God’s Word in our life. d. What is the foundation of your life? How can Introduction knowing that your life is built on the right foundation help in times of trouble? 1. If you are a Christian, tell about how you first came to Christ. What made you choose to accept Jesus as 3. In verse 5, Peter talks about Christians as living your Lord and Savior? What things changed in your stones who are being built into a spiritual house. life because you accepted Jesus Christ as Lord? What is Peter saying about Christians and the significance of building our lives together? a. If you are not a Christian, what has been the one thing that has kept you from accepting a. In the Old Testament, where did people go to Jesus as Lord and Savior? be in the presence of God and his Spirit? (Habakkuk 2:20) b. What are some reasons why non-Christians say they have not accepted Jesus as Lord? b. In the New Testament, where does the Spirt of God reside? (1 Corinthians 3:16) c. What are the benefits of the Christian life? Out of those benefits, what is the single best thing c. How does this reality, that God’s Spirit resides about being a Christian? in Christians, individually and corporately in the church, affect the way you live your life? Does d. In what ways does a person’s decision it give you peace and/or strength? concerning Jesus affect their present and future? 4. In verse 5, what is the purpose of the living stones foundation of your life helped you during times being built up into a spiritual house? of trial and trouble? In what ways? a. What title does Peter give to Christians who b. Have you seen how rejecting Jesus causes are being built into a spiritual house (v 5)? Who people to stumble and fall? In what ways? was this title reserved for in the Old c. Is Jesus your cornerstone or stumbling stone? Testament? Challenge: Every person down through history to the b. What are Christians called to do as priests that present day will have to determine how they will respond are a part of this spiritual house? to Jesus’ offer to be Lord of their life. How will you c. What are some spiritual sacrifices that the respond? If Jesus is Lord and Savior in your life, commit Bible mentions? (Romans 12:1, Ephesians 5:3, to laying your life, as a stone, next to the others as Hebrews 13:15-16) together you build up a spiritual house that will be filled with spiritual sacrifices of praise, prayer, and complete d. Are spiritual sacrifices necessary for our surrender in every area of your life. salvation? If not, what is the reason for doing them? Action: Take a few minutes to make a list of the ways that you will live a life of spiritual sacrifice this week as a 5. What does Peter call Old Testament passages that holy priest who is a part of the temple of God. he quotes? (v 6) Next Steps: a. What do these passages tell us about Jesus? How is the cornerstone described? G I will put my trust in the Solid Rock and build on the solid foundation of Jesus Christ (2:4). b. What happens when a person trusts in this cornerstone? (v 6) G I will stand together with my Christian family and be “built” together into Christ’s spiritual house—the c. What happens when a person rejects this church. cornerstone? (v 8) G I will worship God with my whole being and allow my d. It seems clear from this passage of Scripture life to be a spiritual sacrifice—acceptable to God that people must either accept or reject Jesus. (2:5). What is the destiny of someone who accepts Jesus? What is the destiny of someone who G I understand that the world will object, but even rejects Jesus? when the world rejects him, I will choose Christ (2:6- 7). 6. How would being reminded of who Jesus is and how important he is in the life of a Christian be an encouragement to people who are being persecuted? a. Has the fact that you are a living stone, a priest, and a person who has chosen the precious cornerstone of Jesus as the.
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