Decrease Your Love For Sin Series

Jeff Lasater was 14 when he took his own life last month (October 20, 2008). A student in Las Angeles’ Acton High School, Lasater had been the target of boys throwing chili on him in the school lunch line. While others pulled his pants down. It was reported that the young man was the target of other students’ bullying and teasing since he was in middle school. All of this reached a tipping point on Monday, October 20, 2008. As other students scurried to class, Lasater went to the school’s restroom and pulled out a handgun in order to take his life. At 6’6” and 275 pounds, he had begun to perform well on the football team. Nevertheless, his passive nature and large size was a continual target for others kids. In the end, it was just too much. Bullying in classrooms today has even taken on new angles as students have invented cyber-bullying. Cyber-bullying includes sending insulting text messages to a student’s phone or posting hurtful rumors about a student on the Internet. Whether the bullying is the old-fashion way or it uses new technology, the results are the same. Students feel shame. Shame is a powerful motivator.

For example, Long Island police uses a website called the “Wall of Shame.” The “Wall of Shame” introduces readers to locals who have been arrested and convicted for Drunk Driving. The local law enforcement uses the wall because it is a deterrent to others.

In our text today, the Apostle Peter is aware that shame can be a powerful motivator. Peter is also aware that many believers feel shame and ridicule for following Christ.

So Peter is fearful that the believers will make Christianity a throwaway religion. When the fear of persecution comes, they will throw away their belief in Christ because of the difficulty of the times. Peter’s words remind believers in Christ that the ridicule for following Christ is short-lived and honor will one day arrive.

“As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 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. For it stands in Scripture: ‘Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.’ So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,’ and ‘A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.’ They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do” (1 Peter 2:4-8).

Today’s message is designed to “Decrease Your Love for Sin.” While no official persecution of Christianity currently exits, there are signs that Christianity is becoming increasingly unpopular. On September 14, 2007, Nebraska state senator Ernie Chambers filed a lawsuit against God Himself. State Sen. Ernie Chambers says his lawsuit against God is serious and not simply a joke. The lawsuit sought a permanent injunction ordering God to “cease certain harmful activities and the making of terroristic threats...of grave harm to innumerable persons, including constituents of Plaintiff who Plaintiff has the duty to represent.” A senator for 38 years, Chambers skips morning prayers during the Nebraska legislative session and often criticizes Christians. The court told Chambers last week that his lawsuit may be dismissed because he had failed to serve notice on God. Chambers acknowledged this failure in court while sitting just a few feet away from an empty table reserved for God and God’s attorney.

According to Detroit Free Press, on Nov. 8, a group calling itself Bash Back stormed a Sunday service at Mt. Hope, a 4,000-member mega-church near Lansing, Michigan. They had targeted the church because the church believes homosexuality to be a sin. Demonstrators marched outside the church then invaded the sanctuary, shouting pro-gay slogans, throwing leaflets, and pulling a fire alarm. And so Peter’s message is my message to you: Worship Jesus Christ despite opposition for your eternal destiny hinges upon your actions with Jesus Christ.

1 . The Stone Is to Be Treasured

On a day when many people are beginning to think about turkeys and talk about turkeys, we talk about a “stone” just before Thanksgiving. Peter wants you to TREASURE the living stone. You are to value this “living stone” to such a degree that you are to sacrifice to the “living stone”.

“As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious….” (1 Peter 2:4). Christ is the living stone in verse four. Why does Peter call Jesus a “living stone” here? Why not just refer to Jesus by His name? Peter refers to Jesus as the “living stone” because of Old Testament prophecies. The writers of the New Testament felt that the message of Old Testament was being fulfilled in their day. When Peter viewed the life of Jesus, he saw the message of the Old Testament taking shape in Jesus’ life and ministry.