Introduction: Look at this picture of these two kids. See the difference in their sizes. It is hard to believe that just two years ago the one on the left was the size of the one on the right.
Little by little they grow, so little that it is hardly noticeable from day to day.
The day after Hannah was born, her blood sugar got very low. When a woman has a scheduled C-section, her body does not go into labor. Hormones do not start functioning and the milk does not come in. As a result, she was not getting enough fortunately, the doctors caught it in time before the condition became serious.
I. A New Life Begins (vv. 1-3)
A. Exp:
1. A newborn craves, longs for pure milk. This is the only command in the passage. It is not to read, study, memorize, but to crave it. “Active seeking rather than a passive receiving of proper nourishment.” (Davids 82).
2. Mother’s milk provides nutrients and antibodies. Without the milk, the baby can become malnourished and vulnerable to disease.
3. Christians should crave the word as much as a baby does milk.
4. When a baby has no appetite, it usually means something is wrong.
5. You don’t forget to feed a newborn baby
6. Just as babies demand to be fed, Christians should demand that they be fed.
7. Filling up with junk food is not healthy.
8. Christians should desire (crave) the truth of God’s word.
9. Babies change little by little every day. So do we as Christians.
B. Illus:
Just accepting Christ will not put an automatic end to all your sins and addictions. Like Shane’s uncle in seminary. He accepted Christ, but got drunk not long afterwards. Shane wanted to know how he could still have that addiction after becoming a Christian.
C. App:
1. When you begin your life in Christ, you should have a strong desire for the word of God.
2. All believers, no matter what stage of life need a healthy appetite.
II. A New Purpose Begins (vv. 4-6)
A. Exp:
1. The stone was rejected. The term implies that the stone was examined by the builders, and then tossed aside as unfit for the future of building the nation.
2. God “rejected” their evaluation.
3. We have come to him. We are to be built up as a spiritual house.
4. We are living stones, not stone dead.
5. We are not to be separate stones, lying in a field.
6. Our destiny is tied to his.
B. Illustration:
The many hotels in Hobbs. It seems like no progress is made. Little by little until one day, it is open.
C. App:
1. We truly come alive when we come to Christ. Everything else is a cheap substitute.
2. We may often feel rejected by the world, but will use us to build his eternal kingdom.
3. The “House of God” is no longer a building of physical stones. It is made of us as living stones.
4. Our purpose is to offer spiritual sacrifices to God.
III. A New Priesthood Begins (vv. 7-8)
A. Exp:
1. Christ was from the tribe of Judah, not Levi.
2. The priesthood had to change. Hebrews 7:12, “For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law.”
3. Christ suffered rejection from men. So will we.
4. You can come to Christ and react in one of two ways.
a) He can become the stone to which you commit your life
b) Or the stone of offense that will make you fall
c) There are no other choices.
5. The difference is how you encounter it with faith.
B. Illus:
For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. 2 Cor. 15:16
C. App:
1. Today many take offense at the Word of God, the life of Christ, and Christians in particular who try to follow Christ and his word.
2. What God once rejected he now accepted. What he previously had accept, he now rejected.
3. The difference is in faith.
Conclusion: “From small beginnings come great things.” The same can be said of your life today. From the small beginning of coming to Christ as the Cornerstone, and your becoming a living stone. It is as simple as the ABC’s. Admit—that you have sinned and need Christ. Admit that he is the only way to God. Believe that God loved you enough to send Christ to take your place. Believe that God raised him from the dead. Confess him before others. You can begin confessing him before others by coming to the front today to let the church know you have become a follower of Christ and want to follow him in believer’s baptism.
Handout:
Introduction:
I. A New _________________ Begins (vv. 1-3)
How does new spiritual life begin? (See 1 Peter 1:23)
How is it sustained? (1 Peter 2:2-3)
What are some things that can ruin our spiritual appetite?
What do you need to do to increase your desire for God’s word?
II. A New _________________ Begins (vv. 4-6)
How did the Jewish leaders value the Cornerstone?
How did God value the cornerstone?
How did Jesus say the world would treat Christians? (Matthew 10:25)
What are some experiences you have had that made you sense rejection? How did you respond?
III. A New _________________ Begins (vv. 7-8)
What are some of the “sacrifices” we offer to God today?
What does it mean that these are “spiritual” sacrifices?
What does it mean that Christ becomes a stone of offense?
Conclusion: Would you say that you have come to know Christ personally or are you still searching?
What does the ABC stand for?
A
B
C
