(The People of God)
Opening Story – “Secret Service” Christians
A man was coming out of church one day. The pastor stood at the door to shake hands and gently pulled him aside.
“Brother,” he said, “you need to join the Army of the Lord.”
The man smiled, “Pastor, I’m already in the Lord’s army.”
“Then how come I only see you at Christmas and Easter?”
He whispered back, “I’m in the secret service.”
We sometimes call those folks “Cheasters”—Christmas-and-Easter attenders. It gets a laugh, but it also raises a serious question:
What kind of people are we?
What kind of church family do we really want to be?
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Scripture – Our True Identity
Hear these words from the apostle Peter:
> “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” (1 Peter 2:9–10, NIV)
Notice the “you are” statements. Peter isn’t speaking to a select few or only to church leaders. He’s talking to every believer.
You are:
Chosen — wanted by God.
Royal — joined to the King through Christ.
Holy — set apart for God’s purposes.
God’s treasured possession — valued and kept.
And there’s a purpose clause: so that you may declare His praises—the testimony of the One who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.
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Ken’s Story – Ministry in the Marketplace
Ken worked in human resources during a tense strike. Factories were shut. Administrators pressed hard. Workers were angry. Ken’s job was on the line. Late one night, exhausted and ready to resign, he sat down with pen in hand.
The door opened. The janitor—Charles—stepped in and said quietly, “Sir, I felt impressed to pray with you.”
They prayed. Later Ken said, “Suddenly I found new strength. Suddenly I found new meaning in life.” Then he asked a question that still searches the heart:
“What kind of people are you?”
What a compliment—and what a challenge.
What kind of people are we?
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God’s Laity — A Word We Need to Recover
In 1 Peter 2, the word behind “people” is the Greek laos—from which we get our word laity. In the Bible, laity doesn’t mean “non-experts” or “non-clergy.” It simply means the people of God—all who belong to Christ.
But many of us inherited a confused definition. Ask a room of church members to define “layperson,” and you’ll often hear what a layperson is not: not a pastor, not ordained, not on church payroll, not formally trained in theology. That might be how dictionaries speak, but it’s not how Scripture speaks.
In Scripture, “the people of God” is not a lesser class inside the church; it’s the whole church contrasted with those outside the covenant community. The New Testament never pits “laity” against “clergy” as higher and lower. Instead, it presents a kingdom of priests (Exodus 19 language reborn in 1 Peter 2)—a people raised up to represent God to the world and bring the world to God.
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How We Got Confused (Briefly)
Historically, the English word layman came to us in the late Middle Ages, when the church embraced a rigid two-tier system—“holy” professionals and “ordinary” believers. Over time that hierarchy hardened into habit and vocabulary. The Reformation pushed back, insisting that every believer is called, gifted, and sent. But the old drift toward passivity still creeps in if we let it.
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Melt Down the Saints and Put Them in Circulation
When Oliver Cromwell’s men reported that the purest silver in England was found in the cathedral statues of the saints, Cromwell famously said:
“Then melt down the saints and put them into circulation.”
That’s precisely the call of 1 Peter 2:9. God never intended His people to be display pieces. He wants living saints in circulation—in homes and schools, in hospitals and shops, in boardrooms and breakrooms, in neighborhoods and nations.
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The Body of Christ — Many Gifts, One Mission
Scripture never treats “the people of God” as soloists. The laos is always a body—many parts, one organism, all connected to Christ the Head. A hand is not a body by itself; an eye isn’t the body by itself. Only together are we Christ’s body.
You’ve likely heard the story of the animal school. The curriculum included swimming, running, climbing, and flying.
The duck, excellent at swimming, lost his edge when he tried to major in climbing and running.
The rabbit, a superior runner, was forced to spend so much time learning to swim that he lost much of his speed.
The squirrel, an “A” in climbing, dropped to “C” after months trying to swim and fly like others.
The eagle was disciplined for soaring to the treetops when told to “climb” the prescribed way.
Moral: gifts differ. When we force everyone into the same mold, excellence dies.
If God made you a “duck,” then—please—swim like mad, and don’t be embarrassed if you waddle on land. If God made you an “eagle,” soar instead of apologizing for not running like a rabbit.
> “If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 4:11, paraphrase)
Using your gift isn’t mere volunteerism. It is worship. Jesus said, “I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat; I was in prison and you visited Me.” The stunned reply: “When did we ever see You?” His answer: “Whatever you did for one of the least of these, you did for Me.” Ministry to people is ministry to Christ.
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Jesus’ Assessment of the Problem
Jesus never said the harvest was too small. He said the laborers were too few (Luke 10:2). The issue isn’t the size of the mission field but the willingness of God’s people to enter it. If the church will rise, the harvest will be reaped.
That means ministry cannot be a spectator sport. It’s not a title or an office. Ministry is any act of service done in Jesus’ name—from praying with a coworker to tutoring a neighbor’s child; from preparing a meal for a grieving family to sharing the gospel with a searching friend.
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Instruments, Not Ornaments
Too many Christians want to sparkle like ornaments—visible, polished, admired. God calls us to be instruments—useful, available, surrendered in His hands.
A children’s teacher once said, “Kids, you are in this world to help others.” A little girl raised her hand and asked, “Then what are the others here for?” We smile, but the point stands: no spectators. In the kingdom, “others” are us.
And if you’re thinking, “Do I have to do this alone?”—no. That’s why God forms us into a church.
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A Church That Stirs One Another Up
Hebrews 10:23–25 calls us to hold fast to our hope, to consider how to spur one another on toward love and good works, and to encourage one another all the more as the Day approaches. That’s a picture of a church family where people don’t just attend—they engage. They notice, nudge, and nourish one another toward active love.
A seasoned Christian writer once painted a thrilling picture of what happens when ordinary believers awaken: people are called out of everyday occupations and, mentored by those with experience, begin to speak for Christ with unusual power. Through the surprising providence of God, mountains of difficulty are removed. The message of Jesus advances until the whole world has heard.
Another observer put it simply: God willingly uses humble, devoted Christians, even if they lack the education others possess. The decisive ingredient is not prestige but availability. And the work of God in the world, this writer said, will not reach its intended finish until the men and women in the pews rally and unite their efforts.
No names needed. The point is biblical and obvious: God finishes His work through all His people.
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“Membership Has Its Privileges”… Or Does It?
A pastor once distributed a spiritual gifts survey. One respondent wrote, “I use my gifts three ways: Sunday morning, Sunday night, and midweek.” We smile—but you can see the problem. Attendance is not the same as participation.
Or think of three guys trying to slip into the Olympics:
One grabs a pole—“Wilson, pole vault.”
Another rolls a rock—“Miller, shot put.”
The third wraps himself in barbed wire—“Herschmann, fencing.”
Membership badges and props don’t make you an athlete. Likewise, church membership isn’t Christian maturity. Movement is.
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More Than a Name on a Roll
There are more churches, leaders, books, podcasts, and worship livestreams than at any time in history. And yet, moral confusion abounds. Why? Because a form of godliness without power is always possible (2 Timothy 3:5).
It is not enough to have our names on a membership list. Jesus warns in Matthew 7:21 that not everyone who says, “Lord, Lord” enters the kingdom, but those who do the will of the Father. Real Christianity is not nominal; it is surrendered.
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Christ in You — The Hope of Glory
The good news is not “try harder” but open wider.
Jesus says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in” (Revelation 3:20).
Paul calls this mystery, “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).
And the promise still stands: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).
When Christ dwells within, the same power that raised Him from the dead energizes obedience, fuels love, and produces endurance (Ephesians 1:19–20).
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Living Sacrifices in a Pressured World
Romans 12:1–2 urges us to present our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—our spiritual worship. Don’t be squeezed into the mold of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will discern and delight in God’s good, pleasing, perfect will.
Living sacrifice means availability: “Lord, here I am—send me.”
It also means adaptability: “Use me where I’m strongest and grow me where I’m weak.”
And it means accountability: “Place me in a body that knows me, loves me, and spurs me on.”
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Practically Speaking — How Do We Live as God’s People?
1. Name your lane. What comes naturally when you serve? Hospitality? Helps? Mercy? Teaching? Encouragement? Leadership? Prayer? Music? Tech? Children? Students? Seniors? Recovery? Justice? Missions? Choose a lane and start.
2. Start small but start now. Text someone and pray. Carry a meal to a family in grief. Invite a neighbor to coffee. Volunteer one hour. Small seeds grow big trees.
3. Pair up. Jesus sent disciples two by two. Ask one friend to serve with you. Mutual encouragement beats solo effort.
4. Expect resistance. Serving exposes our pride and comforts. Don’t be surprised—press through. The Spirit strengthens willing hearts.
5. Celebrate progress. Share God-stories. Thank volunteers by name. Normalizing testimony fuels a serving culture.
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A Word to the Weary and the Unsure
If you’re thinking, “I’m not strong enough,” you’re right—but Christ is.
If you’re thinking, “I’ve failed before,” you’re in good company—grace specializes in restarts.
If you’re thinking, “I don’t know my gift,” the quickest way to find it is to serve somewhere and pay attention to where God’s joy and others’ edification meet.
God does not call the qualified so much as He qualifies the called. Availability beats ability when God is in the equation.
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Identity ? Calling ? Movement
1 Peter 2 doesn’t begin with duties; it begins with identity: chosen, royal, holy, treasured. Out of that identity flows a calling: declare His praises. And that calling demands movement: out of darkness into His marvelous light—and out into the world as His hands, feet, and voice.
A seasoned Christian voice once said: as ordinary men and women learn to labor effectively, they will proclaim truth with power; providence will remove mountains; the message will advance farther and faster than we ever imagined. That isn’t hype; it’s hope grounded in a God who delights to use ordinary people.
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Personal Testimony and Invitation
Everything in my life worth cherishing has come as I’ve decided—again and again—to say yes to Jesus. It truly is no secret what God can do. What He has done for one, He can do for you.
I don’t believe you’re here to be entertained. I believe God brought you to hear His invitation. If you sense Jesus calling you to a fresh surrender—to live as His minister in the world—then take a simple step:
If you’re already serving, ask God for fresh oil and new joy.
If you’re between lanes, ask God to nudge you into one this week.
If you’ve never surrendered to Christ, open the door today. He stands knocking.
If that’s your heart, would you stand as a sign to God and to yourself: “Lord, I am Yours—use me.”
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Closing Prayer
Blessed Lord,
Thank You for the truth of Your Word. Forgive us for settling for a lesser vision than You have spoken over us. Make us tender-hearted and bold-handed. Fill us with Your Spirit so we live as Your people—a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a treasured possession—declaring Your praises in word and deed.
Melt us down and put us into circulation.
Remove our fear, ignite our love, and finish Your work through all Your people, for the glory of Jesus.
Amen.
