STONES
Acts 7:55-60
I Peter 2:2-10
There are three things my husband and I are on the look out for when we're on a road trip. One, is clean restrooms and another is good convenience store pizza. We also love to stop and read roadside historical markers, especially the older ones that have plaques set in a big boulder, probably from a local field.
This idea of marking historical spots has been around for a long time. Back in ancient biblical times, people would pile up rocks or stand up great stones, like the ones that are found at Gezer, Israel. Whether it's the standing stones at Gezer, the classic roadside historical marker or monuments like Mount Rushmore, they all serve as reminders of some great event or to memorialize the life of a great leader or a local hero. They are standing witnesses, testifying to some important event from the past.
Of course, not all stones are used in monuments. Some are gathered in from the fields to build foundations, fireplaces and chimneys, walls between pastures and fields, and even garden paths. Sometimes, a stone in our path may act like a speed bump, making us slow down and take notice of what is going on.
Sometimes, stones may became stumbling blocks, causing someone to trip, fall and hurt themselves.
In the case of Stephen, in Acts 7, they can be used as weapons of execution.
What kinds of stones are we?
I Peter tells us that we are stones in a foundation whose corner stone is Christ himself. We are also living stones who testify to the mighty acts of God through Christ Jesus.
As the church, individual stones gathered in by the call of grace, we are joined together by Christ. We form the foundation upon which the ministry and mission of Jesus Christ is carried out.
But if we're just a bunch of loose stones lying around on the ground, we aren't the church. We are the church when we are of one mind with Christ, and one with each other. We are the church when we are working together, sharing our talents, gifts, times and resources, unified by the goal of serving Christ.
If we are like rocks scattered in a field, we can't carry out our mission, We may even serve as stumbling blocks to non-believers and seekers.
On the other hand, when we are united around Christ, our cornerstone, we are the Body of Christ. The church becomes more than just a building where we get together once a week, and we are liberated to be the living hands and feet of Christ whose purpose is to be in ministry to this community and to the world. The church, whose cornerstone is Christ, is built strong, built to endure, built to transform the world and to draw people to Christ.
What kinds of stones are we?
I Peter 2:2-10
There are three things my husband and I are on the look out for when we're on a road trip. One, is clean restrooms and another is good convenience store pizza. We also love to stop and read roadside historical markers, especially the older ones that have plaques set in a big boulder, probably from a local field.
This idea of marking historical spots has been around for a long time. Back in ancient biblical times, people would pile up rocks or stand up great stones, like the ones that are found at Gezer, Israel. Whether it's the standing stones at Gezer, the classic roadside historical marker or monuments like Mount Rushmore, they all serve as reminders of some great event or to memorialize the life of a great leader or a local hero. They are standing witnesses, testifying to some important event from the past.
Of course, not all stones are used in monuments. Some are gathered in from the fields to build foundations, fireplaces and chimneys, walls between pastures and fields, and even garden paths. Sometimes, a stone in our path may act like a speed bump, making us slow down and take notice of what is going on.
Sometimes, stones may became stumbling blocks, causing someone to trip, fall and hurt themselves.
In the case of Stephen, in Acts 7, they can be used as weapons of execution.
What kinds of stones are we?
I Peter tells us that we are stones in a foundation whose corner stone is Christ himself. We are also living stones who testify to the mighty acts of God through Christ Jesus.
As the church, individual stones gathered in by the call of grace, we are joined together by Christ. We form the foundation upon which the ministry and mission of Jesus Christ is carried out.
But if we're just a bunch of loose stones lying around on the ground, we aren't the church. We are the church when we are of one mind with Christ, and one with each other. We are the church when we are working together, sharing our talents, gifts, times and resources, unified by the goal of serving Christ.
If we are like rocks scattered in a field, we can't carry out our mission, We may even serve as stumbling blocks to non-believers and seekers.
On the other hand, when we are united around Christ, our cornerstone, we are the Body of Christ. The church becomes more than just a building where we get together once a week, and we are liberated to be the living hands and feet of Christ whose purpose is to be in ministry to this community and to the world. The church, whose cornerstone is Christ, is built strong, built to endure, built to transform the world and to draw people to Christ.
What kinds of stones are we?
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