The Church is a Priesthood

I. INTRO

A. Greeting

B. Where We’ve Been

a. God is, I is, Church is

1. Body of Christ

2. chosen people

C. Where We’re Going

a. Royal Priesthood

1. what do u think o when u hear the word “priest”?

1. Body of Christ

2. chosen people

b. Illust.

D. Main Text

1 Peter 2:9–10 ESV

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

II. BODY

A. The Church is a priesthood

a. A priesthood that’s royal

1. A priesthood that’s royal

1. what’s royalty look like in the KOG?

ii. what’s royalty look like in the KOG?

i. Serve 1another-Son o man did not come to b served but 2 serve

*Serve 1another-Son o man did not come to b served but 2 serve

​ ESV6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

-they will know that u r my disciples by ur love 4 1another -last shall b 1st & the 1st will b last

b. A priesthood that sacrifices

1 Peter 2:5 ESV

5 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.

1. Why the sacrifices existed

Why did the sacrifices exist

i. sin separates the people from God

ii. God created a system where the people could once again have access to God

iii. Therefore the priest would make sacrifices on behalf o the people

- in essence, the office o priest existed to bring the people b4 God & God b4 the people

iv. Jesus stepped down, doing away w/the system o sacrifice

​ ESV5 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.

- so now, our job is 2 bring people b4 God & God b4 people via the 1x for all sacrifice…Jesus

2. what is our spiritual sacrifice?

Romans 12:1 ESV

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

i. what is our spiritual sacrifice?

i. sacrifice of self

​ ESV1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

-sacrifice of self

-by the mercies: in response to God’s mercy o sending Jesus

-present: yield

-our life yielded to God’s will is worship (service)!

-that is: offering of our bodies to God for HIS service, NOT our own.

*Jesus said it this way:

Mark 8:34 ESV

34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

-Put God & his will above our own good, even to the point of harm

​ ESVAnd calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

*Put God & his will above our own good, even to the point of harm

-willing to endure

*ridicule

*hardship

*fired frm employment

*pain

*persecution

*even death

-Sacrifice has moved frm OT perspective where we put an animal 2 death & put 1’s self on the alter

*not only is sacrifice o self about offering self 2 the service o God, but...

Col

​ ESV5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

Colossians 3:5 ESV

5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

* putting to death our old way of life

-putting to death our old way of life

*alter discussion

*next, way we sacrifice:

​ ESV18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.

Philippians 4:17–18 ESV

17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. 18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.

Philippians 4:18 ESV

18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.

-sacrifice of finances for God’s work

ii. Sacrifice of finances for God’s work

-KOG principle o giving - talents ()

*tell the parable

*the finances we have are frm God

*We are expected to invest those finances to grow the KOG

*What we invest, God gives us more (faithful in a little, rec more)

-Tithe/Offering (not giving 2 our hm church we’re not fully living up 2 our calling as a priesthood)

-Missions giving

*we give 5% o our mnthly budget 2 missions

*What if we as family units took ownership o our missionaries

~do we as a body know ea missionary by name?

~giving to 1/more missionary out o personal finances?

~next, way we sacrifice:

Hebrews 13:15 ESV

15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.

iii. Sacrifice of song

​ ESV15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.

-sacrifice of song

-a priesthood singing songs to Jesus (i.e. glorifying Jesus, not ourselves)

-also

Hebrews 13:16 ESV

16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

iv. Sacrifice of doing good

​ ESV16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

-sacrifice of doing good

-that is take care o ea. other’s needs

-give to who?

Galatians 6:9–10 ESV

9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Gal

*every1, especially one another (“love for one another”)

c. A priesthood that draws near to God

Hebrews 4:16 ESV

16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

​ ESV16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

III. CONCLUSION

III. CONCLUSION

sin separates the people from God

A. Alter Call

God created a system where the people could once again have access to God

Therefore the priest would make sacrifices on behalf o the people

in essence, the office o priest existed to bring the people b4 God and God b4 the people

Jesus stepped down, doing away w/the system o sacrifice, so now, our job is to bring people b4 God & God b4 people via the 1x for all sacrifice…Jesus

How does that work practically?

C. The Church is a nation C. Church is God’s temple

               1. often we say individuals r filled w/God’s Spirit (True, but!)                   2. I would add a more dynamic reality:

                    i. The whole body of Christ is H.S.’s dwelling.

                         -He resides IN His GATHERED people

               3. R we perfect?

                    i. No! we r a dwelling place under construction

               4. Under construction metaphor:

                     i. passing by this future gym in Bothell & it was going 2 b great.

                    ii. we admired it, not because o what it was, but what it would become.

                   iii. God looks @ us the same way.

                   iv. Like that building, we r a temple under construction.

A. Alter Call

a. Maybe 2day ur realizing that 1. ur not a 1 o God’s people, apart o the church. 2. that u’ve not recieved mercy…cause we are all sinful & fallen short o God’s glory. C. The Church is a nation C. Church is God’s temple                1. often we say individuals r filled w/God’s Spirit (True, but!)                    2. I would add a more dynamic reality:                    i. The whole body of Christ is H.S.’s dwelling.                         -He resides IN His GATHERED people               3. R we perfect?                    i. No! we r a dwelling place under construction               4. Under construction metaphor:                     i. passing by this future gym in Bothell & it was going 2 b great.                    ii. we admired it, not because o what it was, but what it would become.                   iii. God looks @ us the same way.                   iv. Like that building, we r a temple under construction.

               1. often we say individuals r filled w/God’s Spirit (True, but!)                   2. I would add a more dynamic reality:

                    i. The whole body of Christ is H.S.’s dwelling.

                         -He resides IN His GATHERED people

               3. R we perfect?

                    i. No! we r a dwelling place under construction

               4. Under construction metaphor:

                     i. passing by this future gym in Bothell & it was going 2 b great.

                    ii. we admired it, not because o what it was, but what it would become.

                   iii. God looks @ us the same way.

                   iv. Like that building, we r a temple under construction.