March 27, 2025
God called the Christians to whom Peter wrote to be holy. In chapter 2, he explains that they need to get rid of certain behaviors and thought patterns that do not align with the description of someone who has been born again. Such attitudes and actions hinder the spread of the gospel and the mission of the Church.
The word of the gospel was proclaimed to them. This church had likely experienced some measure of persecution (4:16). However, many of the church members were mature believers.
Peter gave a series of commands regarding attitudes and actions that hinder the maturation and witness of the Christian community. First, Christians need to divest themselves of a lifestyle, behavior, and actions that are detrimental to evangelism and discipleship: malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander. Peter challenges his readers to instead desire the milk of the Word of God. Immersion in God’s Word is one of the key disciplines by which believers grow from newborn infants into mature believers.
Rather than growing up like our physical bodies, we have the Word of God that helps us grow up in our salvation from infancy to mature adulthood. Why do some who claim to be followers of Christ never mature? Many Christians fail to practice the spiritual disciplines. As my high school football coach said about developing as a player, “You gotta want it.”
This small unit of Scripture is packed with the theme of discipleship. Jesus is the living Stone. We serve as living stones in a spiritual house. Peter emphasizes three important truths. First, while people may reject us and our witness, we have the responsibility and privilege to serve and minister in a spiritual house — the Kingdom of God. Second, as holy priests we offer spiritual sacrifices. This is one of the primary scriptural passages that affirms the biblical doctrine of the priesthood of believers.
Jesus is our High Priest and as we serve as priests, we are serving Jesus and other believers. We do not, however, offer bloody offerings. As blocks in a building connect to other blocks, so we as believers must connect with other believers to build up, strengthen, and minister to each other.
Since we are living stones building up the temple of the Church, we offer spiritual sacrifices in a spiritual house. What do we learn from this passage about our purpose as believers?
This is another small unit of Scripture, but is one of the greatest Scripture passages about the nature and mission of the Church.
Other generations talked about the doctrine of the priesthood of believers, but unfortunately, we live in a time when Baptists do not discuss this precious doctrine as often as our Baptist forefathers did. Basic to the priesthood of believers is congregationalism.
In a period when churches are closing their doors, we need to continue to build the spiritual edifice of the Church until Jesus returns. Church members are priests to one another. We will never complete our mission until Jesus returns. Why is unity such an important part of the church’s ministry?
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This lesson was written by Mark Rathel, pastor of Friendship Baptist Church in DeFuniak Springs, Fla., and originally published by The Baptist Paper. This study is based on the Explore the Bible curriculum from Lifeway Christian Resources. The Sunday School lesson outlines are provided by Lifeway.
