The Journey Together
1 Peter 2:4-12
When we talk about “going to church,” many think of a building or a Sunday event. But in 1 Peter 2:4–12, the Bible shows us that church isn’t where we go — it’s who we are. When we become followers of Jesus, we’re born into a community — a family being built together on Him.
Built on the Living Stone
Peter calls Jesus the living stone — rejected by humans but chosen by God. He’s not dead or static; He’s alive, vibrant, and spiritual. And when we come to Him, we become living stones too — built together into a spiritual house.
God isn’t building an institution; He’s building a people — a community of grace, held together by mercy. Jesus is the cornerstone, the one who defines and sustains the entire structure. Just as we are chosen in Him, we are joined to His church — not because we are better than others, but because of God’s grace.
A Chosen People and a Royal Priesthood
Peter reminds us of who we are: “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession.” (1 Peter 2:9). This echoes Exodus 19:5–6, where God calls Israel His treasured people. Now, through Jesus, that invitation extends to all who trust in Him.
To be holy doesn’t mean being separated from the world, but being different for the world. As Tim Chester puts it, holiness is living distinctively so others might see the goodness of God through us.
As a royal priesthood, we are to reflect our King — one who came not to be served, but to serve. Jesus used His authority to heal the sick, welcome the outcast, and give His life for the world. In the same way, we use what God has given us to build others up, to show what the kingdom of God looks like in action.
The church is not a collection of the moral elite, but a community of the rescued.
God’s Treasured Possession
Peter goes on: “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 2:10).
Think about that. The God who owns the stars in the sky calls you His treasure. And He doesn’t just say it — He proves it. He sent His Son to die so that we could belong to Him.
We don’t serve God to earn His favour; we serve because of what He’s already done for us. As John Piper says, “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.”
When we gather as God’s people, we celebrate this reality. Our community is defined not by our perfection, but by His grace. We find our satisfaction, identity, and belonging in Jesus — and together, we become the living expression of His love in the world.
We Don’t Go to Church — We Are the Church
The church is not a building, a brand, or a Sunday service. It’s a people — chosen, loved, and bound together by grace.
We are the church because of Jesus — the cornerstone who holds us together. Our gatherings, friendships, and acts of service all flow from what He has done for us.
So next time someone asks, “Do you go to church?”, maybe we can smile and say, “I don’t just go to church — I belong to one.”