Living Stones
In masonry, a living stone is one that is easily workable, to chip into shape and fit a particular wall space.
“Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2: 4-5 NKJV)
I dream of a church where each member is workable, fitting in well with the team.
Personal Growth
A growing Christian is a blessing to all.
“Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.” (2 Peter 1:5b-7 NLT)
I dream of a church where individual growth in every member is visible.
False Teachers
False teachers denigrate the Bible as merely the will of men filled with private interpretations. Peter contradicts that kind of blubber.
“knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of private interpretation. For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke, being moved by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:20-21 WEB)
We should not be shocked. Such things were foretold.
“But false prophets also arose among the people. In the same way, false teachers will come among you. They will introduce destructive opinions and deny the master who bought them, bringing quick destruction on themselves. Many will follow them in their unrestrained immorality, and because of these false teachers the way of truth will be slandered. In their greed they will take advantage of you with lies. The judgment pronounced against them long ago hasn’t fallen idle, nor is their destruction sleeping.” (2 Peter 2:1-3 CEB)
I dream of a church that believes that the Bible is God-breathed, not mere human opinions and is therefore not deceived by false teachers.
