4: Lively Stonework
Memory Verse: 1 Peter 2:5: 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.
Extra Verses: Isaiah 51:1; Exodus 20:25; Deut 27:8; 1 Kings 6:7; 1 Corinthians 3:9;
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Devotion: O.K. So we choose our Rock. We recognize God as our Defender and invite His Word, His teaching, His arrow, into our hearts. And we build our lives on the foundation of Jesus Christ. But what God has planned for us is bigger than just us. We are a part of God’s plan, but just a part. In fact, we are part of a building that God is constructing. Look at 1 Peter 2:5: 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. We’re going to be part of God’s building.
So there’s some interesting things to learn from what is recorded in the Bible about the construction of the temple. Did you know that the stones for the temple were not shaped into the appropriate shape and size on the temple grounds? O.K. So what? Think about it. If we are going to be part of God’s temple, He’s not going to wait until Jesus Christ returns and gathers us all together to start shaping us. He’s going to mold us, take off the rough edges, shape us into usable stones right now, right where we are.
Does it help you to know that God is using the events, big and small, in your life to shape you into a usable piece of His temple? Does it help you to know there’s a reason for the things you go through? Does it help you to know that, if you belong to God, He’s got His hands intimately involved in the formation process so that you will fit exactly where He wants you in His kingdom? It’s a great comfort to me.
Can you think of examples in the Bible of people who were shaped by experiences that turned ultimately to their good? Or can you think of people who chose God’s way rather than their own, and they were enormously blessed by it. Take a few minutes to write down a few examples you can share with the rest of the group.
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Extending the Lesson Through Journaling . . .
Memory Verse: You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:5 (NIV)
On the lines below, write either the memory verse in from the NIV, the ESV, or your favorite Bible translation.
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If you had to be a kind of rock, what kind would you be and why?
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What verses can you cite that talk about God molding you into the image of His Son?
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If God is using you as part of His building, He needs to mold and shape you so that you will fit
with all of the other pieces and will give glory to Him. How do you see Him doing that in your
life today? Give specific examples.
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As part of today’s lesson, you found a verse or example of choosing God’s way over our own.
Why do you think it’s important to be able to cite an example?
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Explain what you think the writer meant when he wrote:
“He [God] is building by His plan with the living stones of man . . .”
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Read Genesis 49:22-24. How do these verses relate to Jesus Christ and all four of these rock lessons?
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Memory Verse: 1 Peter 2:5: 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.
Extra Verses: Isaiah 51:1; Exodus 20:25; Deut 27:8; 1 Kings 6:7; 1 Corinthians 3:9;
_____________________; ____________________; ________________
Devotion: O.K. So we choose our Rock. We recognize God as our Defender and invite His Word, His teaching, His arrow, into our hearts. And we build our lives on the foundation of Jesus Christ. But what God has planned for us is bigger than just us. We are a part of God’s plan, but just a part. In fact, we are part of a building that God is constructing. Look at 1 Peter 2:5: 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. We’re going to be part of God’s building.
So there’s some interesting things to learn from what is recorded in the Bible about the construction of the temple. Did you know that the stones for the temple were not shaped into the appropriate shape and size on the temple grounds? O.K. So what? Think about it. If we are going to be part of God’s temple, He’s not going to wait until Jesus Christ returns and gathers us all together to start shaping us. He’s going to mold us, take off the rough edges, shape us into usable stones right now, right where we are.
Does it help you to know that God is using the events, big and small, in your life to shape you into a usable piece of His temple? Does it help you to know there’s a reason for the things you go through? Does it help you to know that, if you belong to God, He’s got His hands intimately involved in the formation process so that you will fit exactly where He wants you in His kingdom? It’s a great comfort to me.
Can you think of examples in the Bible of people who were shaped by experiences that turned ultimately to their good? Or can you think of people who chose God’s way rather than their own, and they were enormously blessed by it. Take a few minutes to write down a few examples you can share with the rest of the group.
___________________________________________________________
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___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
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Extending the Lesson Through Journaling . . .
Memory Verse: You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:5 (NIV)
On the lines below, write either the memory verse in from the NIV, the ESV, or your favorite Bible translation.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
If you had to be a kind of rock, what kind would you be and why?
__________________________________________________________________
What verses can you cite that talk about God molding you into the image of His Son?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
If God is using you as part of His building, He needs to mold and shape you so that you will fit
with all of the other pieces and will give glory to Him. How do you see Him doing that in your
life today? Give specific examples.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
As part of today’s lesson, you found a verse or example of choosing God’s way over our own.
Why do you think it’s important to be able to cite an example?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Explain what you think the writer meant when he wrote:
“He [God] is building by His plan with the living stones of man . . .”
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Read Genesis 49:22-24. How do these verses relate to Jesus Christ and all four of these rock lessons?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
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Did you Know?
Notre-Dame de Paris, also known as Notre-Dame Cathedral, is widely considered to be one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture and among the largest and most well-known church buildings in the world. Notre-Dame de Paris was among the first buildings in the world to use the flying buttress (arched exterior supports). Begun in 1163, the cathedral was essentially complete by 1345. It is 420 feet long, 226 feet wide, 226 feet tall (two towers) and has one spire which is 300 feet high.
Notre-Dame de Paris, also known as Notre-Dame Cathedral, is widely considered to be one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture and among the largest and most well-known church buildings in the world. Notre-Dame de Paris was among the first buildings in the world to use the flying buttress (arched exterior supports). Begun in 1163, the cathedral was essentially complete by 1345. It is 420 feet long, 226 feet wide, 226 feet tall (two towers) and has one spire which is 300 feet high.
Extending the Lesson through Music . . .
God is Building a House (lyrics)
God is building a house, God is building a house,
God is building a house that will stand.
He is building by His plan
With the living stones of man,
God is building a house that will stand.
God is building a house, God is building a house,
God is building a house that will stand.
With apostles, prophets, pastors,
With evangelists and teachers,
God is building a house that will stand.
Christ is head of this house, Christ is head of this house,
Christ is head of this house that will stand.
He abides in its praise,
Will perfect it in its ways,
Christ is head of this house that will stand.
We are part of this house, We are part of this house,
We are part of this house that will stand.
We are called from every nation
To enjoy His full salvation,
We are part of this house that will stand.
Exploring "God is Building a House"
This song has several verses cited as sources. Read them and jot down any similarities you find.
1 Corinthians 3:9 ____________________________________________________
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Ephesians 2:20-22 ___________________________________________________
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Ephesians 4:11-13 __________________________________________________
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1 Peter 2:5-6 ________________________________________________________
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Did You Know?
Medieval Church Architecture
Architecture played a very important role for the church in Medieval England. The more splendid the architecture, the more the church believed it was praising God. The church in Medieval England poured vast sums of money into the creation of grandiose architectural projects that peaked in the cathedrals at Canterbury and York. Medieval churches and cathedrals were superbly built. No peasant wattle and daub homes exist anymore as they were so crudely made. But the vast sums accrued by the church (primarily from the poorer classes) gave it the opportunity to spend on large building projects.
The cathedrals started in the reign of William the Conqueror were the largest buildings seen in England up to that time. With the exception of Worcester Cathedral, William appointed Norman bishops to these cathedrals. Therefore, these men would have been heavily influenced by the architecture used in Normandy and this style came to dominate the architecture of the cathedrals built under William. Norman architecture is also referred to as Romanesque because it was influenced in turn by the Ancient Romans.
(Source: www.historylearningsite.co.uk/medieval_church_architecture.htm)
In Summary . . .
In a few words, write a summary of this lesson, or the main points you will remember.
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Now, summarize the important points you learned from all four lessons.
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God is Building a House (lyrics)
God is building a house, God is building a house,
God is building a house that will stand.
He is building by His plan
With the living stones of man,
God is building a house that will stand.
God is building a house, God is building a house,
God is building a house that will stand.
With apostles, prophets, pastors,
With evangelists and teachers,
God is building a house that will stand.
Christ is head of this house, Christ is head of this house,
Christ is head of this house that will stand.
He abides in its praise,
Will perfect it in its ways,
Christ is head of this house that will stand.
We are part of this house, We are part of this house,
We are part of this house that will stand.
We are called from every nation
To enjoy His full salvation,
We are part of this house that will stand.
Exploring "God is Building a House"
This song has several verses cited as sources. Read them and jot down any similarities you find.
1 Corinthians 3:9 ____________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Ephesians 2:20-22 ___________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Ephesians 4:11-13 __________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
1 Peter 2:5-6 ________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Did You Know?
Medieval Church Architecture
Architecture played a very important role for the church in Medieval England. The more splendid the architecture, the more the church believed it was praising God. The church in Medieval England poured vast sums of money into the creation of grandiose architectural projects that peaked in the cathedrals at Canterbury and York. Medieval churches and cathedrals were superbly built. No peasant wattle and daub homes exist anymore as they were so crudely made. But the vast sums accrued by the church (primarily from the poorer classes) gave it the opportunity to spend on large building projects.
The cathedrals started in the reign of William the Conqueror were the largest buildings seen in England up to that time. With the exception of Worcester Cathedral, William appointed Norman bishops to these cathedrals. Therefore, these men would have been heavily influenced by the architecture used in Normandy and this style came to dominate the architecture of the cathedrals built under William. Norman architecture is also referred to as Romanesque because it was influenced in turn by the Ancient Romans.
(Source: www.historylearningsite.co.uk/medieval_church_architecture.htm)
In Summary . . .
In a few words, write a summary of this lesson, or the main points you will remember.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Now, summarize the important points you learned from all four lessons.
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