Bible Text: 1 Peter 2:4-8 | Preacher: Pastor Joe Ricchuiti | Series: 1 Peter, Connected

1. “The truth of the ‘priesthood of all believers’ was rediscovered and restressed during the Reformation. It means that every Christian has immediate access to God, that he serves God personally, that he ministers to others, and that he has something to give. It does not mean that each Christian has public gifts of preaching and teaching. In this verse Peter is stressing the reassuring fact that through Christ the believer is able to worship and serve God in a manner pleasing to Him.” (Dr. Edwin Blum)

2. Five observations on the priesthood of the believer:

-All believers are ministers (believer-priests), 1 Peter 2:5,9

-Pastors are called upon, many times, to do the work of the believer-priest

-The individual believer’s role and ministry is as significant as the Pastor’s role and ministry

-the Pastor’s biblical role is to prepare, equip, and assist the believer to minister (Ephesians 4:11,12)

-as believers we must appreciate and accept ministry from other believers on a par with Pastoral ministry

3. The New Testament speaks of seven spiritual sacrifices or offerings that the believer offers to God:

-ourselves as a living sacrifice, Romans 12:1,2

-praise to God, Hebrews 13:15; 1 Thessalonians 5:18

-doing good to others, Hebrews 13:16, sharing money, goods, good deeds

-financial support of those in ministry, Philippians 4:18 (personally and through the church)

-our witness, Romans 15:16

-our prayer, Acts 10:4; Psalm 141:2

-our faith, Philippians 2:17, including service to God, and for some giving up their lives in martyrdom, 2 Timothy 4:6