Our scripture reading this morning comes from the book of 1st Peter.

And I would ask of you to turn to 1st Peter the 2nd chapter, beginning at the first verse through the 12th verse and I will just pause for just a moment to allow you time to get to 1st Peter, the second chapter beginning at the first verse through the 12th verse.

Therefore, putting aside all malice and all guile, in hypocrisy and envy and slander, like newborn banks, and may grow in respect to salvation. If you have tasted the kindness of the Lord and

coming to Him as to live in stones rejected by men, but choice and precious in the sight of God.

You also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood to offer

spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

For this is contained in scripture.

Behold, our lion'sion, a cornerstone, a precious stone, and he who believes a then is for you who believe but for those who disbelieve the stone which the builders

rejected this became the very cornerstone and a stone of stumbling and a rock of a fence.

And for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word and to the

doom they were also appointed.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,

a people for God's own possession that you may proclaim the excellence of him who has called

you out of darkness and to his marvelous light. For you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God.

You have not really received mercy, but you have received mercy.

Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from

fleshly lust which wage war against your soul. Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentile, so that in the things in which they slander

you as evadours, they may, on account of your good deeds as they observe them glorify God in the day of visitation.

God bless the reading of His Word.

Let's pray together.

Now, Father, as we undertake to both lay open this text and lead the body through the vision that you are giving, we believe, to the elders and to the people, I ask for your help.

And I pray that a mindset, a different mindset, would be given to our church and that this morning would be a means to the change.

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