As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious,
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.
1 PETER 2:4-5
Living Stones
Peter, inspired by God, described LIVING REAL LIFE using the illustration of a stone. But not just any stone, a living stone, built up into a dwelling place for God Himself, a holy temple for a holy priesthood (1 Peter 2:5).
Peter's name in fact means stone, and the conversation he had with Jesus in Matthew 16:18 would have been fresh in his mind. A conversation where Jesus established the foundation of the church, the most holy declaration that Jesus is the "Messiah, the Son of the Living God" as Peter confessed. And while Peter's name means stone, it is the rock of Peter's confession, Jesus Christ who is the foundation, the very chief cornerstone (1 Peter 2:6).
For that reason, LIVING REAL LIFE seeks to explore what exactly it means to be built on Jesus. What living real life looks like for those who are build on the solid rock of Jesus, immovable, unshakable, a life that can withstand storms and hardships, as described in the parable of the wise man who built his house upon the rock (Matthew 7:24-27).
But also, what does it mean to be the dwelling of God, the mystery described by Paul in Colossians 1:27 that has been made known to us, namely, "Christ in you, the hope of glory." This is the joy of life with Christ, walking in fellowship and communion with Him, in a relationship that youth seek, but will not find outside of Christ.