Second Sunday of Easter + 12th Anniversary of Redemption Hill Church!1 Peter 2:1-12: Growing up into salvation as living stones built into a spiritual house.Peter transitions from WHO we are in Christ (chapter 1) to HOW we should live. The indicatives lead to imperatives. Because of what God has done, NOW what?PUT AWAY (v.1): Malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, slander. These are community-killers. Not just behavior modification—true heart change.LONG FOR (v.2): Like newborn infants crave milk, long for the pure spiritual milk of God's Word. Not to GET saved, but to GROW UP into salvation. If you've tasted that the Lord is good, you'll crave more.COME TO HIM (v.4-8): Jesus is the LIVING STONE—rejected by men, but chosen and precious to God. We are LIVING STONES being built into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Christ.Zechariah 4:10: "Do not despise the day of small things." God is building His house one stone at a time. You might feel like a pebble, but God is using you.THE CORNERSTONE (v.6-8): Isaiah 28:16, Psalm 118:22. Jesus is the cornerstone—whoever believes in Him will NOT be put to shame. But for those who disobey, He becomes a stone of stumbling. They were DESTINED to stumble (v.8).WHO YOU ARE (v.9-10): Chosen race. Royal priesthood. Holy nation. God's own possession. THAT YOU MAY PROCLAIM His excellencies. Once NOT a people, now GOD'S PEOPLE. Once had NOT received mercy, now HAVE received mercy.LIVE AS EXILES (v.11-12): We're sojourners and exiles. Abstain from fleshly passions that wage WAR against your soul. Keep your conduct honorable so when they accuse you, they'll see your good deeds and glorify God.THE POPCORN ILLUSTRATION: Bought a fancy popcorn maker. Instructions told us what it's SUPPOSED to look like when working. Hit the button—nothing. My impulse? Reach down and SPIN IT MYSELF. That's behavior modification.The New Testament tells us what it's supposed to look like when everything is functioning properly. But if we just TRY to do the list before our HEARTS have changed, it counts for nothing. More dangerous—convinces us we're okay when it's just us in our own strength.God doesn't want behavior modification. He wants SUBMISSION in the inward place of our hearts. As we long for Him and His Word, everything starts functioning properly. Outward change comes from inward work. Not just changing actions, but changing DESIRES—so we hate what God hates and love what God loves.Not to BECOME God's people. We already ARE. Now LIVE LIKE IT.Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!#1Peter2 #LivingStones #SpiritualGrowth #Cornerstone #ChosenRace #RoyalPriesthood #BehaviorModification #HeartChange #RedemptionHillChurch