Cornerstone—Functional or Decorative?I

 Peter 1:23-2:12
Tim Nay

Part of 1&2 Peter: Standing firm in shifting times

February 1, 2026

4 “As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 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. 6 For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” 7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” —1 Peter 2:4-7 

1. Our cornerstone is functional, not decorative. 

23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” —Matthew 16:23 

8 “and ‘A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.’ They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. —I Peter 2:8 

2. Our identity is found in knowing we are God’s chosen. 

23 “since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; 24 for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, 25 but the word of the Lord remains forever. And this word is the good news that was preached to you.” —I Peter 1:23-25 

9 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.” —1 Peter 2:9-11 

3. Our actions need to align with being Christ-like. 

1 “So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.” —I Peter 2:1 

Actions to Realign: 
• Malice: A desire to harm others. 
• Deceit: Dishonesty and manipulation. 
• Hypocrisy: Not being genuine. 
• Envy: Resenting others’ blessings. 
• Slander: Speaking evil of others. 

4. Our change comes through a steady diet of the Word of God. 

TAKEAWAY: You will never be disappointed aligning your life with Christ.