This Month’s Sermon Outline

TEXT: 1 Peter 2:5-9.

 INTRODUCTION:

The adjective “divine” is used in this outline to represent the quality of the church and show its nature rather than to designate it in a narrow sectarian sense. The church is the brotherhood of all Christians.

 I. Some Things the Divine Church Does Not Consist of:

           A. The angelic host of cherubim, seraphim, and angels.

           B. The disembodied souls in paradise, necessarily.

           C. The glorified saints after the resurrection day, necessarily.

 II. What the Divine Church Consists of:

A. Born again persons who have partaken of the “divine nature.” 2 Pet. 1:4 and Eph. 5:30-32.

B. It takes a spiritual birth to put one into a spiritual kingdom. John 3:3-8.

C. This is effected contrary to our old nature. Rom. 11:21-24.

III. She Had a Divine Origin:

A. The Law is her shadow. Heb. 10:1.

B. Daniel saw it in prophecy as a stone cut out of a mountain “without hands.” Dan. 2:34.

C. It is the “true tabernacle the Lord pitched and not man.” Heb. 8:2.

D. It is a habitation of God. Eph. 2:20-22.

E. Christ Himself is the builder. Matt. 16:16-18.

F. It is a “spiritual house.” 1 Pet. 2:5. 

IV. She Is Divinely Perpetuated. Psalm 127:1.

A. The Word and the Spirit are the agencies which build the church of God. 1 Cor. 4:15 and Acts 9:31.

B. Every enterprise is motivated and perpetuated by some dynamic principle and the Holy Spirit is the administrator of the divine church. John 14:26.

C. When we try to build the church by merely human efforts, we fail. Acts 19:13-16.

V. She Has a Divine Mission.

A. To make disciples of all nations. Matt. 28:29.

B. To leaven all of society with her power. Luke 20:25; Matt. 5:13-14.

C. No human institution can carry out the mission of the church. John 3:6.

VI. She Is Marked by Divine Worship.

A. We are to preach in the Spirit. 1 Cor. 2:4; 1 Thess. 1:5.

B. We are to pray in the Spirit. Rom. 8:26-27; Eph. 2:18; 6:18; Jude 2.

C. We are to sing in the Spirit. Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16.