Dave Rich examines Peter's metaphor of the church as living stones in 1 Peter 2:5. This imagery portrays believers as components of a spiritual house, functioning as a holy priesthood. Rich explains how the church, as living stones, offers acceptable sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ. He outlines seven types of spiritual sacrifices: self-dedication, love, giving, praise, service, gospel proclamation, and prayer. The metaphor represents God's presence on earth and the church's role in fulfilling His purpose. By depicting the church as living stones, Peter emphasizes the active participation of believers in God's plan through sanctification and service.

Dave Rich explores the significance of Jesus Christ as the living stone in 1 Peter 2:4-10. Highlighting how one’s valuation of Christ impacts their eternal destiny, Rich emphasizes that esteeming Jesus as precious and chosen by God leads to salvation and spiritual blessings. Conversely, rejecting the living stone results in spiritual peril. This sermon urges believers to align their lives with the cornerstone of their faith.

God's will for every believer is their sanctification. That is the purpose of this life, with all of its trials and temptations. God has given us His word as a means of sanctification, but to gain from it, we must first put away our sins. Putting away sin and desiring God's word is impossible apart from the regenerating, converting work of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Through the gospel, we are made new creatures, fully capable of warring against our sins, loving God's word, and moving upward to conform to the likeness of our Lord. An exposition of 1 Peter 2:1-3