Living Stones

When you look at a beautiful house, it’s easy to focus on the final product—the painted trim, the sturdy walls, and the welcoming front porch. But behind every strong home is an intentional builder who handled every board, pipe, wire, and brick long before anyone ever lived inside.

On Sunday, August 16, 2026, Executive Pastor Nate Cress preached an inspiring and deeply personal message titled "Living Stones." Drawing from 1 Peter 2:4–5, Pastor Nate illustrated how God—our Master Builder—takes lives that feel discarded, broken, or rejected by the world and carefully shapes them into a dynamic, living spiritual house.

Due to technical issues, the message was not recorded.

The Master Carpenter and Reclaimed Bricks

Pastor Nate opened his sermon with a story about his grandfather, a master carpenter and Navy veteran. After marrying Pastor Nate’s grandmother, his grandfather searched for land with good soil, eventually finding empty acreage just outside Terrell, Texas.

Without any existing shelter on the property, the family camped out on weekends. Piece by piece, using reclaimed materials rejected from job sites, his grandfather began to construct their home:

1. First, he built a small shed for shelter.

2. Next came a cinderblock shop (and a garden fence that doubled as an outdoor shower!).

3. Then came a barn for horses and equipment.

4. Finally, using reclaimed materials, he built a beautiful brick home.

Pastor Nate recalled working with his grandfather during high school summer breaks, learning how to use a hammer and chisel to carefully clean old mortar off discarded bricks so they could be reused. His grandfather didn't see junk; he saw potential.

That story provides a clear picture of how God builds His church: one reclaimed brick at a time.

1. The Foundation: The Living Stone (1 Peter 2:4)

“As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious…” — 1 Peter 2:4

Every house must rest on a firm foundation. In God's spiritual house, Jesus Christ is the Cornerstone:

• The Paradox: Literal stones are cold, hard, and inanimate. But Jesus is the Living Stone. Because He rose from the dead, the house He builds is dynamic, growing, and breathing.

• The World’s Rejection vs. God’s Value: Jesus was rejected by men, yet in the sight of God, He was chosen and precious. The good news for us is that God specializes in using what the world throws away.

• The Invitation: Peter writes, "As you come to him..." We cannot be fitted into God’s building if we don't first draw near to the Builder.

2. Your Identity: You Are "Living Stones" (1 Peter 2:5a)

“…you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house…” — 1 Peter 2:5a

When we put our faith in Christ, our identity changes completely:

• Transformed Material: Just as Christ was transformed through the resurrection, we are changed through faith. We are no longer "common" rocks lying in the dirt; we are sanctified and set apart.

• Interdependence (Relationships as Mortar): A stone lying alone in a field is just a rock—it serves little structural purpose. But a stone placed inside a wall becomes part of a strong house. You cannot fulfill your divine calling in isolation. We need the brothers and sisters around us for support and structural integrity.

• Unique Design: The Master Builder places every stone exactly where He wants it. Your personality, your background, your spiritual gifts—and even your past heartbreaks and scars—are not accidental. They are intentional design choices made by God.

3. Your Function: A Holy Priesthood (1 Peter 1:5b)

“…to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” — 1 Peter 2:5b

We are not called to be passive consumers in church; we are called to be active participants in God's kingdom.

• Not Just Attendees, but the Building: A spiritual house is built for habitation—a place where God's presence dwells. We don't just visit a church building; we are the living church.

• Offering Spiritual Sacrifices: What is our daily purpose? To offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God—our worship, our prayer, our generous giving, our service, and our daily godly living.

• The Priesthood of All Believers: In the Old Testament, only a select group of priests could enter the holy places. But through Jesus, every believer has direct access to God and a personal responsibility to represent Him to the world. There are no spectators in God’s house.

Stepping Into Action: I Love Royse City

True faith always moves us from internal reflection to outward action. As Pastor Nate concluded the message, he called the congregation to align their hearts with God's purposes by serving our community.

One practical way we can live out our calling as "living stones" built together is through "I Love RC" (I Love Royse City) on Saturday, September 12, 2026. Sponsored by the Royse City Pastors Alliance, this citywide service day brings local churches together to meet practical needs, serve neighbors, and demonstrate Christ’s love in tangible ways.

You can sign up to serve or submit a community project at weloverc.net.

Let's stop sitting on the sidelines like loose rocks. Let’s allow the Master Builder to chip away our rough edges, mortar us together in genuine community, and use our lives to build something that lasts for eternity!

Small Group Discussion Questions

1. Pastor Nate shared memories of working with his grandfather to clean mortar off reclaimed bricks. What is a hands-on project or lesson that taught you the value of hard work or restoring something old?

2. Read 1 Peter 2:4. Jesus was "rejected by men but chosen by God." How does it comfort you to know that God routinely uses people and experiences that the world considers "discarded" or "worthless"?

3. Why is it dangerous to build our lives, marriages, or ministries on our own effort or cultural trends rather than aligning everything with Jesus as our Cornerstone?

4. The sermon noted that "a stone lying alone is just a rock, but a stone placed in a wall is part of a house." Why do so many Christians struggle with isolation, and what are the spiritual risks of trying to follow Jesus alone?

5. How do genuine relationships, accountability, and love act as the "mortar" holding believers together in a local church? What happens to a church wall when the mortar breaks down?

6. Pastor Nate emphasized that your past, your personality, and even your scars are intentional design choices made by God. How has God used a difficult chapter from your past to help or encourage someone else?

7. Read 1 Peter 2:5. How does understanding that every believer is part of a "holy priesthood" change the way you view your role in the church on Sunday mornings and throughout the week?

8. What are some examples of "spiritual sacrifices" (worship, generosity, serving, integrity) that we can offer to God in our everyday workplaces, schools, and homes?

9. In light of upcoming community serve projects like I Love RC (September 12, 2026), why is hands-on outreach essential for proving the truth of the Gospel to our neighbors?

10. During the altar call, Pastor Nate invited people to Repentance, Alignment, and Action. Which of those three areas is the Holy Spirit asking you to focus on this week?