Notes
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” “Well, ” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets. ” Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”
Matthew 16:13-19
Jesus liberates us from sin and leads us in our lives. The Church is a people who are called out of darkness, who are brought together because of who Christ is, and who penetrate darkness to bring others into the family of God. And Jesus is the builder and cornerstone of the Church.
Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord.
Ephesians 2:20-21
A cornerstone is what aligns and stabilizes a building. When Jesus is your cornerstone, He brings stability to your life even when everything around you is shaking. The world is full of chaos—false teaching, division, fear, and confusion—but Jesus remains unshakable.
But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
Ephesians 2:4-9
Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.
Hebrews 10:23
Our place in God’s house is not something we earned—it’s a gift. We are saved by grace, not by our efforts or good behavior. Jesus didn’t just rescue us from sin, He raised us into new life and positioned us in His eternal kingdom. God’s grace is not a reward; it’s a reflection of who He is. And in a world that constantly shifts, that grace gives us a reason to stand firm in hope.
Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.
Ephesian 2:20
God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord. Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.
Ephesians 3:10-12
Through Jesus, we are not only welcomed into God’s presence—we are part of His eternal plan. The Church isn’t just a building or a service; it’s a people Jesus brings together with all of our differences to display God’s love and wisdom.
Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord.
Ephesians 2:20-21
In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.
Romans 12:6
Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.
Matthew 16:18
God has given each of us gifts to be used well. When we build our lives on Jesus, He invites us to bring those gifts into His house—to work together as His Church, reflecting His presence in the world. No matter what your gift is, it belongs in the house. The Church is not built on individual talents—it’s built on the truth of Jesus as Lord and Messiah–our leader and liberator. And when we work together, using our gifts for His purposes, the house is built bigger and bigger.
Group Questions
- What does it mean for Jesus to be the cornerstone of your life?
- What are some things that try to shake your foundation—and how can Christ provide stability in those moments?
- Why is it important to remember that salvation is a gift, not a reward?
- What gifts do you believe God has given you, and how can you use them to build His house?
Prayer
Thank you for being the cornerstone of our faith. Help us to build our lives on you, not on things that shift and shake. Remind us of the grace you’ve given and the gifts you’ve placed in us. Help us use them to build a house where others encounter your love.