Singing out loud with me on the first, Jesus Saves.
We have heard the joyful sound, Jesus saves, Jesus saves.
Spread the tidings all around, Jesus saves, Jesus saves.
Fair the news to every land, climb the steeps and cross the waves.
Onward is our Lord's command, Jesus saves, Jesus saves.
Waft it on the rolling tide, Jesus saves, Jesus saves.
Tell to sinners far and wide, Jesus saves, Jesus saves.
Sing ye islands of the sea, echo back ye ocean caves.
Earth shall keep her jubilee, Jesus saves, Jesus saves.
Sing above the battle strife, Jesus saves, Jesus saves.
By his death in endless light, Jesus saves, Jesus saves.
Sing his softly through the gloom, when the heart for mercy craves.
Sing in triumph for the tomb, Jesus saves, Jesus saves.
Give the winds a mighty voice, Jesus saves, Jesus saves.
Let the nations now rejoice, Jesus saves, Jesus saves.
Shout salvation, pull it free, highest hills and deepest caves.
This our song of victory, Jesus saves, Jesus saves.
And great singing tonight.
Brother Alex, can you open us with a word of prayer?
Yes, we do.
Man, that's page 158, O for a thousand tongues to sing, page 158.
Page 158, O for a thousand tongues to sing, sing that with me on the first.
O for a thousand tongues to sing, my great redeemer's praise, the glories of my God
and King, the triumphs of his grace, my gracious master and my God assist me to proclaim, to
spread through all the earth abroad, the honors of thy name, Jesus, the name that charms
our fears, that bids our sorrow cease, tis music in the sinner's ears, tis life and health
and peace, he breaks the power of canceled sin, he sets the prisoner free, his blood
can make the phallus clean, his blood availed for me, hear him ye deaf, his praise ye dumb,
your loosed tongues employ, ye blind behold, your Savior come and leave me lame for joy.
Good evening, welcome to Sure Foundation Baptist Church for the midweek service.
Let's take our bulletins and go through them real quickly.
I don't know if we have any bulletins.
Is there any extra bulletins?
Oh well, just listen.
My one's running for a while right there, but anyway.
The verse of the week says, no weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper and every
tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment, thou shalt condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their righteousness is of me, sayeth
the Lord, Isaiah 54, verse 17, that's a great verse, very applicable for the week and our
service times are 10 30 a.m. on Sunday morning, 3 30 p.m. on Sunday evening, Thursday Bible
studies 6 30 p.m. tonight, we're in 1st Corinthians chapter 10, there's going to be a two-parter,
so I'm going to cover the first several verses and then there'll be part two next Thursday.
So many times are listed below and I haven't really got to keep up with the, has anybody
gotten saved this week since Sunday?
Okay, so what did we have Sunday?
We had six salvation Sunday, so was there soul-winning today?
No, okay, it's a heat wave, so we're not used to this, it's like Arizona weather, anyway,
let's see, we have the regional soul-winning times listed there also, the praise report,
you can see the salvations, so let's see, we have 13 salvation so far for August, so
that's great and 15 baptisms and you can see all the rest of that info is on there, August
15th, which is this coming Sunday, I'll be preaching in Spokane and for both services
I'll be back Monday and back for the Thursday service, so August 21st we'll have a soul-winning
marathon in Longview and that's at 11 a.m. the lunch will be provided, be at one o'clock
and we'll probably pick a park to meet up at, hopefully it's not going to be 115 degrees
outside, so I was thinking panda, but I just want to note whoever's picking that up, probably
my wife or me, we'll just need to remember to bring plates, I'm reminding myself right
now to bring plates because they don't serve plates anymore, anybody planning, I want to
make sure people are planning on going, you plan on going to Longview, Justin doesn't
want to go to his little, he's a prophet, he's not without honor in his own nation,
his own people, anyway, so that's great, well it sounds like several people are going and
so we'll have the soul-winning marathon there and then the music ministry meeting is at
6 p.m. on August 24th, that's a Tuesday night and so if you're able to make that and you
want to be in the music ministry, it's an important meeting, obviously if you live out
of town, it might be a little difficult, but we can pass the notes on to you.
September 2nd, I'll be preaching in Cincinnati, Ohio for the fundamentalist conference, so
very excited about going to Ohio, Brando's home state, so they're not very good at football,
so it's just like I kind of don't, I heard their chili's gross, no I'm just joking, I'm
really excited, some people are saying the chili's great there, so you know, I just don't
want to eat any before I preach because that's always a recipe for disaster, you're like
the Sennheiser's picking up the gurgling in your stomach, you know, anyway, it's gonna
be a great conference.
Pastor Jimenez will be there, Pastor Reyes and then Deacon Oliver Gonzalez will also
be there and then it'll be at the church there, all the information is on our video.
September 21st is the homeschool field trip to Sky Zone and we'll start at 9 40, that's
a.m. for a two hour jump time in Vancouver, seeing this Rachel Woods for details, October
3rd, I'll be preaching at Pure Words Baptist Church and then October 5th, I'll be preaching
at the Firebreathing Baptist Fellowship Conference, November 7th, Pastor Roger Jimenez will be
preaching for us for the p.m. service, so it'll be great to have Pastor Jimenez up and
then extra soloing is going on, Monday, Tuesdays and Thursdays, Fridays, already in normal
time, that was a typo, so and that's normally Brother Sean's time, Brother Sean are you
doing your time tomorrow?
All right, how hot is it supposed to be?
That's it?
Just kidding, all right, it's only an hour and he'll bring water if you want to go, all
right, we're a family integrated church, you all know that, I'm going to skip through all
this stuff, but the text giving numbers down there and our tithes and offerings, what we've
received for last month and then birthdays, what's the date today?
I don't even know, the 12th, all right, so what day is the 17th, good night, anybody
know, huh, oh yeah, so it's Sunday, so we'll sing to Alex, you better be here Sunday, is
it Sunday, your birthday Sunday, what, good night, so it's next Tuesday, so we'll sing
to you next Tuesday, all right, anyway, I think that's all we got for announcements,
let's sing another song, I'm failing miserably, so all right, let's sing another song and
we'll receive the offering.
Turn to page 119 in the green handles, till the storm passes by, page 119, till the storm
passes by, sing it out loud with me on the first.
In the dark of the midnight have I oft hid my face, while the storm howls above me and
there's no hiding place, mid the crash of the thunder, precious Lord hear my cry, keep
me safe, till the storm passes by, till the storm passes over, till the thunder sounds
no more, till the clouds roll forever from the sky, hold me fast, let me stand in the
hollow of thy hand, keep me safe, till the storm passes by, on the second, many times
Satan whispered, there is no need to try, for there's no end of sorrow, there is no
hope by, but I know thou are with me and tomorrow I'll rise, where the storm's never
dark in the skies, till the storm passes over, till the thunder sounds no more, till the
clouds roll forever from the sky, hold me fast, let me stand in the hollow of thy hand,
keep me safe, till the storm passes by, on the last, when the long night has ended and
the storms come no more, let me stand in thy presence on that bright peaceful shore,
in that land where the tempest never comes, Lord may I dwell with thee when the storm
passes by, till the storm passes over, till the thunder sounds no more, till the clouds
roll forever from the sky, hold me fast, let me stand in the hollow of thy hand, keep me
safe, till the storm passes by.
Good evening, would you turn with me to the book of 1st Corinthians chapter 10.
The book of 1st Corinthians and chapter 10.
If you don't have a Bible, if you'd raise your hand, someone will bring one to you.
1st Corinthians chapter 10, the Bible reads, Moreover, brethren, I would not that you should
be ignorant how that all our fathers were under the cloud and all passed through the
sea, and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and did all eat the
same spiritual meat, and did all drink the same spiritual drink, for they drank of that
spiritual rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ.
But with many of them God was not well pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
Now, these things were our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil
things, as they also lusted.
Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them, as it is written, the people sat down to eat
and drink, and rose up to play.
Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three
and twenty thousand.
Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
Now, all these things happened unto them for in samples, and they are written for our admonition,
upon whom the ends of the world are come, wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth
take heed lest he fall.
There hath no temptation taken you, but such as is common to man.
But God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted, above that ye are able, but
will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
I speak as to wise men, judge ye what I say.
The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?
The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
For we, being many, are one bread and one body, for we are all partakers of that one
bread.
Behold, Israel, after the flesh, are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the
altar?
What say I then, that the idol is anything, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols
is anything?
But I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not
to God, and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
You cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils.
You cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.
Do we provoke the Lord's jealousy?
Are we stronger than he?
All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient.
All things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.
Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake.
For the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof.
If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and you be disposed to go.
Whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.
But if any man say unto you, this is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake
that showed it, and for conscience sake.
For the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof.
Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other, for why is my liberty judged of another
man's conscience?
For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
Give none offense, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God.
Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own prophet, but the prophet
of many, that they may be saved.
What's just with the purpose?
We're in 1 Corinthians chapter 10.
This is, like I said, part one.
I'm going to preach part two next week, and I'm actually only going to cover four
verses, because I want to preach about something specific that's in the first four verses.
So look at verse number one.
It says, Moreover, brethren, I would not say you should be ignorant how that all our fathers
were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and were all baptized unto Moses
in the cloud and in the sea.
Let's pray.
Heavenly Father, we thank you, Lord, so much for this wonderful day, and we pray, Lord,
that you just bless this church, and continue to help us in our battles, and, Lord, help
us to fight the good fight of faith, and be all in one mind and one accord, striving together
for the gospel.
Pray, Lord, that you fill me with your spirit tonight, and grace, Lord, and also boldness
and power.
In peace, name we pray.
Amen.
So in verse number two, it talks about how all were baptized unto Moses in the cloud
and in the sea.
So obviously, leaving Egypt, you know, obviously they had the Passover where all the firstborn
were killed, and obviously God, that's a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ saving those that
had the blood covering their doorposts, and then they were freed from sin.
So Egypt always pictures sin and the world, and so when they left Egypt, you know, that's
a picture of them getting saved free from the bondage of sin, and then they go and they
are trapped at the Red Sea, right?
And at the Red Sea, God does a miracle and lets them pass through the Red Sea on dry
ground, and it says, and we're all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea.
So that cloud that was by day represented the baptism, and the seed that they passed
through represented the baptism.
It was a picture for us to show us, you know, the pictures of faith, because you don't get
baptized before you get saved, right?
You get baptized after you get saved, so it's a good picture for us after getting saved
to get baptized.
Now look at verse number three, and it says, and did all eat the same spiritual meat?
And what was that spiritual meat?
Well, that was the bread that came down from heaven, right?
That daily bread that we're supposed to get into our Bibles, and also obviously it represents
the word of God, it represents Jesus Christ, but it's that spiritual meat that we're supposed
to get every day.
Remember the children of Israel had to collect that every single day, and it's the same thing
with our Bible reading.
We should be reading the Bible every day and getting our daily spiritual bread.
Look at verse four, it says, and did all drink the same spiritual drink?
For they drank of that spiritual rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ.
So, remember the waters of Meribah, they, Moses was asked to strike the rock once, but
how many times did he strike it?
So he struck it twice, but not Moses basically, for he couldn't go into the promised land.
So, but that rock that supplied that water, you know, obviously you think of the living
water that Jesus offers us that's springing up everlasting life into our soul.
So, that rock was Christ, and he provides that spiritual water that we're to drink.
But the Bible is very clear that Jesus is that rock, and so the rock represents also,
you know, the foundation of the church and the New Testament.
Obviously, Jesus Christ is that foundational stone.
We're going to cover some of that tonight.
But I also want to address something that Pastor Mejia preached when he was here, and
there was a video mashup done of how I used to preach something different, and then he's
saying that me and your pastor agree on this, and I do agree with him on it.
I've kind of changed my position a little bit on that, and obviously if someone doesn't
agree with me on that, that's fine.
I don't think that this is like some heretical, you know, hair-splitting doctrine that has
to be, but I'll explain it to you as we go through the sermon.
If you don't agree with me, you can come up to me and go, Pastor Thompson, I disagree
with you, and I'll be like, okay, that's fine.
But it won't bother me any.
So, yes, I did used to preach that when Jesus was in Matthew chapter 16, that Jesus was
saying that he is that rock, and we'll cover that.
But let's look at Deuteronomy chapter 32 real quick, verse number 3.
We'll get to that here in just a minute, but I just want to show you some verses that show
this rock that it's talking about in the Old Testament.
That Christ is that rock.
It says in Deuteronomy 32, verse 3, it says, Because I will publish the name of the Lord,
ascribe ye greatness unto our God.
He is the rock.
His work is perfect for all His ways are judgment, a God of truth, and without iniquity,
just and right is He.
So who's the rock?
Okay, so this mic.
Okay, so obviously Jesus Christ is that rock that it's talking about in the Old Testament.
See, the New Testament is what sheds light on the Old Testament.
So it helps us to interpret the things correctly in the Bible.
Look what it says in verse number 13 in the same chapter.
It says, He made Him ride on the high places of the earth, that He might eat the increase
of the fields, and He made Him to suck honey out of the rock and oil out of the flinty rock.
So you know that song, there's honey in the rock for you.
That's where it comes from, from this verse.
But He is that rock, that flinty rock.
The oil obviously represents the Holy Spirit, and we get the Holy Spirit
once we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
We get that honey out.
We get that oil out of that flinty rock.
Look at verse number 15.
It says, But Jeshurun waxed fat and kicked.
Thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness.
Then he forsook God, which made him, and lightly esteemed, what does it say?
The rock of his salvation.
So obviously, again, talking about that same rock that it's talking about in 1 Corinthians 10.
Look at verse 18.
It says, Of the rock that beget thee, thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee.
I think it's very interesting in both verse 15 and verse 18.
It talks about forsaking God and lightly esteeming the rock.
And then in verse 18, Of the rock that beget thee, thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten the God that formed thee.
So it's basically also saying that this rock is God.
Right?
And who's the rock?
Christ.
There's some good proof text, you know, for you to prove that Jesus Christ is God.
But anyway, so back to the controversy over Peter.
I just wanted to show a couple of verses showing that Jesus Christ is that rock.
This is what it's talking about in 1 Corinthians chapter 10.
Now let's go over to the more controversial thing that I wanted to talk about tonight.
Matthew chapter 16. Let's turn over there really quickly.
Matthew chapter number 16.
Now, Catholics want to say that Peter was the first pope.
And I think that that's why Baptists preach so hard on this section of Scripture.
Because we don't want to be associated with Catholicism.
We don't want to be associated with Peter being considered the rock of the church.
Right?
So that's why people get upset.
And I think that's why Baptists preach this so hard.
And I preached it hard too before.
So you can see the clips where I'm just like, he's the rock.
But let's look at verse 13.
Let's look at it.
Let's look at what the text says, okay?
It says, when Jesus came into the coast of Caesarea Philippi,
he asked his disciples, saying, who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?
And they said, some say thou art John the Baptist, some Elias, and others, Jeremiahs, or one of the prophets.
And those are good people to be compared to, right?
And it says in verse 15, he saith unto them, but whom say ye that I am?
So he's asking his disciples that ye is a plural form, right?
That's what we get in ye, you, yours.
Those are plural things.
He's asking all the disciples this question.
Now look at verse 16.
It says, and Simon Peter answered and said, thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
And Jesus answered and said unto him, blessed art thou Simon Barjona,
for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
So what's he calling right there?
He calls him Simon Barjona, doesn't he?
Because that's his real name, but Jesus gave him a nickname.
He renamed Simon and called him something else.
What did he call him?
He called him Cephas or Peter, right?
And it says, and I say unto thee, is that plural or is that singular?
Okay.
I say unto, oh, I'm sorry.
I'm skipping a verse here.
Let's look at verse 18.
I'm sorry.
And I say unto, yeah, okay, I was right.
Unto thee, that is singular, that thou, is that singular also?
Art Peter.
And what does Peter mean?
A stone, right?
And upon this rock will I build my church.
And I know that people will say, well, you know, it's saying rock, not stone.
Because when we see the verse where it says that Peter was renamed, you know,
it's interpreted as a stone.
But a stone and a rock are used interchangeably in the Bible.
Okay?
So don't get hung up on that.
I've seen people preach out and say, it doesn't say rock.
It doesn't say stone.
It says rock.
Now, if you noticed in Deuteronomy when we were looking at those verses, they had the
R capitalized in that, which obviously capitalization doesn't always mean anything.
But that just tells you, though, that the people that were interpreting this, they knew
about the passage of 1 Corinthians, how it says that Old Testament rock that followed
them was Christ.
So they capitalized those words.
But obviously that doesn't mean anything.
But I'm just saying that it's a small R here.
But it says, and upon this rock, thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my
church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Now, I mean, I preached it where I said that, you know, the rock it's talking about is
about Jesus.
And I always do this, this rock.
You know, I always point to my chest.
I was watching the clips on it, and I was pointing at my chest.
But is that reading into it?
Like if I'm saying that, because I always imagine it this way, right?
That Jesus is standing there with Peter, and he says, upon this rock.
You know, but that doesn't say that he pointed to himself.
You know what I'm saying?
I'm just trying to be true to what I think that the text is actually saying, okay?
And I'm not saying that Peter is the foundation, the cornerstone of the church.
I'm saying that Peter, that the rock, it says thou art Peter, upon this rock I will build
my church.
But who's the foundational stone?
I'm not saying I believe Peter is the foundation stone, okay?
I'm just saying that he's talking to Peter, he's saying thee, and upon this rock I will
build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.
If you look at verse 19, it says, and I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of
heaven.
Is he talking about himself there?
And whosoever thou shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt
loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
So he's obviously talking to Peter here.
Now, if you're so hung up on that, I mean, I'm sorry, but I'm going to show you some
scriptures here, and you can make up your own mind, okay?
I'm not, I wouldn't even be super dogmatic about this, like if someone just ardently
disagreed with me about this, I wouldn't care, you know?
So look at John chapter 1, verse 42.
John chapter 1, verse 42.
And I only have three pages of notes tonight, so we're going to get out of here early.
Ha ha ha, no, just kidding.
John chapter 1, verse 42 says, and he brought him to Jesus, and when Jesus beheld him, he
said, thou art Simon, the son of Jonah, thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation
a stone.
So like I said, people will get hung up and they'll go, oh, rock, stone, Jesus called
him the stone, that's his name, he's the stone.
Because basically what this, the difference between a rock and a stone in the dictionary,
which I'm not saying is, you know, holy writs or something, but a stone is usually a smaller
rock.
You know, rocks are usually big, like boulders or whatever, but stones are usually smaller.
So what is he calling him?
He's calling him like a little rock, okay?
Christ is also used interchangeably as a stone or a rock, okay?
So the argument of the rock being different than a stone is kind of not really a great
sticking point for you if that's what you're thinking.
But again, I just want to say this, I in no way believe that Jesus is not the foundation
stone or the rock in which our very faith exists on.
I'm not saying that, okay?
Don't get it twisted, homie.
I believe that Jesus is the rock that's the foundational stone, no doubt about that.
So I think, however, though, the Bible is very clear that the prophets and the apostles
are the next layers on there.
Because the things that are built upon, everything has to be built upon Jesus and the apostles.
So who is the first stone that's put on the stack, the cornerstone for the church?
I mean, I think that that's what Jesus is trying to say, that upon this rock, I will
build my church.
So he's the next stone that gets put on the foundation.
So that's the way I see it.
I could be wrong about that, but that's kind of how I see it.
And that's, I think, how the Bible teaches it.
Look at Ephesians chapter 2, verse 19.
Ephesians chapter 2, verse 19.
This is very clear scripture, very clear.
Ephesians 2, 19 says,
Now therefore, you are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints
and of the household of God.
And it says in verse 20,
and are built upon the foundation.
So who's built upon the foundation?
It's talking about us.
Saved people are built upon this foundation also.
Are built upon the foundation of what?
The apostles and prophets.
Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone.
Why do I believe that?
Because that's what the Bible says.
Jesus is the chief cornerstone.
So when I say that I think that Jesus is talking to Peter
and he's saying that he's the rock.
I'm not saying that Jesus isn't the cornerstone
and the foundational stone of our faith,
but these other rocks build the kingdom of heaven,
these lively stones that it talks about in 1 Peter.
And we'll get there in a second,
but it flat out says right here,
and are built upon the foundation of the apostles
and the prophets, Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone.
I think it's super clear, right?
Ephesians 2, 21 says,
In whom all the building fitly framed together
groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord,
in whom ye also are builded together
for inhabitation of God through the Spirit.
So he's talking about us.
In whom ye are builded together for inhabitation of God.
Because God lives in us.
His Spirit lives in us.
And the church is built obviously upon the foundation
stone of Jesus Christ.
And then our doctrine comes from Jesus Christ,
the apostles, and obviously we go back to the prophets.
That foundation has a layer on it
that's the apostles and prophets.
He is chosen of God and precious.
He also, as lively stones,
are built up a spiritual house
and holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices
acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
So the lively stones are built up a spiritual house.
But who's the first one?
He's the living stone.
It's the Lord Jesus Christ, right?
And then we are built upon them.
We're built upon him.
We're built upon the apostles and the prophets.
And it says a holy priesthood.
So that actually is a good verse to teach
the priesthood of the believer
because that's what the Bible teaches,
that each person is a priest unto God that's saved
and to offer up spiritual sacrifices.
So we don't go and put things on an altar.
We don't slaughter animals and burn them in the fire.
We give spiritual sacrifices,
the things of the Spirit of God,
and we offer those spiritual sacrifices,
sowing or whatever that would be,
acceptable to God by Christ Jesus.
So I think that that's pretty clear.
Look at verse number six.
Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture,
Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone,
elect, precious, and he that believeth on him
shall not be confounded.
So there's no doubt that Peter is saying
he's the chief cornerstone.
Peter, the same guy that was talking about
in Matthew chapter 16,
he's saying Jesus is the chief cornerstone, right?
And so look at verse seven.
Unto you therefore which believe he is precious,
but unto them which be disobedient,
the stone which the builders disallowed the same
has made the head of the corner.
So the stone it's talking about is who?
Jesus, right?
And it says a stone of stumbling.
So people be tripping over it, right?
I can't help but say that joke every time.
And a rock of offense.
So you see how it uses stone and rock
interchangeably in these verses?
So the Bible's gonna give you a definition
and it's not gonna keep being redundant
and saying stone, stone, stone.
The translators put that word rock in there for a reason.
So it says a rock of offense,
even to them which stumble at the word
being disobedient where unto also they were appointed.
Now let's go back into our,
actually go to John chapter 14 verse 12
and I'm just gonna read 1 Corinthians chapter 10
verse four again.
So after reading all that,
what does the Bible say?
And did all drink the same spiritual drink
and they drank of that spiritual rock
that followed them and that rock was Christ.
What do I believe?
I believe the rock is Christ.
What do I believe?
I believe that the chief cornerstone is Christ.
I believe that everything is built upon
the Lord Jesus Christ.
So don't try to take me out of context.
I mean this is what I said, okay?
This is what I believe.
Now, but think about this.
So Jesus said he would leave
and we would do greater works than him, right?
So who's the people that Jesus said
would do greater works than him?
Other saved people, the apostles.
The book of Acts is about what the apostles
and the deacons and all these guys did
and then at one point Peter stops being
the focal point and then it becomes Paul, right?
But who started off everything?
It was Peter.
But let's look at John chapter 14 verse 12
where it says,
Verily, verily, I say unto you,
he that believeth on me,
the works that I do shall he do also
and greater works than these shall he do
because I go unto my Father.
See, Jesus Christ is the rock
but he left us here to do the work
and we're gonna do greater works than him.
And that's, I mean, that's the Lord saying that.
These are red letter,
if you have the red letter edition,
that's God, the Lord Jesus Christ saying that.
Now let's turn to Acts chapter two
and we'll see on the day of Pentecost,
obviously the power of the Holy Spirit
comes upon the disciples
and they speak in tongues
and they're not flopping on the floor,
they're not walking for ten dogs.
It's not a weird thing.
This is like them being able to hear themselves
in their own language.
But look at verse 14 in Acts chapter two.
But Peter, standing up with the eleven,
lifted up his voice and said unto them,
Ye men of Judea and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem,
be this known unto you and hearken unto my words.
So the very first, like,
you know, the power of the Holy Spirit comes upon them
and who's the first person to get up and preach a hot sermon?
Peter, right?
So when Jesus is saying, you know,
upon this rock I'll build my church,
I don't think that that's blasphemous to say that.
I think that he's just saying
he's the one that's going to kick everything off.
He's going to kick start this whole thing.
So now skip down to verse 41.
Obviously he preaches this great sermon
and look what happens after he preaches this great sermon
because he said upon this rock I will build my church.
So how does the Bible describe the church being built up?
It describes the cornerstone
and then the apostles
and the prophets being stacked up on it
and then what else does it take?
More lively stones, right?
So the whole purpose to build this thing up,
it takes other people.
And so look at verse number 41.
It says,
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized
and the same day they were, what does it say?
Added unto them about 3,000 souls.
So Peter preaches this great sermon.
3,000 people end up getting saved.
So wouldn't you say that that's building up?
You know, he's kicking off that building up of the church.
I think it is.
And look at verse 42.
It says,
And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine.
So it's built upon Christ and who?
The apostles.
The apostles' doctrine and fellowship
and breaking of bread and prayers.
And fear came upon every soul
and many wonders and signs were done by who?
The apostles.
And all that believe were together
and had all things common
and sold their possessions and goods
and parted them to all men
as every man had need.
And they continually daily
with one accord in the temple
and breaking bread from house to house
to eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
praising God and having favor with all the people.
And look what it says on the last line there.
And the Lord added to the church daily.
Wouldn't you say that's building something up?
Yeah.
Such as should be saved.
But who kicked that off?
Who was like basically kind of the leader of the apostles
while Jesus was around?
It was Peter.
I mean, so I don't think it's weird
asking us to believe that.
That's kind of the conclusion I've come to.
And obviously, like I said, I've believed differently before.
But like, what do I really believe?
I believe it's both, you know.
But I believe Christ is obviously the chief cornerstone,
the head of the corner.
He is that foundational stone.
He's that tripping stone, right?
Where people trip, you know,
people can't handle the word of God being preached
and they trip, right?
And they fall.
But, you know, so again, once again,
I just want to be very clear that I'm in no way advocating
that Peter was the first pope, though, or anything like that.
I'm simply saying that Jesus Christ is the rock of our salvation,
the chief cornerstone, the head of the corner.
Peter is the stone or rock that Christ used to kickstart the church.
And again, if somebody has ever an opinion,
I'm not going to call you a heretic.
And I don't think that what I'm preaching is heresy right here
because I think I proved it with the Bible.
So as long as you're not trying to say that Peter is
or was the pope or something like that,
I'm obviously one of the most anti-Catholic people
that you could ever find.
So I'm sure someone will get a hold of this and be like,
he's saying that Peter is the first, he's Catholic,
but he's a Jesuit.
No, I'm not a Jesuit.
I don't, I like Catholics.
I don't like their religion, okay?
So anyway, I don't take changing my mind on stuff.
I don't like to just lightly change something like that.
But like, I felt like if I was being honest with the scriptures,
that that's what I come up with.
So, and I'm not saying like, hey, whatever pastor I'm friends with is wrong.
And they're, you know, I don't care.
You know, I just want to be honest.
And that's what I, that's how I see it.
So I'm not mad at anybody else that believes differently.
So anyway, so that's it.
Oh, man, it's not even eight o'clock yet.
Anybody want to sing a song?
Want to sing Kumbaya altogether?
No, I'm just kidding.
All right, that's, so next, next week,
I'm going to get into the meat of the rest of this.
And it's a lot of stuff.
So there's a lot of great stuff in chapter 10.
So I want to cover it.
So anyway, let's pray.
Heavenly Father, we thank you, Lord, so much for this great church.
Lord, we're so thankful for this great people.
And Lord, I just pray you'd help us to keep our focus on you
and that you're the rock and that everything's built upon you.
I pray that we build up more lively stones here at this church, Lord.
And I pray that you'd just be with us as we go through our weekend
and bring us back to church on Sunday.
In Jesus' name we pray.
Amen.
Go ahead and turn to page 82 in our green hymnals.
Page 82, When He Cometh.
When He Cometh, page 82.
Sing it out with me on the first.
When He Cometh, when He Cometh,
to make up His jewels,
all His jewels, precious jewels,
His love and His own.
Like the stars of the morning,
His bright crown adorning,
they shall shine in their beauty,
bright gems for His crown.
He will gather, He will gather,
the gems for His kingdom.
All the pure ones, all the bright ones,
His love and His own.
Like the stars of the morning,
His bright crown adorning,
they shall shine in their beauty,
bright gems for His crown.
Little children, little children,
who love their Redeemer.
All the jewels, precious jewels,
His love and His own.
Like the stars of the morning,
His bright crown adorning,
they shall shine in their beauty,
bright gems for His crown.
Man, thanks for coming out to our service tonight,
and safe travels back home.
Brother Sean, you want to end us with a word of prayer?
Thank you.
.