07/22/2026
Pastor Earl Blackburn opened God’s Word for us this past Lord’s Day ~ God’s Sovereignty and Purpose in Action
1 Peter 2:4-10
4 Coming to Him [as to] a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God [and] precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame."* 7 Therefore, to you who believe, [He is] precious; but to those who are disobedient,* "The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,"* 8 and "A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense."* They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. 9 But you [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once [were] not a people but [are] now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
Earl M. Blackburn | Haw River, North Carolina
