Dear Members and Friends of IBCZ,
One thing you observe quickly in Zurich is the large number of construction projects. In any direction you look, you will likely see at least one if not several construction cranes, indicating another house, apartment bloc, school, or business is being built.
God also is involved in a construction process. And amazingly, you and I and all the people of God are the building materials God uses. I Pet. 2:4-5 declares: “As you come to him, the living Stone – rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him – you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” God does not use wood or stones or concrete for His building project; He uses people, “living stones” that He forms into a “spiritual house,” – that is, the church.
Think for a moment of a building constructed of stones. Which stone in the building is most important? That would be the cornerstone, for all the other stones are placed where they are in relation to the corner stone. As Peter goes on to state in vs. 6, in God’s house the cornerstone is, of course, Jesus – through whom we become the people of God. After the cornerstone, which stones are the most important? They all are! If any stone is missing, the building will be weaker, maybe even to the point that the building will fail in its purpose.
God is building His church made of living stones – you and I. We are all equally important in God’s work and God’s church. First, that means we all have a role to play in the life and ministry of the church. The health of the church does not depend only on the pastor or the leaders; for a church to be healthy and make an impact, each member must contribute by using the gifts and abilities God has given them.
Second, we are called into relationship not only with Jesus the cornerstone but with all our brothers and sisters. If I neglect or consider a fellow member of Christ’s church as unimportant, it is as if I am removing a stone from the building. The result is that the whole building, the whole church is weaker. So it is important that we value each other rightly – for the sake of each other individually, for the sake of the church as a whole and for the sake of Christ our Cornerstone.
This is always important, but especially during a time of transition. So in the months ahead, let’s strive to be rightly and lovingly related to all the other “living stones” that make up IBCZ.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Bob