Jesus promised that He would build His church and that the gates of Hades would not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18). He was not speaking of a building of bricks and mortar, but of His church made up of redeemed people. The church is the people of God.

The apostle Peter had this imagery in mind in 1 Peter 2:4-5 when he spoke of God’s people as “living stones” who are being built up into a spiritual house. As people come to Christ, Himself a living stone (vs.4), they are themselves made alive spiritually and become part of the church, this spiritual house that God is building.

Peter indicates that this spiritual house is a holy priesthood (vs.5). Every believer in Christ is a priest and is to offer sacrifices to God. We are not to offer animal sacrifices today, but we must offer up to God spiritual sacrifices. Peter does not identify them, but we may infer from other scriptures that these sacrifices include praise (Heb 13:15), and doing good works including sharing with others in need (Phi 4:18; Heb 13:16). Paul also urged us to offer our very bodies as a living sacrifice which must be holy and acceptable to God (Rom 12:1). We should take seriously our ministry as priests. Have you offered any sacrifices to God lately?