Lesson 3:

The Church Is A Family The Word “Family” Emphasizes “Relationships” We Have Many Relationships in the “Church Family” – The Father: God is our Father – The Older Brother: Christ Jesus is our older Brother – The Children: All Christians (& only Christians) are God’s children – The Siblings: All Christians are brothers and sisters in Christ – The Leaders: The Chief Shepherd and His Shepherds

Summary of Our Relationship in the Church Family We are all family…by faith (Gal. 3:26-27) We are all family…by birth (Gal. 3:26-27) We are all family…without distinction (Gal. 3:28) – We all have equal standing before the Father when we are in Christ – Must not think of ourselves any better or any less than anyone else – The Lord brings different people together in the church family! – The value and worth of each Christian in the eyes of God is equal

Summary of Our Relationship in the Church Family We are all family…by adoption (Gal. 3:29) – We become God’s children by birth-adoption “Adoption” = the process of placing as a son one not naturally a son In first century, an adopted son was deliberately chosen by the father to perpetuate his name & inherit his estate Adoption was a past action, not an ever-present state Once adopted, the child is not one bit inferior to any other child Being adopted makes one a “son”; being loved makes one an “heir”

Summary of Our Relationship in the Church Family We are all family…with one real, common purpose (Gal. 2:10; 3:13, 14, 17, 22, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29; 4:7; 5:1; 6:14, 18) – CHRIST!

Summary of Our Relationship in the Church Family We are all family…in God’s “church family” – The manner by which one person enters the “church family” is the same by which every member enters the “church family” What is required of God (as a whole!) to get “into” His family? – Receiving Jesus by believing in His name (John 1:12 + Gal. 3:26) – Being baptized into Christ (Gal. 3:27) – Being born again thru obedience (John 3:3-5; 1 Pet. 1:22-23; 4:17) What is required of God to “stay in” His family? – Continually holding fast to the faith (Heb. 3:6) – Faithfully following the Word of God (Rom. 8:14-18)

Summary of Our Relationship in the Church Family We are all family…in God’s “church family” – The family of God wants everyone to be in the family “Outsiders” (Matt. 28:18-20) “Insiders” (Gal. 6:1-2; Jas. 5:19-20) “The little children” (Matt. 19:13-14; 18:3; Mark 9:37) – The family of God gives each member the sense of belonging. Those “born” into a family know they “belong” in the family Those “coming in from outside” have a hard time feeling they belong Those “little ones growing up” have a hard time feeling they belong Every member “belongs to Christ” (Gal. 3:29 + 5:24, NASB) Every member “belongs to the family” (Rom. 12:5 + Gal. 6:10, NIV)