Ecclesia Belong

Belong…

Because we're family I belong

You were made to be family You were made to belong Longing of the Human Heart (Until it's crushed)

Brokenness and scars (and family)

Jesus died because of our brokenness Jesus died to heal our brokenness

Jesus died because of our brokenness Jesus died to heal our brokenness (Changes our view of Family…)

God wants more for us Than…?

Loneliness

Loneliness God wants more…

Running Water vs. Stagnant Ponds

Running Water vs. Stagnant Ponds God wants more…

Church= his idea

Church= his idea Engage…to heal, restore, make whole

Church= his idea Represent…Jesus to a watching world

Church= his idea Connect and Belong… as part of Christ's Family

you are...members of the household (family) of God... In Jesus you...are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit - Ephesians 2:19-22

you are...members of the household (family) of God... In Jesus you...are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit - Ephesians 2:19-22 Active Process Local Church As we meet, grow, become in Christ

You...are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit - Ephesians 2:19-22 As we gather in Jesus' Name, We experience God's Spirit In a shared way

You...are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit - Ephesians 2:19-22 God's Presence causes it And blesses it

you are...members of the household (family) of God... In Jesus you...are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit - Ephesians 2:19-22 Church is: Home Church is: Family Church means: I belong

Jesus sees family differently

While Jesus was speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him.

But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?”

And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother” - Matthew 12:46-50

All followers of Jesus are family

All followers of Jesus are family Local Church= my close family

All followers of Jesus are family Local Church= my close family - We don't attack fellow believers - We esp. protect our own

…as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith - Gal. 6:10

Church (Living in Family Community) is Jesus’ Idea God wants more for us..

Why? “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother”

Why? Blood= Both Permanence Presence of the Spirit

The Presence of God Connects us as the People of God You...are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit

The Presence of God Places us into the Family of God …you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God - Romans 8:15-16

You were Adopted Which means your Father knew Everything about you And chose you - To be his Child - To be a member of his family

I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty -2 Cor. 6:18

Loneliness?

Stagnancy?

Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you- Luke 6:38 Principle: Only in giving Are our own needs met

Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you- Luke 6:38 Context: Forgiveness and Grace Principle: Only in giving Are our own needs met

Spiritual Gifts + Fellowship of Giving + Owning Nothing = End to Stagnancy

These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord… Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways… Haggai 1:2-4

Family means House Rather than Hotel Co-owners, not critics

We don't give to support an organization, but we bring to the table because we belong and believe It is our privilege to be a part of moving forward together, doing what Our Father calls us to.

If I am God The church is unsound…

We Belong We are Family We each have a Part to Play Solves Loneliness Solves Stagnancy

Brokenness and Healing Healing is found: In God's Presence In God's People In Community Together as Family

God wants more for us Than we want for ourselves

God wants more for us Than we want for ourselves God wants more for The world around us

The local church Was designed by God To be an agent of healing and Restoration in the World

Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity - 1 Timothy 5:1-2

Women teach the younger… Learn from older men… Younger People…be an example…

Am I Lonely?

Am I Stagnant?

Have I realized God wants more for me? God wants Family

Where do we go With this? See each other as Bros and Sis Help each other Learn to live as Family

Where do we go With this? We seek to Grow For the sake of People Christ died for