Why do Church? ...because Family What’s God doing? Making a family. So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You’re citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You’re members of God’s family.  (Ephesians 2.19)

Why do Church? ...because Family Marriage/family are the first institutions, the building blocks of society. Now Adam had sexual relations with his wife, Eve, and she became pregnant. ...she gave birth to Cain...Later she gave birth to his brother and named him Abel.  (Genesis 4.1-2)

Why do Church? ...because Family Your family is your first relational group. It should be your best cheerleader, your go-to place for hope and healing. A family can help you immensely or hurt you badly.

Why do Church? ...because Family Jesus’ family included a mother and step-father, four brothers (James, Joseph, Judas, Simon) and at least two sisters. His dad died sometime before Jesus started his ministry at age 30.

Why do Church? ...because Family At one point his family thought he was crazy and tried to bring him back home. When Jesus' family heard what was happening [crowds and chaos in his ministry], they tried to take him away. “He’s out of his mind,” they said. (Mark 3.21) Christians face this family reaction today.

Why do Church? ...because Family His brothers ridiculed him and didn’t believe in him. It was time for the Jewish Festival of Shelters, and Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, where your followers can see your miracles! You can’t become famous if you hide like this! If you can do such wonderful things, show yourself to the world!” For even his brothers didn’t believe in him. (John 7.2-5) Know anyone like this? ____________

Jesus treated God’s family as his 1st family Why do Church? ...because Family Jesus treated God’s family as his 1st family As Jesus was speaking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, and they want to speak to you.” (Matthew 12.46-46)

Why do Church? ...because Family Jesus treated God’s family as his 1st family Jesus asked, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” Then he pointed to his disciples and said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers. Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!” (Matthew 12.48-50) God claims priority over family.

Why do Church? ...because Family Jesus treated people as family Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.” (Mark 2.5) “Daughter,” he said to [the hemorrhaging woman], “your faith has made you well. Go in peace.” (Luke 8.48) God calls you his child, his daughter/son!

God’s family is all-through-ages, Why do Church? ...because Family God’s family is all-through-ages, global and inclusive. ...you’re all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus....There’s no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you’re all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3.26-28) [a glimpse of heaven]...a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. (Revelation 7.9)

Why do Church? ...because Family Church can mean universal, all the saints of all the ages. Mostly church is local. [Timothy] will remind you of how I follow Christ Jesus, just as I teach in all the churches wherever I go. (1 Corinthians 4.17) God’s family assembles together in local congregations, family/house churches. [Jesus:]...where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them. (Matthew 18.20)

You enter a family in one of two ways, birth and adoption. Why do Church? ...because Family You enter a family in one of two ways, birth and adoption. But to all who believed Jesus and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God (John 1.12-13) God sent Jesus to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. (Galatians 4.5)

Why do Church? ...because Family What to do with God’s family? ...run away and pretend it doesn’t exist. ...move out and only return for visits. ...never leave (but others wish they would because they’re a pain) ...find what God planned in this family, buy into it, making it a joy for others (Eugene Peterson)

Problems in the family: Disharmony Why do Church? ...because Family Problems in the family: Disharmony How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony! (Psalm 133.1) We’re a big family but we’re not one big happy family. We have cranks and grumps and drags and egotists and nasties ...in this family. (Eugene Peterson) Family trains you to be humble, to give grace and forgive. It’s not easy.

Problems in the family : Favoritism Why do Church? ...because Family Problems in the family : Favoritism ...someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes... you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, “You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor” (James 2.2-3)

Problems in the family : Favoritism Why do Church? ...because Family Problems in the family : Favoritism Someone once asked Susanna Wesley which one of her 19 children she loved the most. "I love the one who's sick until he's well, and the one who's away until he comes home."

Why do Church? ...because Family Benefits of a (church) family Character formed Love relationships developed Role models found Life-lessons learned Care given when sick or discouraged Discipline and training on-going Dreams birthed

Why do Church? ...because Family And you? Are you reborn/adopted? Is ROOTS your family? Are you learning and teaching? Are you making it a joy to others?

Why do Church? ...because Family And ROOTS? How can we have more babies? How can we give more love? How can we delight in brothers/sisters? How can we start new families?

Why do Church? ...because Family And Jesus? So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same Father. That is why Jesus isn’t ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters. (Hebrews 2.11) He’s our elder brother, our 哥哥. He delights in this family called ROOTS.