09:30 tomorrow

CONNECTED TO ONE ANOTHER FOR PURPOSE 1Co 12:18 MSG  As it is, we see that God has carefully placed each part of the body right where He wanted it. NLT…just where He wants. CONNECTED TO ONE ANOTHER FOR PURPOSE Doug Kreighbaum

Family is the Nature and Administration of God God joins people together in His family to pursue His purpose/mission. Genesis 1-2: Family Calling (expansion/mission/rule) and Family Expression (life in the garden) God always directs His people towards their family calling and family expression. Family Statistics in the Bible: Jesus refers to those following Him as His family (Mark 10:29- 30, Matthew 10:34-35, 12:47-50).

Family is the Nature and Administration of God Jesus’ teaching on prayer has a family context, “pray in this way, our Father” (Matthew 6:9, Luke 11:1-2). The Holy Spirit’s work in salvation is referred to in family terms of “The Spirit of adoption by which we cry out Abba Father.” (Romans 8:15, Galatians 4:6). In the NT “you” appears in 2,390 verses, 2,022 times it is in plural form. Family terms for God and His people occur 1276 times in the NT. The designation “Christian” only 3 times.

Family is the Nature and Administration of God Paul uses “Our Lord” 53 times, and “My Lord” only once (Phil 3:8). The New Testament term “Savior” is used 23 times in reference to a group/family being saved, only once in an individual sense (Luke 1:47-47). Paul shows us that local churches are the House of God (1 Tim 3:4-5, 15, Eph 2:19-22).

Connected for Purpose: Book of Hebrews Heb 3:1-6…consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus…(4) For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God…(6) But Christ was faithful as a Son over his own house; whose house we are, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.

Connected for Purpose: Book of Hebrews Two reasons the buyers are so careful in picking out and building their houses. Glory of the Owner Benefit of those who will live in it Jesus has both issues in mind as He builds (Eph 1:23, 3:10-21, Psalms 68:5-6).

Connected for Purpose: Joining of the Lord What we are called to do and who we are called to do it with are equally important (1 Cor 12:18) It’s a Spiritual joining (He “writes us on each other’s hearts” 2 Corinthians 3:1-18) It creates a Spiritual resonance (Luke 1:39-46, 24:14-15)

Connected for Purpose: Message from Hebrews Encourage each other to keep walking with Jesus, being faithful to His voice, and avoid the hardening of sin. Heb 3:12-15 Take heed, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. (13) But exhort one another daily, while it is called today, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. (14) For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, (15) while it is said, "Today if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts. 

Connected for Purpose: Message from Hebrews Stimulate each other to love and good works both in His house and on mission. Heb 10:21-25  and since we have a great priest over the house of God,  (22)  let us draw near ...  (23)  Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;  (24)  and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,  (25)  not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

Connected for Purpose: Message from Hebrews Stimulate one another is not a safe or sanitized idea (“incitement, provoke, arouse to action, etc.”). It is a stimulation to live in the perhaps of God.