The Church Family as a

Church is not a place you go to; It’s a family you belong to.

...they were like family to each other. Acts 2:42a (CEV)

Be devoted to each other like a loving family. Romans 12:10 (GW)

Love your spiritual family! 1 Peter 2:17b (Msg)

We know what real love is because Christ gave up His life for us We know what real love is because Christ gave up His life for us. And so we also ought to give up our lives for our Christian brothers and sisters. 1 John 3:16 (NLT)

We are all one body, we have the same Spirit, and we have all been called to the same glorious future. There is only one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and there is only one God and Father, who is over us all and in us all and living through us all. Ephesians 4:4-6 (NLT)

Grows stronger through tragedy, struggles, and adversity A HEALTHY FAMILY… 1 Grows stronger through tragedy, struggles, and adversity

Share each other’s troubles and problems. Galatians 6:2 (NLT)

Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Romans 12:15 (NKJV)

Let us not give up the habit of meeting together Let us not give up the habit of meeting together. Instead, let us encourage one another... Hebrews 10:25 (TEV)

Experiences life together A HEALTHY FAMILY… 2 Experiences life together

by Milton Olson / Ryugen Fisher / Robert McNeish LESSONS FROM GEESE by Milton Olson / Ryugen Fisher / Robert McNeish 1. As each goose flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the others behind it. By flying in a "V" formation, the whole flock adds 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew alone.

by Milton Olson / Ryugen Fisher / Robert McNeish LESSONS FROM GEESE by Milton Olson / Ryugen Fisher / Robert McNeish 2. Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to fly alone, and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the "lifting power" of the bird immediately in front.

by Milton Olson / Ryugen Fisher / Robert McNeish LESSONS FROM GEESE by Milton Olson / Ryugen Fisher / Robert McNeish 3. When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back into the formation and another goose flies at the point position.

by Milton Olson / Ryugen Fisher / Robert McNeish LESSONS FROM GEESE by Milton Olson / Ryugen Fisher / Robert McNeish 4. The geese in formation honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.

by Milton Olson / Ryugen Fisher / Robert McNeish LESSONS FROM GEESE by Milton Olson / Ryugen Fisher / Robert McNeish 5. When a goose gets sick or wounded or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help and protect it. They stay with it until it is able to fly again or dies. Then they launch out on their own, with another formation, or catch up with the flock.

People learn from one another, just as iron sharpens iron. Proverbs 27:17 (TEV)

And all the believers met together constantly and shared everything They joined with the other believers and devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, sharing in the Lord's Supper and in prayer… And all the believers met together constantly and shared everything Acts 2:42,44,46 (NLT)

they had… They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord's Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity… Acts 2:42,44,46 (NLT)

Creates shared memories A HEALTHY FAMILY… 3 Creates shared memories

…We sent Timothy to visit you …We sent Timothy to visit you. He is our co-worker for God and our brother in proclaiming the Good News of Christ. We sent him to strengthen you, to encourage you in your faith… Now Timothy has just returned… He reports that you remember our visit with joy and that you want to see us just as much as we want to see you. 1 Thessalonians 3:2, 6 (NLT)

Remember those three years I kept at it with you, never letting up, pouring my heart out with you, one after another. Acts 20:31 (The Message)

Has conflict, but there is more that unites than divides A HEALTHY FAMILY… 4 Has conflict, but there is more that unites than divides

“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me because of their testimony. My prayer for all of them is that they will be one, just as you and I are one, Father—that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us, and the world will believe you sent me.” John 17:20-21 (NLT)

A HEALTHY FAMILY… 5 Goes beyond a loosely knitted group of associates to a community of oneness

Dr. Gilbert Bilezikian

“Christ did not die to save sinners “Christ did not die to save sinners. The right way of saying it is that, ‘Christ died to save sinners in order to integrate them together into the community of oneness.’” ~ Dr. Gilbert Bilezikian

Though you once were far away from God, now you have been brought near to him because of the blood of Christ. Ephesians 2:13 (NLT)

For Christ himself has made peace between us… by making us all one people. He has broken down the wall of hostility that used to separate us… His purpose was to make peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new person from the two groups. Ephesians 2:14-15 (NLT)

Christ brought us together through his death on the cross. Ephesians 2:16 (Msg)

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” John 13:34-35 (NLT)

His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:5 (NLT)

The Church Family as a