Formed For God’s Family

Introduction 1 John c3 v1 – ‘The Father has loved us so much that we are called children of God. And we really are his children.’ (NLT) Eph. c1 v5 – ‘His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave him great pleasure’ (NLT) 1 Peter c1 v3 – ‘…for it is his boundless mercy that has given us the privilege of being born again so that we are now members of God’s own family’ (LB)

Benefits of being in God’s Family Gal. c4 v7 – ‘…since you are his child, everything he has belongs to you’ (NLT) Phil. c4 v19 – ‘And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus’ (NIV) Eph. c1 v18b - ‘I want you to realise what a rich and glorious inheritance he has given to his people’ (NLT) be so to thee.”

Benefits of being in God’s Family What exactly does this inheritance include? be with God forever – 1 Thess. c5 v10 completely changed to be like Jesus – 1 John c3 v2 free from all pain, death, suffering – Rev. c21 v4 rewarded and reassigned positions of service – Mark c9 v41 share in Christ’s glory – Rom. c8 v17 be so to thee.”

Benefits of being in God’s Family 1 Peter c1 v4 – ‘God has reserved a priceless inheritance for his children. It is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay’ (NLT)

What matters most? Gal. c5 v14 – ‘For the whole Law can be summed up in this one command: “Love others as you love yourself”  (LB) 1 Peter c2 v17b – ‘Love your Christian brothers and sisters’ (NLT) Gal. c6 v10 - ‘When we have the opportunity to help anyone, we should do it. But we should give special attention to those who are in the family of believers’ (NCV) 1 Cor. c14 v1a – ‘Your strong love for each other will prove to the world that you are my disciples.’

What matters most? The best use of life is love 1 Cor. c14 v1a – ‘Let love be your greatest aim (LB) 1 Cor. c13 v3 – ‘No matter what I say, what I believe and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love’ (MSG) Best expression of love is time 1 John c3 v18 – ‘Little children, let us stop just saying we love people; let us really love them, and show it by our actions’ (LB)

A place to belong Eph. c2 v19b – ‘…you are members of God’s very own family, citizens of God’s country, and you belong in God’s household with every other Christian’ (LB) Bible says we are put together, joined together, built together, members together, heirs together, fitted together, held together, caught up together Romans c12 v5 – ‘…in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others’ (NIV)

A place to belong A church family identifies you as a genuine believer John c13 v35 - “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples” – (NLT) A church family helps you develop spiritual muscle Eph. c4 v16b – ‘… As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love’ (NLT) We are instructed to pray, encourage, admonish, honour, bear burdens, forgive, submit, be devoted - to each other

A place to belong The Body of Christ needs you 1 Cor. c12 v7 – ‘A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church’ (NLT) A church family can help keep you from backsliding Heb. c3 v13 – ‘…encourage one another daily … so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness’ (NIV) James c5 v19 – ‘…if you know people who have wandered off from God’s truth, don’t write them off. Go after them. Get them back’ (MSG)

A place to belong A church family helps you experience authenticity James c5 v16 – ‘Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed’ (MSG) A church family helps you experience sympathy Gal. c6 v2 – ‘Share each other’s troubles and problems, and in this way obey the law of Christ’ (NLT)

A place to belong A church family helps you experience mercy 2 Cor. c2 v7 - ‘Now is the time to forgive this man and help him back on his feet. If all you do is pour on the guilt, you could very well drown him in it’ (MSG) Col. c3 v13 - ‘You must make allowance for each other’s faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others’ (NLT)

Restoring broken fellowship 2 Cor. c5 v18 - ‘[God] has restored our relationship with Him through Christ, and has given us this ministry of restoring relationships’ (GWT) Matt c5 v9 – ‘God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God’ (NLT)

Restoring broken fellowship Talk to God before talking to other person Always take the initiative Sympathise with their feelings Confess your part of the conflict Attack the problem, not the person Cooperate as much as possible Emphasize reconciliation, not resolution