1. Attitudes Toward The The Family Of God
Ephesians 2:11-19

2. Different Roles God is the Father. Gal. 1:1-4
We are children. Gal. 3:26-27
We are brethren. Gal. 6:1

3. Different Stages Of Growth
Babies. 1 Tim. 3:6; 1 Pet. 2:2; Eph. 4:14; 1 Cor. 16:13; Heb. 5:12ff; 2 Pet. 3:18
In some ways we ARE to behave like children. Mt. 18:1-6; Lk. 14:8-11; Rom. 12:3; 1 Cor. 14:20; 1 Pet. 2:1

4. Different Stages Of Growth
Some old enough to know better.
King Saul. 1 Sam. 15
Apostle Peter. Acts 2:21; 10:34f; 11:12; 15:7f; Gal. 2:11-12
Some are weak. Rom. 15:1; 1 Thess. 5:14

5. Common Characteristics
Love each other. 1 Jno. 4:19-21; Jno. 13:34-35; 1 Cor. 13

6. Common Characteristics
Care for each other. 1 Cor. 12:25-26; Phil. 2:2ff, 20; Rom. 12:9-19
Physical needs. Acts 2:44-45; 4:32ff
Beginning the life of a Christian Mt. 28:19
Burdens of life. Job 1:22; 1 Kgs. 19:14

7. Common Characteristics
Care for each other.
Responsibility.
Elders. Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 5:2; Heb. 13:17
Preachers. Eph. 6:19-20
Sin. Gal. 6:1

8. Results… Jms. 5:19-20 Love the sinner. Work to restore. Gal. 6:1
Motivated by genuine grief for sinful condition.
Samuel mourned for Saul. 1 Sam. 15:35
Ezra mourned for Israel. Ezra 10:1
Moses mourned for the sins of Israel. Deut. 9:18, 20, 25
Paul mourned for his Jewish brethren. Rom. 9:1-3; 10:1-3
Results… Jms. 5:19-20

9. Common Characteristics
Desire companionship.
Worship. Heb. 10:24-25
Encouragement. 1 Cor. 15:33
Common aims.
Please the Father. Phil. 3:13-15
Hope of heaven. 2 Tim. 4:6-8

10. Problems Examine self. Lk. 17:3; Acts 20:28; 2 Cor. 13:5; 1 Tim. 4:16
Pray. Jms. 5:16
Do not spread what “I think.” Jms. 3:5ff

11. Church Problems How to establish and apply authority. Acts 15:6-19
Apostolic approved example. 15:7-11
Necessary inference. 15:12
Direct statement. 15:13-19
Respect for God’s silence. 15:24
Our pattern to follow. Col. 3:17
Unity thrives when brethren accept and stand in the truth of God. Acts 15:25; Eph. 4:1-6 (Amos 3:3)

12. Personal Problems Involving sin. Mt. 5:23; Mt. 18:15
Involving personal disagreements.
Paul and Barnabas agreed on work that needed to be done. Acts 15:36
Sharp disagreement over taking John Mark. Acts 15:37-40
Back story: Acts 13:13 (perhaps, Gal. 2:11-13)
Barnabas: Determined to take John Mark
Paul: Determined not to take: Not fit (equipped)

13. Personal Problems Involving personal disagreements.
Result: Led to separate areas of work. Acts 15:39-40
Not a lasting, irreparable separation. Col. 4:10; Tim. 4:11
Lesson: Do not let personal judgments hinder gospel work! Acts 15:39-40

14. Blessings Of Family Life
Heirs
Rom 8:14-17 “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For ye received not the spirit of bondage again unto fear; but ye received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are children of God: and if children, then heirs ; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with (him), that we may be also glorified with (him).”

15. If you are not in the family of God, you cannot enjoy the blessings of family life!
Gal. 3:26-29 “For ye are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ did put on Christ. There can be neither Jew nor Greek, there can be neither bond nor free, there can be no male and female; for ye all are one (man) in Christ Jesus. And if ye are Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, heirs according to promise.”