Church of Christ December 13 2009 Don t Forget

Church of Christ December 13, 2009 Don’t Forget: • Pew Packers @ 5: 45 • Elders/Deacons Meeting • Caroling, December 19 @ 2: 00 at Hebron

The church as the Family of God I. What is a family ? II. Is the church to be a family ? III. What type of family is the church? IV. What are the foundations of the church family?

What is a family? family (Webster’s): 1) all the people living in the same house 2) a social unit consisting of the parents and the children they rear 3) a group of people related by ancestry or marriage

What is a family? family (Greek): – patria— of the same father (pater) – Ephesians 3: 15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named – Luke 2: 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee…unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem (because he was of the house and lineage of David) [Acts 3: 25—kindred ] – oikos —house, household (I Peter 4: 17, NIV)

What is a family? • What about the deeper sense of the word? – “I have a family to support. ” – “He sure has changed since he became a family man. ” – Working definition: • “a group of people connected by a common bond and devoted to a common purpose ”

Is the church to be a family? • Ephesians 2: 19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God • Ephesians 3: 14 -15 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ , of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named • I Peter 4: 17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God : and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

Is the church to be a family? • John 13: 14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. • John 13: 34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another • John 15: 12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another , as I have loved you. • John 15: 17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.

Is the church to be a family? • Romans 16: 16 Salute one another with an holy kiss… • I Corinthians 16: 20 All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with an holy kiss. • Galatians 5: 13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another • Galatians 6: 2 Bear ye one another's burdens , and so fulfil the law of Christ. • Ephesians 4: 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love

Is the church to be a family? • Ephesians 4: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another , even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. • Colossians 3: 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another , if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. • Colossians 3: 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another …

Is the church to be a family? • Romans 12: 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another • Romans 13: 8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another : for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. • Romans 15: 7 Wherefore receive ye one another , as Christ also received us to the glory of God. • Romans 15: 14 And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.

Is the church to be a family? • I Thessalonians 4: 9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. • I Thessalonians 4: 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words. • I Thessalonians 5: 11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another , even as also ye do. • Hebrews 3: 13 But exhort one another daily , while it is called To day

Is the church to be a family? • Hebrews 10: 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: • Hebrews 10: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another : and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. • I Peter 1: 22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently

Is the church to be a family? • I Peter 5: 14 Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. • I John 3: 11, 23, 4: 7, 11, 12; II John 5 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another

Is the church to be a family? God—the Father Sons and Daughters Christ—the Husband the church—the bride Individual Christians Brothers and Sisters

What type of family is the church? • There are three classifications of families: 1) A dysfunctional family connected , but not accomplishing anything – Genesis 25: 28, Genesis 27 2) A broken family disconnected – Genesis 27: 41 ff 3) A functional family connected and devoted What type of family am I helping to promote?

What are the foundations of the church family? Security Fidelity Friendship Love The church as the Family

Consider During the Lord’s Supper: Philippians 2: 5 -9 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus : Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men : And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name