A Family Who Prays Together notes

A Family Who Prays Together (Worship)

Seed, offspring, descendants, family

Genesis 12:7 The LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your descendants I will give this land." So he built an altar there to the LORD who had appeared to him.

Genesis 15:5 And He took him outside and said, "Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be."

Genesis 17:7 "I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you.

Genesis 17:9 God said further to Abraham, "Now as for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations.

Genesis 22:18 "In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice."

Romans 9:6-8 6 It is not as though God's word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. 7 Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham's children. On the contrary, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned." 8 In other words, it is not the natural children who are God's children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham's offspring.

Matthew 18:19-20 9 "Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. 20 "For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst."

Matthew 19:6 6 "So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate."

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 9 Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. 10 For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. 11 Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? 12 And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.

Acts 2:1-4 Acts 2:1 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.

Acts 2:44-47 44 And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; 45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. 46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Acts 4:31-32 1 And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness. 32 And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them.

2 Corinthians 6:14 14 Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?

Ephesians 2:4-6 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

Ephesians 2:19-22 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.

Ephesians 4:14-16 14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; 15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

Colossians 2:19 19 and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God.

Hebrews 10:23-25 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.

The best relationships you will ever have will be with those in your spiritual family.

When God is the center of friendship that friendship will be far above all others.

Shared Values

Layout:

Prop: God designed His family because we are better together, and we are much better together with God.

*We are the Family of God.

*Because we are better together

(solitary confinement – relations and freedom)

Genesis 2, “not good for man to be alone”

Ecclesiastes 4, “two are better than one”

*Because we are much better together with God.

The effect of a God focus on relationships (new level)

Imagine – last fight, … what if at the beginning, “hey, let’s pray before we continue”

Galatians 2:20

A Family that Prays together, stays together. A family that worships together stays together.

Title: The Family of God – It’s Better Together

Main Thrust: God made us His family because we are better together, and we are much better together with God.

Process of thought:

--We are the family of God – biblical backing, etc. (10%)

God designed us to be family for a couple of reasons….(80%)

We are better together.

Gen 2, not good for man to be alone
Ecclesiastes 4, two are better than one.
Illustrative material – possible movie clip / also solitary confinement and why it’s used in prison, etc.

We are better together when we are together with God.

With God relationships are brought to a whole new level.
Illu – marriage and the last fight – what if, “Hold on, before we get into this fight let’s pray”…right
Gal 2.20 – not I, but Christ lives in me – We are able to love, accept, support with Him in ways that are impossible without Him., etc.
A family that prays together, stays together. A family that worships together, stays together.
God focused relationships experience greater levels…

Therefore,…(10%)

Series overview (we will cover some things we can do together…)-Relational struggles are best cured by centering the relationship on God. He is the designer.

The Family of God—It’s Better Together

“And all those who had believed were together …”

Acts 2:44

We are the “Family of God” - ____________________________

Why?

I. Because we are _______________ together.

Genesis 2:18, “The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.””

Ecclesiastes 4:9, “Two are better than one…”

II. Because we are better together when we are ____________ with __________.

Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

The Family that __________ together _________ together.

The Family that ___________ together __________ together.