The Family of God 4

The Family of God – It’s Better Together (IV – nv 11/18/06 am)

OS: 1 Commercial – “Dad, let me do the yard work…” / “Honey, I don’t need to watch this game let’s go to the mall and buy you some new shoes…” / “Awe, don’t you worry about it, go out with the guys and have some fun. We can celebrate our anniversary anytime.”

I.      Series Overview - Family is Funny, but it became serious.

A.   The Family of God – It’s Better Together (John’s input and others)

                      1.       “For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” Matthew 12:50

                      2.       Genesis 2:18, “It is not good for man to be alone”

B.    2 A family of God is a family who lives together – (fellowship) Take our “together time” seriously!

C.   3 A family of God is a family who grows together – When cannot stand today on our strength of yesterday.

II.   4 Today - A family of God is a family who works together – “Works of Service” reveal our strength as His family.

A.   5 “To prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”…

B.    “…speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love as each part does its work.” Ephesians 4:12-13, 15-16

C.   I wish I could say that all this was planned out weeks ago with the superb intellect and understanding to know that on this Sunday we would have so many works of service to be accomplished – but  you’d know better.

III.            I sense an enthusiasm and excitement now that I haven’t felt in several years. (maybe it’s me)

A.   Remember the work day – This place was filled with people working.

B.    15-20 men showed up last week to help Don move.

C.   Loads of food has been prepared today for our meal, by our women.

D.   Many work behind the scenes in so many ways that you don’t see and I don’t see.

E.    Just to have worship on Sunday, along with Sunday school takes a host of people working behind the scenes.

IV.            Remember last week – “Works of Service” reveal a family that’s growing strong.

A.   Reasons: God didn’t decide to call us to be family so I would have a series to preach in 2006 just before the holiday season.

B.    God does everything for a reason, and though many of you probably had never heard of Statesville before, or Northview, you are here for a reason.

C.   It just so happens that we have discovered from God that the strength, maturity, and validity of His family is revealed through works of service at a time when we have some specific works of service to be done:

I.      6 This week we will discover even more so that we are growing strong, maturing, and working family.

A.   Next week if this stage is filled with food we will have taken another step up as the Family of God He wants us to be. (List – Here is our families contribution)

                      1.       The Room

                      2.       Iredell county has a population of 139,135 people and there are 11,409 individuals living at or below the poverty level. (8.2%). 

                      3.       Poverty level = the level of income below which one cannot afford to purchase all the resources one requires to live.

                      4.       There are 3,583 children living at or below the poverty level. (10.1% of the child population)

                      5.       Source: second harvest of Charlotte Food Bank.

B.    7 Christmas Theatre – To provide a free holiday event for families introducing them to our family at Northview and to Jesus. (Planting seeds)

                      1.       Hours +++ have already been spent by many. Now it’s time for the family as a whole to join in.

                      2.       30 Tables will be decorated (29 – my family has already reserved one)

II.    8 Video Clip – It’s all in how we look at people…

III.           9 Paul Chappin & Sam G. will have presentations.

IV.            Remember: God does everything for a reason: Let me close this lesson with two reasons God called us to be His family.

A.   10 Cross – Only when we work together as a family can we lead people to the foot of the cross. Only a family can do what’s got to be done. God paid a great price! This is serious – its better together remember?

B.    Hurting People in our world – Only when we work together as a family can we help people who are in need.

C.     “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me it, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me….Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”   Matthew 25:35-39, 40

CS: We best love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and our neighbor as our self by being a strong, growing, working family. It’s better together.