Why is my church family important?

Announcements

Brad is on a business trip

Meeting on the 29th will be the worship night with a relatively quick meeting after

Worship

2 songs

Matthew 18:20 NIV

For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

When we think of church, it’s easy for our mind to be instantly drawn to the building where we attend. However, in God’s design, the church isn’t the building that we gather in. Instead, the church has everything to do with the people who are gathered there. In essence, the biblical church is not a building that we go to, but a family of believers we belong to.

As our Father, God’s heart is to adopt us into His family (Ephesians 1:5). When we choose to put our faith in Jesus, we instantly join God’s family. We not only belong to Him, but we belong to each other. Just like our natural families here on earth were meant to function, God uses our church family to meet our needs. A healthy church family offers love, encouragement, guidance, and accountability. As the family of God—the Church—we grow together, celebrate together, share together, and even serve together. As we make a commitment to God’s family, we will become stronger, more devoted followers of Jesus.

What is the most unique or unusual cross-cultural experience you’ve ever had?

When we first experience a new culture, it can be so different from what we’re used to. It can be fun and exciting, but also be unusual and confusing. This is how many people feel when they accept Jesus. When we believe Jesus is Lord and Savior and invite Him into our heart, everything changes. We may feel like we’re citizens of a new country! One of the most interesting pieces to this new Christian life is learning to live in community with other believers.

Many of us focus on fending for ourself, so being a part of the church can feel foreign—like waking up in a new country. But Jesus freely gives His love to us and wants us to share that same love with others. He wants us to love and trust each other. He wants us to grow together and have an impact on the people around us.

What is your favorite thing about our church community?

We read in Matthew 22:34–40 about a law expert who asked Jesus what the greatest commandment was. Surprisingly, Jesus gave him not only one answer, but He added a second. He instructed us to love God with everything we have, but that alone should not be the end of our love. If we really want to love and serve God, we must also love our neighbors as ourself. For any of us with neighbors, coworkers, or anyone else in our life, we know loving them isn’t always easy. But the more we read and understand the Bible, the more we see how amazing Jesus is. He didn’t just come to make things right between us and God. Jesus also came to make things right between people.

One glimpse at the daily news tells us that people have a hard time getting along. Selfishness and brokenness often get in the way. Jesus wants to change our heart and made a way for love and peace to exist between us. Jesus said it is very unusual and would be the very thing that lets people know we follow Him (John 13:34–35.) The way we live in community together as a body of believers can have big impact on our own life and on the rest of the world.

John 13:34–35 NIV

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Believers Commit to Grow Together

Acts 2:42–43 NIV

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.

One of the earmarks of the Early Church is that they were highly committed to the Lord and to each other. They focused on living in community, learning and growing together. In the same way, we can join together in our Christian community to purposefully learn and grow in our faith. As we spend time with each other and with the Lord, our life will have greater impact on those around us.

What were some of the things the early Christians did together each week?

In what ways is our church community like that? In what ways is it different?

Believers Take Care of Each Other

Acts 2:44–47 NIV

All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

The early believers really looked out for each other. And let’s note that this passage is not just talking about church leaders, but everyone in the church. They listened to sound teaching, then went out and made a difference in other people’s lives. They gave generously, opened their homes, and spent time together. As they openly shared their faith, the Church began to grow and spread, just as Jesus had said it would (Acts 1:8).

Why do you think so many people were joining the Church every day (Acts 2:47)

Describe a time when Christians helped you or met a need in your life.

Believers Pursue God Passionately

As a part of a Christian community, we have a responsibility to help each another. We also have a responsibility to do our part by growing and maturing. In his letter to the church in Ephesus, Paul gave some guidance about what growth and maturity should look like for each one of us.

Ephesians 5:15–20 NIV

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Following God changes us. Jesus gives us a new heart. And as we walk with Him, we grow in wisdom and maturity. The Holy Spirit empowers us to share life and hope. We’re no longer content to live foolishly or without thinking. We no longer want to live selfishly, but want our life to make a difference.

What are some ways God is helping you be wiser in life?

How does worshipping God together with other believers impact your life?

The Early Church is the model for our own Christian communities today. The world will know we are Christians by our love for each other. Just like the Early Church, our Christian community can affect the people all around us. In the Book of Acts, people could not help but notice when Christians took care of each other, shared meals together, and worshipped together. Both then and now, the joy and health that Jesus brings to our fellowship is like a magnet to attract other people.

As Matthew 18:19–20 points out, something is special when we gather with other believers in agreement. We’re stronger when we work and grow together (Ecclesiastes 4:12). Being a part of a healthy Christian community is an important part of every believer’s life. The Church is the channel God uses to build and equip followers of Christ to share the good news with everyone.

What’s an area of life in which God is challenging you to grow?

How can we help each other more within our own group?

What are some ways our group could have a healthy impact on our community?

Prayer Requests