From Acquaintance to Family

1 Corinthians 12:12–20 NIV84

12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

We were created to belong. Belonging is a deep desire that all humans have—we may ignore it, but we all want to belong. The reason many kids join gangs is because they find a family in gangs.

Joining a gang takes steps. You don’t just ask to join; you must prove that you want to be part of that family. Often, you prove it by doing something crazy. Then, you are family for life.

All relationships go through a similar process. The greatest of human relationships is a marriage. It should be for life. Scripture compares our relationship with God as a marriage—the most intimate of relationships. In the church, we need to take a similar approach to become family. The church is said to be the bride of Christ. The church is also said to be the Body of Christ. Belonging to a church family should be for life and there are steps to becoming family.

Hebrews 2:10 “10 In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.”

Ephesians 1:5 “5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—”

1 Peter 2:17 “17 Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.”

Part of our Purpose is to belong to a church family/fellowship

1 John 4:21 “21 And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.”

Church family means that we embrace and love the brethen

1 Timothy 3:14-15 “14 Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, 15 if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.”

Circles of Influence to Become Family

1. Every church starts with acquaintances

Acquaintance - a person whom one knows but who is not a particularly close friend

Acquaintances are fair weather, asks for favors, group activities

People choose to belong to this circle

Anyone who attends church makes a choice to attend

This is the outer circle where people go from being a stranger to an acquaintance by choosing to accept Christ as Lord and Savior

Eph 2:19 “19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household,”

Rom 12:5 “5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”

We must be baptized to progress in our walk

1 Cor 12:13 “13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.”

Rom 6:3 “3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?”

We must remain constant in our attendance

Heb 10:25 “25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

2. A church grows through friendships

Friend - one attached to another by affection or esteem

Friend circle - Individual activities, exchange favors, reliable

Jn 15:15-17 “15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other.”

In this circle we embrace and share our experiences

Acts 2:44 “44 All the believers were together and had everything in common.”

In this circle we embrace and share our homes

In this circle we attend tribes

Proverbs 27:17 “17 As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”

1 Peter 4:9 “9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.”

Through the tribes we learn to embrace and share our problems

Galatians 6:2 “2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

3. A church is strengthened through partnership

Partner - a person with whom one shares an intimate relationship; one of the heavy timbers that strengthen a ship's deck to support a mast

Partners: A plank framework attached to the deck around the holes through which the masts are stepped, strengthening the deck in these places to take the strain when the ship under a press of sail.

Partner - supports individual goals, nonjudgemental, values your thoughts and feelings

In this circle each part must do their part

Ephesians 4:16 “16 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.”

We are strong as each of you do your part

The more of you that partner with us the stronger we become

We must be willing to help the weak

Matt 25:40 “40 “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’”

Gal 6:1 “1 Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.”

Partners are nonjudgemental

Partners support each other

Partners agree with the mission and vision

4. A church becomes a family when it shares life together

Family - is connected through ancestry, marriage, or adoption, and share life together

A church family must embrace and love believers like family

Family - shared value system, shared history, shared experiences

Acts 2:42 “42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

Romans 12:10 “10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.”

Family sacrifices for each other

1 John 3:16 “16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.”

Family loves deeply

John 13:35 “35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.””

The church family is chosen by God through adoption

Galatians 3:26 “26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus,”