THE CHURCH FAMILY LIFE

Luke 4:21 (NKJV) — 21 And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Luke 4:21 (NLT) — 21 Then he began to speak to them. “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!”

Luke 4:21 (The Living Bible, Paraphrased) — 21 Then he added, “These Scriptures came true today!”

Acts 19:20 (NKJV) — 20 So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.

2 Thessalonians 3:1 (KJV) — 1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:

Jeremiah 23:29 (NIV) — 29 “Is not my word like fire,” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?

Isaiah 55:11 (NIV) — 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Psalm 110:3 (KJV) — 3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.

Psalm 133:1 (NKJV) — 1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!

FAMILY A group of persons united by the ties of marriage, blood, or adoption, enabling interaction between members of the household in their respective social roles.

God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society.

God’s Design for the Family. The concept of the family as the basic social unit reaches back into the CREATION account found in Genesis 1-2. A man was to be the husband of one wife and was to leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife.

There should be unity in the family, where love for God and neighbour are instilled into each member (Deut. 6:6-9).

If the couple are divided, especially over religious beliefs, they can never have the harmony and sense of common purpose that God desires.

Therefore, Old Testament believers were instructed not to marry foreigners who would

Today, there is confusion about the family unit In our world today, there is so much confusion about what a family is supposed to be and not to be

The church as a real family reverberates through Scripture. Jesus taught us to pray, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name” (Matt. 6:9).

Ask a group of young teens, as I did recently while speaking at a Christian school chapel: “What makes a real family?” Their answers were illuminating.

“A family eats together.”

“A family has traditions.”

“A family builds trust.”

“A family forgives.”

“A family shares space, like I had to share my room with my sister.”

Their answers echoed the early church “together” practices of Acts 2:42–47, and the “one anothers” of Scripture in terms of forgiving (Eph. 4:32), loving (John 13:34), accepting (Rom. 15:7), rejoicing (Rom. 12:15), and encouraging one another (1 Thess. 5:11).

We share in making burdens mutual (Gal. 6:2), we partake of the Lord’s Supper together in our family meal (Luke 22:19), and we tell the family story that “God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

Psalm 133 (KJV) — A Song of degrees of David. 1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! 2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; 3 As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.

The members of a family can teach each other about God (Deuteronomy 6:4–9)

Do not let sin affect your family life (Psalm 101:2)

Do not bring trouble to a family (Proverbs 11:29)

Christian faith is of greater importance than family (Luke 12:51–53)

Christians are members of God’s family (Ephesians 2:19)

Families should take care of each other (1 Timothy 5:3–5)

Joshua 24:15 (NKJV) — 15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Mark 3:31–34 (NKJV) — 31 Then His brothers and His mother came, and standing outside they sent to Him, calling Him. 32 And a multitude was sitting around Him; and they said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking You.” 33 But He answered them, saying, “Who is My mother, or My brothers?” 34 And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers!

Luke 14:26 (NKJV) — 26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.

A similar logic exists for the church, which likewise is a place of protection and rest, as well as of nurture and discipline, all to be woven together in love (1 Cor. 13; 16:14; 1 Peter 1:22).

It is not for nothing, then, that the church—bought by, cleansed by, and united in the blood of Christ—is often portrayed as the family and household of God.

The Church is supposed to enjoy fellowship together of the Spirit of God, which also brings us into the presence of God

The fellowship of the saints brings us into the presence of God

Prayer for the family

Prayer for the Church family

Mark 16:17–18 (NKJV) — 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

Acts 2:47 (NKJV) — 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.