Being a Part of God’s Family

Recap:

Look Up These verses:

John 15:12–13 ESV

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

John 15:17 ESV

These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

Romans 12:9–10 NLT

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.

It appears so many times that… 1 Thess. 4:9

1 Thessalonians 4:9 NIV

Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other.

“The Message…” 1 John 3:11

1 John 3:11 NIV

For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.

The mark of a Jesus follower: John 13:34-35

John 13:34–35 ESV

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

This commitment to be a part of God’s family is called Fellowship.

We are adopted into God’s family by belief in Jesus. John 1:12

John 1:11–12 NIV

He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—

God’s family is called the church.

Not a building.

First 300 years… no buildings

The 4 Levels of Fellowship

1. The fellowship of Sharing Together. (Acts 2:47)

Acts 2:44–45 ESV

And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.

Sharing possessions.

Acts 2:46–47 ESV

And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Sharing life, sharing experiences, sharing meals together.

2. The Fellowship of Belonging Together. (Eph. 2:19)

Ephesians 2:19 NIV

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household,

Every child needs a family. So it is with God’s children.

The church is the family/houshold of God.

A Christian without the church is a Christian without his family.

Fellowship = a deep commitment to one another. “To be as committed to one another as we are to Christ.”

3. The Fellowship of Serving Together. (Rom. 12:4-8)

You were never meant to serve Jesus alone. Rom. 12:4-5

Romans 12:4–5 NLT

Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.

God made us to work as a team.

Serving together connects people.

You get more done together.

4. The Fellowship of Sufferring Together. (Gal. 6:2)

It draws you close to people.

It is humanizing.

It is unifying.

Galatians 6:2 NIV

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

What is the law of Christ?

Conclusion:

Life is about learning to love like Christ

Relationships are more important than...