More Than Convenient: Why the Church Must Be Family

Acts 2:42–47 ESV

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 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. 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.

1. The Biblical Theology of Family

From Genesis to Revelation, family is a central metaphor God uses to describe His people and His mission:

Creation & Covenant (Genesis 1–12): God creates Adam and Eve as the first family and calls Abraham to be the father of a new family through whom “all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Gen. 12:3).

Israel as God’s Son (Exodus–Malachi): Israel is repeatedly called God’s “firstborn son” (Ex. 4:22), a covenant family meant to display His character to the nations.

Jesus & the New Family (Gospels): Jesus redefines family: “Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother” (Matt. 12:50). Faith, not bloodline, defines belonging.

The Church as Household (Acts–Epistles): Paul repeatedly calls the church the household of God (Eph. 2:19; 1 Tim. 3:15). Believers are “adopted” (Rom. 8:15) and called brothers and sisters (adelphoi) in Christ.

New Creation (Revelation 21–22): The biblical story ends with a wedding feast and a reconciled family—God dwelling with His people as their Father forever.

So biblically, the church is not like a family metaphorically. The church is God’s family, created by His adoption through Christ.

2. The Soma / Saturate Perspective

Jeff Vanderstelt and the Soma/Saturate vision emphasize that the gospel forms the church into Family, Servants, and Missionaries. Family is primary, because our identity precedes activity:

Identity: Because of the Father’s adoption, we are sons and daughters. Because of Christ, we are brothers and sisters. Because of the Spirit, we live in shared life.

Implication: The church doesn’t do family things as a program—it is family. Meals together, shared resources, caring for one another, and bearing burdens aren’t extras; they’re essential expressions of gospel identity.

Mission: When the church lives as family, the world sees the gospel embodied (John 13:34–35). People long for belonging, and the church shows God’s welcome by living as His household.

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.”

3. Practical Implications for the Church

Belonging over Attending: In a culture where church is often treated like an event to consume, biblical theology calls us to live as a family where each member is known, needed, and loved (1 Cor. 12).

Hospitality over Individualism: Family means opening homes, tables, and lives—not just Sunday gatherings (Rom. 12:13).

Commitment over Convenience: Families stick through conflict, hurt, and immaturity. The church family reflects this covenantal commitment (Col. 3:12–15).

Witness through Community: Our “family resemblance” to the Father is meant to be evangelistic—our unity and love point the world to Christ (John 17:20–23).

4. Why This Matters (Especially in Places Like Brampton)

In Canadian cities like Brampton, where rapid immigration, cultural diversity, and loneliness are realities, the church family offers what no social structure can: a multi-ethnic, multi-generational family bound not by culture but by Christ. Sociological studies in Canada show rising isolation, especially among men and young adults. Living as church family addresses both spiritual and social hunger.

Introduction — The Inconvenient Good

If we’re honest, almost everything Jesus asks us to do cuts against the grain of convenience. Forgive? Inconvenient. Confess sin? Inconvenient. Prioritize a messy, diverse, imperfect church over a curated, individualized spirituality? Deeply inconvenient. And yet: the inconvenient things are often the things our souls—and our city—need most.

Loneliness isn’t just a vibe; it’s a public health crisis. The WHO’s Commission on Social Connection reports that social isolation and loneliness measurably shorten lives and are linked to higher risks of heart disease, diabetes, depression, and premature death; they call it a global concern that demands action. (World Health Organization) In Canada, about 13% of those 15+ said they “always or often” felt lonely in 2021, with higher levels among women; among older adults, loneliness climbs with age and worsened through the pandemic. (Statistics Canada, Government of Canada)

Now zoom into Brampton. Our city is booming—656,480 people in 2021, up 10.6% since 2016—with more than half foreign-born (52.9%) and over four-fifths identifying as racialized. Average household size sits at 3.6, higher than Peel overall. This is a beautiful, global city—and rapid growth, migration, and multi-generational living bring both opportunity and strain. (Statistics Canada, geohub.brampton.ca) Add housing pressures—regional budgets and policy changes scrambling to respond, and media noting the shortage of truly affordable units—and you have a community that needs a thick web of care. (peelregion.ca, Storeys, The Pointer)

So here’s the thrust: it will be inconvenient to pursue church as family, but it’s exactly what our families—and our neighbours—need. We don’t want to be consumers of religious goods and services; we want to be a Spirit-formed community that pursues God and one another for the advance of the gospel in Brampton.

Primary Text — Acts 2:42–47

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers… And all who believed were together and had all things in common… And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”

Luke drops five marks of a Spirit-born church: devotion to the Word, fellowship (koinonia—shared life), shared tables (sacramental and ordinary meals), prayer, and sacrificial generosity—resulting in glad, sincere hearts and missionary fruit.

Hebrews adds urgency: “Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together…” (Heb 10:24–25). Ephesians grounds our identity: “You are… members of the household of God… Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone” (Eph 2:19–22).

With that in view, three points.

Devoted Presence is the Engine of Transformation (Acts 2:42; Heb 10:24–25)

Exegesis. “They devoted themselves…” (proskartereō) means steadfast, stubborn presence. Teaching forms the mind; fellowship forms the habits; prayer forms the loves. The geometry of early Christian life is intentionally together.

Global & local lens. Around the world, nations are scrambling to address social disconnection because it’s killing people. The U.S. Surgeon General estimates the mortality impact of disconnection rivals smoking 15 cigarettes a day. If secular health agencies are telling us this, how much more should the church embody the cure—covenanted, Christ-centered presence? (HHS.gov) In Brampton’s fast-growing, immigrant-rich context—over half of residents born abroad—the church can be a first family in a new land, a place where accents are assets and cultures become a choir. (Statistics Canada)

Applications.

Choose rootedness. Commit to a local church and show up—Sunday worship + one smaller circle (home group / class / ministry team). Put it in the calendar like you would a non-negotiable training plan.

Practice “lingering.” Don’t rush off. Arrive 10 minutes early, stay 15 minutes after; learn two new names each week; ask one deeper question (“How can I pray?” rather than “How are you?”).

Normalize prayerful interruption. When someone shares a burden, pray right then. Presence + prayer is how Acts 2 becomes Acts 29 in Brampton.

Shared Tables Heal Modern Isolation (Acts 2:46; Luke 22:19; Eph 2:14–22)

Exegesis. “Day by day… breaking bread in their homes.” In Acts, the Lord’s Table spills into ordinary tables. Meals are theology enacted: God makes enemies into family (Eph 2:14–16). In a multi-ethnic church, the table is mission and formation.

Global & local lens. The WHO now frames social connection as a determinant of health worldwide; loneliness is widespread across ages, not just among seniors. Communities that engineer belonging literally add years to life. (World Health Organization) Here, where 80%+ of residents belong to racialized groups and households are larger than average, the church’s shared tables can stitch social fabric across cultures and generations. (Statistics Canada, geohub.brampton.ca)

Applications.

Set the weekly table. Commit to one open meal a week—invite a newcomer, a different generation, or someone from a different cultural background. Honor dietary needs; let hospitality be mutual.

Make the sacraments catechesis. When we celebrate the Lord’s Supper, explicitly teach what it does: it binds us to Christ and each other; it undercuts cliques; it calls us to reconcile.

Adopt a “third place.” Identify a neutral spot (park, café, community centre) to meet neighbours. Share food; share stories; offer prayer. In a city wrestling with affordability and change, shared spaces become sanctuaries. (peelregion.ca, Storeys)

Sacrificial Generosity Turns Consumers into Family (Acts 2:44–45; 2 Cor 8–9)

Exegesis. “They had all things in common… distributing to any as had need.” This wasn’t coerced collectivism; it was Spirit-ignited generosity flowing from gospel joy (cf. 2 Cor 8:1–5). The church did not hoard; she reallocated.

Global & local lens. As attendance involvement wanes across Canada (monthly service participation among self-identifying Christians declined to ~19% by 2022), the impulse to “attend and evaluate” rather than “belong and contribute” grows. The antidote isn’t flashier content; it’s covenantal responsibility—bearing one another’s burdens in tangible ways. (Cardus) And in Brampton’s affordability crunch, sacrificial mercy is not optional; it’s our apologetic. (The Pointer)

Applications.

Budget for family. Build a “kingdom margin” into your finances—designate a percentage for benevolence, newcomer needs, and local mission. Teach your kids why you give.

Serve on a shoulder-to-shoulder team. Consumers spectate; family serves. Choose a team that costs you something: kids, youth, setup, mercy ministries, ESL, newcomer welcome.

Partner for city good. Join with credible community agencies addressing housing, food insecurity, and newcomer integration. Let our deeds amplify our words. (peelregion.ca)

Gospel Center — The Family We Receive, Then Become

We are not “trying really hard to be nicer people.” The church is family because Jesus, the true Elder Brother, paid our adoption costs with his blood (Eph 2:13; Gal 4:4–7). He didn’t love us for our convenience but at infinite cost to himself. That grace makes new people—and new people make a new kind of community.

When the Spirit forms a people devoted to Word, prayer, tables, and generosity, two things happen in Acts 2: gladness and mission: “praising God… and the Lord added to their number day by day.” The joy of family becomes the magnet for the lonely, the sceptical, and the exhausted.

Concrete Practices for Our Church in Brampton

Rule of Life: Gather + Group + Table + Serve.

Gather weekly for worship.

Group in a small circle for confession, prayer, and Scripture.

Table weekly with someone unlike you.

Serve on one consistent team.

Hospitality Rhythm: First Sundays = “Open Table Sunday” (everyone invites one person/family).

Mercy & Welcome: Create a newcomer fund (settlement needs, transit passes, emergency groceries) administered by deacons and group leaders.

Prayer Map: Pray street-by-street for Brampton’s neighbourhoods; celebrate answers publicly.

Storytelling: Monthly testimonies of “inconvenient love”—ride-shares at 6am, meals after shifts, bill help, tutoring kids.

Anticipating Objections

“I don’t have time.” No one “finds” time; we make time for treasure. If Jesus calls the church his body and bride, rearranging our schedule around his people is not legalism; it’s love.

“Church people are messy.” Correct—and so are you and I. The Spirit’s project is not to curate compatible personalities but to display supernatural unity in diversity (Eph 2:14–22).

“Can’t I just watch online?” Streaming is a gift for the homebound, but embodied life—bread, cup, tears, hugs—can’t be digitized (Acts 2:46).

Call to Response

Repent of consumer posture. Confess where you’ve treated the church as content instead of covenant.

Re-up your presence. Commit: “For the next 90 days, I will gather, group, table, and serve.” Put it on the calendar today.

Receive and offer family. If you’re lonely or new, tell someone before you leave; if you’re rooted, invite someone before you leave.

Closing Prayer

“Father, thank you for adopting us in Christ and placing us in a household, not a marketplace. Holy Spirit, make us a people of devoted presence, shared tables, and costly generosity. In a city as global and growing as Brampton, let the family of God act like the family of God, for the joy of many and the glory of Jesus. Amen.”

Discussion Questions

What does “devoted” look like in your weekly rhythms right now? How might God be calling you to greater steadfastness in showing up?

How have you personally experienced transformation through consistent presence in the church?