Investing in God's Family

A group of professionals were talking at their college reunion and decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired. During their visit the conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in their work and lives.

Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups- porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite, telling them to help themselves to the coffee.

When all the alumni had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said:

“Notice that all of the nice looking, expensive cups were taken, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While its normal for you to pursue the best for yourselves, is also the source of your stress. Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. It’s just a more expensive cup...

What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups…and then you began eyeing each other’s cups.

📷

Now consider this: Life is the coffee. Your job, your money and wealth and your positions in society are the cups.

Life is the coffee. Your job, your money and wealth and your positions in society are the cups.

Your job, your money and wealth and your positions in society are the cups.

They are just tools to hold and contain Life. By concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided us.

The type of cup one has does not define, nor change the quality of life a person lives.

Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided us.

God makes the coffee, we use cups. The happiest people are not the ones who focus on having the best of everything… Enjoy your coffee!

Enjoy your coffee!

Today part of our time together will involve some discussion at your table - we want you to start thinking about how the teaching relates to you life and how you can begin to live out these principles in your particular situation. We know that some here might not be very comfortable with this – it might not be something you’re used to – We are just glad you are with us and If you really don’t want to talk you can just tell the people at your table that you just want to listen..

In this series we are looking at what Jesus and his disciples taught about pursuing true success…and investing in our future…

Cups & Coffee:

A group of professionals were talking at their college reunion and decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired. So they went to his house and during their visit the conversation soon turned into complaints about stress and anxiety in their work and lives.

Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups- porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite, telling them to help themselves to the coffee.

When all the alumni had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said:

“Notice that all of the nice looking, expensive cups were taken, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While its normal for you to pursue the best for yourselves, is also the source of your stress. Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. It’s just a more expensive cup...

What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you went for the best cups…and then you began eyeing each other’s cups.

Now consider this: Life is the coffee. Your job, your money and wealth, your education and positions in society, are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life. By concentrating only on the cup, we fail to truly enjoy the good coffee God has provided each of us.

Typically we pursue success by [investing in our cups eh. By] primarily using our jobs, education, talents and time: to build up our own wealth, to increase our standard of living, to contribute to the comfort and convince of our own families…

As human beings we naturally invest in the things we think will bring us success – we’re just wired that way…

And our hearts always follow our investments – you will love whatever it is you cling to for success…

It is quite typical to pursue success by investing in our cups. To primarily use our jobs, education, talents and time: to build up our own wealth, to increase our standard of living, to contribute to the comfort, activities, and convinces of our own families…

So this is really important stuff, that impacts our daily lives, how we relate to God and each other, the kind of future we will have, and what we are leaving behind for the next generation!

A successful day for me usually begins with a cup of coffee… I came across this story involving coffee this week...

A group of professionals were talking at their college reunion and decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired. During their visit the conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in their work and lives.

Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups- porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite, telling them to help themselves to the coffee.

When all the alumni had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said:

“Notice that all of the nice looking, expensive cups were taken, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While its normal for you to pursue the best for yourselves, is also the source of your stress. Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. It’s just a more expensive cup...

What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups…and then you began eyeing each other’s cups.

Now consider this: Life is the coffee. Your job, your money and wealth, your education and positions in society, are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life. By concentrating only on the cup, we fail to truly enjoy the good coffee God has provided us.

Typically we pursue success by [investing in our cups eh. By] primarily using our jobs, education, talents and time: to build up our own wealth, to increase our standard of living, to contribute to the comfort and convince of our own families…

A group of young professionals were talking at their college reunion and decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired. During their visit the conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in their work and lives.

A group of professionals were talking at their college reunion and decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired. During their visit the conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in their work and lives.

Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups- porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite, telling them to help themselves to the coffee.

When all the alumni had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said:

“Notice that all of the nice looking, expensive cups were taken, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While its normal for you to pursue the best for yourselves, but it is also the source of your stress. Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. It’s just a more expensive cup...

What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups…and then you began eyeing each other’s cups.

Typically we pursue success by primarily using our jobs, education, talents and time: to build up our own wealth, to increase our standard of living, to contribute to the comfort and convince of our own families…

Now consider this: Life is the coffee. Your job, your money and wealth, your education and positions in society, are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life. By concentrating only on the cup, we fail to truly enjoy the good coffee God has provided us.

Typically we pursue success by primarily useing our jobs, education, talents and time: is to build up our own wealth, to increase our standard of living, to contribute to the comfort and convince of our own families…

When we think of success and building for the future we typically focus on the cup - using our jobs, education, talents and time: to build up our wealth, to increase our standard of living, to contribute to the comfort and convince of our own families…

But as we have seen already in this series, Jesus and his disciples challenge our typical views of success… Jesus teaches that the way to be truly successful, the way to lay down a truly solid foundation for your future…the way to really LIVE and grab onto LIFE - is to use your wealth: use your time: use your talents to do good.... Which is a really different way of thinking about success.

This is reflected in how most people think about retirement or leaving an inheritance for our children…

Which is a really different way of thinking about success.

But Jesus and his disciples challenge such views of success… calling them foolish…

“True success is far deeper and more comprehensive than financial success or enjoyment of this life. True success involves being ‘rich toward God’.”

“True success is far deeper and more comprehensive than financial success or enjoyment of this life. Jesus says, true success involves being ‘rich toward God’.”

“True success is far deeper and more comprehensive than financial success or enjoyment of this life. True success involves being ‘rich toward God’.”

Being rich toward God is really about investing in God’s kingdom - which includes serving the poor and doing good works - but it also includes God’s Family. God’s Family - his church is part of his kingdom.

So investing in the kingdom involves good works and sharing with those in need, the bible talks about caring for widows and orphans - the vulnerable of society - it talks about acting justly and loving mercy…

But most people are warm to the idea of doing good works and sharing with those in need - but whenever we talk about God’s kingdom we need to remember that His Kingdom also includes his FAMILY… his church…

Jesus and his apostles teach us that pursuing true success involves investing in a local church family…a community of believers.... which is something that is often misunderstood and easily overlooked…

being rich toward God is really about your wealth, your energy, your investments being poured into Christ and his Kingdom…

This is a completely different way of looking at things… - because investing in His kingdom produces riches that are far more valuable and long lasting…

This is a completely different way of looking at things…

Jesus and his apostles teach us that pursuing true success also involves investing in a local church family… which is something that is often misunderstood and easily overlooked…

JESUS says, this is the way to be truly successful, To lay down a truly solid foundation for your future…to really LIVE and grab onto LIFE

This is a completely different way of looking at things…

JESUS says, this is the way to be truly successful, To lay down a truly solid foundation for your future…to really LIVE and grab onto LIFE

So investing in the kingdom involves good works and sharing with those in need, the bible talks about caring for widows and orphans - the vulnerable of society - it talks about acting justly and loving mercy…

Which means part of pursuing true success is to be invested in a church family… which is something that is often misunderstood and easily overlooked...

However, these instructions are not just given to individuals but to God’s family! Whenever we talk about God’s kingdom we need to remember that His Kingdom also includes his FAMILY… his church… which means pursuing true success involves investing in a local church family… which is something that is often misunderstood and easily overlooked…

Whenever we talk about God’s kingdom we need to remember that His Kingdom includes his FAMILY… his church… which means part of pursuing true success is to be invested in a church family… which is something that is often misunderstood and easily overlooked...

Turn to

Today we want to look at one of the things Jesus and his disciples identify as a key investment....a core commitment for successful living…

Remember in the passage two weeks ago, Jesus said that God takes pleasure in giving us His kingdom! And in last weeks passage God is described as ‘richly providing everything for our enjoyment” !

The first part of Romans is explaining how forgiveness of sins, being right with God, being adopted into God’s family, and receiving all the riches of his Kingdom are all a gift to us based on what Jesus Christ has done for us - it is all given to anyone who will in faith receive Jesus as their king (or Lord)!

JESUS says, To be truly successful, To lay down a truly solid foundation for your future…to really LIVE and grab a hold of LIFE - use your wealth: your time: your talents to do good – to make kingdom investments...

Faith in Jesus opens up a whole new way of thinking and living - Chapter 12 begins by saying believers need to learn to think differently - learning to think rightly is part of God transforming our lives... And starting in verse three we have some instruction regarding how we should be thinking… which give us some important insights about investing in God’s family — keep in mind that this is the Apostle Paul explaining what is NORMAL for anyone who has received God’s grace and believes in Jesus…

New Living Translation Chapter 12

3 Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.

Romans 12:3 NLT

Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.

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.

And what follows gives us some insight into what it means to be invested in God’s family — keep in mind that Paul is explaining what is NORMAL for anyone who has received God’s grace and believes in Jesus…

Romans 12:6 NLT

In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.

!

Remember in the passage two weeks ago, Jesus said that God takes pleasure in giving us his kingdom! And in last weeks God is described as ‘richly providing everything for our enjoyment” !

Romans 12:7–8 NLT

If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

Here Again in these verses we see that God is generously giving, and we are the receivers of his Grace! And his giving includes spiritual gifts designed specifically for investing in His Family! The main point is not the gifts themselves but HOW we are to be using the gifts and abilities God has graciously given us.

Again in this passage we see that God is generously giving, and we are the receivers of his Grace! The core idea in the first part of this passage is that we are to realize that God has given his people spiritual gifts specifically for investing in His Family! The main point is not the gifts themselves but HOW we use the gifts and abilities God has graciously given us.

The core idea in the first part of this passage is that we are to realize that God has given his people spiritual gifts specifically for investing in His Family! The main point is not the gifts themselves but HOW we use the gifts and abilities God has graciously given us.

We are instructed to develop balanced thinking about ourselves, identify what we really have, and use whatever we have to serve the church family wholeheartedly. And there is some intensity to this service: if your thing is giving or contributing - don’t just contribute but contribute generously! If your thing is leadership don’t just lead - lead with zeal (enthusiastically/passionately)! If your thing is mercy, don’t just perform acts of kindness -do them cheerfully!

Investing a church family is not about some casual involvement. Our gifts are for making a significant contribution.

Which to be honest doesn’t usually seem like a very successful thing to do. You’re probably already heavily involved your work, your family activities, community events… there is little time and energy left to be very invested in your church family!

If you become a member of a church you know you should contribute something. But even as members we typically see church involvement in terms of showing up at events, putting a few bucks in the plate, or maybe volunteering some token level.

But what is being taught here as the NORMAL church involvement for believers in Jesus… this is about being invested to the point of making a significant contribution.

So investing heavily in a church family seems like the opposite of success. It seems like a lot of work, and hassle , and potential problems, that could limit or take away from our families and the rest of what we have going on in our lives !

Of course if you become a member of a church you know you should contribute something. But even as members we typically see church involvement in terms of showing up at events, putting a few bucks in the plate, or maybe volunteering some token level. But that’s not what is being taught here as the NORMAL involvement for believers in Jesus…

But what is being taught here as the NORMAL involvement for believers in Jesus… is to be be invested to the point of making a significant contribution.

Look at the instructions that come next… In v9 the focus switches from using our unique gifts to some more general one-another responsibilities ...

in fact the church doesn’t function properly without our unique contribution.

Look at the instructions that come next… In v9 the focus switches from using our unique gifts to some more general one-another responsibilities ...

But if pursuing true success is about investing in God’s kingdom - then investing in a church, using what we have to make a significant contribution is part of pursuing true success and laying a foundation for the future…

Investing in your church family is not about some casual involvement. Our gifts are for making a significant contribution.

And churches are well complicated, some church people are just weird, the services and programs are well kinda amateur, and sometimes churches seem out of touch - church families can caught up in their own agendas and activities…there can be lots of problems...

And its not some casual token

But if pursuing true success is about investing in God’s kingdom - then investing in a church,

Investing in your church family is not about some casual involvement, our gifts are for making a significant contribution.

In v9 the focus switches from using our unique gifts to some more general one-another responsibilities ...

Investing in your church family is not about some casual involvement, our gifts are for making a significant contribution.

One of the things to keep in mind here is that the focus of these instructions is not on maintaining church services or programs - but on being a true family - a community of believers.

In v9 the focus switches from using our unique gifts to some more general one-another responsibilities ...

Romans 12:9–10 ESV

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

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.

Romans 12:11–13 ESV

Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Philidelphia = brotherly love n. — the affection naturally befitting the relationship between siblings; the strongest loving bond of commitment known in the ancient world!

Romans 12:10–13 ESV

Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Romans 12:11–13 NLT

Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.

Romans 12:14–16 ESV

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.

Love one another with brotherly affection = Greek = Philidelphia = brotherly love n. — the affection naturally befitting the relationship between siblings; which is the strongest loving bond of commitment known in the ancient world!

Romans 12:14–16 NLT

Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!

*Ordinary = Humble or Lower class / poor

Remember in the passage two weeks ago, Jesus said that God takes pleasure in giving us his kingdom! And in last weeks God is described as ‘richly providing everything for our enjoyment” !

You see Jesus and his disciples don’t Just encourage us to pursue good works in general – but Jesus and his disciples also identify a couple of specific things we are to be invested in that are part of pursuing true success and building for the future… if you’ve been around our church long enough you will know that one of these things is God’s Family ---his church…

The core idea in the first part of this passage is that we are to realize that God has given his people spiritual gifts specifically for investing in His Family! The main point is not the gift itself but the way we use our gifts.

the core idea in the first part of this passage is that we are to realize that God has given us spiritual gifts so we can fulfill our function as part of church family.

Be devoted to each other like you are really family - brotherly love

Love one another with brotherly affection - family commitment

Turn to

We are to develop balanced thinking about ourselves, identify what gifts we have, and use them to serve the church family wholeheartedly.

Investing in your church family is not about some casual involvement, our gifts are for making a significant contribution.

Be devoted to each other like you are really family - brotherly love

be ready to contribute to the needs of the people in your church

be devoted to one another in brotherly love

we’re to contribute to the needs of the saints

be eager to practice hospitality

celebrate with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep

we are to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep

include those who are outside of your social class

In our culture we often view church as a service to attend or a place to come to help us maintain our values or to have a weekly worship experience… but what is being described here is quite different! This is about belonging to a community of people, a real family, in which we are vitally involved!

Investing in your church family involves developing a real family commitment to one another with a high level of sharing and care for one another.

An article on “Building Christian Community” says this,

In our culture we often view church as a service to attend or a place to come to help us maintain our values or to have a worship experience…but this is about being part of a community of people, a real family, in which we are vitally involved!

An article on “Building Christian Community” says this,

We are to have balanced thinking about ours

“Coming into community means passing from relationships based primarily on my convince or my need, to relationships that are based primarily on commitment: whether it’s convenient or not, whether I need you or not, I commit myself to be a brother or sister to you.”

FEAR…this seems very demanding - my family will miss out - less time and resources for other activities - to do this might mean turning down a promotion, withdrawing my kids from one of their activities… On the surface it doesn’t seem like pursuing success! How can this be part of pursuing true success and grabbing hold of true life?

let’s be honest, churches have done some really awful and embarrassing things throughout history… some church people are just weird, church services and programs are well kinda amateur, and sometimes really not helpful- and even if you are part of a church the way things are set up it is often really unclear how to even help out! Investing like this seems like a lot of work, and hassle , and potential problems, that could limit or take away from our families and the rest of what we have going on in our lives !

So investing heavily in a church family seems like the opposite of success. It seems like a lot of work, and hassle , and potential problems, that could limit or take away from our families and the rest of what we have going on in our lives !

It is important to note that The focus of these instructions is not on maintaining church services or programs - but on being a true family - a community of believers.

One of the reasons we started Gospel Communities is because we realize that we are just fooling ourselves if we think we are actually obeying this by just showing up to Sunday Service… so our GC have become an avenue for practicing Christian community

So let me just give you three quick observations about how investing in your church family really is part of pursuing true success and laying a foundation for the future...

No one can even begin to obey the one another teachings of Scripture without making a real commitment to a specific local church, a community of believers who are willing to make the same commitment.

A parent who invests heavily in her church family told me this week - how important it was to her that her kids are loved by a larger community of people - that there are other adults who genuinely care for her children. That faith is Jesus isn’t just something coming from the parents but that there are many other people from other walks of life who believe in Jesus too, and are showing an interest in her children.

So investing heavily in a church family seems like the opposite of success. It seems like a lot of work, and hassle , and potential problems, that could limit or take away from our families and the rest of what we have going on in our lives !

Investing in your church family involves developing a real family commitment to one another with a high level of sharing and care for one another.

FEAR…this seems very demanding - my family will miss out - less time and resources for other activities - to do this might mean turning down a promotion, withdrawing my kids from one of their activities… On the surface it doesn’t seem like pursuing success! How can this be part of pursuing true success and grabbing hold of true life?

FEAR…this seems very demanding - my family will miss out - less time and resources for other activities - to do this might mean turning down a promotion, withdrawing your kids from one of their activities… On the surface it doesn’t seem like pursuing success! How can this be part of pursuing true success and grabbing hold of true life?

FEAR…this seems very demanding - my family will miss out - less time and resources for other activities - to do this might mean turning down a promotion, withdrawing your kids from a sporting activity…

FEAR…this seems very demanding - my family will miss out - less time and resources for other activities - to do this might mean turning down a promotion, withdrawing your kids from one of their activities… On the surface it doesn’t seem like pursuing success! How can this be part of pursuing true success and grabbing hold of true life?

But remember kingdom investments produce things that are far more valuable and longer lasting is part of pursuing true success and grabbing hold of true life it is a guaranteed investment that leads to great riches that will impact generations and is part of God’s eternal plan!

FEAR…this seems very demanding - my family will miss out - less time and resources for other activities - to do this might mean turning down a promotion, withdrawing your kids from a sporting activity… On the surface it doesn’t seem like pursuing success! Yet it is a guaranteed investment that leads to great riches that will impact generations and is part of God’s eternal plan!

Lydia - girls loved by a larger community of people - a network of support like no other

A parent who invests heavily in her church family told me this week - how important it was to her that her kids are loved by a larger community of people - that there are other adults who genuinely care for her children. Faith in Jesus isn’t just something Mom and Dad have but there are many other different people who believe in Jesus too, and are showing a real interest in her children.

A parent who invests heavily in her church family told me this week - how important it was to her that her kids are loved by a larger community of people - that there are other adults who genuinely care for her children. That faith is Jesus isn’t just something coming from the parents but that there are many other people from other walks of life who believe in Jesus too, and are showing an interest in her children.

Lydia - girls loved by a larger community of people - a network of support like no other

It is because she has invested in the church the people in the church have really gotten to know and appreciate her family - there are some deep connections that have formed - if anything were to happen to her or her husband - their kids would be well cared for, when they face problems there is a community of people they have invested in - who have grown to love them - who pray for them and stand with them!

Investing in your church family can deeply connect you to an amazing network of support and care!

Investing in your church family is also something that can connect you and your family to a rich array of resources and opportunities

they are connected a network of support and resources like no other - if anything were to happen to the parents - their kids would be well cared for, If they ran into great trouble there are people who they have invested in and who have grown to love them for it and they would be right there in time of need.

It was through the church family that I learned to play praise songs on the guitar, run a sound board, how to BBQ hamburgers properly, how to swim, and even how to water ski. It was in my church family that I learned to speak in front of people, how to pray, how to read the bible for myself and how lead a discussion. It was in serving my church that I learned how to prepare for a presentation, how to plan an event, it is where I learned how to talk with people older than me - and younger than me and appreciate them both. And all of this happened long before I ever became a pastor!

The reencforcements adn care of adults who genuinely care for your children!

It was through the church family that I learned to play praise songs on the guitar, run a sound board, how to BBQ hamburgers properly, how to swim, and even how to water ski. It was in my church family that I learned to speak in front of people, how to pray, how to read the bible for myself and how lead a discussion. It was in serving my church that I learned how to prepare for a presentation, how to plan an event, it is where I learned how to talk with people older than me - and younger than me and appreciate them both. And all of this happened long before I ever became a pastor!

Investing in your church family is a guaranteed investment that is part of God’s unstoppable plan -

A guaranteed investment

A guarenteed investment

“[Christian Community] can be described as a family relationship. Coming into community means passing from relationships based primarily on my convince or my need, to relationships that are based primarily on commitment: whether it’s convenient or not, whether I need you or not, I commit myself to be a brother or sister to you.”

The one we’re focusing on today is often misunderstood, overlooked, or avoided entirely…

Need to make the case for The church being part of God’s eternal plan - The bride of Chris

Matthew 16:18 ESV

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Ephesians 3:8–12 ESV

To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.

1 Timothy 3:14–15 ESV

I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.

There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus - God’s spirit connects us to God as our father and to one another as his children. This family consists of local churches, communities of believers, all over the world a global family of families.

The one we’re focusing on today is often misunderstood, overlooked, or avoided entirely…

Need to make the case for The church being part of God’s eternal plan - The bride of ChrisBeing born into a family…

There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus - God’s spirit connects us to God as our father and to one another as his children. This family consists of local churches, communities of believers, all over the world a global family of families.

Committing yourself to the church universal by vowing to love all Christians may sound good - but it is fails to even come close to obey this teaching. It is a veiled naive attempt to avoid and ignore what is clearly taught in scripture - no one can even begin to obey the one another teachings of Scripture without making a real commitment to a specific local church with a community of believers who are willing to make the same commitment. Anything less is to disobey Christ.

No one can even begin to obey the one another teachings of Scripture without making a real commitment to a specific local church and to be part of a community of believers who are willing to make the same commitment. Anything less is to disobey Christ.

“[Christian Community] can be described as a family relationship. Coming into community means passing from relationships based primarily on my convince or my need, to relationships that are based primarily on commitment: whether it’s convenient or not, whether I need you or not, I commit myself to be a brother or sister to you.”

For many today church has been reduced to a place we attend instead of participating in the community of Christ as is is defined in the New Testament. What all is involved in becoming truly committed to a community of believers? How would this challenge your current lifestyle?

In what way is investing your life in a local church family the same as investing your life in eternity? In future generations?

What are some ways you could invest more deeply in your local church family right now?

One of the reasons we started Gospel Communities is because we realize that we are just fooling ourselves if we think we are actually obeying this by just showing up to Sunday Service… so our GC have become an avenue for practicing Christian community

BONUS MATERIAL:

A group of professionals were talking at their college reunion and decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired. During their visit the conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in their work and lives.

Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups- porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite, telling them to help themselves to the coffee.

When all the alumni had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said:

“Notice that all of the nice looking, expensive cups were taken, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While its normal for you to pursue the best for yourselves, is also the source of your stress. Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. It’s just a more expensive cup...

What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups…and then you began eyeing each other’s cups.

Now consider this: Life is the coffee. Your job, your money and wealth, your education and positions in society, are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life. By concentrating only on the cup, we fail to truly enjoy the good coffee God has provided us.

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They are just tools to hold and contain Life. By concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided us. God makes the coffee, we choose the cups. The happiest people are not the ones who focus on having the best of everything… Enjoy your coffee!

but it is real easy for us under all the pressures of city life to become so wrapped up in our work, our family activities, and community events - that there is little time or energy left for any serious involvement in our local church family. For many Christians today, the time and resources they invest in the their church family is very small compared with the time and money they put into entertainment and leisure activities.

But it is real easy for us under all the pressures of city life to become so wrapped up in our work, our family activities, and community events - that there is little time or energy left for any serious involvement in our local church family. For many Christians today, the time and resources they invest in the their church family is very small compared with the time and money they put into entertainment and leisure activities.

God makes the coffee, we use cups. The happiest people are not the ones who focus on having the best of everything… Enjoy your coffee!

Some people talk about Committing themselves to the church universal by vowing to love all Christians which sounds good - but it is fails to even come close to obey this teaching. No one can even begin to obey the one another teachings of Scripture without making a real commitment to a specific local church, a community of believers who are willing to make the same commitment.