Family Matters

Introduction

1. How often do you talk to unsaved people about Jesus?

2. Have you ever told your testimony to someone who did not go to church? If so, please describe this experience? If not, then why not?

3. How comfortable do you feel about telling someone about Jesus?

4. How receptive are your friends and family to you talking about Jesus? How do they respond?

5. Have you ever told a co-worker or supervisor about Jesus? If yes, how did they respond? If no, then why not?

6. How comfortable are you with telling a co-worker or colleague about Jesus?

7. Do you have any non-Christian friends? Do they know that you are a Christian? If you answered no to the last question, then why?

8. In your own words, what does it mean to be a Christian?

9. In your own words, what does it mean to be a disciple?

10. Have you ever been discipled? If so, then how was this experience?

11. Are you open to being discipled? Why or why not?

12. Do you think it is easy or difficult to talk about Jesus to family, friends, co-workers, and supervisors? Why?

13. Do you think it is easy or difficult to evangelize? Why?

14. What does it mean for you to be part of the body of Christ?

15. Have you ever encountered someone who was hostile to hearing about Jesus? If yes, then how did this encounter make you feel? Why would one be hesitant or hostile towards hearing the gospel?

16. Do you believe that easy or difficult to share your faith? Why?

Illustrate: Family Matters is an American sitcom series that originated on ABC from September 22, 1989 to May 9, 1997, before moving to CBS from September 19, 1997 to July 17, 1998. A spin-off of Perfect Strangers, the series revolves around the Winslow family, a middle-class African American family living in Chicago, Illinois.[1] Midway through the first season, the show introduced the Winslows' nerdy neighbor Steve Urkel (Jaleel White), who quickly became its breakout character and eventually the show's main character.

Family Matters is an American sitcom series that originated on ABC from September 22, 1989 to May 9, 1997, before moving to CBS from September 19, 1997 to July 17, 1998. A spin-off of Perfect Strangers, the series revolves around the Winslow family, a middle-class African American family living in Chicago, Illinois.[1] Midway through the first season, the show introduced the Winslows' nerdy neighbor Steve Urkel (Jaleel White), who quickly became its breakout character and eventually the show's main character.

What is a family? People living together who are familiar with one another.

How can familiarity be a problem?

Illustrate: Psychology Today October 24, 2010n posting “Do You Really Believe That Familiarity Creates Contempt”?

Ordinarily, the expression "familiarity breeds contempt" refers to what often happens in long-standing relationships and marriages. Regrettably, over time too may relationships begin to see their happiness wither. Yet, the question remains: is it actually familiarity that causes this disappointment?

At times, familiarity may in fact pave the way for greater intimacy and love. After all, when the relationship begins and we open to emotional intimacy, we set the stage for falling in love. If a soft kiss, an appreciative hug or the simple feeling of being cared for becomes familiar, then familiarity in fact evokes and sustains love. In loving relationships that embrace emotional support and respect, familiarity produces a wonderful life. What we become accustomed to should become the focus of our attention.

Is it difficult to create family inside the church? Why or why not?

How do we experience connectedness and family within the church?

Jesus biological family came

Context:

Mark 3:13–21 ESV

And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons. He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. Then he went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat. And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.”

Mark 8:32–33 ESV

And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

Jesus biological family standing outside

standing = poster of preaching, to judge, messengers or herald’s were normally standing

Jesus biological family sent to Jesus and called Him

The crowd was sitting around Jesus

sitting = poster of being in a teaching relationship

The crowd said “Your mother and brothers are outside, seeking you”

the crowd assumed an external family relationship constituted a prior valid claim on Jesus

Jesus answered the crowd sitting around Him

“Who are Jesus’ mother and brothers, and sisters?”

Jesus biological family is like strangers to him until they learn the nature of the new relationship which binds people to Jesus

Jesus looked at those who sat around him

And said, “Here are my mother and my brothers!”

For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”

So how are you born into the church, into the body of Christ, into the family of Jesus

What are the requirements to become a member of Jesus’ family?

,

John 3:3 ESV

Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

John 3:5 ESV

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

Romans 8:19 ESV

For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.

Romans 8:

Romans 8:29–30 ESV

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

1 John 3:1–3 ESV

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.