Spiritual Family

God has made his children, by his Holy Spirit, nearer to himself than the angels.

United Difference

It begins with following Jesus. Believers follow Christ’s command . Christ commanded them to return and they did. They returned for the Holy Spirit (). They returned for Christ’s new ministry ().

Spiritual Advent

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Mount Olivet lies in the background of Christ’s Kingdom.

Inaugurate his Kingdom by blood...

For, now its a Spiritual Kingdom, where Christ rules by his church .

Minus One

Although we agree that [Peter] was the leader of the apostles, it does not follow that he was the chief ruler of all the world. But if we grant that he was the chief of the apostles because his name is first, I must conclude that the mother of Christ was inferior to all the rest of the women because her name comes last. But Roman Catholics will certainly not agree to this, and it is clearly absurd.

Although we agree that [Peter] was the leader of the apostles, it does not follow that he was the chief ruler of all the world. But if we grant that he was the chief of the apostles because his name is first, I must conclude that the mother of Christ was inferior to all the rest of the women because her name comes last. But Roman Catholics will certainly not agree to this, and it is clearly absurd.

Here’s how Rome does the Bible.

Biggest Problem

This list is the beginning of Christ’s church officers and laity .

This list is the beginning of Christ’s church officers and laity . Jesus’ mother is mentioned here for the last time. We also have his brothers. The focus here, however is not Jesus’ natural family. The focus is his spiritual family, his church, who were “devoting themselves to prayer.” Together for prayer binds the church with a bond thicker than blood. Its the bond of the Holy Spirit. We are a Spiritual Family: We Have Spiritual Fellowship; We have a Spiritual Reading; We have a Spiritual Witness.

Mother Mentioned (brothers): “devoting themselves to prayer.”

spiritual family, his church, who were “devoting themselves to prayer.”

Together for prayer binds the church with a bond thicker than blood. Its the bond of the Holy Spirit. We are a Spiritual Family: We Have Spiritual Fellowship; We have a Spiritual Reading; We have a Spiritual Witness.

We are a Spiritual Family and therefore have Spiritual Fellowship, , all these with one accord. Here’s our fellowship. The church was one together, to practice the one another’s… prayer “devoting themselves to prayer.” Prayer binds us together. A family … mentions prayer (e.g., ; ).

“The Acts of Christ’s Continuing Ministry on Earth.”

We have our private prayer life, but perhaps more importantly we have corporate prayer together.

Prayer is an intimate intercourse of the believing soul with a merciful God. We share that intimacy… You can buy…

This young church needed prayer.... Holy Spirit… Great Commission… The church needs prayer because we are needy. Jesus said, “Our heavenly Father knows what you need. He likewise said, “Ask and it shall be given you” (7:7). Prayer is our Spirit provoked reply to this sinful world.

How One Another?

If only the church

The prayer of the faithful is powerful indeed. We have God’s promise on it.

Clique: Don’t be polite without lifting him or her up to the Lord.

Prayer is a shield for our church. In this way it is also a scourge to Satan.

to answer the needs of your family, friends, and loved ones with the “I’m praying.” Only make sure you do! Don’t be polite without lifting him or her up to the Lord. Prayer is a shield for our church. In this way it is also a scourge to Satan. Pray well and pray often for one another.

Pray well and pray often for one another.

Second, As a Spiritual Family: We have a Spiritual Reading . Here is another way Christ… Through the Word. Its not just the Word of God that is important here. Peter shows the church how to interpret the Bible. Peter actually… . Here is the rule of Christian ministry: the entire Bible is about Jesus Christ.

So, it’s even about Christ’s enemies . This is simply… important part. It was Biblical . The Bible is all about Jesus Christ. The story also includes replacing this defector .

“Is this proof-texting?”

Does the NT disregard context?

No, they understand context. It’s Spiritual. The Holy Spirit who authored the Bible always had Christ at the forefront. The gospel is the context.

Primacy of Peter

Its a spiritual reading. Why? Because the Spirit wrote the Bible (). The Spirit spoke through David who foreshadowed Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the singer of the Psalms. He is the spotless lamb… Red Sea… Rock…

“You cannot read the Bible that way.”

“Historically, grammatically, Christologically.” That’s a bumper sticker I would stick on my car.

Here is the rule to reading your Bible as a Christian. When I say as a Christian its because you can read it other ways. You can apply other worldly rules.

Marxist, Jesus the chief proletariat who threw off bourgeoisie…

Freudian, finding Jesus as your enter ubermensch…

Pentecostal, Jesus helping you help you after you help me to your wallet.

Fundy, Jesus didn’t really turn that wine into wine

American, Jesus to make America great again.

What do all these readings have in common? It’s about you. But here is the Christian rule, its not. The Bible is God’s Story.

Here’s a test, “We love because he first loved us.”

I prefer he first loved us because “He is faithful...” Your Story… leaves… God’s story, however saves… lifts… only comfort… What about me? God’s story makes us the object of his love… notices you… cares for you… done everything that you might be his.

Struggle with your story

We need an otherworldly story, Good News, God’s grace has finished your story. He deleted all your sins and has rewritten your life. Its a happy ending, “I am not my own… ” That’s a story to confess and live by.

Lastly, as a Spiritual Family: We have a Spiritual Witness . This is the focus of Christ’s ministry on earth, a church that preaches new life. With the Bible and the right understanding of it, the church is to preach the resurrection. Why the resurrection? Because it encapsulates the entire gospel. Its the goal of the gospel. The resurrection is the power of the Holy Spirit. We are the resurrection of Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ in me. In Christ by faith we are new creatures. We have a new voice that bears witness to Jesus Christ with our whole life.

Then this . They select men whom they judged worthy of this office. This is normal. But what about this . They were following .

Is this part of Christ’s continued ministry?

Why Don’t We

Today we have the Holy Spirit and I pray that he is the tie that binds us together in prayer, in hearing Christ from all the Scriptures, and in giving an answer for the hope that lies within us. Our hope is Christ and so we are more sure to rise from the dead than we will rise from our beds. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen!

Today we have the Holy Spirit and I pray that he is the tie that binds us together in prayer, in hearing Christ from all the Scriptures, and in giving an answer for the hope that lies within us. Our hope is Christ and so we are more sure to rise from the dead than we will rise from our beds. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen!