Devoted to One Another

As members of one another, it follows that we should enjoy being in that community, in that body.

Convo w/family that came here several years ago. Showed up one Sunday and said, “this is home.”

The Family of God

Romans 12:10 NLT

10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.

Another powerful metaphor to illustrate the church.

Another powerful metaphor to illustrate the church.

philadelphia - “brotherly love” - refers to family relationships.

adelphos is used around 220 times beginning with the book of Acts. It is literally, “from the same womb.”

when applied to the church, it means, “fellow believers,” “members of God’s family,” “brothers and sisters in Christ.”

Being of one household, one home.

Ephesians 2:19 NLT

19 So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family.

Last week we learned we are members of one another (like a body). That describes how the church functions.

But that metaphor only goes so far in describing the reality of the church.

Family continues to describe how we function, but adds warmth, tenderness, concern, and loyalty - basically, human emotion and devotion for one another.

Body describes how we all participate in the church.

Family describes how we relate to one another as we participate together.

Bad News, Good News

To say the church is a family is biblical and accurate.

The Bad News:

that image doesn’t help everyone feel all warm & fuzzy.

Not everyone had a wonderful growing up experience.

Trust for grown-ups may have been difficult

A lack of security, acceptance, love may be the predominant memories for many.

Some have a limited idea of what it means to have (or to be) a loving, caring, trusting brother or sister in Christ.

Some results could be:

Fear of rejection

Anger

Self-centeredness

Here’s the Good News:

God designed the church - His family - to be a sort of “reparenting” organism” to bring healing to people who may have been hurt by an unhealthy or dysfunctional family of origin.

Consider how a young man or woman who didn’t get to see a loving father who treats his wife well: Here in the famly of God, he or she can learn what it means to be good to one another as spouses.

(BTW - we’re not perfect. We rely on grace in our relationships as much as anyone.)

But the beautiful part about being in the church is that you can see people who, in their imperfection, lean on God’s Spirit and on God’s people to help them navigate life together.

An implication: if a church isn’t functioning as that extended sanctified family, we can perpetuate the dysfunction of the world.

It’s Two-Way Street

Basically, strong, mature families create strong, mature churches and vice-versa.

But it’s best when the larger family, the church, fosters that healthy dynamic.

We should be encouraged that the greatest power of the universe is ours when we are striving to be a biblical church family.

We can have a huge impact on our own families as well our community when we are truly devoted to one another.

Matthew 18:20 NLT

20 For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”

It’s easy

Moving Toward Devotion

It’s up to us to provide that “reparenting” function as a church family.

1 Thessalonians 4:9–10 NLT

9 But we don’t need to write to you about the importance of loving each other, for God himself has taught you to love one another. 10 Indeed, you already show your love for all the believers throughout Macedonia. Even so, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you to love them even more.

Choose to be in the family.

Hebrews 13:1–3 NLT

1 Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters. 2 Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! 3 Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies.

Get together deliberately.

1 Peter 1:22–23 NLT

22 You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart. 23 For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God.

Remember your salvation.

1 Peter 3:8–9 NLT

8 Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. 9 Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing.

Remember it’s not about you (or me.)

Romans 12:15 NLT

15 Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.

What Stops Us?

Connect significantly.

Fear of rejection/poor frame of reference

Conclusion

We’ve been hurt by our family of origin - a parent, brother or sister.

Makes the language of family difficult.

“father” perhaps not a connecting concept for God, etc.

We’re all that family sometimes: at home and at church.

Poor frame of reference

Perhaps we’re not so good at family relationships so its hard for us to use that connect with the church family.

Anger and resentment

Ego

Selfishness.