Living together: A Relational Family
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Intimate
Intimate
(insert intimate picture here)
Intimate, intimacy, when you think of that what comes to mind? In our “Living together” series as well as coupling with our “Let your light shine series” we are living together as a church family so that we may be a shining light in the midst of a dark world.
Intimate is defined as: (adj) closely acquainted; familiar, close; private, personal.
We all have some intimate relationships of one sort or another, one level or another in life. (insert personal story, Jim/Tabby)
This series as mentioned before is about living together here on earth so we can live together in heaven one day, we are to live together now as a church family. We have previously looked at, discussed that there is a possibility of the church to be a group of anonymous worshipers. Also, that we are to be a community of believers who are truly concerned for one another. One who works together to grow, to improve, to protect one another as we grow as the Church.
Last week we started this series and maybe you thought I was lax in the number of scriptures used. Well, that won’t be the case today, I may not read them all, but will reference many, so pick up a handout when you leave if you don’t have one so you can be a good Berean and search the scriptures to see if what I say is true. This morning as we look at the scripture we will start with the words of Jesus concerning the church.
World view
World view
Everyone has a world view, how they look at the world and how they relate to the world. How we see things will impact how we do things, such as how we live together.
(insert world view picture here)
Today’s world view can be a humanistic world view or a religious, christian world view, and even that may be tainted too, can’t it?
When the world looks at the church it see’s us as Institutional or denominational as well as an organization. Is that right? Is that who we are? No, and will back that up in just a minute.
Even the church has a tainted world view adding in things that are not in the bible such as:
Pastor as head of the church
Associate pastor, associate minister
Director of children’s ministry, Director of music
Now are we talking about the church, a fellowship of believers, or are we talking about a business a corporation?
In our worldview may we remember God is not the God of confusion (1Cor14:33)
1cor14:33
33 for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
(expand on this, in our living together we are to live in peace, in unity, not in confusion or division)
In our worldview may we remember that we are called to do things in an orderly manner (1Cor14:40)
40 But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner.
since God is not the God of confusion, but of peace, of unity, things must be done in an orderly manner.
So, even the church can have a misqued view. So may we look at Jesus world view.
Jesus world view; a relational, obedient family (Mt12:46-50)
46 While He was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him. 47 Someone said to Him, “Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside seeking to speak to You.”
48 But Jesus answered the one who was telling Him and said, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” 49 And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, “Behold My mother and My brothers!
50 “For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.”
Jesus view of a relational family is one that does the Father’s will.
Jesus worldview, a loving father over the family who listens and knows our needs (Mt6:8-9)
8 “So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. 9 “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
Don’t be like those of the world who have traded the traditions of God for the traditions of man, pray, ask, and believe.
Apostles world view
We are a brotherhood (1Pt2:17)
17 Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.
We are to be a brotherhood, a family of believers who honor the king and all people.
We are a household (1Tim3:15)
15 but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.
We are a household, the church, under the care and protection of the living God
We are not an institution, we are not a denomination, we are not a corporation we are a family, a relational, intimate family that is united as the family of God, in the household of God.
That now leads us to intimacy within the family.
Intimacy in our living together
Intimacy in our living together
As a family, as a relational family that is to have intimacy with one another there are a few things we can learn about this from the scripture.
We are to be like little children (Mt18:1-4)
1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 And He called a child to Himself and set him before them,
3 and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 “Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
We are to be teachable, reachable as a family that has intimate relations with one another we are to be humble in the kingdom of heaven.
We are to be submissive to one another (Eph5:21)
Expand on mutual submissiveness
We are not to lord over one another, but to serve one another (Mt20:25)
We are not to lord over one another, but to serve one another in love
We are to be interdependent on one another (1Cor12:12-13)
12 For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
expand on in the family we make up one body, but each has a part to play each brings his light so we can shine like a city set on a hill.
STOP HERE: INTRODUCE THEM FOR 2020! - TOGETHER WE CAN
(insert together we can picture here)
Together we can impact this community for Jesus, starting within the family that strives together
Together we can be a city set on a hill, because of our love
Together we can raise up disciples by being simply Christians studying God’s Word
Together we can continue to grow spiritually, numerically and yes financially too.
For 2020 the year of together we can may we consider these verses as our theme!
1 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion,
Php2:1
2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;
Php2:2-3
4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
Together we can do what we cannot do alone. Together we can shine the light of Jesus in the midst of a wicked and perverse generation!
OK, I think you have the idea, now back to the regularly scheduled message to be delivered in an orderly fashion because God is not the God of confusion.
We are to have concern for one another (Mt18:5-7)
We are to help everyone in the faith, the little children, babes in faith, we are to build up not to put stumbling blocks before each other. Together we can help one another not to be a stumbling block, or to help one another over stumbling blocks so not to stumble. And if they stumble to help them to be restored.
We are to help one another (Gal6:1)
help one another in restoration if one gives in to sin, and do it because we are a relational family, an intimate family with a spirit of gentleness which is love!
We are to be willing to look for the lost sheep (Mt18:10-14)
We need to be willing in our living together to go look for the lost sheep, and the straying sheep to bring them back into the sheepfold.
We are to be corrective with one another (Mt18:15-17; 2The3:6-15)
(Insert Discipline with gentleness picture here)
Now in family there may be some issues that come up with one another that need some corrective action, may we be willing to do it, in love with the goal being to be restored and reconciled to the body.
Recently we have worked through the books of 1 & 2 Thessalonians and if you were to look at 2The3:6-15 you would be able to consider some family things some living as a family, in intimacy with one another too.
We would see we are commanded to stay away from the unruly (v.6)
We are given an example we should follows (vv.7-10)
Don’t be a busy body, work for a living (V.11)
As a family we don’t live are not to lead an unruly life, nor are we to allow unruly behavior. We have scripture example on what we are to do, including not gossiping and not living off of others, we are all to be contributors to the household of God and to the wellbeing of the relational family, the intimate family.
Tough love for the erroring brother maybe hard, but it necessary. Witholding family relationship is geared to bring them back into the fold and not force them or put them out. It is about saving the soul!
As intimate, relational family we are to forgive one another (Mt18:21-22)
21 Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
Then we go from there when it comes to forgiveness
Family not only forgives but forgets too (1Cor13:5)
For love keeps no records of wrongs
Family forgives because forgiveness offered to us (Col2:13; Mt18:35)
While we were dead in our transgressions God made us alive in Christ when our sins were forgiven.
We are to forgive as our heavenly Father has forgiven us!
From forgiveness comes loving and bearing service
Our relational family serves on another (Mt20:25-28)
we are to follow Jesus example not to be served, but to serve one anotehr!
Do you remember an old song that had a line “he ain’t heavy, he’s my brother?”
Our intimate, relational family carries one another (Gal6:2)
Well we are to be burden carrying family members, there for one another not to judge but to help one another.
Intimacy within our forever family is important, it may be the only thing that people notice when then walk through the door of this building. Our church, our fellowship, our forever family is to be a home away from home. A place of refuge and a place of restoration. it is part of our eternal home with one another.
Church our true home
Church our true home
In our true home, our forever home, while we are pilgrims, sojourners now, we need each other. We need our forever family for in this world there can be costly to be part of the relational family.
Cost could include family members (Mt10:34-39)
Our family, we love them, but not all of them are a part of our forever family, even when we desire them to be, so the cost of be a relational eternal family can be at the cost of your earthly family.
34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 “For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
36 and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household. 37 “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
38 “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 “He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.
Mt10:38-39
We need to be willing to forsake our earthly family
We need to be willing to pick up our cross (burden) and follow the Lord
Cost can be hard to quantify, but are eternally worth it (Mk10:28-30)
Quantify, I don’t get to use that word very often but it is a cool word and maybe I should.
Quantify: express or measure the quantity of.
Hard to count, know the exact measure, cost of being a relational family, but look at what Jesus had to say to Peter.
28 Peter began to say to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You.” 29 Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake,
30 but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life.
Cost can be timely, but rewarding in helping others.
Out intimate, our relational, our true family is to be a family that is willing to sacrifice time and even finances to help those who are
disadvantaged who need a helping hand
the lonely who have no real family
the broken, the hurting, the sinners, the outcasts
Our relational, intimate family is to be an available family to help the helpless the hopeless and the hurting. To help those who are in dysfunctional situations maybe by choice, maybe by upbringing we can love them and help them to come to know the truth and to be made free by the truth.
This now leads to one more quick point about our intimate, relational church family.
Building on the family
Building on the family
Building something takes a plan, takes resources and takes time and building on a relational, intimate forever family takes the same.
Takes God’s plan, and application of such (Act2:42-46)
Summarize only on the above verses
It is being simply a Christian who who study, pray, break bread, fellowship with one another (v.42)
Be together and have all things in common (v.44) - all things is Jesus!
It is helping each other so no one is in need (v.45)
And I think I need to read (v.46)
46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,
It is being of one accord, one mind
It is sharing meals together
Not just sharing meals but with gladness and simplicity of heart d
Are we a relational, intimate family who makes time for the new people even when our schedule does not have much room? - I know I have to work on this area myself.
It may take widening our circle of fellowship (Mk9:38-40)
38 John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.” 39 But Jesus said, “Do not hinder him, for there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name, and be able soon afterward to speak evil of Me.
40 “For he who is not against us is for us.
We may not agree with everything, we may not agree with everyone, but there is a common faith in Jesus and we can use that to look for open doors, open opportunities to love and teach more accurately.
It will take us remembering we re not a country club for saints but a hospital for sinners, a messy, well used trauma center used for
Saving souls (Act2:46)
We are in the soul saving bus
Restoring the erring (Gal6:1)
Edifying the saved (Eph4:12)
We do that when we widen our circle we open the door for
preaching and teaching the word
Exhorting and restoring the erroring
Ministering to the needs of others and helping others.
(Invitation -Hands to the plow is messy picture) invitation to lost, encouragement to the saved. (invitation slide 2) song (exit slides)