Formed For God
WHY SHOULD I COME TO CHURCH ?
FORMED FOR GOD’S FAMILY
“God is the one who made all things, and all things are for
His glory. He wanted to have many children share His glory...”
Heb. 2:10a (NCV)
Heb 2:10 - 10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
10 Everything belongs to God, and all things were created by his power. So God did the right thing when he made Jesus perfect by suffering, as Jesus led many of God’s children to be saved and to share in his glory.
“His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into His
own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ.” Eph. 1:5 (NLT)
Eph 1:5 - 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
5 God was kind b and decided that Christ would choose us to be God’s own adopted children.
“Love your spiritual family!” 1 Pet. 2:17b (Msg)
1 Peter 2:17 - 17 Honour alle men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
17 Respect everyone and show special love for God’s people. Honor God and respect the Emperor.
MY 2nd PURPOSE IN LIFE IS FELLOWSHIP.
“The person who loves God must also love other believers.”
1 John 4:21 (GW)
John 4:21 - 21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
21 Jesus said to her:
Believe me, the time is coming when you won’t worship the Father either on this mountain or in Jerusalem.
FELLOWSHIP is loving God’s Family.
“I’m writing… so you’ll know how to live in the family of God.
That family is the church...” 1 Tim. 3:14-15 (NCV)
1 Tim 3:14-15 - 14 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: 15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and groundb of the truth.
14 I hope to visit you soon. But I am writing these instructions, 15 so that if I am delayed, you will know how everyone who belongs to God’s family ought to behave. After all, the church of the living God is the strong foundation of truth.
FOUR LEVELS OF FELLOWSHIP
LEVEL 1: MEMBERSHIP: CHOOSING TO BELONG
“...You are members of God's very own family... and you belong
in God's household with every other Christian.” Eph. 2:19 (LB)
Eph 2:19 - 19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
19 You Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens with everyone else who belongs to the family of God.
“In Christ we who are many form one Body, and each member
belongs to all the others.” Rom. 12:5 (NIV)
Romans 12:5 - 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
5 That’s how it is with us. There are many of us, but we each are part of the body of Christ, as well as part of one another.
“This is what we proclaimed in word and action when we were
baptized. Each of us is now a part of His resurrection Body.”
1 Cor. 12:13 (Msg)
1 Cor 12:13 - 13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentilesc, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
13 Some of us are Jews, and others are Gentiles. Some of us are slaves, and others are free. But God’s Spirit baptized each of us and made us part of the body of Christ. Now we each drink from that same Spirit.
“That's what baptism into the life of Jesus means. When we
are lowered into the water, it is like the burial of Jesus; when
we are raised up out of the water, it is like the resurrection of
Jesus.” Rom. 6:3 (Msg)
Romans 6:3 - 3 † Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
3 Don’t you know that all who share in Christ Jesus by being baptized also share in his death?
LEVEL 2: FRIENDSHIP: LEARNING TO SHARE
“All the believers met together constantly and shared
everything with each other.” Acts 2:44 (LB)
Acts 2:44 - 44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
44 All the Lord’s followers often met together, and they shared everything they had.
· OUR EXPERIENCES
“People learn from one another, just as iron sharpens iron.”
Prov. 27:17 (TEV)
Prov 27:17 - 17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
17 Just as iron sharpens iron,
friends sharpen the minds
of each other.
· OUR HOMES
“Open your homes to each other.” 1 Peter 4:9 (NCV)
1 Peter 4:9 - 9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging.
9 Welcome people into your home and don’t grumble about it.
· OUR PROBLEMS
“Share each other's troubles and problems.” Gal. 6:2 (NLT)
Gal 6:2 - 2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
2 You obey the law of Christ when you offer each other a helping hand.
“Let us not give up the habit of meeting together. Instead,
let us encourage one another...” Heb. 10:25 (TEV)
Heb 10:25 - 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
25 Some people have gotten out of the habit of meeting for worship, but we must not do that. We should keep on encouraging each other, especially since you know that the day of the Lord’s coming is getting closer.
LEVEL 3: PARTNERSHIP: DOING MY PART
“We are partners working together for God.” 1 Cor. 3:9a (TEV)
1 Cor 3:9 - 9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandryb, ye are God’s building.
9 Apollos and I work together for God, and you are God’s garden and God’s building.
“The whole Body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does
its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the
whole Body is healthy and growing and full of love.”
Eph. 4:16 (NLT)
Eph 4:16 - 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
16 of the body. Christ holds it together and makes all of its parts work perfectly, as it grows and becomes strong because of love.
“Just as you did it to one of the least of these who are
members of my family, you did it to Me.” Matt. 25:40 (NRSV)
Matthew 25:40 - 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
40 The king will answer, “Whenever you did it for any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did it for me.”
LEVEL 4: KINSHIP: LOVING BELIEVERS LIKE FAMILY
“...they were like family to each other.” Acts 2:42a (CEV)
Acts 2:42 - 42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
42 They spent their time learning from the apostles, and they were like family to each other. They also broke bread g and prayed together.
“Be devoted to each other like a loving family.” Rom. 12:10 (GW)
Romans 12:10 - 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
10 Love each other as brothers and sisters and honor others more than you do yourself.
“We know what real love is because Christ gave up His life for
us. And so we also ought to give up our lives for our Christian
brothers and sisters.” 1 John 3:16 (NLT)
1 John 3:16 - 16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
16 We know what love is because Jesus gave his life for us. That’s why we must give our lives for each other.
“Your strong love for each other will prove to the world that
you are My disciples.” John 13:35 (LB)
John 13:35 - 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
35 If you love each other, everyone will know that you are my disciples.
“You are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”
Gal. 3:26 (NLT)
Gal 3:26 - 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
26 All of you are God’s children because of your faith in Christ Jesus.