The church is United in Christ.

What do you think of when you hear the word CHURCH? (building?)

PP: The Bible tells us the church is not a building, but it is the growing FAMILY of God.

RTL: We must treat the church like our family & remain UNITED on the truth of the Bible or else the church will fall apart as soon as disaster strikes.

Ephesians 2:19-22 “19So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”

-“fellow citizens”, not aliens or strangers = we know each other well

Point #1: Remember that the Church is a FAMILY.

Romans 8:14-17 “receive adoption as sons” from God

only Christians can be in God’s family (Repentance & Faith) sons of God / sons of disobedience (the world) each member of the church is a part of God’s family (picture your family) mother and father who bring a child into their family, he becomes a part of that family

Members of ONE HOUSEHOLD with different individuals, (brother, sister, mom, dad, grandma)

- like a SOCCER TEAM, different jobs working together to score a goal

What do families do? LOVE EACH OTHER

good friend use kind words offer to help your friend if they are sad at church allow others to go first, before you at snack time or during games

**The Bible tells us that once we are in God’s family we must be UNIFIED and grow together!

v20 “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,

Point #2: Agree that the Bible is True.

Our passage tells us that the Bible is the foundation, what we are built up on and we must all agree on the truth of the Bible.

UNITY: Be ONE, TOGETHER, agree and have the “same mind” as our memory verse says 1 Corinthians 1:10 “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.”

- agree on the BIBLE and we should follow what it says

- agree that we can become part of the family through JESUS CHRIST ALONE (cornerstone, the first stone laid)

Chain Illustration: UNITY IS NOT…

- causing division

- talking bad about people

not believing the Bible is true not worshipping God lying being all about ourself

The world will try to get us to sin and weaken the bond we have in our church family, but we must stand STRONG

21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”

Point #3: Worship God with the Church Family

We worship God when we are a part of his family and believe in the truth of the Bible like the rest of the church family!

- build legos on the Bible, built to worship God

- working together to get stronger and support each other, each person is important

- one lego trying to be built off the foundation of the Bible

PRAY