Building Families Together

Stronger together

Ever been a part of a team?

I spent a number of years in the military

Battle was not won by one soldier - it was multiple units

The whole accomplishes something bigger than the individual

Last week - we talked of families - the unit

Family needs to be part of a bigger family- Church

We are family

Ephesians 2:19–20 CSB

So, then, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.

Christian community is the place where we keep the flame of hope alive among us and take it seriously so that it can grow and become stronger in us. - Henri Nouwen

We need each other

We are stronger together

At its heart that is what Build is about

When you invest and commit to this campaign we have the resources to:

Build families - small groups and resources for families, facilities to gather and be encouraged, challenged, to grow, programs investing in the next generation

Family is at the core of this

When we commit to each other and invest in each other as church family - our world starts changing

That’s what I want to dive into today

What does it look like and what happens when we build families together?

Turn Acts 2

Let’s pray

Christianity means community through Jesus Christ and in Jesus Christ. No Christian community is more or less than this. - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Church is important - the church gathered is important

Its focus and impetus is Jesus

When we do it the way Jesus intended, things happen

1. We grow together

Acts 2:42 CSB

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.

You trying to grow in your faith by yourself - won’t work

I love in the video - they talked about people further down the road - older

Not only that but.....

When we grow together, God moves

Acts 2:43 CSB

Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles.

We must be a community where....

2. We love each other

Acts 2:44–45 CSB

Now all the believers were together and held all things in common. They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as any had need.

Love is an action

I like how James puts it

James 2:15–17 CSB

If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, stay warm, and be well fed,” but you don’t give them what the body needs, what good is it? In the same way faith, if it does not have works, is dead by itself.

Our faith is reflected by our acts of love and our generosity

As a family....

3. We worship together

Acts 2:46 (CSB)

Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house.

I know we are the church

Show me where there was not a place for the faith community to meet

We worship together

We give space for our kids to worship in their way / Special needs, youth, etc.

“We are perishing for lack of wonder, not for lack of wonders.”—G.K. Chesterton

4. We celebrate together

Acts 2:46–47 (CSB)

Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.

More than just singing songs, more than just shaking hands and saying hi

When we Love, Worship, and Celebrate Together

The World Notices

Acts 2:44–47 CSB

Now all the believers were together and held all things in common. They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as any had need. Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. Every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

Building Families Together

We are stronger together

Individual families become part of the larger church family

When generations are pouring into the next generation

We will build families and through us God will change the world

This is why Build is - this why we invest our time talent and treasure and commit to being a part of this

Christians in community must again show the world, not merely family values, but the bond of the love of Christ. - Author: Edmund Clowney

The greatest expression of our community and that bond is communion

As we take the elements - let us recommit to Christ to what He has called us to be and do - and to each other as family

Let’s pray

Communion