Where Is My Family?
Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 10 viewsNotes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Intro
Intro
Text - Matthew 12.46-50
46 While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him.
47 Then one said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.”
48 But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?”
49 And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers!
50 For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”
19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
household of God - refers to all the people of God from all time and all race
10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
household of faith - refers to the body of believers that are gathered together in one area - the local congregation
Title - Where Is My Family?
Background
Background
Christ’s action was not a disrespect towards his foster mother and earthly relations.
Jesus was introducing a new kind of relationship - one that is higher, deeper, and closer than what humans are used to.
Jesus Introduced a “new” family - God’s own family
Jesus Introduced a “new” family - God’s own family
Jesus used the opprtunity to intrroduce the “real” family of God, which He called His family
48 But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?”
Why “introduce” ?
because we are not aware that there is another relationship that far more important than our earthly blood relations
“blood is thicker than water”
There is a family relationship that is much deeper and thicker than our earthly family - God’s family
in the eternity future, the body of people that will live with God in His domain -
will not be called ‘church’, or ‘bride’ or ‘temple’ - these are just metaphors and idioms used to describe our time on earth
they will be called sons and daughters of God - we go back to the basic unit of society, the family.
Jesus will teach us the way to enter God’s domain - by being “born” of God.
While earthly relations are important, they are not the defining line of our divine relationship.
While earthly relations are important, they are not the defining line of our divine relationship.
God’s children are not determined by earthly lineage
8 That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed.
there is no marriage in heaven
34 Jesus answered and said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage.
35 But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage;
36 nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.
earthly marriage and family relationships do not continue in heaven
we are brothers and sisters in the family of God
“God has no grandchildren”
WHAT’S THE POINT?
WHAT’S THE POINT?
If you are IN CHRIST -
you belong to the family of God
you are born of the Word that lives forever
If you are IN CHRIST -
YOUR “NEW” FAMILY SHOULD BECOME MORE IMPORTANT TO YOU THAN YOUR EARTHLY RELATIONSHIP
YOUR DEEPEST CONCERN FOR YOUR EARTHLY FAMILY SHOULD BE TO WIN THEM OVER AND HELP THEM RECOGNIZE THE FAMILY OF GOD!
The church is not defined and owned by one family
church administration and leadership is not determined by blood relations
Note - “levites” a term used to define a family whose men are active in the ministry
When Christians have arguments - we do not take sides based on blood relations
When a believer backslides, we do not go with them just because they are relatives - husband, wife, child, parent, etc
Jesus Recognized God’s family
Jesus Recognized God’s family
49 And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers!
Why “recognize”
because this relationship already exists long before we were born into this world!
earthly family begins at birth - because we cannot possibly know who our children will be
God’s family began in the election before the foundation of the world - because God knew who His children are!
Note - in Ephesians, Paul introduces our divine relationship with God that began in the mind of God
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,
5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,
He chose us in Him - God knew us already in His mind
predestined us to adoption as sons - God has determined that we will be His children!
19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
having been saved by grace through faith, we are recognized as -
“fellow citizens with the saints”
“members of the household” of God
grk OIKEOS - belonging to the household
14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
family - grk PATRIA, lineage, genealogy
lineage - the line of descendants of a particular ancestor
God has family in heaven and in earth
some of his children are already in heaven
the rest are stil in the world
God has a family that exists along with earthly genealogy
but it is not defined by an earthly family
instead, his children comes up from every tongue, tribe and people and through all generations
WHAT’S THE POINT?
WHAT’S THE POINT?
YOU ARE GOD’S CHILD FIRST, AND YOUR PARENTS’ SECOND!
Example
Moses - he grew up in the palace in Egypt, but he knew he was an Israelite first!
His secondary relationship only served to prepare him for his real work the plan of God!
UNIVERSALLY, ALL BELIEVERS BELONG TO THE “PATRIA” OF GOD
LOCALLY, WE ARE PART OF THE “OIKIA” OF FAITH
YOU SHOULD FEEL AT HOME IN THE HOUSE OF GOD!
If you feel more comfortable among your unbelieving friends than your fellow Christians - you might as well call them your family
“home is where the heart is!”
Jesus Defined how God’s family functioned
Jesus Defined how God’s family functioned
50 For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”
While the earthly family is NOT your eternal family, it serves as a PATTERN for how God’s family functions.
First - the household of God is known for DOING THE WILL OF GOD
Note - human families can be defined by what its members do for many generations
Rothschild family - banking and finance
Rockefeller family - banking and industry
Kennedy family - politics
Sy Family - malls
Marcos - politics
“whoever does the will of my Father...” - is the mark of God’s household
Second - the house of God is where you learn proper Christian behavior
the first teachers are the parents
children should learn good moral character from their family
15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
the church should not be determined by one family’s practices - but by what God’s family should be practicing
17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?
you submit to the judgment in the house of God
Third - you help in and support the works of the house of faith
who supports the family financially?
who helps maintain the home?
who gives gifts to one another?
who takes care of the sick?
who buys things for the household?
10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
first - you learn to share the good things with those who teach you the word of God
6 Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.
7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.
second - you learn to share with your brothers and sisters
WHAT’S THE POINT?
WHAT’S THE POINT?
RECOGNIZE WHERE YOUR HOUSEHOLD IS!
if you came from the province and is attending another church in the city -
decide where your church family is
let the pastor know your decision
SUPPORT THE WORK OF YOUR HOUSEHOLD
give your tithes
it is NOT yours but God’s
it helps those who feed you with the Word of God
give your offerings
THIS IS WHERE GIVING BEGINS
this helps the church needs
share your good things with the church family
celebrate your days with them
feast with them
share in the burdens with them
BEAR WITH THE PROBLEMS OF YOUR HOUSEHOLD
when your church has problems -
STAY
don’t jump to another church
don’t run another house
Don’t leave your home church just because they cannot provide for your needs
try helping by prayer or by a donation
DON’T HOLD YOUR SUPPORT -
because others are already helping
because the pastor is well to do
Conclusion
Conclusion
As members of the family of God -
we have responsibilities towards our household of faith - our home church
WHEN YOU LOVE YOUR HOME CHURCH - YOU EXPRESS YOUR LOVE FOR -
GOD WHO FIRST LOVED YOU
THOSE WHO FEED YOUR SOUL
THE UNIVERSAL FAMILY OF GOD
SONG
The Goodness of God (with bro Jeth)