Growing Our Church Family Part 1Sýnishorn

THE FAMILY WE CHOOSE

If you are a disciple of Jesus, you have two families. The first one, your family of origin, is the one you were born into. You had no control or choice in the matter. This family may have been very nurturing, or it may have had dysfunction. Either way, your family of origin is fixed and cannot be changed. However, when you place your faith in Jesus Christ, you are born again through His grace, this time into His family, His household, the Church.

While it has become common for believers to refer to their local church as their ‘church family,’ many don’t fully grasp what it means for fellow believers to be family, not just members of an organization. We often miss the depth of Jesus’ vision for the way His family is meant to relate to one another and the world around them. Sometimes we bring the misconceptions and dysfunctions of our earthly families into our understanding of God’s household. Sometimes we redefine what family means in that context until it looks more like a social club or school house. But the scriptures give us clear illustrations and instructions about Jesus’ heart and purpose for our spiritual family.

Over the next few days, we’ll look at some distinguishing characteristics of His family and how God’s design for His household challenges us to have a deeper relationship with Him and each other.

Ask Yourself:

-How do my definitions of natural family and spiritual family differ?

-How has my family of origin influenced the way I interact with God’s family?

-What are the characteristics of ‘family’ that I find difficult or perhaps even inapplicable in my relationships with other believers?

Pause to Pray for the Church: Father God, thank You for inviting us into the fellowship of Your family. Please open our hearts and minds to Your guidance on what it means to be a child of Your household. May Your Church be transformed as we learn to live and love the way Jesus taught... In Jesus’ name, amen.