Faith, Family, and Friends

1. Faith, Family, and Friends Walking in Christian Community

2. What did Jesus mean? • Matthew 12:46 - 50 (NKJV) 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.”

3. The Things that Bring Us Together! • Faith: a strong sense of why we are here and what we believe • Family: a healthy connection, identifying with others in covenant relationship • Friendship: a real expression of daily love in a growing intimate way

4. What is the function of “church” or Christian Community? Psalms 133:1 ( KJV ) 1    Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

5. So, what is the church? • The sum of Christian community… • A place for God’s family to dwell together… • A concept that reminds us of heaven… • An occupying army, a restraining force… • The expression of God in the Earth…

7. Through Good and the Bad… • John 19:25 - 28 (NKJV) 25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.  26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!”  27 Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home. 28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” 

8. Jesus’ Declaration that we are Family! • John 15:11 - 13 (NKJV) 11“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.  12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.  13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 

9. Jesus’ Call to Discipleship or “Conditioning” • John 15:14 - 16 (NKJV) 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.  15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.  16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. 

10. How Faith, Family, and Friends works today… • The Blessings of God were first intended to pass down through families… • When based upon a deep commitment to God, families are Earthly expressions of blessing… • As we live among other’s as families we become God’s great evangelistic force…

11. Renewing the Family, through Faith and Friendship… • Understanding God’s Directives for family • What does God have to say about your behavior? • Healing the hurts in our relationships • What does God have to say about your issues? • Restoring honor and integrity • Identifying your family’s mission

12. Let US Pray…