Ephesians 2:20, 3:6
Family of God: The Church
I. Intro – I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God….
II. God’s Purpose for the Family:
a. Marriage and parenthood would reveal God’s character.
b. Love. (God put children in families so they can experience His love and learn how to love others.)
c. Relationship and a sense of belonging
d. Support
e. Provide resources
f. Maintain physical and mental health
g. Pass on values to the next generation
III. Sin fragmented God’s plan for families. Part of God’s redemption plan is to adopt people into a new family, the Church.
IV. Family is not just a social structure, we should see it through the lens of the Trinity. Humanity, created in the image of the three-in-one God, is designed for relationships that mirror the Trinity itself.
a. This establishes family as not just about bloodlines but rather about covenant bonds.
- Mk 3:31–35
- Ephesians 2:20-21
V. Covenant Refresher: Parts of the covenant
a. Word – Jesus , living word, The Bible and it’s truths
b. Terms
c. Blessing & Cursing
d. Oath
e. Blood
i. Sacrifice: Jesus death on the cross
ii. Priesthood, Us (1 Peter 2:9)
f. Seal – Holy Spirit (John 14:16, 17)
VI. God created humans and commanded them to fill the earth both with natural children and “godly offspring” (Genesis 1:28) to extend God’s Kingdom.
VII. The Church family
a. functions as an instrument through which God accomplishes salvation. Col 1:18–22
b. is a means through which God blesses his people.
§ Eph 3:6 And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body (family), and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus
VIII. Quotes
a. Lexham Survey of Theology
The doctrine of the church can deliver us from individualism, from the idea that Christianity can all somehow be reduced or concentrated to fit into my experience, my personal relationship with God. As important as that relationship is, God has something much larger in mind. All of God’s ways move towards the end of establishing the people of God, who he has called out from the world to be set aside as his people
b. Edmund Clowney – The Church
The church is the community of the Word, the Word that reveals the plan and purpose of God. In the church the gospel is preached, believed, obeyed. It is the pillar and ground of the truth because it holds fast the Scriptures (Phil. 2:16)
IX. The Church is to be:
a. Holy – Set apart
b. Universal – the application of teaching should be accessible to all people and should not be added to.
c. Apostolic – remains faithful to the teaching and the mission of spreading the Good News of Jesus.
X. How does the church function? Acts 2
a. Devotion definition: to preserve, constantly diligent, great care and perseverance, adhere closely to.
b. Devoted themselves to the apostles teaching
c. Devoted themselves to prayer
d. Worshiped at the Temple each day
e. Met in one place
f. Devoted themselves to the fellowship
§ Some theologians say that the real miracle of Pentecost is “from every nation under heaven” a body of believers is formed.
g. Devoted themselves to sharing meals (including the Lord’s Supper)
h. Shared everything they had
i. This communal spiritual and practical way of life created a “family” of people that were not only set apart from the rest of society in how they loved and cared for each other but which also produced “signs and wonders”. (Acts 2:43)
XI. What are we to do?
a. Have a personal relationship with Jesus – this affects the others in the church. Who am I when I show up? Does God want to give me a word of encouragement or a scripture to someone in my church?
b. Go to church (Hebrews 10:25)
c. Be Devoted to your church
d. Be in unity
· Unity affords the greatest identifying mark of the people of God. That’s why Luke emphasizes, all the believers were together and had everything in common. – “Acts” by Kenneth Gangel
· The most prominent features are the brotherly love and the undisturbed harmony of the believers. – A commentary on the Holy Scriptures by Lange (et. al.)
e. Be who God has called you to be, do what God has called you to do.
f. Be fruitful and multiply – Make disciples
XII. The Church is the Bride of Christ (Covenant Relationship)
a. Revelation 19:6
b. Ephesians 5:27