1 “… they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to...

1

“… they were continually devoting

themselves to the apostles’ teaching

and to fellowship, to the breaking of

bread and to prayer

Acts2:42

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Our Christian Family

An Intimate Household

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Views of the church

• Modern man’s view–An “Institution” or “Organization”

• Analogies of a business or corporation–“Associate Minister”

–“Superintendent of Education”

–“Director of Music”

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Views of the church

• Jesus’ view–A “family” – Matthew 12:46-50

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Matthew 12:46-50

“While He was still speaking to the crowds, behold, His mother and brothers were

standing outside, seeking to speak to Him. [47] Someone said to Him, "Behold, Your

mother and Your brothers are standing outside seeking to speak to You." [48] But Jesus answered the one who was telling

Him and said, "Who is My mother and who are My brothers?" …”

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Matthew 12:46-50

“…[49] And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, "Behold My mother and My brothers! [50] "For

whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and

sister and mother."”

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Views of the church

• Jesus’ view–A “family” – Matthew 12:46-50

• Jesus would speak of …–God as His Father – John 2:16

–His followers as family relatives

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Views of the church

• Apostles referred to the church as a …–Brotherhood – 1 Peter 2:17

“love the brotherhood”–The “household of God”

• 1 Timothy 3:15; 2 Corinthians 6:17-18

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1 Timothy 3:15

"but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of

God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the

truth."

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2 Corinthians 6:17-18

“... I will welcome you. 18 "And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me” says the

Lord Almighty.”

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Family Intimacy

• How it is to Permeate church life–In our “Relationship” with each

other• We are to be like little children

–Matthew 18:1-4

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Matthew 18:1-4“At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, "Who then is greatest in the

kingdom of heaven?" [2] And He called a child to Himself and set him before them,

[3] and said, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. [4] "Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of

heaven.”

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Family Intimacy

• How it is to Permeate church life–In our “Concern” for each other

• Concerned with protecting our family from harm

–Matthew 18:5-7

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Matthew 18:5-7

“And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me; [6] but

whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would

be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. …”

15

Matthew 18:5-7

“… [7] "Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable

that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling

block comes!”

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Family Intimacy

• How it is to Permeate church life–In our “Concern” for each other

• Concerned with protecting our family from harm – Matthew 18:5-7

• As concerned with one who strays as one who stays

–Matthew 18:10-14

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Matthew 18:10-14“See that you do not despise one of these

little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven continually see the face of My Father who is in heaven. [11] ["For the Son of Man has come to save that which

was lost.] [12] "What do you think? If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them

has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go and search for the one that is straying? …”

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Matthew 18:10-14

“… [13] "If it turns out that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it

more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray. [14] "So it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven

that one of these little ones perish.”

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Family Intimacy

• How it is to Permeate church life–In our “Discipline” of one another

• Remember, we are “brethren”–Follow a procedure that utilizes to the full

advantage of our relationship as a family

»Matthew 18:15-17

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Matthew 18:15-17“If your brother sins, go and show him his

fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. [16] "But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with

you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. [17] "If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile

and a tax collector.”

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Family Intimacy

• How it is to Permeate church life–In our “Discipline” of one another

• Remember, we are “brethren”–Follow a procedure that utilizes to the full

advantage of our relationship as a family

–Treat the one disciplined as a brother

»2 Thessalonians 3:6-15

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2 Thessalonians 3:6-15

“Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you

keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the

tradition which you received from us. [7] For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you, …”

23

2 Thessalonians 3:6-15“…[8] nor did we eat anyone's bread

without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so

that we would not be a burden to any of you; [9] not because we do not have the

right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would

follow our example. [10] For even when we were with you, we used to give you this

order: …”

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2 Thessalonians 3:6-15“…if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. [11] For we hear that

some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but

acting like busybodies. [12] Now such persons we command and exhort in the

Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread. [13] But as for

you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good. …”

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2 Thessalonians 3:6-15

“… [14] If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special

note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he will be put to shame. [15] Yet do not regard

him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.”

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Family Intimacy

• How it is to Permeate church life–In our “Forgiving” each other

• Realizing the value of this intimate, family relationship

–Forgiveness is to be automatic upon repentance

»Matthew 18:21-22

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Matthew 18:21-22

“Then Peter came and said to Him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to

seven times?" [22] Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but

up to seventy times seven.”

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Family Intimacy

• How it is to Permeate church life–In our “Forgiving” each other

• Realizing the value of this intimate, family relationship

–Keep in mind …»How our Father has forgiven us»Matthew 18:23-35

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Matthew 18:23-35“For this reason the kingdom of heaven

may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. [24] "When he had begun to settle them, one who owed

him ten thousand talents was brought to him. [25] "But since he did not have the

means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be

made.”

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Family Intimacy

• How it is to Permeate church life–In “Service” to one another

• Our “older brother” came to serve–Matthew 20:25-28

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Matthew 20:25-28

“But Jesus called them to Himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their

great men exercise authority over them. [26] "It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among

you shall be your servant, …”

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Matthew 20:25-28

“…[27] and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; [28]

just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His

life a ransom for many.”

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The church is such a fellowship

• It can be rightly considered as:–A home away from home!

–A home which is our true home!

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The CHURCH: Our true Home

• The cost of Discipleship can be great–May mean forsaking earthly family

• Matthew 10:34-39

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Matthew 10:34-39

“Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. [35] "For I came to set a man against his father,

and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; [36] and a man's enemies will be the members of his household. …”

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Matthew 10:34-39

“…[37] "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. [38] "And he who does

not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. [39] "He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life

for My sake will find it.”

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The CHURCH: Our true Home

• Christ intends for His church to make up for any cost–Whether it be…

• The cost of putting Christ before family• The cost of leaving family to serve Christ

–Christ promised a hundredfold replacement• Mark 10:28-30

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Mark 10:28-30

“Peter began to say to Him, "Behold, we have left everything and followed You." 29 Jesus said, "Truly I say to

you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or

father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel's sake, …”

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Mark 10:28-30

“… 30 but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the

present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and

farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life.”

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The CHURCH: Our true Home

• The church can be a Home (Family) for all …–For those away from home

–For those who never had a family at all, or an incomplete one

–For those of a “dysfunctional” family

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Building Family Intimacy

• May need to spend more time with each other–For some, it may mean being more

faithful about attending services

–For others, it may mean widening our circle of fellowship to include others

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Building Family Intimacy

• May need to spend more time with each other–For all of us, it means …

• Being less self-centered!• Being more willing to become involved with the concerns of others!

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Building Family Intimacy

• We may need to become more involved in the work of the “church family”–Our task is not to create some

“social club”

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Building Family Intimacy• We may need to become more

involved in the work of the “church family” --- not as a social club–But a “family of believers” active in

doing the will of their Father• Saving souls• Restoring the erring• Edifying the saved

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“By this all men will know that

you are My disciples, if you

have love for one another.”

John 13:35