BE THE FAMILY OF GOD

Ezra 37:9-10 – “Then He said to me, ‘Speak a prophetic message to the winds, son of man. Speak a prophetic message and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, O breath, from the four winds! Breathe into these dead bodies so they may live again.’’ So, I spoke the message as he commanded me, and breath came into their bodies. They all came to life and stood up on their feet—a great army.”

Ezra 37:14 – “I will put My Spirit in you, and you will live again and return home to your own land.”

Acts 2:41-42 (NLT) – “Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all. All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.”

Acts 2:43-45 (NLT) – “A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need.”

Acts 2:46-47 (NLT) – “They worshipped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.”

1. Fellowship in The Family of God

Matthew 22:37-39 (NLT) – “Jesus replied, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’.”

1 John 1:7 (NLT) – “But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.”

1 John 4:7 (NLT) – “Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God.”

Matthew 5:23-24 – “So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.”

2. Fight for The Family of God

Ephesians 4:16 (NKJV) – “From whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”

Nehemiah 4:13b-14 (NLT) – “I stationed the people to stand guard by families, armed with swords, spears, and bows. Then as I looked over the situation, I called together the nobles and the rest of the people and said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!’”

Discussion Questions:

1. Is your current experience of Christian community “comfortable”?

2. What could “fighting for the family of God” look like for you?

3. As you reflect on/pray about this morning’s message what do you think the Holy Spirit may be speaking to you about the practice of community in your life?

4. What is one thing that you can do different in the next two weeks to better express the Biblical picture of Christian community?