Lesson 2:

The Church Is A Family! (Part 2)

The Church Is a Family!• Relationships in the “Church Family”– The Father:

God is our Father• Matthew 6:9; cf. 23:9• Ephesians 4:6• Ephesians 3:14-15

The Church Is a Family!• Relationships in the “Church Family”– The Older Brother:

Christ Jesus is our older Brother• Hebrews 3:6• Hebrews 2:17-18• Hebrews 2:11-12• Romans 8:16-17

The Church Is a Family!• Relationships in the “Church Family”– The Children:

All Christians (and only Christians) are God’s children• Only two possible families of which to be a part

(John 8:42-44; 1 John 3:10)• It is a great manifestation of His love to call Christians His children

(1 John 3:1-2)• God wants all to be in Christ and to be one of His children

(Eph. 1:4-5)• But only certain ones have been given a right to become children

(John 1:12-13)• Even among those who have been given the right, only certain ones will

exercise that right and become a child of God (Gal. 3:26-27; Rom. 8:15-17).

• Being a child of God is an “exclusive” relationship (God draws a line)

The Church Is a Family!• Relationships in the “Church Family”– The Siblings:

All Christians are brothers and sisters in Christ• “Brethren” 193 in NT;

“Brother, -s, -ly, -hood” 165 times in NT (1 out of every 340 words in NT; 0.3% of words in NT)

• There is a special relationship between brothers & sisters in Christ– We are to treat each other as family members (cf. 1 Tim. 5:1-2)

• There are special blessings for brothers & sisters in Christ• There are special responsibilities of brothers & sisters in Christ• Every member of God’s family is important!

The Church Is a Family!• Relationships in the “Church Family”– The Leaders:

The Chief Shepherd and His Shepherds• God is THE Father of the church (1 Thess. 1:1; 2 Thess. 1:1)

– We must reverence and respect Him (Heb. 12:28; Matt. 10:28)• Christ is THE head & Chief Shepherd of the church (Eph. 5:23; 1 Pet. 5:4)

– We must submit to Him and put Him first in all things (Col. 1:18)• The elders are THE shepherds of the local church (Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 5:2-

4)– We must appreciate & esteem them highly them (1 Thess. 5:12-13)– We must submit and obey them (Heb. 13:17)– We must honor them (1 Tim. 5:17-18)– We must be slow and cautious with criticism (1 Tim. 5:19-20)– We must emulate their faith (Heb. 13:7)– We must pray for them (1 Tim. 2:1-2)– We must let them lead us with joy (Heb. 13:17)

The Church Is a Family!• Manner By Which One Enters

the “Church Family,” Becoming a “Child of God” in His Family– What is required of God (as a whole!)

to get “into” His family?• Receiving Jesus by believing in His name (John 1:12)• Having faith in Christ Jesus (Gal. 3:26)• Being baptized into Christ (Gal. 3:27)• Being born again (John 3:3-5)• Being born again through obedience to God’s Word (1 Pet. 1:22-23)• Obeying the gospel of God (1 Pet. 4:17)

– What is required of God to “stay in” His family?• Continually holding fast to the faith (Heb. 3:6)• Faithfully following the Word of God (Rom. 8:14-18)

The Church Is a Family!• Brief Summary of Our Relationship

in the “Church Family”– We are all family…by faith (Gal. 3:26-27; cf. John 1:12)– We are all family…by birth (Gal. 3:26-27; cf. John 3:3-5)– We are all family…without distinction (Gal. 3:28)

• We all have equal standing before the Father when we are in Christ• We must not think of ourselves any better or any less than anyone else• The value and worth of each Christian in the eyes of God is equal