The Family of God: May 4, 2025

You Belong Here: Finding Your People in God's Family

Hey everyone! This week's sermon really got me thinking – and feeling! It was all about the church, but not in a stuffy, formal way. Instead, the speaker shared something super personal about growing up in church and this idea that stuck with them from way back: the church is God's family.

Think about it. When you're a kid, you just soak up what you hear, right? So when someone says "church = family," you believe it with your whole heart. And for the speaker, Hall Waves, that meant church was the highlight of the week! It was all about who could come over, who they could hang out with – just wanting to be with their family. Sounds pretty sweet, huh?

But as we grow up, things can get a little… complicated. We see that maybe church doesn't always feel like this perfect, cozy family all the time. Maybe there are moments of disappointment or when things just don't line up with that initial picture. And sometimes, that can make us want to put up walls and keep our distance.

But here's the awesome part: the speaker, now diving deep into the Bible, realized that their childhood belief was actually spot-on with what God intends! Seriously, almost every book in the New Testament talks about Christians using family words – brothers, sisters, even calling someone a "true child." It's like God is constantly reminding us that we're connected in this really special way.

To really drive this home, the sermon looked at a couple of cool Bible stories:

First up was Mark 10:29-30. Jesus is talking to his followers, and they're a little worried about giving up everything to follow him. But Jesus says something amazing! He promises that anyone who leaves behind family or homes for him and the good news will get it all back a hundred times over in this life – plus some challenges, and then eternal life later. Whoa! It's not about getting a hundred literal houses, but about finding this huge, incredible family in the church. Jesus' heart is that we truly belong to each other.

Then, we looked at 1 Timothy 5:1-2. This is like a little instruction manual on how to treat each other in church. Older folks? Treat them like your own parents. Younger guys? Like your brothers. Older women? Like your moms. Younger women? Like your sisters – with total respect, of course! It's not just that we are family; we're supposed to act like it too!

Now, here comes the honest part – the "warning" the speaker shared. We all have our own experiences with family, and let's be real, it's not always sunshine and rainbows. We've seen breakups, felt neglected, or maybe even felt like we weren't wanted. So when we hear "church is family," those past hurts can pop into our heads. We might think, "Oh great, another hundred people who might leave or hurt me."

But the speaker reminded us that Jesus' idea of family is totally different! It's based on his family – a family of unwavering love, commitment, and care. God isn't a distant or neglectful parent. He sees us, he cares for us, and he chose us to be part of his family even when we didn't deserve it.

This kind of family might even look a little different from what the world expects. Maybe it means opening our homes to others or building close friendships with our brothers and sisters in Christ. It's about wanting to be together, just like a family does!

The big takeaway, the conviction the speaker really wanted us to grab onto, is this: the people in church with you? They're your real, immediate family in God.

It might sound tough, and yeah, it can be. Because just like in any family, there can be hurt when people leave or when expectations aren't met. Being a pastor and seeing that firsthand can be really hard. But here's the incredible encouragement: the new family we find in Christ can love us in ways we've never experienced before. They're filled with God's love and grace, and they'll stick with us even when we mess up. They're on the same mission, and that unity brings a joy and fullness that can heal those empty spaces from the past. You'll have a family that chooses you, no matter the cost.

So yes, it's a powerful and maybe even a little scary idea – this church-as-family thing. But it's also the most amazing and life-giving thing. Forget the baggage we might have with the word "family." This is about a real family with a real Father who will never leave us, and real brothers and sisters to share life, laughter, and love with.

Every time we see those family words in the Bible – brothers, sisters, dear children – let it be a reminder. Let this be our conviction.

And hey, just a quick thought – just like healthy families raise kids to eventually start their own families, it's natural for church families to grow and send people out to plant new churches and bring more people into God's family. Moving to a new place or starting a new church doesn't mean we're not family anymore; it means the family is growing!

So, to all of you who have said "yes" to following Jesus, you are my family. You belong to each other. It might be challenging, but I truly believe it's the most incredible and life-changing truth we can embrace.

Let's pray and ask God to help us build this kind of family – a family that's close, that grows, and that loves each other the way He loves us. We're all in this together, and we're so much better when we act like the family God created us to be. Amen!