First Notes: The Family of God
Dear First Baptist Family,
My friend David was once driving and talking to his 6-year-old son in the backseat about church. David was saying something about a church event that day and asked if his son was excited to “go to church.”
He was surprised when after a few moments of silence, his son said, “I am the church.”
David had taught him well. A church is not a place you go, and it’s not an event you attend. The church is a spiritual family you belong to—and it’s the most important thing on earth. Why is it so important? It’s because being part of the family of God is what we were created for. It’s a joy to be able to say, “I’m a member of God’s family. I’m a child of God, and I have a place around His table.”
The Bible says, “God . . . has given us the privilege of being born again so that we are now members of God's own family” (1 Peter 1:3,TLB).
Every person is born physically, and that makes each person part of the human race. Every person is created in the image of God. That’s not a choice someone makes.
It is a choice, however, to be a part of your spiritual family. When you accept Jesus as your Savior, you are born spiritually, and you become a member of God’s own family.
We all know that our biological families bring lots of benefits (as well as lots of heartache). What are the benefits of being part of God’s family?
One of the greatest benefits of being born into God’s family is found in 1 Timothy 3:15: “[God's] family is the church of the living God, the support and foundation of the truth” (NCV).
Being part of God’s family gives you a foundation for life. It can keep you grounded when everything else is falling apart. Plus, while not much lasts in this life, God’s family will last forever.
Jesus says in Matthew 16:18, “I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it” (NLT).
Another benefit of being part of God’s family is that you are given the opportunity to join in God’s mission through the Holy Spirit. You could call it the “family business.” Together we serve, share the good news, and seek to love one another and our neighbors.
Yesterday I shared this truth about Jesus’ ekklesia (the word he used for church): Jesus’ church is a community of everyday called-out believers, bound together by our confession of who Jesus is, a commission to make disciples, and a common experience of being empowered by the Holy Spirit.
We have a confession, a commission, and a common experience in the Holy Spirit. That compels us to identify and use our spiritual gifts for God’s kingdom.
There are so many other benefits to being in God's family… support in hard times, the contagious joy that comes through knowing Jesus, and so on. You could say that you share in the “family fortune” of the riches of His grace, kindness, patience, glory, wisdom, power, and mercy.
I grew up singing the song, “I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God…” and I still feel that today. I’m glad to be part of the FBC family. I hope you feel the same.
This week I am continuing my series on the ekklesia — the family of God — with a focus on the Emmaus Road encounter with Jesus in Luke 24. We're going to see together how God's desire for us is that we would have hearts on fire to know him more each day.
Remember, we're collecting pictures this month of our church family to highlight the theme We Are Family. You can send your favorite pictures to kmueller@fbcknox.org.
Give thanks today for the family of God. Reach out and encourage someone in the family of God. Pray for the family of God known as First Baptist in Knoxville.
With love,
Pastor Brent McDougal
My friend David was once driving and talking to his 6-year-old son in the backseat about church. David was saying something about a church event that day and asked if his son was excited to “go to church.”
He was surprised when after a few moments of silence, his son said, “I am the church.”
David had taught him well. A church is not a place you go, and it’s not an event you attend. The church is a spiritual family you belong to—and it’s the most important thing on earth. Why is it so important? It’s because being part of the family of God is what we were created for. It’s a joy to be able to say, “I’m a member of God’s family. I’m a child of God, and I have a place around His table.”
The Bible says, “God . . . has given us the privilege of being born again so that we are now members of God's own family” (1 Peter 1:3,TLB).
Every person is born physically, and that makes each person part of the human race. Every person is created in the image of God. That’s not a choice someone makes.
It is a choice, however, to be a part of your spiritual family. When you accept Jesus as your Savior, you are born spiritually, and you become a member of God’s own family.
We all know that our biological families bring lots of benefits (as well as lots of heartache). What are the benefits of being part of God’s family?
One of the greatest benefits of being born into God’s family is found in 1 Timothy 3:15: “[God's] family is the church of the living God, the support and foundation of the truth” (NCV).
Being part of God’s family gives you a foundation for life. It can keep you grounded when everything else is falling apart. Plus, while not much lasts in this life, God’s family will last forever.
Jesus says in Matthew 16:18, “I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it” (NLT).
Another benefit of being part of God’s family is that you are given the opportunity to join in God’s mission through the Holy Spirit. You could call it the “family business.” Together we serve, share the good news, and seek to love one another and our neighbors.
Yesterday I shared this truth about Jesus’ ekklesia (the word he used for church): Jesus’ church is a community of everyday called-out believers, bound together by our confession of who Jesus is, a commission to make disciples, and a common experience of being empowered by the Holy Spirit.
We have a confession, a commission, and a common experience in the Holy Spirit. That compels us to identify and use our spiritual gifts for God’s kingdom.
There are so many other benefits to being in God's family… support in hard times, the contagious joy that comes through knowing Jesus, and so on. You could say that you share in the “family fortune” of the riches of His grace, kindness, patience, glory, wisdom, power, and mercy.
I grew up singing the song, “I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God…” and I still feel that today. I’m glad to be part of the FBC family. I hope you feel the same.
This week I am continuing my series on the ekklesia — the family of God — with a focus on the Emmaus Road encounter with Jesus in Luke 24. We're going to see together how God's desire for us is that we would have hearts on fire to know him more each day.
Remember, we're collecting pictures this month of our church family to highlight the theme We Are Family. You can send your favorite pictures to kmueller@fbcknox.org.
Give thanks today for the family of God. Reach out and encourage someone in the family of God. Pray for the family of God known as First Baptist in Knoxville.
With love,
Pastor Brent McDougal
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