THE BIBLE GIVES DIFFERENT DESCRIPTIONS OF THE CHURCH
God’s people are like a Temple. Ephesians 2:22 “…being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” This temple is made of people and God’s Spirit dwells among us.
The Church is also like a body. Romans 12:5 “So in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” Each member of the church is important.
Most of all, God speaks of the church as a family. Hebrews 2:11 “Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.” If the Lord Jesus has washed you from your sins you are a part of His family.
WHAT DO HEALTHY FAMILIES DO?
Families celebrate when children are born into it. The church does this by baptizing new believers and receiving them into fellowship. Acts 2:41 “Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to that number that day.”
Families share meals together. The most important meal the church shares is the Lord’s supper where we regularly eat the bread and drink the cup to remember the Lord Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins and proclaim that his life is enough for us. Read 1 Corinthians 11:23-26: “For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”
Families teach their members so they can succeed in life. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us why it is important to teach God’s Word. “All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Families provide discipline when we fall into error. 2 Timothy 3:16, “… teaching, rebuking, correcting and training…” We must accept the loving discipline of the church leadership if we disobey God’s Word.
Families love one another and enjoy life together. John 13:35 . . . “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Jesus is at the center of our lives. We gather to enjoy Him together.
FAMILIES NEED STRONG LEADERSHIP TO SET A GOOD EXAMPLE
” 1Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.”
PERSONAL APPLICATION
Have you been baptized into God’s family?
Is it possible to experience family life (see #2 above) without spending time together? How are you spending time with God’s family?
Answers:
- church, 2. lives , 3. member , 4. brothers and sisters , 5. added to their number, 6. thoroughly equipped , 7. love, 8. imitate
