46% of children with live both married parents
34% live with one unmarried parent
Children of Broken Homes:
70% become juvenile deliquents
57% become prison inmates
63% Teen suicides
75% drug users
(Pew Research Center)
48 But [a]Jesus answered the one who was telling Him and said, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” 49 And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, “Behold My mother and My brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother.”
Matthew 12:48-50
Who is our family?
Jesus loved his biological family. He even took care of his mother when he was hanging on the cross. But then scripture above is when he stated that his family is Believers.
There are expectations we should meet in the Family of God.
1. God given talents are to be put to use.
5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. 6 There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.' 1 Corinthians 12:5-6
2. There should be growth.
"but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen." 2 Peter 3:18
3. There should be maturity.
"When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I [a]became a man, I did away with childish things." 1 Corinthians 13:11
4. There should be forgiveness.
Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus *said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven." Matthew 18:21-22
"For if you forgive [a]others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive [b]others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions." Matthew 6:14-15
Our lack of forgiveness will hurt us. You need to let it go.
5. There should be encouragement.
Build each other up.
"Therefore [a]encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing."
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Encourage through spoken word.
"Let no [a]unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification [b]according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear."
Ephesians 4:29
Togetherness
"and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near." Hebrews 10:24-25
6. There should be discipline when necessary.
Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent." Revelation 3:19
Discipline with a reason.
"For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. 11 All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness." Hebrews 12:10-11
Discipline with love.
"My son, do not reject the [a]discipline of the Lord
Or loathe His reproof,
12 For whom the Lord loves He reproves,
Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights." Proverbs 3:11-12
7. It should be a support group.
Share joy and pain.
26 "And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if onemember is [a]honored, all the members rejoice with it." 1 Corinthians 12:26
Get together.
"not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near."
You should feel the loss of the family of God if you don't have one.
Fellowship.
7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin." 1 John 1:7
8. It should be a place of love.
Love is the fulfillment of the law.
Identified as members by visible love.
"By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35
Devoted.
"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; [a]give preference to one another in honor; 11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, 13 contributing to the needs of the [b]saints, [c]practicing hospitality." Romans 12:10-13