The Church:  God’s Family

Introduction

I. 	The Creator of the universe placed man on the earth and showed an interest in mankind from the very beginning. 
II. 	Adam is spoken of as the “son of God.” Luke 3:37.
III. 	God dealt with mankind through the heads of families for hundreds of years, after which He gave the law through Moses and dealt with the descendants of Abraham through Jacob as a nation.
IV. 	He then sent His Son, the Word, to build His church or spiritual family.  John 1:1-3, 14; Matt. 16:13-19.
V. 	In our lesson today, we will be aware of the family of God which Jesus established.

Body

I. 	Jesus came to the earth to give His life for sinners and to establish the church.
A. 	God, the Father, had the church in His plan from the beginning.  Eph. 3:8-12.
1. 	God loved us enough to give His Son.  John 3:16.
2. 	Jesus, the Son, loved us enough to leave heaven and give His life for us.  Phil. 2:5-8; John 10:14-18; Heb. 2:5-9; 5:7-10.
3. 	Through Jesus’ death He purchased the church and became the Savior of the body.  Acts 20:28; Eph. 5:23-25.
B. 	God gave Jesus all authority and made Him head over all things to His church.  Matt. 28:18-20; Eph. 1:20-23.
C. 	The church is God’s house or family.  I Tim. 3:14-15.
1. 	God is the Father.
2. 	Christians are the brethren of Christ.  Heb. 2:10-15.
3. 	As the children of God, we may look upon Christ as our elder brother.  Rom. 8:12-17; I John 3:1-3.

II. 	As the family of God, we must show love to our brothers and sisters in Christ.
A. 	We must help those who are in physical need.  Acts 2:43-47; 4:32-37, etc. 
B. 	We must help those with spiritual needs.  Gal. 6:1-5; Jas. 5:16-20.
C. 	We must consider and encourage one another.  Heb. 10:19-25.

Conclusion

I. 	Are you truly aware of what God did in establishing the church?
II. 	Some say, “Oh, the church is not important.”
III. 	This might be true of a church man has established, but it is not true of the church God established through Christ!
IV. 	You can be a member of this church by obedience to Christ.  Heb. 5:9; Acts 2:47.
V. 	Believing in Christ (John 8:24), repent of your sins and be baptized into Christ Jesus for the remission of your sins.  Acts 2:38; Gal. 3:26-27.

Prepared by:
   David Arnold
   January  11, 1998