Belonging to God's Family: The Church's Eternal Purpose

 

Summary

God has called us not only to be loved but to belong. This belonging is to His family, the church, which is eternal and will continue forever. God created the universe with the purpose of forming a family, and He desires that none of His children be orphans. The church is not merely a place we attend or an event we participate in; it is a relationship, a community of believers who are the people of God. It is essential to understand that the church is not defined by a building or a location but by the relationships and connections we have with one another as God's family.

The church is the hope of the world. Unlike politics, economics, or education, which have not been able to bring about lasting change, the church carries the transformative power of God's good news. This good news changes lives, transforms hearts, and saves families and marriages. The church is the only institution that will endure beyond this world, and it is wise to invest our lives in something that will outlast everything else. By being part of the church, we participate in God's eternal plan and contribute to the spread of His message of hope and salvation.

Key Takeaways:

1. Belonging to God's Family: We are called to belong to God's family, the church, which is eternal. This belonging is not about attending a place but being part of a community that reflects God's love and purpose. The church is a relationship, not a location, and it is through these relationships that we experience the fullness of God's family. [00:14]

2. The Church as a Relationship: The church is not an event or a building; it is the people of God united in relationship. This understanding shifts our focus from merely attending services to actively participating in a community that embodies God's love and grace. Our identity as the church is rooted in our connections with one another. [00:37]

3. The Hope of the World: The church is the hope of the world because it carries the transformative power of God's good news. Unlike other institutions, the church has the ability to change lives, transform hearts, and save families. By spreading God's message, we bring hope and salvation to a world in need. [00:52]

4. Investing in Eternity: Investing our lives in the church is wise because it is the only institution that will last beyond this world. By being part of God's family, we contribute to His eternal plan and participate in something that will outlast everything else. Our involvement in the church has eternal significance. [01:17]

5. The Transformative Power of the Church: The church has the power to bring about lasting change in individuals and communities. Through the spread of God's good news, lives are transformed, and families and marriages are saved. The church's mission is to be a beacon of hope and transformation in the world. [01:30]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:14] - Called to Belong
[00:37] - Church as a Relationship
[00:52] - Hope of the World
[01:17] - Investing in Eternity
[01:30] - Transformative Power of the Church

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Ephesians 2:19-22 - "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit."
2. 1 Peter 2:9-10 - "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy."

Observation Questions:
1. According to the sermon, what is the primary purpose of the church? How does this differ from common perceptions of what a church is? [00:37]
2. What does the sermon suggest is the unique role of the church in the world compared to other institutions like politics or education? [00:52]
3. How does the sermon describe the church's relationship to eternity? What implications does this have for how we view our involvement in the church? [01:17]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of the church as a family challenge or affirm your understanding of what it means to belong to a church community? [00:14]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the church can bring about transformation in individuals and communities? How does this align with the Bible passages? [01:30]
3. What does it mean to invest in something that will outlast everything else, according to the sermon? How does this perspective influence one's priorities and actions? [01:17]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current involvement in your church community. How can you deepen your sense of belonging and contribute more actively to the church as a family? [00:14]
2. Consider the transformative power of the church as described in the sermon. How can you be a part of spreading God's good news in your own community? [00:52]
3. The sermon emphasizes the eternal significance of the church. How does this perspective challenge you to rethink your current investments of time and resources? [01:17]
4. Identify one relationship within your church community that you can strengthen this week. What specific steps will you take to build that connection?
5. How can you personally embody the hope and transformation that the church is meant to bring to the world? What practical actions can you take this week to live out this mission? [01:30]
6. Reflect on a time when you felt like an orphan in your spiritual journey. How did the church help you find a sense of belonging, and how can you offer that same support to others now? [00:14]
7. What is one way you can contribute to the church's mission of being a beacon of hope in your local community? Consider a specific action or initiative you can support or start. [01:30]

Devotional

Day 1: Belonging Beyond Attendance
God has called us not only to be loved but to belong to His family, the church, which is eternal and will continue forever. This belonging is not about attending a place but being part of a community that reflects God's love and purpose. The church is a relationship, not a location, and it is through these relationships that we experience the fullness of God's family. The church is not merely a place we attend or an event we participate in; it is a relationship, a community of believers who are the people of God. It is essential to understand that the church is not defined by a building or a location but by the relationships and connections we have with one another as God's family. [00:14]

Ephesians 2:19-22 (ESV): "So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit."

Reflection: Who in your church community can you reach out to this week to deepen your relationship and strengthen the sense of belonging within God's family?


Day 2: Church as a Living Relationship
The church is not an event or a building; it is the people of God united in relationship. This understanding shifts our focus from merely attending services to actively participating in a community that embodies God's love and grace. Our identity as the church is rooted in our connections with one another. By being part of the church, we participate in God's eternal plan and contribute to the spread of His message of hope and salvation. This relational aspect of the church is what makes it a living, breathing entity that reflects the heart of God. [00:37]

1 Peter 2:4-5 (ESV): "As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."

Reflection: How can you actively participate in your church community this week to embody God's love and grace in your relationships with others?


Day 3: The Church as the Hope of the World
The church is the hope of the world because it carries the transformative power of God's good news. Unlike other institutions, the church has the ability to change lives, transform hearts, and save families. By spreading God's message, we bring hope and salvation to a world in need. The church's mission is to be a beacon of hope and transformation in the world, offering a message that transcends the limitations of politics, economics, and education. This transformative power is rooted in the good news of Jesus Christ, which has the ability to bring about lasting change. [00:52]

Colossians 1:27-28 (ESV): "To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ."

Reflection: In what specific ways can you share the hope of the gospel with someone in your life who is in need of transformation?


Day 4: Investing in Eternal Significance
Investing our lives in the church is wise because it is the only institution that will last beyond this world. By being part of God's family, we contribute to His eternal plan and participate in something that will outlast everything else. Our involvement in the church has eternal significance, as it aligns us with God's purpose and plan for humanity. This investment is not just about time or resources but about committing our lives to something that has lasting value and impact. [01:17]

Matthew 6:19-21 (ESV): "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Reflection: What is one way you can invest your time or resources in your church community this week to contribute to God's eternal plan?


Day 5: The Transformative Power of the Church
The church has the power to bring about lasting change in individuals and communities. Through the spread of God's good news, lives are transformed, and families and marriages are saved. The church's mission is to be a beacon of hope and transformation in the world. This transformative power is not just theoretical but is evidenced in the real and tangible changes that occur in the lives of those who encounter the gospel. The church is called to be an active participant in God's work of redemption and restoration in the world. [01:30]

2 Corinthians 5:17-18 (ESV): "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation."

Reflection: How can you be a part of the church's mission to bring transformation to your community this week, and what specific action can you take to contribute to this mission?

Quotes

"You've been called to not just be loved, you've been called to belong to belong to God's church which is going to go on and on forever in eternity. The second purpose of my life is that God formed me for his family. God created the entire universe because he wanted a family and God doesn't want his children to be orphans." [00:01:37]

"He puts them in the family and that family is called the church. Church is not something you go to; church is something you belong to. It is not an event and it's not a location. Church is a relationship. We worship here, we have a place here, but this is not the church; it is the people of God, it's our relationship." [00:34:61]

"The church is the hope of the world. Politics is not the hope of the world, economics is not the hope of the world, education is not the hope of the world. If any of those things would work, we would have already turned the thing around. The hope of the world is the spread of God's good news." [00:65:92]

"So the lives are changed and hearts change and families and marriages are saved. And the only thing that's going to last is the Church of God. So I highly recommend you invest the rest of your life in that which is going to outlast it. Nothing else will." [00:82:81]

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Transcript
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