Embracing Our Identity as God's Family

Today, we gathered as a family—celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, and the simple joy of being together in God’s house. But beyond the festivities, we were invited to reflect on a deeper truth: that we are not just individuals before God, but members of a family, bound together by the love of our Father. Jesus, in teaching us to pray “Our Father,” wasn’t just giving us words to recite; He was inviting us into a new way of seeing ourselves and each other. In a world that often divides, Jesus calls us to unity, to see every person as a brother or sister, and to live out the radical love and forgiveness that marks God’s family.

This idea was revolutionary in Jesus’ day, when religious leaders saw God as the Father only of the select few—the insiders, the “clean,” the ones who looked and acted the part. But Jesus shattered those boundaries, reaching out to the outcast, the broken, and the sinner, and welcoming them as family. He calls us to do the same, to resist the temptation to perform for the applause of others, and instead to live for the approval of our Father, who sees what is done in secret and loves us deeply.

Being part of God’s family means embracing forgiveness as our family language and love as our family resemblance. Jesus warns us that we cannot call God our Father and refuse to forgive His children. Forgiveness isn’t just a command; it’s the only way family works. When storms come—whether literal or figurative—they remind us of what’s always been true: we belong to one another. We are not alone. We are not forgotten. We are beloved children, called to love, forgive, and welcome each other home.

As we prayed the words Jesus taught us, we were reminded that the evil one is always crouching at the door, seeking to divide and destroy. But the best defense is to stay close to our family, to let the words “Our Father” break down the walls we’ve built, and to come home—not just to God, but to each other.

Key Takeaways

• 1. The Radical Invitation of “Our Father” Jesus’ choice of words in teaching us to pray “Our Father” is a radical invitation into a shared identity. It’s not just about personal relationship with God, but about belonging to a family where everyone is included—no matter their background or status. This challenges us to see every person as a sibling, not a stranger, and to let that truth shape our prayers and our lives. [41:37]
• 2. Performance vs. Authenticity in Faith The religious leaders of Jesus’ day were obsessed with outward appearances, seeking applause and recognition for their acts of piety. Jesus exposes the emptiness of such performance, calling us instead to authenticity—a faith that seeks the Father’s approval, not the crowd’s. True spirituality is cultivated in the secret place, where God sees and rewards what is done from the heart. [42:56]
• 3. Forgiveness as the Language of God’s Family Forgiveness is not optional in the family of God; it is essential. Jesus links our willingness to forgive others with our own experience of God’s forgiveness, not to threaten us, but to free us. Refusing to forgive is like trying to live in a family while holding grudges—it simply doesn’t work. Forgiveness is the only way to keep the family whole and healthy. [47:23]
• 4. Love as the Family Resemblance The defining mark of God’s children is love for one another. John marvels at the love the Father has lavished on us, making us His children, and insists that loving our brothers and sisters is the evidence of that new identity. Love is not just a feeling, but a commitment to see, serve, and stand with each other, especially in times of need. [48:42]
• 5. Storms Reveal Our Need for Each Other Whether it’s a hurricane or a personal crisis, storms have a way of stripping away our illusions of independence and reminding us that we belong to one another. In the aftermath, strangers become family as we share burdens and rebuild together. The call of Jesus is to let every storm draw us closer, not just to God, but to the family He’s given us.
  
  ** [49:45]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [01:10] - Birthday Celebrations
• [03:00] - Opening Prayer and Worship
• [07:45] - God’s Presence in All Seasons
• [20:06] - Walking Through the Valley
• [31:01] - Anniversary Reflections
• [33:30] - Announcements and Fellowship
• [39:48] - “You Matter to God”
• [41:37] - The Revolutionary “Our Father”
• [42:56] - Jesus Confronts Religious Performance
• [45:16] - The Family Identity in Christ
• [47:23] - Forgiveness: The Family Language
• [48:42] - Love: The Family Resemblance
• [49:45] - Storms and the Power of Community
• [51:29] - The Story of Division and Jesus’ New Family
• [52:55] - Questions for Reflection
• [54:50] - Praying for Forgiveness and Unity
• [55:46] - The Lord’s Prayer and Final Blessing
• [57:52] - Closing and Celebration

Bible Reading

Matthew 6:1-15 (ESV) — > 1 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
> 2 “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
> 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
> 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
> 5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
> 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
> 7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.
> 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
> 9 Pray then like this:
> “Our Father in heaven,
> hallowed be your name.
> 10 Your kingdom come,
> your will be done,
> on earth as it is in heaven.
> 11 Give us this day our daily bread,
> 12 and forgive us our debts,
> as we also have forgiven our debtors.
> 13 And lead us not into temptation,
> but deliver us from evil.
> 14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,
> 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

1 John 3:1, 10-11 (ESV) — > 1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
> 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
> 11 For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

Observation Questions

1. In Matthew 6, what is the main difference Jesus points out between how the religious leaders practiced their faith and how he teaches his followers to pray and give? [[42:56]]
2. According to the sermon, why was Jesus’ use of the phrase “Our Father” so radical in his day? [[41:37]]
3. What does 1 John 3:1 say about our identity as God’s children?
4. What connection does Jesus make between forgiveness and our relationship with God in Matthew 6:14-15? [[47:23]]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus chose to teach his disciples to pray “Our Father” instead of “my Father” or just “Father”? What does this say about how we should view other believers? [[41:37]]
2. The sermon says that forgiveness is the “family language” of God’s people. Why is forgiveness so essential for the health of God’s family? [[47:23]]
3. In what ways does seeking the approval of others (performance) differ from seeking the approval of God (authenticity) in our spiritual lives? [[42:56]]
4. How do storms—whether literal disasters or personal crises—reveal our need for each other as part of God’s family? [[49:45]]

Application Questions

1. Jesus’ prayer starts with “Our Father,” not “my Father.” Is there someone in your life or in the church that you have a hard time seeing as a brother or sister? What would it look like to start seeing and treating them as family? [[41:37]]
2. The sermon challenged us to resist the temptation to perform for others and instead live for God’s approval. Are there areas in your faith where you find yourself acting for the applause of others? What is one step you could take this week to practice authenticity before God? [[42:56]]
3. Forgiveness is described as the only way family works. Is there someone you need to forgive, or someone from whom you need to seek forgiveness? What is holding you back, and what would it take to move forward? [[47:23]]
4. Love is the “family resemblance” of God’s children. Can you think of a practical way to show love to someone in your church family this week, especially someone you don’t know well or have struggled with? [[48:42]]
5. The sermon mentioned that storms can bring people together and remind us that we belong to one another. Has there been a “storm” in your life that helped you see the value of Christian community? How did others support you, or how could you have let them in more? [[49:45]]
6. The evil one is described as “crouching at the door,” seeking to divide us. Are there any walls you’ve built between yourself and others in the church? What would it look like to let the words “Our Father” break down those walls? [[56:45]]
7. The sermon ended with an invitation to “come home”—not just to God, but to the family. Is there a way you’ve been living like an “only child” in God’s house? What is one way you can intentionally connect with and invest in your church family this week? [[54:04]]