Embracing Our Identity: The Call to Family in Christ
Summary
### Summary
In today's sermon, we explored the profound truth that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and how this truth calls us into a deeper understanding and experience of family. The vision shared from 2018 at The Send event, where seas of sons and daughters declared in unison that there is only one way, one truth, and one life—Jesus—set the tone for our reflection on the call to family. We delved into the idea that Jesus is not only our Savior, Messiah, and King but also the ultimate family man who came to restore the call to family. This call is central to our identity and purpose in Christ.
We examined how Jesus' life exemplifies the call to family in various roles: as sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, friends, spouses, and parents. Each role reflects a different aspect of God's love and purpose for us. Jesus' relationship with the Father, Spirit, and Son serves as the model for our relationships within the family of God. We are called to be fruitful and multiply, not just biologically but spiritually, by nurturing and growing in our relationships with one another.
The sermon emphasized that family is everything to the kingdom of God. It is through family that we experience and express God's love, and it is within the family that we are called to serve and lead. Jesus showed us the way to be family by laying down His life in love, and we are called to do the same. Whether as sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, friends, spouses, or parents, our primary call is to love and serve one another in the context of family.
We concluded by reflecting on the importance of investing our lives in family, both biologically and spiritually. The call to family is a call to leadership, to influence and impact others through the love of Christ. As we embrace this call, we are reminded that family never fails because it is rooted in the eternal love of God.
### Key Takeaways
1. Jesus as the Family Man: Jesus is not only our Savior and King but also the ultimate family man who came to restore the call to family. This call is central to our identity and purpose in Christ. We are called to be fruitful and multiply, not just biologically but spiritually, by nurturing and growing in our relationships with one another. [42:41]
2. The Call to Sonship and Daughtership: Our primary identity in Christ is as sons and daughters of God. Everything Jesus did was rooted in His identity as the Son of God. Similarly, our starting and finishing place in our spiritual journey is embracing our identity as children of God. This foundational relationship shapes all other relationships in the family of God. [48:54]
3. Brotherhood and Sisterhood in Christ: Jesus walked on earth as a brother, and we are called to brotherhood and sisterhood within the family of God. This means prioritizing our relationships with one another, choosing the bond of peace, and speaking the truth in love. Our interactions within the family of God are crucial to our spiritual growth and witness to the world. [01:06:22]
4. Friendship with God and Others: Jesus calls us friends, not just servants. This friendship is an invitation to a deeper relationship with God and with one another. It is a call to reach out to a lonely world and invite them into the family of God, where they can experience true friendship and love. [01:10:03]
5. The Call to Leadership in Family: Every believer is called to some level of leadership within the family of God. This leadership is characterized by servanthood, as exemplified by Jesus. We are called to lay down our lives in love, to disciple others, and to lead by example in our families and communities. This call to leadership is a call to influence and impact others for the kingdom of God. [01:18:59]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[33:48] - Vision of Sons and Daughters
[34:20] - Introduction and Gratitude
[39:19] - The Call to Family
[40:35] - Prayer and Thanksgiving
[42:41] - Jesus: The Family Man
[44:11] - The Eternal Family
[45:47] - Family is Everything
[47:28] - The Universal Call to Family
[48:54] - Sonship and Daughtership
[51:21] - The Command to Love
[52:40] - Jesus as Brother and Friend
[55:19] - The Joy of Family
[57:19] - The Importance of Family Interactions
[01:00:50] - Relating to One Another in Love
[01:06:22] - Brotherhood and Sisterhood
[01:10:03] - Friendship with God
[01:11:56] - The Call to Marriage
[01:15:15] - Revealing the Father
[01:17:07] - Spiritual Fatherhood and Motherhood
[01:18:59] - Leadership in Family
[01:20:48] - The Call to Love
[01:23:00] - Embracing the Call to Family
[01:25:33] - Closing Blessing
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. John 14:6 - "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'"
2. John 15:12-13 - "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends."
3. 1 John 3:1 - "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him."
#### Observation Questions
1. According to John 14:6, what does Jesus declare about Himself? How does this declaration set the foundation for understanding our identity in Christ?
2. In John 15:12-13, what command does Jesus give to His followers? How does He exemplify this command in His own life?
3. 1 John 3:1 speaks about the love the Father has lavished on us. What identity does this love bestow upon us?
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does Jesus being "the way, the truth, and the life" influence our understanding of family in the context of the sermon? ([42:41])
2. What does it mean to love one another as Jesus has loved us, especially in the context of family relationships? ([51:21])
3. How does recognizing ourselves as children of God shape our interactions and responsibilities within the family of God? ([48:54])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your role within your biological and spiritual family. How can you better embody the love and servanthood of Jesus in these relationships? ([42:41])
2. Jesus calls us to lay down our lives for our friends. Can you think of a specific way you can sacrificially love someone in your family or community this week? ([51:21])
3. How can you prioritize and nurture your relationships with your brothers and sisters in Christ? What practical steps can you take to strengthen these bonds? ([01:06:22])
4. Jesus invites us into a friendship with Him and with others. How can you reach out to someone who might be feeling lonely and invite them into the family of God? ([01:10:03])
5. Consider the call to leadership within the family of God. What specific actions can you take to lead by example in your family or community, following Jesus' model of servanthood? ([01:18:59])
6. Reflect on the importance of investing in family, both biologically and spiritually. What changes can you make in your daily life to ensure you are nurturing these relationships? ([45:47])
7. How can you embrace your identity as a son or daughter of God more fully? What impact might this have on your other relationships within the family of God? ([48:54])
Devotional
Day 1: Jesus as the Ultimate Family Man
Jesus is not only our Savior and King but also the ultimate family man who came to restore the call to family. This call is central to our identity and purpose in Christ. We are called to be fruitful and multiply, not just biologically but spiritually, by nurturing and growing in our relationships with one another. Jesus' life exemplifies the call to family in various roles: as sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, friends, spouses, and parents. Each role reflects a different aspect of God's love and purpose for us. Jesus' relationship with the Father, Spirit, and Son serves as the model for our relationships within the family of God. We are called to be fruitful and multiply, not just biologically but spiritually, by nurturing and growing in our relationships with one another. [42:41]
Genesis 1:28 (ESV): "And God blessed them. And God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.'"
Reflection: How can you nurture and grow your spiritual relationships within your family and community today?
Day 2: Embracing Our Identity as Sons and Daughters
Our primary identity in Christ is as sons and daughters of God. Everything Jesus did was rooted in His identity as the Son of God. Similarly, our starting and finishing place in our spiritual journey is embracing our identity as children of God. This foundational relationship shapes all other relationships in the family of God. When we understand and embrace our identity as God's children, we can better understand our purpose and calling in life. This identity gives us the confidence to live out our faith boldly and to love others as Christ loves us. [48:54]
1 John 3:1 (ESV): "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."
Reflection: In what ways can you embrace and live out your identity as a son or daughter of God today?
Day 3: Brotherhood and Sisterhood in Christ
Jesus walked on earth as a brother, and we are called to brotherhood and sisterhood within the family of God. This means prioritizing our relationships with one another, choosing the bond of peace, and speaking the truth in love. Our interactions within the family of God are crucial to our spiritual growth and witness to the world. By fostering strong, loving relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ, we create a supportive and nurturing environment where everyone can grow in their faith. [01:06:22]
Ephesians 4:2-3 (ESV): "With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
Reflection: How can you prioritize and strengthen your relationships with your brothers and sisters in Christ today?
Day 4: Friendship with God and Others
Jesus calls us friends, not just servants. This friendship is an invitation to a deeper relationship with God and with one another. It is a call to reach out to a lonely world and invite them into the family of God, where they can experience true friendship and love. By cultivating genuine friendships, we reflect the love of Christ and create opportunities for others to encounter God's love through us. [01:10:03]
John 15:15 (ESV): "No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you."
Reflection: Who in your life needs to experience the friendship and love of Christ through you today? How can you reach out to them?
Day 5: The Call to Leadership in Family
Every believer is called to some level of leadership within the family of God. This leadership is characterized by servanthood, as exemplified by Jesus. We are called to lay down our lives in love, to disciple others, and to lead by example in our families and communities. This call to leadership is a call to influence and impact others for the kingdom of God. By embracing this call, we can make a lasting difference in the lives of those around us and help them grow in their faith. [01:18:59]
1 Peter 5:2-3 (ESV): "Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock."
Reflection: In what ways can you lead and serve your family and community today, following the example of Jesus?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "We wouldn't know you if we did not have the life of your beloved son, Jesus. We thank you, Jesus. We know the Father through you. We know. We know family through you. We know love through you. Our new man and woman is found in you. And we thank you that you redeemed, you restored, and you made anew the original call of God for humanity. It was the call to you, Jesus. The call to love and the call to family." [40:35] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Family matters. No, I'll say it like this. Family is everything. Everything to the kingdom. And the call of God. See, Jesus showed us the way back into family. It's in him. See, Jesus showed us the way to operate in family. It's through him. And Jesus showed us the way. Right? To bring to him the gift that we want to give him. The gift that he so desires. His lot and his portion forever. The gift of every memory. Every moment that we make with him in love. It's a love that will last forever. It's family." [47:28] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Family is the kingdom. Family is God. Family is everything to the movement of the Holy Spirit here on the earth today. It is the call of calls. It is the call like Jesus to be the servant of all for his family. And so this is what I want to look at today. If it's from him, through him, back to him are all things. Then really we're talking about it's from family. God created you. It's through family that God has propelled you and called you to. And it's back to family." [46:50] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Jesus says it like this in John chapter 15. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. No, instead, I call you friends. For everything I learned from my father, I have made known to you. Everyone say, I am a friend of God. You are called not only to sonship, you are called not only to brotherhood, you are called to friendship with God and with one another." [01:10:03] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "In conclusion, you are the family men and women of God. Positioned at this time in this place in Christ to represent Jesus, to represent his love, and to represent the call of God on your life to his family. Amen? Amen. And we'll read it like this. We know this verse. Love is patient. Love is kind. It does not envy. It does not boast. It is not proud. It does not dishonor others. It is not self-seeking. It is not easily angered. It keeps no records of wrong." [01:20:48] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Jesus is the family man. See, we know Jesus the Savior. We know Jesus the Messiah. We know Jesus the suffering servant. We know Jesus the great high priest. We know Jesus the King of kings and the Lord of lords. But you know what? Jesus is the family man. And he came to restore that call for us, the very call to his family. And that is why church, that is why the home, that is why marriage, that is why your household, your oikos, is everywhere." [42:41] (52 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The call of God on your life is to be a family man and woman in Jesus Christ the Lord. First in your own household and in the greater, larger household. The church. The family of God. Amen? You guys doing all right this morning? I'm just warming up. So, let's pull up our starting verse today. Thank you, Lord. We're going to be hopping around in a bunch of different scriptures. Some will be highlighted. Some will be not." [50:28] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Jesus made a way for us to walk in a redeemed. A A redeemed. A redeemed. A redeemed. For family. Are you excited to be a family man and woman today? Yeah? Are you taking that in? Do you see yourself today as one that's been positioned by God to serve this family here at Spring City? To serve your family when you get in your cars and you go home and you take that glorious Sunday nap? Do you see the power in it? I hope you do." [53:28] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Jesus calls us to a life that he embodies. He's called us to be wedded. Can we pull that up. See, in life, the greatest callings is not just being a son. It's not just being a brother. It's not just being a friend, but God builds on this foundation in the context that we're called the family. We are called to be wedded. Some of us may even have the gift of being wedded biologically, but every one of us is wedded to Jesus Christ, the bridegroom, and there's an intimacy there for the family that we're meant to share together." [01:11:56] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Jesus also walked this earth as one who revealed the Father. Bob, can we pull that up? See, there's a call of God in your life. To be fathered and to father and mother. Each and every one of you will have some level of influence, impact, and a voice, whether spoken or unspoken, in the life of someone younger than you in the next generation. Pastor Joel is a spiritual father of mine, a voice, a consistent voice in my life that I so value and appreciate." [01:15:15] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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