Embracing Our Spiritual Family in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Redefining Family in Christ

In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus redefines the concept of family by emphasizing that those who do the will of God are His true family. This challenges us to look beyond our natural relationships and embrace our spiritual kinship with fellow believers, creating a new family bonded by faith and purpose. This spiritual family is not defined by blood relations but by our shared commitment to Jesus and His teachings. Jesus' interactions with His earthly family and His followers illustrate the distinction between natural and spiritual family, highlighting the importance of aligning ourselves with God's will. As we reflect on this, we are encouraged to see our fellow believers as brothers and sisters, united by a common mission to fulfill God's purposes. [14:00]

Mark 3:33-35 (ESV): "And he answered them, 'Who are my mother and my brothers?' And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, 'Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.'"

Reflection: Who in your life do you need to start seeing as part of your spiritual family? How can you begin to build a deeper relationship with them today?

Day 2: Intentional Community Building

We are called to be intentional in recognizing and welcoming new members into our spiritual family. By reaching out and forming genuine connections, we embody the love of Christ and strengthen the fabric of our community. This intentionality requires us to be mindful of those around us who may feel isolated or overlooked. By reaching out and forming genuine connections, we embody the love of Christ and strengthen the fabric of our spiritual family. This intentionality in building relationships reflects the heart of Jesus and His desire for us to be a unified community, committed to doing the will of God together. [06:11]

Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV): "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."

Reflection: Who is someone new in your church or community that you can reach out to this week? What specific steps can you take to make them feel welcomed and valued?

Day 3: Unity Through Shared Faith

Our shared experiences and faith create a unique bond that transcends cultural, social, and generational differences. This unity in Christ allows us to connect deeply with others, regardless of our backgrounds. As believers, we are united by our faith in Jesus and our commitment to His teachings. This unity is a powerful testimony to the world of the transformative power of the Gospel. By embracing our shared faith, we can overcome barriers and build meaningful relationships with others, reflecting the love and unity that Jesus desires for His followers. [26:07]

Ephesians 4:3-6 (ESV): "Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."

Reflection: What cultural, social, or generational barriers do you need to overcome to connect more deeply with others in your spiritual family? How can you take a step towards unity today?

Day 4: The Will of God as Our Common Ground

Our true commonality as a new family is found in our willingness to carry out the will of God. This shared mission unites us and calls us to work together in fulfilling God's purposes. As we align ourselves with God's will, we find a common ground that transcends our differences and unites us in a shared purpose. This unity is not just about being together but about working together to accomplish the mission that God has given us. By focusing on God's will, we can overcome divisions and work together as one body in Christ. [32:09]

Colossians 3:16-17 (ESV): "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to align more closely with God's will? How can you take a step towards fulfilling God's purposes in that area today?

Day 5: Koinonia - Fellowship of Believers

The pure fellowship of believers, or koinonia, is a reflection of the early church's community. By engaging in authentic relationships, we experience the richness of being part of God's family. This fellowship is characterized by love, support, and mutual encouragement, as believers come together to share their lives and faith. As we engage in koinonia, we are reminded of the importance of community and the role it plays in our spiritual growth. By building authentic relationships with others, we can experience the fullness of life in Christ and be a witness to the world of the transformative power of the Gospel. [39:07]

Acts 2:42-44 (ESV): "And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common."

Reflection: How can you engage more deeply in the fellowship of believers in your community? What specific steps can you take to build authentic relationships with others this week?

Sermon Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the profound concept of being part of a new family in Christ. This idea stems from the understanding that our connection to Jesus transcends our natural familial ties, creating a spiritual family bonded by faith and purpose. As we prepare for our upcoming series on "The Goodness of God," we took a moment to reflect on the series "About Jesus," focusing on the theme of a new family. This new family is not defined by blood relations but by our shared commitment to Jesus and His teachings.

We delved into the Gospel of Mark, where Jesus redefines family by emphasizing those who do the will of God as His true family. This redefinition challenges us to look beyond our natural relationships and embrace the spiritual kinship we have with fellow believers. Jesus' interactions with His earthly family and His followers illustrate the distinction between natural and spiritual family, highlighting the importance of aligning ourselves with God's will.

The message encourages us to be intentional in recognizing and welcoming new members into our spiritual family. Just as Jesus demonstrated His power and love through acts of healing and deliverance, we are called to extend that same love and acceptance to others. Our shared experiences and faith create a unique bond that transcends cultural, social, and generational differences, uniting us as one body in Christ.

As we move forward, let us be mindful of those around us who may feel isolated or overlooked. By reaching out and forming genuine connections, we embody the love of Christ and strengthen the fabric of our spiritual family. This intentionality in building relationships reflects the heart of Jesus and His desire for us to be a unified community, committed to doing the will of God together.

Key Takeaways

1. Redefining Family in Christ: Jesus redefines family by emphasizing that those who do the will of God are His true family. This challenges us to look beyond natural relationships and embrace our spiritual kinship with fellow believers, creating a new family bonded by faith and purpose. [14:00]
2. Intentional Community Building: We are called to be intentional in recognizing and welcoming new members into our spiritual family. By reaching out and forming genuine connections, we embody the love of Christ and strengthen the fabric of our community. [06:11]
3. Unity Through Shared Faith: Our shared experiences and faith create a unique bond that transcends cultural, social, and generational differences. This unity in Christ allows us to connect deeply with others, regardless of our backgrounds. [26:07]
4. The Will of God as Our Common Ground: Our true commonality as a new family is found in our willingness to carry out the will of God. This shared mission unites us and calls us to work together in fulfilling God's purposes. [32:09]
5. Koinonia - Fellowship of Believers: The pure fellowship of believers, or koinonia, is a reflection of the early church's community. By engaging in authentic relationships, we experience the richness of being part of God's family. [39:07]
** [39:07]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:26] - Introduction to the Series
[02:21] - The Concept of a New Family
[05:09] - Befriending the Unseen
[07:07] - Jesus' Ministry and Criticism
[08:22] - Casting Out Demons
[14:00] - Redefining Family
[16:30] - Division and Unity
[18:04] - Two Categories of Humanity
[19:54] - Peace with God
[21:52] - Family Dynamics and Worldview
[23:53] - Defining Family in God's Eyes
[26:58] - Intersection at the Cross
[30:15] - Life Groups and Community
[32:09] - Doing the Will of God Together
[34:53] - Embracing New Family Members
[39:07] - Koinonia: Fellowship of Believers
[41:36] - Closing and Blessing

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

In Mark 3:31-35, how does Jesus respond to the news that His mother and brothers are looking for Him? What does this reveal about His understanding of family? [14:00]
What actions did Jesus take in Mark 3 that led to criticism from others, and how did He address His accusers? [08:22]
According to the sermon, what is the significance of Jesus' question, "Who is my mother?" in the context of redefining family? [14:00]
How does the sermon describe the way Jesus' family reacted to His ministry, and what does this indicate about their understanding of His mission? [08:22]

Interpretation Questions

What does Jesus' redefinition of family in Mark 3:31-35 suggest about the priorities of spiritual relationships over natural ones? How might this impact a believer's view of community? [14:00]
In Luke 12:51-53, Jesus speaks of division rather than peace. How does this passage challenge common perceptions of Jesus as the "Prince of Peace"? [16:30]
How does the sermon illustrate the concept of "koinonia" or fellowship among believers, and why is this important for the church community? [39:07]
What does the sermon suggest about the role of intentionality in building spiritual family, and how does this reflect Jesus' teachings? [06:11]

Application Questions

Reflect on your current relationships within the church. Are there individuals you may have overlooked who could benefit from your intentional outreach? How can you take a step to include them this week? [06:11]
Jesus emphasized doing the will of God as a defining characteristic of His family. What specific actions can you take this week to align more closely with God's will? [32:09]
Consider a time when you felt isolated or overlooked in a community. How did you overcome it, and how can you use that experience to help others feel included in your spiritual family? [35:55]
How can you foster deeper connections with fellow believers who come from different cultural, social, or generational backgrounds? What practical steps can you take to bridge these differences? [26:07]
In what ways can you contribute to the unity of your church community, especially when faced with differing opinions or conflicts? How can you be a peacemaker in these situations? [18:04]
Reflect on the concept of "koinonia" as described in the sermon. How can you cultivate authentic fellowship in your small group or church community? [39:07]
Identify one area in your life where you can be more intentional about doing the will of God. What specific change will you make this week to pursue this goal? [32:09]

Sermon Clips

"Because as you gain in popularity, as you gain in your service, as you gain in the circle of people that enjoy hanging out with you, there are many who will be around you who don't have that advantage. Look for them. Befriend them. And before you know it, your friends are their friends." [00:05:37] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"And I believe it is our responsibility to be intentional about looking for those who maybe we don't know. Are you with me?" [00:06:32] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"See, we don't disown our family. We just define amongst one another what is family for us as Jesus followers. What is family? Now, I, like you, have, you know, moved around different states, maybe different countries. For whatever reason, and I, like you, have had a particular experience." [00:24:13] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"And when I say run into, somehow or another, you entered into a conversation. Where you became aware that, oh, yeah, you want to? Me too. Right? And immediately, there's a level of excitement that rises." [00:25:14] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"And so Jesus is wanting to know, I mean, wanting us to know that he never disowned his family, but he rather wanted to define it so that we would know that he was a man of God. And so in God's eyes, what a family is. You see, when Jesus came, he actually came to create a new family." [00:28:16] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"And he says you want to know who my family is and again it wasn't an insult to mary and joseph and the others he was simply wanting to make sure they understood how god sees his sons and daughters he says you want to know who my family is and i'm sure he just started to look around he says here are my my mother and and here are my brother and my my my sister and my my auntie and my uncle i mean look around just four moment look around look look at somebody like behind you like turn yourself if you can and for for a second it's not rude we're going to do it it's not rude in this context just point at somebody say you are my brother mother sister you're my auntie you're my uncle" [00:29:32] (80 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"we want to give it even a stronger push in these next few years you know why we establish those life groups to reinforce that god created a new family not for us to disown our natural family but to define what family looks like in his eyes and he further defines it not just by our lives intersecting at the cross uh -uh he goes a step further and this is what he says he says for whoever say whoever does the will of god is my brother and my sister and my mother so now he ratchets it up to a whole nother level he's not saying that our our our commonality as a new family is found necessarily in our intersection at the cross it's actually found in our willingness to carry out the will of god" [00:30:34] (75 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"and here again you know as they they break into what he's doing having previously thought he was a little crazy which gives you an insight that they weren't vibing with him at the same level because as he's healing folks and casting out demon he's in the perfect will of god" [00:32:30] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

"and so he takes another opportunity to bring them in right it's the same opportunity that that he gives us today to bring us in as a new family where we truly find common ground is in our hunger and desire to do the will of god together" [00:32:58] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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