The Family of God: Identity, Mission, and Sacrificial Giving

In a world filled with overwhelming problems, God’s greatness and compassion remain unmatched. Through the work of Convoy of Hope and the partnership of local churches like Granite, tangible hope is being brought to hundreds of thousands—feeding children, empowering women, training farmers, and responding to disasters in over 130 countries. Yet, the heart of this work is not just about meeting physical needs, but about inviting people into the family of God, where true identity and belonging are found.

The story of Scripture is not merely a battle of good versus evil, but the story of a Father and a Son, and the family God is building through Christ. Christianity is unique because it is not about humanity’s attempt to reach God, but about God’s relentless pursuit of us, adopting us as sons and daughters. No matter our background or the brokenness of our earthly families, God places the lonely in families and gives us a new identity rooted in His love.

Poverty, at its deepest level, is not just a lack of material resources, but the belief that one is unloved and alone. The church’s mission is to address both material and spiritual poverty, ensuring that people not only receive bread for today but encounter Jesus, the Bread of Life, who satisfies eternally. Stories like Jackie’s from El Salvador remind us that empowerment and provision are most transformative when they bring people into loving community.

The family of God grows around the table—through shared meals, honest conversations, and sacrificial giving. Jesus’ ministry was bookended by the table, showing us that spiritual growth happens in relationship, not just through teaching. Revival can begin at our dinner tables, spreading outward as we open our homes and hearts.

Sacrificial giving is the way the family of God expands. We are who we are because someone sacrificed for us, and now we are called to give so that others might be brought into God’s family. True generosity is not about personal gain, but about planting seeds for a harvest we may never see, trusting that our giving will bless generations to come. We do not give to get; we give to grow.

Key Takeaways

• 1. True identity is discovered in the family of God. In a world obsessed with self-discovery, it is only in relationship with God and His people that we come to know who we truly are. The church is called to surround people with love and belonging, bridging both material and spiritual poverty. [19:12]
• 2. The deepest poverty is believing you are unloved. While meeting physical needs is vital, the greatest gift we can offer is the assurance of God’s love and the invitation into His family. Without Jesus, even the best material provision leaves people in a different form of poverty. [20:20]
• 3. The table is where spiritual growth and revival begin. Jesus modeled that transformation happens not just through sermons, but through meals, conversations, and shared life. Revival in our homes can ripple out to our communities and the world. [25:46]
• 4. Sacrificial giving is the engine of God’s expanding family. Every believer stands on the sacrifices of others, and we are called to give not for personal benefit, but so that others may know Christ and belong. Our generosity plants seeds for a harvest that may bless people we will never meet. [30:56]
• 5. We do not give to get; we give to grow. The motivation for generosity is not a transactional expectation of return, but a desire to see God’s kingdom flourish and lives transformed. Giving is an act of faith that trusts God to use our sacrifice for His greater purpose. [32:00]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [07:37] - Introduction & Convoy of Hope Partnership
• [08:14] - Honoring Local Leadership
• [09:54] - Impact Through Missions: Feeding & Empowerment
• [11:06] - Disaster Response & Global Reach
• [12:12] - Scripture Reading: Ephesians 2 & Matthew 12
• [13:58] - Family at Granite: Personal Reflections
• [15:12] - Abraham: The First Missionary
• [16:21] - Missionary or Mission Field
• [17:29] - The Overarching Story: Family, Not Religion
• [18:46] - Adoption into God’s Family
• [19:43] - Identity, Poverty, and the Church’s Role
• [21:55] - God Places the Lonely in Families
• [23:02] - Jackie’s Story: Empowerment and Community
• [24:32] - The Table: Where Family Grows
• [25:46] - Revival at the Dinner Table
• [27:39] - The Global Need: Africa and Beyond
• [28:28] - Sacrificial Giving and Legacy
• [30:56] - Planting for Future Generations
• [32:00] - Giving to Grow, Not to Get

Bible Reading

Ephesians 2:19-20 (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.

Matthew 12:48-50 (ESV) — > But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

Psalm 68:5-6 (ESV) — > Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation. God settles the solitary in a home; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.

Observation Questions

1. In Ephesians 2:19-20, what does Paul say about our status before and after coming to Christ? What does it mean to be “members of the household of God”?
2. According to Matthew 12:48-50, how does Jesus define family? Who does he say are his true brothers and sisters?
3. In Psalm 68:5-6, what specific actions does God take for the lonely and the vulnerable?
4. The sermon described poverty as more than just lacking material things. What did the speaker say is the “greatest form of poverty”? ([20:20])

Interpretation Questions

1. What does it mean for the church to be a place where people “discover their identity”? How is this different from the world’s approach to self-discovery? ([19:12])
2. The sermon said, “God places the lonely in families.” Why is this significant for people who feel isolated or disconnected? ([21:55])
3. Why do you think Jesus chose to emphasize the table—meals and shared life—as a place for spiritual growth and revival, rather than just teaching or preaching? ([25:46])
4. The speaker said, “We do not give to get; we give to grow.” What does this say about the motivation behind Christian generosity? ([32:00])

Application Questions

1. The sermon said that “true identity is discovered in the family of God.” Have you ever struggled to know who you are or where you belong? How has being part of a church family helped (or not helped) you with this? ([19:12])
2. The deepest poverty was described as believing you are unloved. Can you think of a time when you or someone you know felt this way? What could the church do to help people experience God’s love and belonging? ([20:20])
3. The story of Jackie in El Salvador showed that empowerment and provision are most transformative when they bring people into loving community. Who in your life might be feeling lonely or left out? What is one practical thing you could do this week to include them? ([24:32])
4. The sermon challenged us to see our dinner tables as places where revival can begin. What would it look like for you to intentionally use meals or your home to build spiritual community? Is there someone you could invite over this month? ([25:46])
5. Sacrificial giving was described as the “engine” of God’s expanding family. What is one area where you could give sacrificially—not just money, but time, attention, or resources—to help someone else experience God’s love? ([30:56])
6. The speaker said, “We do not give to get; we give to grow.” Are there ways you have viewed generosity as a transaction, expecting something in return? How might your attitude or actions change if you gave simply to see God’s kingdom grow? ([32:00])
7. The sermon mentioned that “every believer stands on the sacrifices of others.” Who are some people whose sacrifices have made a difference in your faith journey? How can you honor or thank them this week? ([30:56])