Family Matters: Healing and Hope in God’s Family

Devotional

Day 1: God Adopts Us Into His Family Through Jesus

God’s desire from the very beginning was to bring you into His family—not by accident, but by His loving choice. Through Jesus Christ, God has adopted you, giving you a new identity and a place to belong, regardless of your past or background. This adoption is not just a formality; it brings God great pleasure and is the foundation of your hope and security. No matter what your earthly family looks like, you are wanted and welcomed in God’s family, and this truth can reshape how you see yourself and others. [17:54]

Ephesians 1:5, 7 (NLT):
"God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure... He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins."

Reflection: What does it mean to you personally that God chose to adopt you into His family? How might this truth change the way you approach your relationships today?

Day 2: Christ Unites Us and Breaks Down Barriers

Jesus came to bring peace and unity, breaking down the walls that separate us—whether those are cultural, personal, or relational. Through His sacrifice, He reconciles us not only to God but also to one another, making us one body despite our differences and past hurts. This unity is not just an idea but a lived reality, where all who believe share equally in God’s promises and blessings. When you surrender to Jesus, you are empowered to live differently, to forgive, and to be part of a reconciled family that displays God’s wisdom to the world. [41:09]

Ephesians 2:14-16; 3:6, 10 (NLT):
"For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death... And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus... God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places."

Reflection: Is there someone in your life or church family you find it hard to be united with? What is one step you can take today to move toward reconciliation or understanding?

Day 3: Brokenness Does Not Define Your Future

Where you come from always influences you, but it never determines where you end up. The patterns, pain, and brokenness of your family or past do not have the final say over your life. God’s story is full of people whose beginnings were fractured, yet He brought hope, rescue, and new beginnings through them. Understanding your past is important, but God invites you to break free from its negative influences and find freedom and restoration in Him. You are not destined to repeat the brokenness of your history; in Christ, you can move forward into a new story. [34:18]

Genesis 50:20 (ESV):
"As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today."

Reflection: What is one area of your past that you feel has held you back? How can you invite God to help you break free from its influence and step into the future He has for you?

Day 4: God Makes Brokenness Beautiful in Community

Just as the art of kintsugi highlights the cracks in pottery with gold, God takes the broken, fractured pieces of our lives and, through His love and the community of the church, makes something beautiful. We are not called to hide our flaws or pretend we have it all together; instead, we are invited to bring our real selves into the family of God, where our stories and scars can be transformed into testimonies of His grace. When we come together, embracing vulnerability and authenticity, we display God’s restorative power to the world. [46:35]

Ephesians 3:16-19 (NLT):
"I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God."

Reflection: What is one area of brokenness or imperfection in your life that you tend to hide? How might sharing it with a trusted member of your church family help you experience God’s healing and make His work visible?

Day 5: Healing and Unity Come Through Forgiveness, New Mindsets, and Safe Community

True healing from past wounds and fractured relationships comes through embracing forgiveness (atonement), shifting your mindset to live differently (attunement), and creating safe spaces for vulnerability and connection (attachment). Being part of God’s family means not just attending church, but engaging, participating, and offering others the same grace and acceptance you have received. When you receive God’s love and healing, you are empowered to share it, and together, the church becomes a light to the world—showing that hope and transformation are possible. [50:28]

Colossians 3:12-14 (ESV):
"Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."

Reflection: Who is one person you need to forgive, or what is one way you can help create a safe, honest space for someone else in your church family this week? What step will you take today?

Sermon Summary

Family is a thread that runs through all of Scripture, but it’s not just about our biological families—it’s about the bigger family God is building. God, in His kindness and grace, has adopted us into His family through Jesus. This was not an accident or a backup plan; it was His desire and delight. The blood of Jesus connects us to a spiritual family that transcends our backgrounds, our stories, and even our flaws. Yet, being part of this family isn’t always easy. Just like in our biological families, there are people we struggle to get along with, stories we’d rather forget, and wounds that shape us in ways we don’t always understand.

Our past—where we come from—always influences us, but it never has to determine our future. The brokenness, dysfunction, and pain we inherit or experience can shape us, but in Christ, they do not have the final word. God’s story is one of taking fractured families and creating something new and beautiful. From Adam and Eve’s brokenness, through Abraham’s family, to the people of Israel, God’s plan has always been to bring hope and restoration. In Jesus, the dividing walls are broken down. He unites us, not by erasing our differences or hiding our cracks, but by reconciling us and making us one body.

The church is called to display God’s wisdom and love in all its rich variety. Like the Japanese art of kintsugi, where broken pottery is mended with gold to highlight its history and beauty, God wants to take our brokenness and make it a testimony of His grace. We are not meant to hide our flaws, but to let God use them to create something beautiful together. Healing and restoration come as we embrace forgiveness (atonement), shift our mindset to a new way of living (attunement), and create safe spaces for vulnerability and connection (attachment). Being part of God’s family means engaging, participating, and allowing God to use our stories for His glory. When we do this, we become the light of the world—not as individuals, but as a united family, displaying hope and healing to a fractured world.

Key Takeaways

1. Brokenness is not the end of the story Our past and family history may influence us, but in Christ, they do not determine our destiny. God specializes in taking fractured lives and weaving them into His redemptive story. The cracks and flaws we carry can become places where His grace shines brightest, if we allow Him to work through them. [34:18]
2. Unity in diversity is God’s design God’s family is made up of people from different backgrounds, cultures, and stories. The church is not called to uniformity, but to unity—a unity forged by Christ’s sacrifice. When we embrace our differences and allow Christ to reconcile us, we display the wisdom and beauty of God to the world. [42:49]
3. Vulnerability and safe community are essential Healing happens when we create spaces where people can be real about their brokenness. True attachment in God’s family means providing safety for others to share, confess, and heal. This kind of community is not just therapeutic; it is central to what it means to be the church, and it is how God’s love is made tangible among us. [50:28]
4. Restoration requires intentional steps Forgiveness (atonement), a renewed mindset (attunement), and deep connection (attachment) are necessary for healing. These are not passive experiences but require us to take steps—sometimes hard ones—toward others and toward God. As we do, we find that God is able to make something beautiful out of our mess. [52:35]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[17:11] - Introduction to Family Matters Series
[17:54] - God’s Adoption and Spiritual Family
[19:24] - The Challenge of Family Relationships
[20:36] - Family Stories: The Good and the Messy
[24:05] - How Our Past Influences Us
[26:29] - Personal Story: Neighbors and Flaws
[34:18] - Hope Beyond Our Brokenness
[35:23] - The First Family and Fracturing
[38:26] - God’s Plan for a New Family
[40:45] - Paul’s Vision for a United Church
[44:08] - Jesus Restores and Unites
[45:33] - Kintsugi: Beauty in Brokenness
[47:18] - Empowered by God’s Love
[49:16] - Steps Toward Healing: Atonement, Attunement, Attachment
[52:35] - Living as God’s Family
[55:39] - The Invitation to Be Made Whole
[57:06] - Prayer and Response

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Ephesians 1:5, 7 (ESV) — > He predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will... In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.

Ephesians 2:14-16 (ESV) — > For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.

Ephesians 3:6, 10, 16-19 (ESV) — > This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel... so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places... that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Observation Questions

According to Ephesians 1:5, what was God’s intention in adopting us into His family?
In Ephesians 2:14-16, what did Jesus do to the “dividing wall of hostility” between people?
The sermon described how our family stories—both good and messy—shape us. What are some examples the pastor gave from his own family or neighbors? [[20:36]]
How does Paul describe the purpose of the church in Ephesians 3:10?

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says, “Where we are from always influences where we end up, but it never determines where we end up.” What does this mean in light of God’s adoption and restoration? [[34:18]]
Why do you think God chose to build His family out of people with different backgrounds, stories, and even flaws? [[42:49]]
The pastor compared God’s work in us to the Japanese art of kintsugi, where broken pottery is mended with gold. What does this analogy teach us about how God views our brokenness? [[45:33]]
The sermon outlined three steps for healing: atonement (forgiveness), attunement (a new mindset), and attachment (safe community). Why are all three necessary for restoration in God’s family? [[50:28]]

Application Questions

The sermon was honest about family wounds and dysfunction. Is there a story or pattern from your family background that still influences you today? How might God want to bring healing or use that part of your story for good? [[24:05]]
Jesus broke down dividing walls to make one new family. Are there “walls” (differences, grudges, misunderstandings) between you and others in the church or your own family? What would it look like to take a step toward reconciliation? [[41:09]]
The pastor said, “We are not meant to hide our flaws, but to let God use them to create something beautiful together.” Is there a flaw or area of brokenness you tend to hide? What would it look like to be more open about it in safe community? [[45:33]]
Forgiveness (atonement) is the first step toward healing. Is there someone you need to forgive, or do you need to ask for forgiveness? What is one practical step you could take this week? [[50:28]]
Attunement means shifting your mindset to a new way of living. Is there a belief or habit from your past that you sense God wants to change? What would it look like to start living differently? [[50:28]]
Attachment is about creating safe spaces for vulnerability and connection. How can you help make your small group or church a place where people feel safe to be real about their struggles? [[50:28]]
The pastor said, “When you don’t show up, when you don’t engage, when you don’t participate, we’re not whole.” What is one way you can engage more fully in God’s family this month? [[55:39]]

Sermon Clips

It's funny when we were kids, the things we don't know. Like, when we're kids, we have this image of the older people in our families, right? These people who were larger than life. These people who had these lives that we thought were in some way perfect. Or there was something about them that made them extra strong. And you could lean on them. But as we get older, we start to realize that there were things that we didn't know. We start to realize that sometimes things can be a little unsettling because those people we looked up to had some flaws. [00:23:01] (35 seconds) #SeeingFlawsClearly

Where we are from always influences where we end up. I mean, isn't that true? Where we are from always influences where we end up. I mean, think about it. If your parents were bad with money, chances are at some point in your life you struggled financially. Maybe because of decisions that were made. Maybe because you weren't set up with the resources to help that maybe would have been necessary. And so it was something that influenced your life as an adult today. [00:24:20] (39 seconds) #InfluenceNotDestiny

But let's be honest. You've got yours too. I don't know what it is, so I'm not going to get up here and put you on display. But you're messed up. You are. Maybe not as messed up as me. But we're all messed up. We all have our things that have influenced us. We've all got our things that from our past that have in some way affected the type of people that we are today. And if we're honest, a lot of them aren't good. [00:33:36] (27 seconds) #WeAllHaveOurStuff

When a creator makes something, he has a purpose for it. When a creator makes something, she makes sure that it's beautiful, that it's the way that it's supposed to be. And if anything were to ever happen to the beautiful creation, we'd be left with a problem. You see, what happens is, is when we take a beautiful creation and sin enters the world, is there a medic here? We're left with pieces. We're left with remnants. We're left with just parts of what creation was meant to be. This was not the intention. This was not what God had in mind when he created the first family. [00:36:59] (70 seconds) #BrokenCreationBeautiful

He wants to restore the relationship. He wants to take the bag of broken fractured pieces and do something beautiful with it. That's the point of all of this. That's why family matters. We can't just be left with a bag of pieces. It all started with the first family. And the first family became a fractured family. But the story doesn't end with a fractured family. That'd be a pretty bad story. The story is supposed to continue with a reconciled church family. That's what we are. That's what this is. This is the result of a new family united in Christ. [00:44:24] (53 seconds) #RestoredThroughChrist

You can't give from something you haven't received and once you are able to receive it then you can offer it to others that's so important when it comes to changing lives when it comes to changing the world you see where you come from always influences where you end up but it never determines where you end up God has adopted you into a new family a new family to provide help and hope and healing. [00:55:02] (37 seconds) #ReceiveToGive

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