If you've got your Bibles there, would you please turn to Mark's Gospel, Chapter 3.
! We're going to be reading that in just a sec.
Thank you.
We've been looking at members of the kingdom.
Last week we looked at members of the family.
Last week members of the body and today we're looking at members of the family.
And just as a reminder that as a follow-up, we meet on Wednesday evening across the road in the Lion's Centre
where we get to follow up on what we've been looking at on the morning time.
So we're going to have a specific focus on Wednesday on baptism and the Lord's Supper
and how they are connected and how they relate to church life.
So please come along and a great opportunity to discuss in small group and ask your questions together.
Father, we're going to pray first and then look at God's Word.
Father, thank you for your good gifts to us.
Thank you for your word and thank you for your spirit.
And we pray that you would speak to us afresh, helping us to see what it means to be members of the family.
In Jesus' name. Amen.
A couple of questions to start with.
Did you come here this morning with family?
Did you come here with family?
Or are you coming here to meet with family?
Or are you here alone?
Or are you gathering with brothers and sisters?
You see, how we answer those questions will tell us a lot about how we understand church and how we relate to church.
You see, the Bible uses many different word pictures to describe the church.
So the church is like a kingdom and Jesus is our King who rules over us.
We saw last week that the church is like a body and Jesus is our head who is the source of all true life.
The church is like a bride and Jesus is our husband who in love gives his life for us.
But there's one picture, there's one description that is deeper and richer than all the rest.
And it gets to the very heart of what it means to be church.
And it's simply this.
The church is a family.
The Bible doesn't say the church is like a family.
It's like a kingdom, like a body, like a bride.
But the Bible says we are a family.
Consider with me what Jesus said about the church and family.
And get ready for a surprise.
Look at Mark chapter 3 verse 31.
Mark chapter 3 verse 31.
Jesus had been in a discussion with some of the religious leaders
and his own biological family arrive.
Let's pick it up in verse 31.
Then Jesus' mother and brothers arrived.
Standing outside, they sent someone in to call for Jesus.
A crowd was sitting around Jesus and they told him,
Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.
Who are my mother and my brothers, he asked.
Then he looked at those seated in the circle around him and he said,
Here are my mother and my brothers.
For whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother.
Isn't that surprising?
Jesus redefines our understanding of family.
He shows us that our true family are those who do the will of God.
That is, those who are of the faith.
Jesus.
Or have a look at Mark chapter 10.
And verse 29.
Mark chapter 10 verse 29.
Here, Jesus has been talking about what it means to follow Jesus.
The cost.
So sometimes when we follow him,
it means that people will go against us.
So pick it up in, sorry, we'll pick it up in verse 28.
Then Peter spoke up and said to Jesus and the others,
We have left everything to follow you.
Truly I tell you, Jesus replied,
No one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields,
that is all their resources for me and the gospel,
will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age.
Homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields,
along with persecution and in the age to come, eternal life.
Did you see that?
If we follow Jesus,
it may mean that our family will fall out with us,
but we gain a hundred times more in terms of family.
You see, Jesus is making it crystal clear.
It's not biology that connects us,
but our relationship and commitment to Jesus.
So to go back to those questions we asked at the very beginning,
if we are Christians,
we have come primarily to meet with family.
If we are followers of Jesus,
we are gathering with our brothers and sisters.
Now that doesn't mean to say that our biological families are not important
and that we should dismiss them.
They are vitally important.
And the Bible has a lot to say about our families.
Parents, if you are a parent here today,
you are to nurture and care for your children,
to teach them God's word and to remind them of what the Bible says.
And children, if you are a child,
you are to obey your parents,
to honour them.
In fact, if we don't care for our families,
if we don't look after our families,
it's a sure sign of unbelief.
Look at the screen here,
this verse from 1 Timothy.
Anyone who does not provide for their relatives
and especially for their own household
or their own family
has denied the faith
and is worse than an unbeliever.
You see, our biological family responsibilities
and our duties and care for one another
are not to be in competition with the church family.
Rather, our biological families
are there to point us
towards our true family,
our ultimate family,
the church.
One writer put it like this.
This changes everything
about what it means to be in a family.
For those with healthy, close families,
it lifts their eyes to an even greater reality.
For those whose families are dysfunctional
or are lonely, abandoned, orphaned or divorced,
it is a warm invitation into a real family.
You see, our biological families,
yes, they are a gift from God,
but they are not an end in themselves.
They are to point us to
our true and greater reality,
our real family.
So how do you and I,
how do we get to enjoy this greater reality?
How do we experience this true family?
Well, turn with me, please,
to Hebrews chapter 2.
Hebrews chapter 2.
Haven't got a page number.
1,202.
Hebrews chapter 2.
And we're going to be looking at verse 10,
just a few verses.
But in this chapter,
we see God's plan
and God's design
for humanity.
What God longs for,
what he's working towards.
And there's three things
that I want us to notice
and to pay attention
to the language
that is used.
The first thing to notice is
that God is our Father
and we are his sons
and daughters.
God is our Father
and we are his sons and daughters.
God's plan, verse 10,
is to bring
many sons and daughters
to glory.
that he would have
many sons and daughters
in his kingdom.
Well, how does God do that?
Well, God sends his own son,
Jesus,
to be the one
who brings
many sons and daughters
to the Father.
Jesus is our pioneer.
That's the phrase
to focus in on
on verse 10.
Halfway through,
it talks about Jesus
being the pioneer
of their salvation.
Now, a pioneer
is someone who goes
where no one
has gone before.
They cut their way
through
so that others
can follow.
Well, Jesus is described
here as the pioneer
of our salvation.
He represents us.
Jesus goes before us
and dies the death
that we deserve
for our sin.
Jesus goes before us
and lives the perfect life
that we could never live.
Jesus paves the way.
He cuts a path
for the sons and daughters
to be able to come
to the Father.
You could think of it
like this
as we imagine
a huge big forest
and in the centre
of the forest
is the king
in his castle.
But surrounding it
is this thick forest
unpenetrable
no way through.
But one is able to
who cuts a path
through that jungle
to the castle
to the king
to bring
the lost
sons and daughters
back
to their king.
Well, that in a sense
is what Jesus is doing.
He's cutting through.
He's paving the way
for sons and daughters
to get
to their father
king.
So how do I know
if I am a child
of the king?
How do I know
I am a son
or daughter?
Well, it's the sons
and daughters
who follow Jesus.
So if you
are following
Jesus today,
if you are trusting
in him,
you are
a son
or a daughter
of the Father.
And as we
walk
with Jesus,
we have the
awesome privilege
of calling God
our Father.
Jesus
cuts a path
so that he
may bring
many sons
and daughters
to glory.
God is our
Father
and we can be
his sons
and daughters.
But there's
a second picture
and that is
Jesus is our
brother
and we are
his
brothers
and sisters.
Because God
is our Father
and we are
sons and daughters.
Look at the end
of verse 11.
So Jesus
is not ashamed
to call them
brothers
and sisters.
You see,
if you
are a son
or a daughter
of the Father,
Jesus
is your
brother.
Jesus
delights
over us.
He's not
ashamed of you,
it says in
verse 11.
No matter what
we've said
or done
or no matter
how many
times we turn,
he never
is ashamed
of you.
He loves
you
deeply.
Jesus
is your
brother.
In fact,
Jesus
praises
the Father
for the
new
brothers
and sisters
he has
received.
Look at
verse 12.
He says,
I will
declare
your name
to my
brothers
and sisters.
I will
tell
your sons
and daughters,
I will
tell them
that we
are of
the same
family,
we have
the same
Father.
I will
declare
your name
to my
brothers
and sisters
in the
assembly.
I will
sing
your
praises.
It's
like a
child
who's
been told
they're
going to
have a
new
brother
or
sister
in their
family.
Well,
they can't
help but
tell everybody,
I'm going
to have
a brother
or I'm
going to
have a
sister.
They
delight
in
sharing
that.
So
Jesus
in the
same
way
longs
to
delight
over
us.
He
longs
to
tell
us
and
reassure
us
that
God
is
our
father
and
Jesus
is
our
brother.
He
is
the
true
brother
who
gives
his
life
for
us
so
that
we
might
enjoy
and
experience
life
in
his
family.
Look at
how it's
put at
the
beginning
of
verse
11.
Both
the
one
who
makes
people
holy,
that's
Jesus,
he's
the
maker
of
people
to
make
them
holy,
to put
them
in a
right
relationship
with
God,
and
those
who
are
made
holy
are
of
the
same
family.
Isn't
that
wonderful?
God
is
our
father,
Jesus
is
our
brother.
And
the
third
picture
that
we'll
see
is
that
the
spirit
is
our
bond.
That
is
the
church
is
now
our
family.
You
see
because
God
is
our
father
and
Jesus
is
our
brother
we
are
now
brothers
and
sisters
of
each
other.
That's
the
work
of
the
Holy
Spirit.
uniting
us
and
bringing
us
together.
Paul
puts
it
like
this
in
Romans
8.
Is
that
right?
No.
I'll
just
read it.
The
spirit
himself
testifies
with
our
spirit
that
we
are
God's
children.
It's
the
spirit
who
unites
and
brings
us
together.
So
now
look
at
how
the
author
of
Hebrews
now
writes
to
this
local
church.
Look
at
the
language
that
he
uses.
Because
we're
of
the
same
family,
God
is
our
father,
Jesus
is
our
brother.
Look at
chapter 3
verse 1.
Therefore,
holy
brothers
and sisters
who share
in the
heavenly
calling,
those who
are sons
and daughters
of the
Father,
fix
your
thoughts
on
Jesus.
look at
verse 12,
chapter 3
verse 12.
This is
what we're
to do
together.
See
to it,
brothers
and
sisters,
that none
of you
has a
sinful,
unbelieving
heart that
turns away
from the
living God,
but encourage
one another
daily,
as long
as it is
called
today,
so that
none
of you
may be
hardened
by sin's
deceitfulness.
or have
a look
at chapter
10,
verse 19.
This is
the bond
of the
Spirit
uniting
us
together.
Chapter
10,
verse 19,
therefore,
brothers
and sisters,
and he
goes on,
because of
what Jesus
has done
for us,
verse 23,
let us
together as
brothers and
sisters,
hold unswervingly
to the hope
we profess,
for he who
promised is
faithful,
and let us,
the brothers
and sisters,
consider how
we may spur
one another
on towards
love and good
deeds,
not giving up
meeting together
as some are in
the habit of
doing,
but encouraging
the brothers
and sisters
and all the
more as you
see the day
approaching.
Or chapter
13,
verse 1.
Keep on
loving one
another as
brothers and
sisters.
You see,
the Spirit
of God
unites the
children of
God to
be the
family of
God.
The Spirit
of God
unites the
children of
God to
be the
family of
God,
and it
radically
changes how
we now
view each
other and
how we
see each
other.
The Apostle
Paul,
writing to
Timothy,
who is a
young pastor,
helps him
see how he
should view
his congregation,
how he
should think
about people
in the life
of the
church,
and I
think it
applies to
us as
well.
You can
follow it
on the
screen.
Do not
rebuke an
older man
harshly,
but exhort
him as if
he were
your father.
So if
there's an
older man
here,
somebody
older than
what you
are,
you are to
treat him
as your
father.
brother.
If you're
a young
man,
treat younger
men as
brothers.
And the
older women,
treat them
as your
mothers.
And the
younger women,
treat them
as sisters
with absolute
purity.
You see,
it changes
the whole
dynamic,
doesn't it?
So whatever
our experience
as a family,
if it's been
a healthy
family,
it points
to a
greater
family.
If it's
been painful
and a
hard experience,
it points
beyond that
to a
better
family,
a family
where we
are united
together by
the Spirit
to be the
family of
God,
where we
are joined
together to
encourage one
another to
keep on in
the faith,
to keep
following
Jesus.
Well, you
may say,
well, that
sounds great,
but you
know what?
That hasn't
been my
experience.
You see, some
of you may
feel hurt
by the
church.
Maybe
someone was
critical and
spoke harshly
to you.
Maybe you
experienced
rejection or
maybe being
ostracized or
being left
out and
you're screaming
inside saying,
well, I
don't trust
the church.
Well, I
want to
acknowledge that
for some that
might be the
case.
But before
turning our
back on
the church,
I want us
all to think
about our
expectations of
the church
family.
First,
family life
is messy.
Family life
is messy.
We often
say, if
you're looking
for the
perfect church,
you won't
find it
here.
And if
you think
you're
perfect,
don't bother
coming along
because you'll
be very
disappointed.
You see,
none of us
is perfect.
We all
fail and
we all
fall.
We've all
said things.
I know I've
said things and
done things
sort of
upset people.
When we
do our
marriage
preparation
classes,
one of the
questions I
love to
ask is,
to the
two who
are sitting
there,
what happens
when two
lovers come
together in
marriage?
Of course,
they always
say,
love,
deeper love,
greater love.
Well,
the answer,
of course,
is conflict
and division.
Why?
Because we
are lovers
of self.
And when
you bring
two lovers
of self
coming together,
well,
you get
conflict
and division.
And that's
what can
happen in
the life
of the
church.
We're a
bunch of
sinners
coming
together.
Yes,
we have
been saved.
Yes,
God is
our father.
Yes,
we're
brothers
and
sisters,
but just
as we
do in
our own
biological
family,
say and
do things
that hurt,
so within
the church
family,
there's a
whole bunch
of people
coming
together,
and we
can get
it wrong.
Rather than
serve others,
we can love
self.
That's why
we have all
these encouragements
in the Bible
that we read
in Hebrews.
Love each
other.
Forgive
one another.
Carry each
other's
burdens.
Be patient
with one
another.
Spur one
another on
to love
and good
deeds.
Let's
not give
up meeting
together.
Well,
if the
church was
perfect,
we would
never have
these commands
or correctives.
But it's
because we
get it
wrong that
we're reminded
of who we
are to be.
So can I
encourage us
all to
adjust your
expectation
and bring
it down
some notches
because family
life is
messy and
we're all
broken.
So having
adjusted
down, I
want us
now to
ratchet up
and have a
great expectation
because not
only are we
messy, family
life is
graceful.
you see, the
church is a
family where
broken and
messy people
like us
find grace.
We are
people who
walk together
back to
the cross.
Here we
remember our
true brother
Jesus Christ
who gave his
life for us
so that we
could be
sons and
daughters of
the father
and together
we lean in
on the spirit
strength and
power to
live as we
should.
James puts
it like
this.
This is a
great thing
we can do
for each
other if
we drift
or fall
away.
My brothers
and sisters,
if one of
you should
wander from
the truth
and someone
should bring
that person
back,
remember
this,
whoever
turns a
sinner from
the error
of their
way will
save them
from death
and cover
over a
multitude
of sins.
You see,
when conflict
happens,
when fallout
happens,
when we
say and do
the wrong
thing,
we don't
pull away
from each
other,
we come
together
and go
to the
cross
and we
receive the
grace and
mercy
that we
need.
Together
we're
committed
as brothers
and sisters
to bring
each other
back to
God.
Now,
the way
we do
this as
a church
is through
a church
covenant.
It's a
commitment
to one
another.
Just as
God is
committed
to us
and never
turns away
from us,
so we
as a
church
strive to
be
gracious
to one
another,
to not
give up
on each
other,
but to
pursue
life with
each
other.
A
covenant
may be
a new
word to
you,
but it's
simply a
promise
between
two
parties
into
a
committed
relationship.
So think
of a
marriage.
A man
and a
woman
come
together
to make
promises,
to be
loyal to
one
another,
to love
each
other.
They give
rings,
and here's
me looking
for my
ring now,
and I
haven't got
my ring.
Don't
worry,
our
marriage
is good,
just don't
have it
on.
So there
we have
it.
Yes,
I'm totally
lost now,
aren't I?
So it is
for the
local,
oh yeah,
thanks.
So here
we have
the local
church.
We're
committing
to one
another,
and our
covenant,
our church
covenant
that we
have
recognizes
it,
that as
believers
coming
together,
we submit
to one
another,
and support
each other.
So I
want us to
go through
it.
You might
have it
on your
notes if
you got
this sheet
this morning.
If not,
you can
see it
on the
screen.
Yes,
we are a
family who
are broken
and messy,
but we are
a family
who are
graceful,
and here's
how we
show that
grace to
one another
by committing
to each
other.
You can
follow along
on the
screen.
Recognizing
our own
unworthiness
and inability.
Isn't that
great?
Our own
unworthiness
and inability.
We're a
mess,
we're broken.
So we
come in
total
dependence
upon God.
We now
covenant to
give ourselves
first to
God,
and then to
this local
church.
And here's
the commitment.
First,
that we
will endeavor
to walk
in holiness
and brotherly
love,
being concerned
to honor
God in
our lives,
and encourage
one another
to love
and good
works,
and to
pray for
one another,
and to
bear each
other's
burdens.
Two,
that we
will at
all times
be loyal
to each
other,
being patient
with one
another's
weaknesses
and failings,
seeking to
maintain unity
and avoid
all causes
of division.
Three,
that we
will endeavor
to meet
together on
the Lord's
Day and
at all the
other meetings
of the
church,
as we
have
opportunity,
encouraging
one another
by our
attendance.
And then
fourth,
to pray
for and
encourage the
officers,
the elders,
and the
deacons of
the church
in their
responsibilities
or in
their discharge
of their
duty.
Do you
see this
covenant,
this
member,
membership,
committing to
one another
to be
faithful and
loyal?
It's a
commitment to
be graceful.
So yes,
we bring our
expectations
down,
we are
messy and
broken,
but we
also raise
the
expectations
up to
be a
graceful
family.
The
church
family is
where sons
and daughters
come to
the Father
together to
receive his
grace.
And the
church family
is where
brothers and
sisters of
Jesus come
to give
grace.
And the
church family
is where we
depend on the
Spirit's help
to be
graceful to
one another
in our
words and
in our
deeds.
The
church family
is not
just an
idea,
a picture
in our
minds or
something in
the Bible
to be
read.
It is
something to
be lived
out and
worked out.
that's why
we've been
doing these
series together
and I want
to encourage
us all that
if you are
not yet a
member to
consider what
it is to
be a son
and daughter
of the
Father,
a brother
and sister
of Jesus,
a brother
and sister
of one
another.
the
church
is
family.
Let's
just take a
moment in
the quietness
before I
pray to
think about
what our
response is
to what
we've heard
this morning.
and
Thank you.
Let's pray.
Our Father God, thank you.
Thank you for sending your son Jesus to be our pioneer,
to cut a way through, to bring many sons and daughters to glory.
Thank you that as we follow Jesus, as we trust in him,
we can talk to God as our Father.
But not only that, you have adopted us into your family,
giving us greater brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers and children.
And we ask and pray that you would help us in our messiness and brokenness
to be graceful to one another,
that we would lead each other back to the cross
to receive the mercy and the help that we so need
to be the kind of people that you call us to be.
I thank you, Father, for this church,
for the gathering that is here today,
for your faithfulness to us over so many years,
for the people you have welcomed in,
for the people who you have changed.
And we pray and ask, Father God,
that you would add to this family,
that you would be pleased to see many others
from the community of Carragoline
come to know you and trust you,
to know you as Father,
Jesus as their elder brother,
and to know one another
as brothers and sisters in Christ.
we ask all these things in Jesus' name.
Amen.
Before we sing,
there are some,
are there some books, Ralph?
I'm looking for Ralph.
Are there books? No?
They'll be there Wednesday, won't they?
Yeah, sorry.
That's right.
We've got some books for you Wednesday.
I have a few other little booklets as well,
which are all talking about the church.
If you want to pick one of them up,
it may help you to think about these things.
Or talk to myself or Ralph or Jonathan or Alex afterwards.
We'd love to do that.
Let's sing,
what is our hope in life and death?
Christ alone.
If you're a brother or sister in Christ today,
you will want to sing this out,
that Christ is our hope
in life and death.
Let's stand together as we sing.
And you're happy with you.
!
What is our hope in life and death?
Christ alone, Christ alone.
What is our only confidence?
That our souls to Him belong.
He holds our days within His hands.
We come to fight from His command.
The path will keep us to the end.
The love of Christ in which we stand.
Our hope will sing Alleluia.
Our hope's great, eternal.
Oh, sing Alleluia.
Now and everly confess.
Christ our hope in life and death.
God is good, God is good.
Where is His grace that could be strong?
In our great Redeemer's blood.
We're pain when fears arise.
Who stands above the stormy trials?
Who stands away?
That bring us life unto the shore.
The rock of Christ.
Oh, sing Alleluia.
Our hope's great, eternal.
Oh, sing Alleluia.
Now and everly confess.
Christ our hope in life and death.
And what reward will heaven bring.
Everly confess.
And we will rise beneath the Lord.
And sin and death will be destroyed.
And we will be upon endless joy.
When Christ our hope in life and death.
Now and everly confess.
Christ our hope in life and death.
Our Father God, we thank you that we can say we have life in Christ today.
And even when we die, we have life eternal.
That we will gather together with your church, your family from throughout all times and all ages.
We will gather together with our brothers and sisters.
And with our brother Jesus.
United stronger by the Spirit's power.
We look forward to that day.
And we pray that you would help us as your family to encourage one another on day by day.
Day by day.
We ask this in Jesus' name.
Amen.
If you want any of those little booklets I mentioned, just come to me afterwards and ask.
And I've got a few so I can give you a few.