Sunday I have the privilege of preaching at Princeton Alliance Church about the nature of the church.  The church IS a family, period.  But are you giving yourself in biblical community or just attending a Sunday gathering?  For some of us, we don’t want to answer that question.  It may be the most important question in front of us if we are going to be a church that makes disciples.  Most of the people who read this will have attended a church service in the past 60 days.  But attending a gathering doesn’t make us a disciple nor does it make us a disciple maker or one who has said, “yes” to playing a role in the family of God, the great love of Jesus, the church.  Losing a family member is incredibly painful.  Seeing those who are orphaned, alone, abandoned and struggling is equally troubling.  Our church MUST be about those who need family, and our church family is the answer one of the greatest questions people are asking, “Where do I belong?”

We MUST ALWAYS be the church where the spirit of adoption defines us…

“…but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” Romans 8:15

For some of us adoption is difficult to understand.  We can’t imagine being dropped into a family whom we don’t share bloodlines with.  But until you can get your mind around this theological and deeply meaningful truth, you won’t understand God’s great Missionary heart for the world. Until you accept this reality in your own life, you won’t fully give yourself to your adopted family, the church.  Adoption is the very metaphor and family reality that leads us to understand the heart of the Father.  Once we understand His heart, we are then able to do His work.

4 Reasons Why You Belong In The Church Family…

#1 You Are Chosen –  There is nothing like being chosen.  You are not an accident.  God doesn’t make mistakes.  God has chosen you to be who you are.  For just a moment stop asking questions and just accept a God who wrote you into the story in Genesis through Adam by breathing His VERY BREATH in your lungs.  He didn’t just give you life but walked through the garden in the cool of the day with you.  Not because of what you could do for him, but because you were created in HIS VERY IMAGE!  Sounds like a family to me.  What about today though?  We failed and here is the part that gets me every time.  Because of Jesus, HE STILL CHOOSES US.  YOU ARE FAMILY.

#2 You Are Adopted –  Jesus forgives us.  I almost want to stop writing and just make those three words the totality of the point.  Because Jesus forgives us, we are to forgive each other.  When we accept His full approval into His heavenly family and call him Father because of the sacrifice of Jesus, we then call each other brother and sister.  Nothing quite like finding out you have a bunch of brothers and sisters you didn’t know about!  YOU ARE FAMILY.

#3 You Are Wanted – Every one of us at one time in our life has felt left out, maybe even ostracized, or made to feel worthless.  But the church is different.  You need to know you are wanted.  That doesn’t mean any pastor or one person can meet all your needs, it means that you are now to step up and start meeting others needs!  Do you want to be a part of a disciple making church?  It won’t come in a class, a bible reading plan, or a performance, merit based system.  It only comes when we step up and start to act like a family that wants to take care of each other and doesn’t wait for a pastor to initiate.  YOU ARE FAMILY.

#4 You Are Valuable –  Written in Luke 15 are three parables, back to back to back.  The parable of the lost sheep which teaches us Jesus leaves all to go and rescue you.  The parable of the lost coin which emphasizes the great worth you have and the celebration that happens when one sinner repents.  Finally, the Prodigal Son which gives us a beautiful picture of failure and redemption through Christ Jesus as we are welcomed back into His family lived out today through the church.  There is no disputing that Jesus looks at us and sees value beyond measure.  YOU ARE FAMILY.

Share below why you feel like you belong in the family of God.  Be bold and courageous and share a story of encouragement to others.

Sunday at Princeton Alliance Church, we will discover how hope for the future always outweighs the pain of the present.  If we want to be a part of the family of God, the church, we must learn to relate together.  Will we be perfect? No, but will we bear one another’s pain and work together, YES!

Josh

Josh Conn is the founding pastor of 217church, a church plant of Princeton Alliance Church.  217church is a contemporary church in Mercer County NJ and meets Sundays at 10:30am at Sharon Elementary school in Robbinsville, NJ.  Visit www.217church.com for more information. or watch a weekend message here.