IDENTITY 1-1-1 January 23, 2011 (Week 3- BELONG)

Keys to the Abundant Life

Loving God’s Family

First Free Will Baptist Church, Church Hill, TN

January 23rd, 2011

“God is the one who made all things, and all things are for his glory. He wanted to have many children share his glory...” Hebrews 2:10a (NCV)

“ Because of his love, God has already decided to make us his own children through Jesus Christ. That is what he wanted and what pleased him” Ephesians 1:5 (NCV)

“Show respect for all people: Love the brothers and sisters of God’s family…" 1 Peter 2:17a (NCV)


My 2nd purpose in life is to belong to a church family.

FELLOWSHIP is loving God’s Family.


“I’m writing… so you’ll know how to live in the family of God. That family is the church of the living God, the support and foundation of the truth” 1 Timothy 3:14-15 (NCV)


Four Levels of Fellowship:


Level 1: Membership: CHOOSING TO BELONG


“...You are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God” Ephesians 2:19 (NKJV)

“so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.” Romans 12:5 (NKJV)

“Some of us are Jews, and some are Greeks. Some of us are slaves, and some are free. But we are all baptized into one body through one Spirit. …”  1 Corinthians 12:13 (NCV)

 
Level 2: Friendship: LEARNING TO SHARE

“All the believers were together and shared everything.” Acts 2:44 (NCV)

• Our EXPERIENCES
“As iron sharpens iron, so people can improve each other.” Proverbs 27:17 (NCV)

• Our HOMES
“Open your homes to each other.” 1 Peter 4:9 (NCV)

• Our PROBLEMS
“Bear one another’s burdens…” Galatians 6:2 (NKJV)

“You should not stay away from the church meetings, as some are doing, but you should meet together and encourage each other” Hebrews 10:25 (NCV)

Level 3: Partnership: DOING MY PART


“For we are God’s fellow workers;” 1 Corinthians 3:9a (NKJV)

“The whole body depends on Christ, and all the parts of the body are joined and held together. Each part does its own work to make the whole body grow and be strong with love.” Ephesians 4:16 (NCV)

“… inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me” Matthew 25:40 (NKJV)


Level 4: Kinship: LOVING BELIEVERS LIKE FAMILY

“Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;” Romans 12:10 (NKJV)


“By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” 1 John 3:16 (NKJV)

“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”  John 13:35 (NKJV)

“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:26 (NKJV)