Family is important. One of the first things God created was a family. He got Adam and Eve together and told them to multiply. God saved Noah and his family. When the angel of death passed over the Israelites, whole families were saved. The whole of Jewish and Christian history is not based upon God calling a select few of special individuals, but particular generations and whole families. Abraham had sons and daughters, they in turn had sons and daughters. Jesus was supported by his family, his mother, father, and brothers. Jesus invites us to be part of His family.
God built His church on the principle of family. God as our Father, and yet we also have mothers, brothers, sisters, daughters, sons, in Christ.
The family unit is the strongest force in the world. In the new testament, they baptised and preached to whole households, not just individuals. The early church was made up of many different family units coming together in a common cause. They had strength of biological family, they had the strength of spiritual family. This contributed to the strength of the early church in times of intense persecution. Those who did not have saved family members, were not treated as individuals. They were treated as members of the one family.
The strongest churches are those which are built upon the family unit. A church built up with multiple generations, from grandchildren , children, to parents, to grandparents. I believe these are the strongest and most stable churches.
When I was baptised, my whole family was there. Both my biological and spiritual family. Every single person of the church came to witness and support, even though it was a Sunday afternoon outside church hours. I believe if you want to feel at home in your church, then find a family. Asian culture has a strong concept of family. When I go to an asian church I always feel at home, because it feels like a family. Also, house or home churches, have that family feel as well.
Sadly there are people without a family. Realise the evils of such things as abortion, homosexuality, divorce , alcohol abuse, pornography etc are not just designed to destroy an individiual, but are all designed by satan to attack the very foundation of the strongest thing we have - the family unit. Arguably, nursing homes are designed to take people away from family also. Also, we can thank God for technologies such as the internet which has given people a way to connect with others who do not have family or cannot find a family, and provide support.
Realise that God's particular blessing and favour is not just upon you as an individual believer, but also your family. You also benefit from the faithfulness of previous generations in your own family. I believe when God looks down upon the earth, He does not just see individuals, He sees families.
There are plenty of family orientated ideas in the bible. A few are here:
2Ti 1:16 May the Lord show mercy to the family of Onesiphorus, because he cheered me up many times. He was not ashamed that I am in prison,
1Ti 5:16 If any believing man or believing woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be charged, so that it may relieve those who are widows indeed.
1Ti 5:8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially his family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an infidel.
Deu 7:9 Remember that the LORD your God is the only God and that he is faithful. He will keep his covenant and show his constant love to a thousand generations of those who love him and obey his commands,
1Co 1:16 And I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides these, I do not know if I baptized any other.
1Ti 5:4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they should learn first to carry out their religious duties toward their own family and in this way repay their parents and grandparents, because that is what pleases God.
God built His church on the principle of family. God as our Father, and yet we also have mothers, brothers, sisters, daughters, sons, in Christ.
The family unit is the strongest force in the world. In the new testament, they baptised and preached to whole households, not just individuals. The early church was made up of many different family units coming together in a common cause. They had strength of biological family, they had the strength of spiritual family. This contributed to the strength of the early church in times of intense persecution. Those who did not have saved family members, were not treated as individuals. They were treated as members of the one family.
The strongest churches are those which are built upon the family unit. A church built up with multiple generations, from grandchildren , children, to parents, to grandparents. I believe these are the strongest and most stable churches.
When I was baptised, my whole family was there. Both my biological and spiritual family. Every single person of the church came to witness and support, even though it was a Sunday afternoon outside church hours. I believe if you want to feel at home in your church, then find a family. Asian culture has a strong concept of family. When I go to an asian church I always feel at home, because it feels like a family. Also, house or home churches, have that family feel as well.
Sadly there are people without a family. Realise the evils of such things as abortion, homosexuality, divorce , alcohol abuse, pornography etc are not just designed to destroy an individiual, but are all designed by satan to attack the very foundation of the strongest thing we have - the family unit. Arguably, nursing homes are designed to take people away from family also. Also, we can thank God for technologies such as the internet which has given people a way to connect with others who do not have family or cannot find a family, and provide support.
Realise that God's particular blessing and favour is not just upon you as an individual believer, but also your family. You also benefit from the faithfulness of previous generations in your own family. I believe when God looks down upon the earth, He does not just see individuals, He sees families.
There are plenty of family orientated ideas in the bible. A few are here:
2Ti 1:16 May the Lord show mercy to the family of Onesiphorus, because he cheered me up many times. He was not ashamed that I am in prison,
1Ti 5:16 If any believing man or believing woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be charged, so that it may relieve those who are widows indeed.
1Ti 5:8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially his family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an infidel.
Deu 7:9 Remember that the LORD your God is the only God and that he is faithful. He will keep his covenant and show his constant love to a thousand generations of those who love him and obey his commands,
1Co 1:16 And I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides these, I do not know if I baptized any other.
1Ti 5:4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they should learn first to carry out their religious duties toward their own family and in this way repay their parents and grandparents, because that is what pleases God.
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