Exposing Our Blind Spots – The Model Family
Blind spots … adopt unhelpful and unbiblical thinking that impacts how people understand what it means to be a follower of Jesus.
The average family!
Old & New Testament changes
OT … family and children are tied to covenant blessings.
NT … getting married and having a large family is still good but it is not tied directly with God’s covenant blessings
Matthew 12:46, “my mother and brothers are those who do the will of his Father in heaven.”
… expanding his perspective of family
Mark 10 … they will gain a 100 times more.
2 Timothy 2:1 Paul refers to Timothy as his own child.
1 Thess 2… the church at Thessalonica as his children.
Our potential blind spot
= both church and your biological family is your family
Church is about family, it is about God’s family gathered together around his word seeking to live for his glory.
Us and our fellow Christians
… church family should actively pursue deep friendships
… this makes the Christian life deeply attractive to those who love Jesus but do not have family.
Those who do not know Jesus
… extremely compelling to those who do not know Jesus to find out more about why Christians show this sort of love to each other.
Taking a step forward
…there is not overnight fix that is possible.
Some thoughts …
…involve others
… Invite others across family groupings
… Extend your family boundaries
… Modify your church connections.
… Show genuine relational love and care to each other
… Develop deep relationships
… Care for those who are sick
Some final notes:
1) We all must do it
2) Not actually asking us to do more
3) Marriage and family is only for a short time
4) Might get occasionally messy
5) Do not force
Qu: How can we make sure that being a church family is not just talk?