We Are Family!

“…all of you are like brothers and sisters.” (Matthew 23:8, CEV)

Because we are God’s Children…

We Are Family! God’s love has enabled us to become His

children. (1 John 3:1) Since God is our Father, we do His will.

(Matthew 12:50) We acknowledge one another as family.

(Matthew 23:8-9) We accept our family relationship as the

fulfillment of a wonderful promise. (Mark 10:28-31; Matt. 19:27-30; Luke 18:29-30)

We Are Family!What strong families do:• Appreciation. • Deal with Crises in a Positive Manner.• Spend Time Together. • Have a High Degree of Commitment.• Communicate Well.

Profile of a Strong FamilyHuman Development & Family Dept. University of Nebraska at Lincoln

We Are Family!What strong families do:Appreciation!• “Family members gave one another

compliments and sincere demonstrations of approval. They tried to make the others feel appreciated and good about themselves.”

• As Romans 12:10 commands us!

We Are Family!What strong families do:

Deal with crises in a positive manner!• “They were willing to take a bad

situation, see something positive in it and focus on that.”

• Just as first century Christians did! (Acts 4:23-32; Phil. 4:1-4; 2 Cor. 2:8)

We Are Family!What strong families do:

Spend time together!• “In all areas of their lives--meals, work,

recreation--they structured their schedules to spend time together.”

• In God’s Spiritual family, the early disciples did this often! (Acts 2:44, 46)

We Are Family!What strong families do:

Have a high degree of commitment!• “Families promoted each person's

happiness and welfare, invested time and energy in each other and made family their number one priority.”

• Commitment is seen in a willingness to sacrifice for one another’s welfare (Galatians 6:1-2, 10)

We Are Family!What strong families do:

Communicate well!• “These families spent time talking with

each other. They also listened well, which shows respect.”

• Good communication requires– Self revelation and confession – Thinking before talking (Pr. 29:20)– Eager listening (James 1:19; Pr. 18:13)

We Are Family! As God’s family we are to be…

Knit Together in Love!(Colossians 2:1-2; 3:12-14; 1:11)

Being a loving family…• Takes tenderness, kindness, humility,

meekness & longsuffering• Takes endurance & forbearance.• Means forgiving and being forgiven!