The language of family is enormously prominent throughout the whole Bible. We are to think of God as our Father in whom we find our self-understanding and worth. In Jesus Christ we have received the Spirit of Sonship by which we call upon God personally and intimately.

For some people, their experience of earthly family is marred and too painful to think about. Yet God’s loving purpose is to swallow up pain and hurt and even death itself in the victory of the full revelation of His eternal Fatherhood.

So the Apostle Paul prays in this way:
I kneel before the Father, from whom His whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. (Eph 3:14-15)

The full implication of this is not only found in our relationship with God as Father but in our relationships with each other as family.

How is your church family going?

How are you going as a family member?

We all know in theory that love and honour are to characterise our relationships but in 1 Tim 5:1-3 the Apostle Paul sharpens our thinking. We are to consider how we love and honour in particular ways as we think and behave towards those around us who are older or younger, who are male or female, or who are in some special need. That is, we need to move from love in theory to love in particular relational action.

What characterises your relationships at the moment with those  in your church family?

Scott Goode,
Assistant Pastor.

To view the Church Bulletin dated 2nd October, 2011 click on this link: 02OCT2011