Sometimes, Christians feel closer to each other than to their own family. The word family means being close, united, and caring for each other. Jesus said that anyone who follows God’s will is like family to Him. This reminds us that when we become Christians, we join a new kind of family.
In his message, A New Kind Of Family, Pastor Greg Laurie says believers in essence, are part of two families. We’re part of our earthly families, and we’re part of the family of God. There are privileges and responsibilities that go with both.
Sometimes, it’s hard to talk about our faith with our family. One side may not want to hear about the other side. So, what does God expect from us in these important family relationships?
Fully God and Fully Man
Jesus had a family too. He had a mother named Mary and a Father named God, and He also had brothers and sisters. Jesus had a childhood, a mysterious childhood, no doubt. There’s never been another man who walked the earth who was fully God and fully man.
‘Jesus was indeed perfect,’ says Greg. ‘He was the perfect son. When the Father says of Jesus, this is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased, and the Holy Spirit comes upon Him in the form of a dove, how does His biological family respond?’
In Mark Chapter 3:20-21, when Jesus’ family heard what was happening as the crowds began to gather, they tried to take Him away. Jesus was busy doing the work of the Father and His family thinks He’s out of His mind.
‘The hardest people to reach for the gospel are those who are closest to you,’ says Greg. Sometimes people will say, the reason I’m not a Christian is because they knew a follower of Christ who was a hypocrite.’
A New Family
‘Do you think Christ was ever a hypocrite? Do you think He ever said or did anything that was inconsistent with who He was? Well, of course the answer is no. He was the perfect example, yet they still did not believe in Him. In fact, we even read that Jesus could do no miracles in His hometown of Nazareth because of the unbelief of the people.’
As the story progresses, word came to Jesus, that His family came back to visit with Him. But listen to this response of Christ. Who is my mother? Who are my brothers? Then He looked at those around Him, and He said, this is My mother. These are My brothers and sisters. In fact, anyone who does the will of My Father is My brother and sister and mother.
When we become Christians we are placed in a new family. That doesn’t mean we’re not still part of our biological family. We say that we’re related by blood, but when we become followers of Jesus, are we not also related by blood? The blood of Jesus Christ that was shed on the cross for all of our sin.
Bringing People to Jesus
‘Jesus now establishes His new family of disciples,’ says Greg. ‘As we look at these people, we see they had such diverse personalities. We recognise them because they’re probably much like our own relatives.’
God chose a diverse group of people to spread the message of Jesus, and that’s at the core of what every Christian should be focused on, bringing people to Jesus.
‘What a great thing to be known for,’ says Greg.
Listen to Greg’s full message below:
