Formed for God’s Family
Newbreak’s Sermon Study Guide is an in-house resource that serves sermon-based Life Groups and/or individuals who want to reflect further on how the message contributes to their spiritual formation. In this week’s study, lean in as we talk about the mindset of Jesus that challenges us in all of our relationships!
You Were Formed for God’s Family
“God doesn’t just want you to know and love _______________, he also wants you to know and love his _______________.”
That family is the church of the living God. (1 Timothy 3:15b)
[God’s] unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 1:5)
But all who received [Jesus Christ], to them – that is, to those who trust in his name – he has given the privilege of becoming children of God. (John 1:12)
I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciple. (John 13:34-35)
“The number one reason God wants us to love each other is so the world will see our love and will want to become a part of God’s family too. God wants us to love each other because other people’s eternal destinies are at stake.”
Four Levels of Fellowship
The Fellowship of _______________ Together
All the believers met together constantly and shared everything with each other. (Acts 2:44) Let us not give up the habit of meeting together...Instead, let us encourage one another... (Hebrew 10:25)
Open your homes to each other, without complaining. (1 Peter 4:9)
“When you let people into your home, you let them into your life. You can’t learn to love people if you’re always shutting them out.”
Share your _______________.
When you gather...each of you be prepared with something that will be useful for all: Sing a hymn, teach a lesson, tell a story, lead a prayer, provide an insight...Take your turn, no one person taking over...and you all learn from each other. (1 Cor. 14:26-31)
Share your _______________.
Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. (Romans 12:15)
The Fellowship of _______________ Together
“God wants every one of us to belong to a church family.”
This week’s memory verse:
You are members of God’s very own family...and you belong in God’ s household with every other Christian. (Ephesians 2:19b)
“Being a Christian is more than believing – it’s _______________. Without a church you don’t have a spiritual home.”
In Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. (Romans 12:5)
The person who loves God must also love other believers. (1 John 4:21)
Love your spiritual family. (1 Peter 2:17)
The Fellowship of _______________ Together
We are partners working together for God. (1 Corinthians 3:9a)
Two people are better than one, because they get more done by working together. (Ecclesiastes 4:9)
The whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. (Ephesians 4:16)
The Fellowship of _______________ Together
Share each other’s troubles and problems, and in this way obey the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2)
“When you serve together, you do your _______________, but when you suffer together, you share your _______________.”
If one member suffers, all suffer together. (1 Corinthians 12:26a)
Be devoted to each other like a loving family. (Romans 12:10a)
We know what real love is because Christ gave up his life for us. And so we also ought to give up our lives for our Christian brothers and sisters. (1 John 3:16)
Questions for Group Discussion or Personal Reflection
- What new insight did you gain from the video segment? What idea really grabbed hold of you?
- Which of these statements is most true of you? A) I squeeze my relationships into my schedule, or B) I plan my relationships into my schedule. Why is this the case for you? What effect does your choice have on your life and relationships?
- What could you change in your schedule to give you more time to build healthy relationships?
- How has God’s family, the church, helped you come to know God better and love Him more?
- How do you honestly feel about the church? What experiences have contributed to your love for God’s family? What experiences have caused you to question your love for the church?
- What does your level of church involvement say about your love for God’s family?
- What church ministries are most helpful in enabling you to share together with other believers?
- What prevents church members from sharing their experiences and support with each other?
- How, when, and where have you most felt a sense of belonging in a local congregation?
- Tell about an experience in which you served together with other Christians that resulted in authentic fellowship and deepened your relationship with the Lord.
- Have you ever experienced genuine fellowship because someone entered into your suffering or you entered into theirs?
- What’s one thing you could do to help cultivate the characteristics of fellowship in our church?
Assignments
- Memorize Ephesians 2:19b.
- Read Days 15-21 of The Purpose Driven Life. Pick your favorite quote and share it.
- Pray daily for yourself, group members, and church.
- Visit Purpose Driven and read for daily inspiration.