In Acts 2:42-27, we read about the marks of church family relationships. First, the earliest Christians were devoted to the Apostle’s teaching. This is the beauty of having the apostles’ teachings preserved in Scripture. Church family relationships are guided by the teaching of the Bible. We, too, even though we live 2000 years later, canContinue reading “The model for healthy church families – Relationships: In the Church, Part 3”
Tag Archives: church
Why churches large or little need small groups – Relationships: In the church, Part 2
From time to time, people have communicated to me that there are cliques in Faith Church, as if our church family should be one big close family. We are about 100 people. There is just no way that 100 people can be equally and deeply close with one another. To believe everyone in a groupContinue reading “Why churches large or little need small groups – Relationships: In the church, Part 2”
The surprising beginning of the first church family – Relationships: In a church, Part 1
Calling the people in a local church congregation a “family” is pretty normal in Christian circles. In fact one of the most common ways that the New Testament writers refer to the people in a church congregation is by using the terms “brothers” and “sisters”. We are siblings in Christ. I wonder if that soundsContinue reading “The surprising beginning of the first church family – Relationships: In a church, Part 1”
Can the people in a local church be a family? – Relationships: In the Church, Preview
Just about all our Faith Church emails start with that same line “Hi Family of Faith Church.” Are we really a family? Next week on the blog, we continue our five week topical series about relationships, next studying what God’s word has to say about the people who make up a local church. There areContinue reading “Can the people in a local church be a family? – Relationships: In the Church, Preview”
Sometimes healthy relationships need boundaries – Relationships: Family, Part 5
Sometimes family relationships need boundaries. As a family grows, we simply cannot care for everyone deeply, and frankly some people don’t want to be cared for. Worse, some people are toxic. Some are abusive. When people behave badly, it is okay to impose boundaries on theme. We place boundaries on relationships to stop the hurt,Continue reading “Sometimes healthy relationships need boundaries – Relationships: Family, Part 5”
Sibling rivalry and the Fruit of the Spirit – Relationships: Family, Part 4
We’re talking about relationships, and this is part 4 in our five-part series on family relationships. We’ve looked at husbands and wives, singles and then parents and children. In this post, we’ll discover what the Bible has to say about siblings. We parents earnestly desire that our kids will be close friends. Sibling rivalry, however,Continue reading “Sibling rivalry and the Fruit of the Spirit – Relationships: Family, Part 4”
How the Fruit of the Spirit helps us be healthy parents – Relationships: Family, Part 3
One of the unique ways that married people can serve the Lord is by choosing to grow their family by adding children. Not all married couples will have children, and we would do well to pay attention to the couples who want to have children but wrestle with infertility. We reach out to them withContinue reading “How the Fruit of the Spirit helps us be healthy parents – Relationships: Family, Part 3”
Healthy marriage, healthy singleness – Relationships: Family, Part 2
I think this will not surprise you: husbands and wives are to love one another. In Colossians 3:19 Paul wrote, “Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.” Ephesians 5:25, similarly says, “Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” A few verses later,Continue reading “Healthy marriage, healthy singleness – Relationships: Family, Part 2”
Is the breakdown of the family the cause of societal collapse? – Relationships: Family, Part 1
Some of our favorite television shows of all time are about families. Did you watch Father Knows Best? Leave it to Beaver? The Brady Bunch? When Michelle and I were young parents, we loved Parenthood about the Braverman family, led by parents Zeke and Camille and their four adult children and many grandkids, who allContinue reading “Is the breakdown of the family the cause of societal collapse? – Relationships: Family, Part 1”
What is family? – Relationships: Family, Preview
My family has changed a lot over the last 6-7 years. For a long time we were six. Two parents, and four kids. Then our older boys went to college, and our home had five, then four people. Then those boys got married. Though they left the house and started families with our daughter-in-laws, andContinue reading “What is family? – Relationships: Family, Preview”
Engaging Scripture 