PEOPLE OF POWER - Power Of Family // One Church Podcast, 29th September 2025

We are one church. We love God, love people, love

His mission, and love His church.

Welcome to the One Church podcast.

We're. Just continuing our series on

people of power. And the aim of this series

really is to kind of restate some of who we are, some of our

culture, our core values, and who God has called us to be as

one church. But also we want to equip you as

the body of Christ in your spheres of influence to be

people of power where you are. So far we've looked at the power

of surrender, the power of giving, the power of miracles.

Last week the power of prayer, and today the power of family.

And so we're going to look at three different kind of

elements. Today we're going to look at

what the one church family looks like.

We're going to think about the the days of the early church.

What did family look like in the days of the early church, and

what can this look like for me today?

That's really where we're going to hone in.

We're going to look at what this really can mean for you in the

room today, whether this is your first time or whether this is

your church family. What can the family of God look

like for you? All families look different.

Some are big, some are small. Some are loud and chaotic.

Some are calm and compassionate. Some are strained and distant.

Some are intimate and close. There are many things that

family can be. And I would just like to

acknowledge at the outset that when we speak about family, I

can appreciate that that can bring up some difficult emotions

in people based on experiences. And I just really feel that God

would like to bring some healing to you in the room.

So if you carry wounds, if you carry pain, whether that's from

the church family or from biological family, be open and

ready because I believe God does want to bring healing to us

today. All families have their own

culture and their own way of doing things.

Something in our family, the remote control is called the

buttons. I think it's basically a bit

hard when you're teaching a 2 year old how to speak to say

remote control. So we went for the buttons and

it stuck. So that's us.

And another thing, we eat breakfast together every morning

and we do Lectio for families, which is a prayer devotional app

for families to do together. And we did have this moment the

other week where we thought maybe we're the only people in

the world that use this app because for two weeks it hadn't

been updated and I had to get in touch with them to tell them

that it hadn't been updated. I thought, are we the only

people that do this? Well, I'm grateful if we are the

only people that use that app. I'm grateful they do it for us.

Our kids love it. They love the memory verse.

Their favourite memory verse is as the deer pants for the water

because it means they get to say pants family culture at one

church. So you can hear more about this

in detail on the 9th of November at our Newcomers Night.

And just to say that if you wouldn't consider yourself as

new, but you haven't been to a Newcomers Night, can I really

urge you to still come along? It's a brilliant opportunity.

If this is the only experience of one church you've ever had in

this building, it's an amazing chance for you to hear about the

breadth of one church and holistically see what we do

across the city and also in the world as well.

So we would really encourage you to be part of that on the 9th of

November. But just briefly, the the vision

of one church is 4 simple things.

Firstly, that we love God. That means that we're Jesus

centred, we're passionate about the Father heart, we're Bible

believing and we're spirit filled.

And what spirit filled means is that we believe in the power of

the Holy Spirit operating through his church, the body of

Christ today. Secondly, we love people.

We love all people. That means that everyone's

welcome here. We love all nations.

Next week, we're so excited about Nations Day, the

opportunity to celebrate over 60 nationalities, part of one

church. And if you're from a nation, you

could come and wear something that represents your nation or

your heritage, then please do come ready to celebrate.

And we love getting to see the breadth of the body of Christ

from so, so many different nations.

We love all generations. So from babies in the room right

the way through to our precious seniors in their 90s.

And we're all disciples, so we long that all would grow and

thrive in their faith. And Jesus.

We love God, we love people, we love his mission reaching the

lost. The church is here for those not

yet part of it. We love his mission, serving

those in need. Maybe you've heard of Open

Hands, which is our compassion charity.

It began very simply in 2006 and now supports hundreds of people

every week with the basics in life.

Things that maybe you and I would take for granted, like

food, clothing, furniture, English classes for people as

they move to the country, and so much more.

Again, you can find out more about that at Newcomers and

Changing the World. We have a variety of missions

partners, including organisations who support

fostering and adopting families. We support an organisation that

supports persecuted church and missions work across the globe

as well. So considering people in India,

Ghana, Kenya and beyond. And there's so much more I could

say, but I'll save it for the 9th.

And we love His church, love God, love people, love His

mission and love His church. We're committed to continuing

planting sites, so this is one of five sites across Leicester

and Loughborough and there will be more planted in the future.

Practising Unity We are passionate about the United

movement in Leicester and partnering with other local

churches in Leicestershire and Loughborough.

We simply cannot fulfil the Great Commission on our own.

As wonderful as one church is, it requires the Body of Christ

across the globe to fulfil the Great Commission.

And we believe in servant leadership and empowering men

and women. These are our family values as

one church. These are fundamental things

that we believe every area of church life should align with.

And to be part of this family, probably you're going to need to

feel that you can align with those four values as well in

order to play your part and be part of the family.

We long to know you. You are needed in this place to

play your part, and we long to know you as well.

We long for those two things to go together, needed and known.

So that's the one church family that you're part of here today.

But what about the early church family?

So in the days after Jesus ascended to heaven and the Holy

Spirit was poured out, it was an exciting time to be a believer.

It says that the Lord added to their number daily with those

who were being saved, sometimes even by the thousands.

Why were people finding faith in Jesus and sticking it out?

I believe it had everything to do with family.

Here's a picture of what the early church looked like.

This is Acts chapter 2 from verse 42 to verse 47, and we'll

Acts 2 · chapter mention

just break it down as we go. Says they devoted themselves to

the apostles teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of

bread and to prayer. So they devoted themselves.

So a healthy family requires commitment.

We have to be intentional. Yes, we are intentional in our

decision to follow Jesus, but also intentional in our decision

to be part of the family. It says they devoted themselves

to fellowship. So a healthy family spends time

together. Relationships require time and

energy for a family to grow. And often that can be really

difficult on a Sunday to to go deeper, go beyond just kind of,

hey, how was your week? And that's why we believe in

small groups as our most effective form of pastoral care,

of discipleship and of community.

And you can come and ask us questions or head to the Connect

point if you want to know more about small groups today as

well. And it says that they prayed

together. So a healthy family prays

together. We have the prayer army on Zoom

on a Friday morning. We pray in small groups.

And through January we're going to be having three days of

prayer and fasting, which is for the whole family.

We're going to ask that people come, commit some time back to

God before the the kind of rest of the activity kicks in.

And we would implore you to be there, be part of that.

Come to at least one session and let's seek God together in

prayer as a family and believe that we're going to see amazing

things. From verse 43, it says everyone

was filled with all at the many wonders and signs performed by

the apostles. All the believers were together

and had everything in common. They sold property and

possessions to give to anyone who had need.

So it says they were together. A healthy family has a common

aim and vision. They were together and had

everything in common. As I shared at the beginning,

the one church heart. We love God, we love people, we

love his mission, we love his church.

Common aim and a common vision as a family says that they gave

to anyone who had need a healthy family bears one another's

burdens. We cry together, we laugh

together and if we can help you, then please speak up.

If there are practical or spiritual things that we can

support you with ongoing, then let's come alongside one another

when we're in need. Often we help people with moving

house or cooking meals when a new baby comes to join a family

or driving somebody to a an appointment that maybe they're

worrying about so they don't have to go on their own.

We bear one another's burdens as family.

Verse 46 says every day they continue to meet together in

temple courts. They broke bread in their homes

and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and

enjoying the favour of all the people and the Lord added to

their number daily those who were being saved.

It says that they ate together. I hope you're excited about

that. I'm excited about eating

together. A healthy family eats together.

Maybe you're outside of the young adults brackets.

Or why don't you take on the mantle of feeding a young adult.

I promise you that they're less scary than they look, or most of

them are at least, and they will bite your hand off for free food

and the the potential of having Leicester grandparents, parents,

aunts and uncles. So please do.

Let's come alongside our young adults and one another and eat

together with glad and sincere hearts.

A healthy family displays love and affection to each other.

So that's the early church family of God.

But what about for me and you? What about my family?

What about this church family here?

How can I play my part in that and receive from that?

We're going to read 1 Corinthians 12 together.

It's titled One body with many parts.

The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one

whole body. So it is with the body of

Christ. Some of us who are Jews, some

are Gentiles, some are slaves and some are free.

But we have all been baptised into one body by 1 spirit and we

all share the same spirit. Yes, the body has many different

parts, not just one part. If the foot says I'm not a part

of the body because I'm not a hand, that does not make it any

less a part of the body. And if the ear says I'm not a

part of the body because I'm not an eye, would that make it any

less a part of the body? If the whole body were an eye,

how would you hear? Or if the whole body were an

ear, how would you smell anything?

But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just

where He wants it. How strange a body would be if

it only had one part. Yes, there are many parts, but

only one body. The eye can never say to the

hand I don't need you, and the head can't say to the feet I

don't need you. In fact, some parts of the body

that seem the weakest and least important are actually the most

necessary. And the parts we regard as less

honourable are those we clothed with the greatest care.

So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen,

while the more honourable parts do not require this special

care. So God has put the body together

such that extra honour and care are given to those parts that

have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the

members, so that the members care for each other.

If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one

part is honoured, all the parts are glad.

All of you together are Christ's body and each of you is a part

of it. So what does this church family

look like for you and for me? I think three things for us

today. The 1st is taking

responsibility. Sometimes I think it can be easy

to assume that your gift and what you bring to the table,

your part in this family, is not as valuable or not as important.

Maybe you think where the role of the preacher or the prophet

or the worship leader, the evangelist is much more

important or valuable is simply not true.

I would say today that if your gift is hospitality for example,

that your gift could be the difference between somebody

experiencing the heart of God and experiencing a man made

system or structure. Maybe if your gift is

administration, then your gift could be the difference between

people feeling equipped and empowered in a team or feeling

lost and insecure. If your gift is encouragement,

then using your gift could be the difference between somebody

feeling spurred on in their faith and into who God has

called them to be or being stuck in the chains of their old life.

Every single part of the body is gifted so that they can play

their part in the functional operation of the body, he says.

I'm not a part of the body because I'm not an eye.

You would never say that we would all consider the IA part

of the body, right? But maybe you've caught yourself

saying, well, I'm not an evangelist or a prophet or a

teacher, and so my part is not as important.

But the passage goes on to say that so you should earnestly

desire the most helpful gifts. And I would say that the most

helpful gift that you can have is the one that God has placed

inside of you to bless His body. Firstly, we take responsibility.

Acknowledge today that your gift is important and it really

matters. Secondly, for us, accepting

limitation, Maybe for you it's actually the opposite feeling

and you kind of feel like actually I've got this life as a

believer covered, I've got this down.

I know God, I know how to seek him for myself, I know how to

share him with my world. But perhaps you've been hurt by

church and as an organisation or by Christians.

As a broad people group. We have to accept our

limitations. We simply cannot be everything

or have everything when we find ourselves in isolation.

You might say, well God is enough for me, Yes, God is

enough for you, but he made me to be in community with others.

In the very beginning. God made companion for Adam.

He said it is not good for man to be alone.

And so companionship and company and community was God's idea

from the beginning. It would be wrong to not pause

here and just acknowledge that if you do carry her from a

previous church family, from this church family, or even from

your biological family, then I acknowledge that that pain is

real. But I feel that the Father would

come alongside you, put his gentle arms around you, and say

it's time to go again in the body of Christ, in the family of

God. You know, God is big enough to

carry you through to healing and wholeness from the pain that

you've carried. And let me say on behalf of the

church that I'm sorry for any time that a believer has wounded

you. Let's let this place be a place

where we are safe, and this is a safe place for people to be

vulnerable again. Here's a story from a lady who

joined one church 3 years ago. I started coming to 1 church in

2022. I would arrive late and leave

fairly quickly after the service had finished.

I wanted to be in God's presence, but I wasn't looking

to be a part of a community. My mind just equated it to just

being constantly hurt and dismissed.

I loved God, loved people, but hated the church.

It just didn't feel safe. This went on for about a year,

me intermittently attending until one of the pastors

approached a friend of mine because I probably would have

run away and in the most loving way through her, challenged my

evasiveness, showed compassion, and left the door open for a

response. They said something along the

lines of we can see she's hurting and just want her to

know that this is a safe place. There's no expectation for her

to have to serve in a particular way, we just want her to know

that she's loved and for her to be in community because she is

part of the body. They asked my friend to relay

this to me as they knew she was someone I felt safe with.

Cut to me sobbing as my friend recounted this to me.

So I signed up for a welcome evening following this.

It's been a journey of allowing people to show up for me and

love me in my mess, not just because of what I'm able to do

for them, as well as allowing God to redefine the meaning of

church. Getting to grips with the

reality that to be in community is to be vulnerable and to allow

yourself to be hurt by people, but also to be loved, which is

what I have seen and experienced at one church.

Is it perfect? No, we're still human.

But this community has consistently shown up in love

for myself and others through word and action.

Choosing to display Jesus to the person in front of them and a

willingness to walk out their pain with them, no matter how

stubborn that person may be. That's family.

It's messy and it's beautiful and there's a space for us all.

Isn't that amazing? We have to accept our

limitations. If you're an I, you really need

the ears, the nose, the mouth, the body, the feet.

We need each other to effectively fulfil the mission

that God sets out for us because the mission was given to the

church, not just me, not just pastors to the church.

And when you find community and when you value community, then

even when you go through a season where you feel disconnect

from God, but maybe you feel frustrated with God, but staying

in community because you have a genuine love for other believers

then puts you in a position where you can hear the voice of

God both through gatherings but also through fellow believers.

Don't isolate yourself. Maybe you find yourself

resisting community for the fear of losing your freedom.

It can be scary to lean into accountability within community

because maybe somebody's going to bring you some wisdom that

says I love you, but I think the Lord would call you to do that

differently. But humanity thrives within

boundaries. So don't see community as a

potential loss of freedom. See it as filling the plot that

God has set out for you. And then thirdly, maintaining

unity within diversity. So, so God has put the body

together and then it goes on to say if one part suffers, all the

parts suffer with it and if one part is honoured, all the parts

are glad. All of you together are the body

of Christ and each of you is a part of it.

You know God put the body together.

He knew that we would be different to each other, with

different strengths, different weaknesses, different passions,

different opinions, and that's why He put us together so that

our unity would bring proper function to the body of Christ

in its complexity. If you consider for a moment all

the people that are not yet part of this congregation, they're

going to relate to certain people in this room more than

others because of their unique set of circumstances and

experiences. For me, if ever I meet a 19 year

old who is looking to get married, and I'm telling you

that is quite a unique set of circumstances, but I say let me

tell you my story because that was my story.

But maybe there's somebody in the room that comes in and they

say I'm training to be a midwife.

I might say have you met Georgia or somebody that says I need a

job in physio? I'll say talk to Meg, she's got

a new job in physio. And that's the beauty of the

body of Christ. Our diversity is what makes us a

place where others can see we're not carbon copies of each other.

We're a whole array of people that in our diversity are united

in our focus to know God and to make Him known.

You know the reason we bang on about serving teams so much?

There's a few reasons, but two of them.

Firstly, it's easy to get to know people when you serve

alongside them. I mean, if you look across this

room, that's a lot of people to try and talk to on one day.

Maybe you think, where do I even begin?

But if you're on a serving team, you've got your little team of

four or five people that you can get to know.

And then from there you can branch out and talk to another

four or five people serving on that team.

It's an amazing way to get to know people.

But also we love putting people in roles that lean to their

God-given gifts because when we don't do that, it doesn't really

honour the body. If we're all serving in areas

that we're not gifted in, we're actually depriving somebody who

is gifted in that area to serve. God can use us in anything and

and he will bless you as you fulfil A gaffe.

I'm convinced of that as well. But the body and the individual

can thrive when they're strategically placed where

they're called. But that's only possible if

everyone plays their part. Everyone serves, everyone leads,

everyone loves, everyone comes alongside.

Because you're different to me, praise God, you're different to

me. That means you can fulfil things

that I cannot fulfil. And your role in this house goes

beyond a slot. Serving on a rota and A1 in

three rotation. It's serving and blessing the

people that God loves so dearly. So ask a question today about a

team or I bet if you opened your emails, if you're on the one

church database, you will have an e-mail you've not read day to

read. It might be interesting.

And then maybe be willing to serve somewhere and then give

your all as you serve as if you were serving God and not just

people. This is family.

Family takes responsibility, accepts limitation, and

maintains unity within diversity.

The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine

upon you and be gracious. To you.

The Lord turn his face towards you and give you peace.