Mark Ch3v31-35 - Members Of The Family

If you've got your Bibles there, would you please turn to Mark's Gospel, Chapter 3.

! We're going to be reading that in just a sec.

Thank you.

Thank you.

We've been looking at members of the kingdom.

Last week we looked at members of the family.

Last week members of the body and today we're looking at members of the family.

And just as a reminder that as a follow-up, we meet on Wednesday evening across the road in the Lion's Centre

where we get to follow up on what we've been looking at on the morning time.

So we're going to have a specific focus on Wednesday on baptism and the Lord's Supper

and how they are connected and how they relate to church life.

So please come along and a great opportunity to discuss in small group and ask your questions together.

Father, we're going to pray first and then look at God's Word.

Father, thank you for your good gifts to us.

Thank you for your word and thank you for your spirit.

And we pray that you would speak to us afresh, helping us to see what it means to be members of the family.

In Jesus' name. Amen.

A couple of questions to start with.

Did you come here this morning with family?

Did you come here with family?

Or are you coming here to meet with family?

Or are you here alone?

Or are you gathering with brothers and sisters?

You see, how we answer those questions will tell us a lot about how we understand church and how we relate to church.

You see, the Bible uses many different word pictures to describe the church.

So the church is like a kingdom and Jesus is our King who rules over us.

We saw last week that the church is like a body and Jesus is our head who is the source of all true life.

The church is like a bride and Jesus is our husband who in love gives his life for us.

But there's one picture, there's one description that is deeper and richer than all the rest.

And it gets to the very heart of what it means to be church.

And it's simply this.

The church is a family.

The church is a family.

The Bible doesn't say the church is like a family.

It's like a kingdom, like a body, like a bride.

But the Bible says we are a family.

Consider with me what Jesus said about the church and family.

And get ready for a surprise.

Look at Mark chapter 3 verse 31.

Mark 3:31

Mark chapter 3 verse 31.

Mark 3:31

Jesus had been in a discussion with some of the religious leaders

and his own biological family arrive.

Let's pick it up in verse 31.

Then Jesus' mother and brothers arrived.

Standing outside, they sent someone in to call for Jesus.

A crowd was sitting around Jesus and they told him,

Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.

Who are my mother and my brothers, he asked.

Then he looked at those seated in the circle around him and he said,

Here are my mother and my brothers.

For whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother.

Isn't that surprising?

Jesus redefines our understanding of family.

He shows us that our true family are those who do the will of God.

That is, those who are of the faith.

Jesus.

Or have a look at Mark chapter 10.

Mark 10 · chapter mention

And verse 29.

Mark chapter 10 verse 29.

Mark 10:29

Here, Jesus has been talking about what it means to follow Jesus.

The cost.

So sometimes when we follow him,

it means that people will go against us.

So pick it up in, sorry, we'll pick it up in verse 28.

Then Peter spoke up and said to Jesus and the others,

We have left everything to follow you.

Truly I tell you, Jesus replied,

No one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields,

that is all their resources for me and the gospel,

will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age.

Homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields,

along with persecution and in the age to come, eternal life.

Did you see that?

If we follow Jesus,

it may mean that our family will fall out with us,

but we gain a hundred times more in terms of family.

You see, Jesus is making it crystal clear.

It's not biology that connects us,

but our relationship and commitment to Jesus.

So to go back to those questions we asked at the very beginning,

if we are Christians,

we have come primarily to meet with family.

If we are followers of Jesus,

we are gathering with our brothers and sisters.

Now that doesn't mean to say that our biological families are not important

and that we should dismiss them.

They are vitally important.

And the Bible has a lot to say about our families.

Parents, if you are a parent here today,

you are to nurture and care for your children,

to teach them God's word and to remind them of what the Bible says.

And children, if you are a child,

you are to obey your parents,

to honour them.

In fact, if we don't care for our families,

if we don't look after our families,

it's a sure sign of unbelief.

Look at the screen here,

this verse from 1 Timothy.

Anyone who does not provide for their relatives

and especially for their own household

or their own family

has denied the faith

and is worse than an unbeliever.

You see, our biological family responsibilities

and our duties and care for one another

are not to be in competition with the church family.

Rather, our biological families

are there to point us

towards our true family,

our ultimate family,

the church.

One writer put it like this.

This changes everything

about what it means to be in a family.

For those with healthy, close families,

it lifts their eyes to an even greater reality.

For those whose families are dysfunctional

or are lonely, abandoned, orphaned or divorced,

it is a warm invitation into a real family.

You see, our biological families,

yes, they are a gift from God,

but they are not an end in themselves.

They are to point us to

our true and greater reality,

our real family.

So how do you and I,

how do we get to enjoy this greater reality?

How do we experience this true family?

Well, turn with me, please,

to Hebrews chapter 2.

Hebrews 2 · chapter mention

Hebrews chapter 2.

Hebrews 2 · chapter mention

Haven't got a page number.

1,202.

1,202.

Hebrews chapter 2.

Hebrews 2 · chapter mention

And we're going to be looking at verse 10,

just a few verses.

But in this chapter,

we see God's plan

and God's design

for humanity.

What God longs for,

what he's working towards.

And there's three things

that I want us to notice

and to pay attention

to the language

that is used.

The first thing to notice is

that God is our Father

and we are his sons

and daughters.

God is our Father

and we are his sons and daughters.

God's plan, verse 10,

is to bring

many sons and daughters

to glory.

that he would have

many sons and daughters

in his kingdom.

Well, how does God do that?

Well, God sends his own son,

Jesus,

to be the one

who brings

many sons and daughters

to the Father.

Jesus is our pioneer.

That's the phrase

to focus in on

on verse 10.

Halfway through,

it talks about Jesus

being the pioneer

of their salvation.

Now, a pioneer

is someone who goes

where no one

has gone before.

They cut their way

through

so that others

can follow.

Well, Jesus is described

here as the pioneer

of our salvation.

He represents us.

Jesus goes before us

and dies the death

that we deserve

for our sin.

Jesus goes before us

and lives the perfect life

that we could never live.

Jesus paves the way.

He cuts a path

for the sons and daughters

to be able to come

to the Father.

You could think of it

like this

as we imagine

a huge big forest

and in the centre

of the forest

is the king

in his castle.

But surrounding it

is this thick forest

unpenetrable

no way through.

But one is able to

who cuts a path

through that jungle

to the castle

to the king

to bring

the lost

sons and daughters

back

to their king.

Well, that in a sense

is what Jesus is doing.

He's cutting through.

He's paving the way

for sons and daughters

to get

to their father

king.

So how do I know

if I am a child

of the king?

How do I know

I am a son

or daughter?

Well, it's the sons

and daughters

who follow Jesus.

So if you

are following

Jesus today,

if you are trusting

in him,

you are

a son

or a daughter

of the Father.

And as we

walk

with Jesus,

we have the

awesome privilege

of calling God

our Father.

Jesus

cuts a path

so that he

may bring

many sons

and daughters

to glory.

God is our

Father

and we can be

his sons

and daughters.

But there's

a second picture

and that is

Jesus is our

brother

and we are

his

brothers

and sisters.

Because God

is our Father

and we are

sons and daughters.

Look at the end

of verse 11.

So Jesus

is not ashamed

to call them

brothers

and sisters.

You see,

if you

are a son

or a daughter

of the Father,

Jesus

is your

brother.

Jesus

delights

over us.

He's not

ashamed of you,

it says in

verse 11.

No matter what

we've said

or done

or no matter

how many

times we turn,

he never

is ashamed

of you.

He loves

you

deeply.

Jesus

is your

brother.

In fact,

Jesus

praises

the Father

for the

new

brothers

and sisters

he has

received.

Look at

verse 12.

He says,

I will

declare

your name

to my

brothers

and sisters.

I will

tell

your sons

and daughters,

I will

tell them

that we

are of

the same

family,

we have

the same

Father.

I will

declare

your name

to my

brothers

and sisters

in the

assembly.

I will

sing

your

praises.

It's

like a

child

who's

been told

they're

going to

have a

new

brother

or

sister

in their

family.

Well,

they can't

help but

tell everybody,

I'm going

to have

a brother

or I'm

going to

have a

sister.

They

delight

in

sharing

that.

So

Jesus

in the

same

way

longs

to

delight

over

us.

He

longs

to

tell

us

and

reassure

us

that

God

is

our

father

and

Jesus

is

our

brother.

He

is

the

true

brother

who

gives

his

life

for

us

so

that

we

might

enjoy

and

experience

life

in

his

family.

Look at

how it's

put at

the

beginning

of

verse

11.

Both

the

one

who

makes

people

holy,

that's

Jesus,

he's

the

maker

of

people

to

make

them

holy,

to put

them

in a

right

relationship

with

God,

and

those

who

are

made

holy

are

of

the

same

family.

Isn't

that

wonderful?

God

is

our

father,

Jesus

is

our

brother.

And

the

third

picture

that

we'll

see

is

that

the

spirit

is

our

bond.

That

is

the

church

is

now

our

family.

You

see

because

God

is

our

father

and

Jesus

is

our

brother

we

are

now

brothers

and

sisters

of

each

other.

That's

the

work

of

the

Holy

Spirit.

uniting

us

and

bringing

us

together.

Paul

puts

it

like

this

in

Romans

8.

Is

that

right?

No.

I'll

just

read it.

The

spirit

himself

testifies

with

our

spirit

that

we

are

God's

children.

It's

the

spirit

who

unites

and

brings

us

together.

So

now

look

at

how

the

author

of

Hebrews

now

writes

to

this

local

church.

Look

at

the

language

that

he

uses.

Because

we're

of

the

same

family,

God

is

our

father,

Jesus

is

our

brother.

Look at

chapter 3

verse 1.

Therefore,

holy

brothers

and sisters

who share

in the

heavenly

calling,

those who

are sons

and daughters

of the

Father,

fix

your

thoughts

on

Jesus.

look at

verse 12,

chapter 3

verse 12.

This is

what we're

to do

together.

See

to it,

brothers

and

sisters,

that none

of you

has a

sinful,

unbelieving

heart that

turns away

from the

living God,

but encourage

one another

daily,

as long

as it is

called

today,

so that

none

of you

may be

hardened

by sin's

deceitfulness.

or have

a look

at chapter

10,

verse 19.

This is

the bond

of the

Spirit

uniting

us

together.

Chapter

10,

verse 19,

therefore,

brothers

and sisters,

and he

goes on,

because of

what Jesus

has done

for us,

verse 23,

let us

together as

brothers and

sisters,

hold unswervingly

to the hope

we profess,

for he who

promised is

faithful,

and let us,

the brothers

and sisters,

consider how

we may spur

one another

on towards

love and good

deeds,

not giving up

meeting together

as some are in

the habit of

doing,

but encouraging

the brothers

and sisters

and all the

more as you

see the day

approaching.

Or chapter

13,

verse 1.

Keep on

loving one

another as

brothers and

sisters.

You see,

the Spirit

of God

unites the

children of

God to

be the

family of

God.

The Spirit

of God

unites the

children of

God to

be the

family of

God,

and it

radically

changes how

we now

view each

other and

how we

see each

other.

The Apostle

Paul,

writing to

Timothy,

who is a

young pastor,

helps him

see how he

should view

his congregation,

how he

should think

about people

in the life

of the

church,

and I

think it

applies to

us as

well.

You can

follow it

on the

screen.

Do not

rebuke an

older man

harshly,

but exhort

him as if

he were

your father.

So if

there's an

older man

here,

somebody

older than

what you

are,

you are to

treat him

as your

father.

brother.

If you're

a young

man,

treat younger

men as

brothers.

And the

older women,

treat them

as your

mothers.

And the

younger women,

treat them

as sisters

with absolute

purity.

You see,

it changes

the whole

dynamic,

doesn't it?

So whatever

our experience

as a family,

if it's been

a healthy

family,

it points

to a

greater

family.

If it's

been painful

and a

hard experience,

it points

beyond that

to a

better

family,

a family

where we

are united

together by

the Spirit

to be the

family of

God,

where we

are joined

together to

encourage one

another to

keep on in

the faith,

to keep

following

Jesus.

Jesus.

Well, you

may say,

well, that

sounds great,

but you

know what?

That hasn't

been my

experience.

You see, some

of you may

feel hurt

by the

church.

Maybe

someone was

critical and

spoke harshly

to you.

Maybe you

experienced

rejection or

maybe being

ostracized or

being left

out and

you're screaming

inside saying,

well, I

don't trust

the church.

Well, I

want to

acknowledge that

for some that

might be the

case.

But before

turning our

back on

the church,

I want us

all to think

about our

expectations of

the church

family.

First,

family life

is messy.

Family life

is messy.

We often

say, if

you're looking

for the

perfect church,

you won't

find it

here.

And if

you think

you're

perfect,

don't bother

coming along

because you'll

be very

disappointed.

You see,

none of us

is perfect.

We all

fail and

we all

fall.

We've all

said things.

I know I've

said things and

done things

sort of

upset people.

When we

do our

marriage

preparation

classes,

one of the

questions I

love to

ask is,

to the

two who

are sitting

there,

what happens

when two

lovers come

together in

marriage?

Of course,

they always

say,

love,

deeper love,

greater love.

Well,

the answer,

of course,

is conflict

and division.

Why?

Because we

are lovers

of self.

And when

you bring

two lovers

of self

coming together,

well,

you get

conflict

and division.

And that's

what can

happen in

the life

of the

church.

We're a

bunch of

sinners

coming

together.

Yes,

we have

been saved.

Yes,

God is

our father.

Yes,

we're

brothers

and

sisters,

but just

as we

do in

our own

biological

family,

say and

do things

that hurt,

so within

the church

family,

there's a

whole bunch

of people

coming

together,

and we

can get

it wrong.

Rather than

serve others,

we can love

self.

That's why

we have all

these encouragements

in the Bible

that we read

in Hebrews.

Love each

other.

Forgive

one another.

Carry each

other's

burdens.

Be patient

with one

another.

Spur one

another on

to love

and good

deeds.

Let's

not give

up meeting

together.

Well,

if the

church was

perfect,

we would

never have

these commands

or correctives.

But it's

because we

get it

wrong that

we're reminded

of who we

are to be.

So can I

encourage us

all to

adjust your

expectation

and bring

it down

some notches

because family

life is

messy and

we're all

broken.

So having

adjusted

down, I

want us

now to

ratchet up

and have a

great expectation

because not

only are we

messy, family

life is

graceful.

you see, the

church is a

family where

broken and

messy people

like us

find grace.

We are

people who

walk together

back to

the cross.

Here we

remember our

true brother

Jesus Christ

who gave his

life for us

so that we

could be

sons and

daughters of

the father

and together

we lean in

on the spirit

strength and

power to

live as we

should.

James puts

it like

this.

This is a

great thing

we can do

for each

other if

we drift

or fall

away.

My brothers

and sisters,

if one of

you should

wander from

the truth

and someone

should bring

that person

back,

remember

this,

whoever

turns a

sinner from

the error

of their

way will

save them

from death

and cover

over a

multitude

of sins.

You see,

when conflict

happens,

when fallout

happens,

when we

say and do

the wrong

thing,

we don't

pull away

from each

other,

we come

together

and go

to the

cross

and we

receive the

grace and

mercy

that we

need.

Together

we're

committed

as brothers

and sisters

to bring

each other

back to

God.

Now,

the way

we do

this as

a church

is through

a church

covenant.

It's a

commitment

to one

another.

Just as

God is

committed

to us

and never

turns away

from us,

so we

as a

church

strive to

be

gracious

to one

another,

to not

give up

on each

other,

but to

pursue

life with

each

other.

A

covenant

may be

a new

word to

you,

but it's

simply a

promise

between

two

parties

into

a

committed

relationship.

So think

of a

marriage.

A man

and a

woman

come

together

to make

promises,

to be

loyal to

one

another,

to love

each

other.

They give

rings,

and here's

me looking

for my

ring now,

and I

haven't got

my ring.

Don't

worry,

our

marriage

is good,

just don't

have it

on.

So there

we have

it.

Yes,

I'm totally

lost now,

aren't I?

So it is

for the

local,

oh yeah,

thanks.

So here

we have

the local

church.

We're

committing

to one

another,

and our

covenant,

our church

covenant

that we

have

recognizes

it,

that as

believers

coming

together,

we submit

to one

another,

and support

each other.

So I

want us to

go through

it.

You might

have it

on your

notes if

you got

this sheet

this morning.

If not,

you can

see it

on the

screen.

Yes,

we are a

family who

are broken

and messy,

but we are

a family

who are

graceful,

and here's

how we

show that

grace to

one another

by committing

to each

other.

You can

follow along

on the

screen.

Recognizing

our own

unworthiness

and inability.

Isn't that

great?

Our own

unworthiness

and inability.

We're a

mess,

we're broken.

So we

come in

total

dependence

upon God.

We now

covenant to

give ourselves

first to

God,

and then to

this local

church.

And here's

the commitment.

First,

that we

will endeavor

to walk

in holiness

and brotherly

love,

being concerned

to honor

God in

our lives,

and encourage

one another

to love

and good

works,

and to

pray for

one another,

and to

bear each

other's

burdens.

Two,

that we

will at

all times

be loyal

to each

other,

being patient

with one

another's

weaknesses

and failings,

seeking to

maintain unity

and avoid

all causes

of division.

Three,

that we

will endeavor

to meet

together on

the Lord's

Day and

at all the

other meetings

of the

church,

as we

have

opportunity,

encouraging

one another

by our

attendance.

And then

fourth,

to pray

for and

encourage the

officers,

the elders,

and the

deacons of

the church

in their

responsibilities

or in

their discharge

of their

duty.

Do you

see this

covenant,

this

member,

membership,

committing to

one another

to be

faithful and

loyal?

It's a

commitment to

be graceful.

So yes,

we bring our

expectations

down,

we are

messy and

broken,

but we

also raise

the

expectations

up to

be a

graceful

family.

The

church

family is

where sons

and daughters

come to

the Father

together to

receive his

grace.

And the

church family

is where

brothers and

sisters of

Jesus come

to give

grace.

And the

church family

is where we

depend on the

Spirit's help

to be

graceful to

one another

in our

words and

in our

deeds.

The

church family

is not

just an

idea,

a picture

in our

minds or

something in

the Bible

to be

read.

It is

something to

be lived

out and

worked out.

that's why

we've been

doing these

series together

and I want

to encourage

us all that

if you are

not yet a

member to

consider what

it is to

be a son

and daughter

of the

Father,

a brother

and sister

of Jesus,

a brother

and sister

of one

another.

the

church

is

family.

Let's

just take a

moment in

the quietness

before I

pray to

think about

what our

response is

to what

we've heard

this morning.

and

Thank you.

Let's pray.

Our Father God, thank you.

Thank you for sending your son Jesus to be our pioneer,

to cut a way through, to bring many sons and daughters to glory.

Thank you that as we follow Jesus, as we trust in him,

we can talk to God as our Father.

But not only that, you have adopted us into your family,

giving us greater brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers and children.

And we ask and pray that you would help us in our messiness and brokenness

to be graceful to one another,

that we would lead each other back to the cross

to receive the mercy and the help that we so need

to be the kind of people that you call us to be.

I thank you, Father, for this church,

for the gathering that is here today,

for your faithfulness to us over so many years,

for the people you have welcomed in,

for the people who you have changed.

And we pray and ask, Father God,

that you would add to this family,

that you would be pleased to see many others

from the community of Carragoline

come to know you and trust you,

to know you as Father,

Jesus as their elder brother,

and to know one another

as brothers and sisters in Christ.

we ask all these things in Jesus' name.

Amen.

Before we sing,

there are some,

are there some books, Ralph?

I'm looking for Ralph.

Are there books? No?

They'll be there Wednesday, won't they?

Yeah, sorry.

That's right.

We've got some books for you Wednesday.

I have a few other little booklets as well,

which are all talking about the church.

If you want to pick one of them up,

it may help you to think about these things.

Or talk to myself or Ralph or Jonathan or Alex afterwards.

We'd love to do that.

Let's sing,

what is our hope in life and death?

Christ alone.

If you're a brother or sister in Christ today,

you will want to sing this out,

that Christ is our hope

in life and death.

Let's stand together as we sing.

And you're happy with you.

!

What is our hope in life and death?

Christ alone, Christ alone.

What is our only confidence?

That our souls to Him belong.

He holds our days within His hands.

We come to fight from His command.

The path will keep us to the end.

The love of Christ in which we stand.

Our hope will sing Alleluia.

Our hope's great, eternal.

Oh, sing Alleluia.

Now and everly confess.

Christ our hope in life and death.

God is good, God is good.

Where is His grace that could be strong?

In our great Redeemer's blood.

We're pain when fears arise.

Who stands above the stormy trials?

Who stands away?

That bring us life unto the shore.

The rock of Christ.

Oh, sing Alleluia.

Our hope's great, eternal.

Oh, sing Alleluia.

Now and everly confess.

Christ our hope in life and death.

Christ our hope in life and death.

And what reward will heaven bring.

Everly confess.

Everly confess.

Everly confess.

And we will rise beneath the Lord.

And sin and death will be destroyed.

And we will be upon endless joy.

When Christ our hope in life and death.

Now and everly confess.

Now and everly confess.

Christ our hope in life and death.

Our Father God, we thank you that we can say we have life in Christ today.

And even when we die, we have life eternal.

That we will gather together with your church, your family from throughout all times and all ages.

We will gather together with our brothers and sisters.

We will gather together with our brothers and sisters.

And with our brother Jesus.

United stronger by the Spirit's power.

We look forward to that day.

And we pray that you would help us as your family to encourage one another on day by day.

Day by day.

We ask this in Jesus' name.

Amen.

If you want any of those little booklets I mentioned, just come to me afterwards and ask.

And I've got a few so I can give you a few.