Join the Family of God
When God created you and me, He made us a part of a family.
When Jesus spoke of family, he extended it beyond blood lines and DNA—He called the entire Christian community the family of God.
I'd like you to think of this as we prepare our hearts and minds for communion this coming Sabbath.
Ephesians 3:14-15 says:
“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family is heaven and on earth derives its name.”
We have a heavenly Parent for whom our hearts search and yearn every day of our life. God is closer than we think—we can, by faith, embrace and claim our loving Parent, and we can take intentional steps to regularly come home to our family, the family of God!
In the sacraments of baptism and communion we confirm that we are family because we have a common Parent.
J. I. Packer once said:
“If you want to judge how well a person understands Christianity, find out how much he makes of the thought of being God's child, and having God as his Father. If this is not the thought that prompts and controls his worship and prayers and his whole outlook on life, he does not understand Christianity very well.”
“You are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household.”
“Because there is one loaf, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of one loaf.”
When the church gathers at the table, we call it the Lord's Supper, Holy Communion, the Holy Eucharist, and The Great Thanksgiving!
Charles Wesley said:
"Come sinners to the gospel feast, let every soul be Jesus' guest."
For all whose hearts are joined together in love and loyalty to Jesus Christ, let us join hands and celebrate the life-giving, joyful privilege of being the family of God!
To join in this celebration unite with our church’s family of God at the 11 a.m. Sabbath service on Saturday. We provide free childcare during the service, so bring your family to join God’s family!
Your Pastor,
Duff