What Makes a Family of God

Read: Mark 3:31-35

• Jesus used his native family’s unbelief to teach on the Kingdom-family.
• The truth of the gospel establishes a circle of Kingdom insiders who are formed into the very household of God, the church (1 Tim. 3:15).

MESSAGE: The shared reception of the gospel-message binds people to live together as God’s own family.

A Shared Family Secret
Note: Our passage separates insiders from outsiders by the messianic message—a “secret” which the Father lets members into.

Point: A saving understanding of the gospel-message distinguishes members of God’s family from outsiders.

• The gospel is the foundation of our church-family. Our prized “secret.”
• We must keep this central in defining who we are as God’s household.

CHALLENGE: Pursue deep fellowship in the gospel to live as a family God has made us to be.

A Shared Family Culture
Note: God’s Kingdom family regularly gathers around the table of the Word.

• Jesus’s spiritual family is set apart from outsiders as they were sitting around to listen to his teachings. Parallel—Luke 8:21.
• Here is an activity that sets God’s family apart from outsiders.

Point: Regularly gathering around the voice of Christ is the outward mark of the true household of God.

CHALLENGE: Regard gospel-preaching as the most revered and cherished activity of your church-family.

CONCLUSION: Press on in the joy and duties of being God’s family.