Be Ready Its all in the Family

1
Be ReadyIts all in the Family

• Chapter 9
• I Thess. 517-28

2

• Name for believers brethren
• Paul used this word at least 60 times in his
  letters
• He used it 27 times in both Thessalonians letters
• A local church as a family
• It is tragic for the believers to ignore or
  neglect the local church
• The child of God needs the church family if he is
  to grow, develop his gifts, and serve God.

3

• Family Leadership (512-13)
• Without leadership, a family falls apart. The
  father is the head of the family, the mother
  stands with him in cooperative love, and the
  children are to obey their parents.
• Many of the guidance counselors (60,000)
  psychologists (2,000) were substitutes as
  parents.
• Children need the leadership and guidance of the
  parents.

4

• Likewise, God ordained the leadership for the
  local church. Jesus Christ is the Head of the
  church. The family needs the leader like a sheep
  needs the shepherd (I Peter 51-5)
• The responsibilities the brethren have toward
  their spiritual leaders
• Accept them they are gifts to the church. they
  are the leaders examples, not dictators (I
  Peter 53)

5

• Appreciate them Know them who labor among you
  (512)
• Spiritual leadership is a great responsibility
  and a difficult task. They face many battles and
  burdens and yet receive few encouragements. The
  members need to pray for, encourage, and work
  with the leaders.
• Love them The leaders are among us and over
  us in the Lord. They need the balance between
  being buddy authority.
• Obey them Obey them that have rule over you
  (Hebrews 1317)

6

• They arent always right. Abraham, Moses, David
  Peter made mistakes. A wise pastor realizes he
  is made of clay admits when he is wrong or
  needs counsel.
• The spiritual leaders should be respected
  obeyed unless they are out of Gods will.
• The result of the church family following the
  spiritual leaders, would be peace harmony
  (513). Finding division dissensions can be
  caused by selfishness sin on the part of the
  leaders, members, or both. Selfishness on the
  inside leads to strife on the outside. (James
  41-3)

7

• Family Partnership (514-16)
• The church is called body-life and it is referred
  to the ministry of each Christian to the others
  like the various members of the human body to one
  another like the hand to the mouth.
• Family members must minister to each other from
  the church. For example, from Titus 23-5 the
  older women teach younger women and encourage
  them when the difficulties come. Spiritual
  leaders are supposed to equip the members for
  the work of the ministry.

8

• Family members who need personal help
• Unruly (5 14) Careless or out of line. Thos
  people needs rules to prevent chaos. Rules and
  traditions must never be overemphasized for
  creativity can be stifled.

9

• Feebleminded (514) little soul or fainthearted
  in Greek. It has nothing to do with mentality,
  but it refers to the quitters. They intend to
  look at the dark or negative side and quit when
  the going is tough. They need to be encouraged
  (211). Comfort in Greek is made up two words
  para, near and muchos, speech. According to this
  we must get close to them and speak tenderly
  instead of scolding them. We must help to enlarge
  them and make them stronger in faith.

10

• Weak (514) Support the weak literally means to
  hold fast to the weak. In other words, dont let
  them fall. We are dealing with the believers weak
  in the faith and havent grown strong. They are
  afraid of the liberty in Christ and live by the
  rules and regulations. We cannot compare one
  believer with another believer for they mature in
  their own pace and ways.

11

• How do we handle them?
• Be patient (514)
• Watch your motives (515) we should always serve
  in the love and not seek revenge. Respect what is
  right in the eye of God. Be at peace with all
  men. (Romans 1217-21)
• Be joyful (516)
• You can be joyful while serving. The joy of the
  Lord is my strength (Neh. 810)
• Family partnership is vital to the growth and
  health of the church.

12

• Family Worship
• Worship is the most important part of the local
  church family, but it must come with power and
  heart. Otherwise, it is like religious
  entertainment.
• Elements for the worship
• Prayer (517) It was a high and holy experience
  when the church united in prayer as seen in Acts.
  Today one comes up to lead in prayer and we are
  not sure if he is in the fellowship with God.
  For where two or three are gathered together in
  my name, there am I in the midst of them.
  Matthews 1820

13

• Pray without ceasing. It means constantly
  recurring , not constantly occurring. He knows
  the desire of the heart. (Psalm 374)
• Praise (518) Thanksgiving is a vital part of
  the worship. Eph. 51 mentions singing psalms
  and hymns and spiritual songs to express love
  and gratitude to our Lord.
• While we are growing in learning Gods Word and
  apply, we should also grow in expression of our
  gratitude to our Lord for the two go together as
  seen in Col. 316.

14

• The Word of God (519-21)
• Worship that ignores the Word of God is not
  spiritual.
• If the head and the heart do not keep peace with
  each other, then our Christian worship becomes
  immature or hypocritical
• Gifts of prophecy, tongues, and knowledge (I Cor.
  13)
• The early church didnt have complete Bible so
  the early prophets spoke the truth immediately
• We have complete Bible so the preachers speak the
  truth mediately from the Bible

15

• Quench Paul picture the Holy Spirit as fire and
  fire speaks of purity, power, light, warmth, and
  destruction if necessary.
• We must maintain the devotion to Christ
• Timothy Stir up the gift of God Stir up mean to
  stir the fire in life again
• Extremes legalists and formalists putting out
  the fire and fanatics permitting the fire to burn
  up
• Let the Word of God teach us when we worship
• Apt to teach means apt to learn

16

• Follow the Word of God and prove all things
• Godly Living (522-24)
• The purpose of the worship is that we be more
  like Christ in conduct and character.
• Balance in Christianity
• Negative Abstain from all appearance of evil
  (522)
• Positive And the very God of peace sanctify
  you (523)
• Sanctify to set apart for God

17

• Positional Sanctification We have once and for
  all set apart for God- salvation (Hebrews 1010)
• Practical sanctification A daily dealing with
  sins and growth in holiness (II Cor. 71)
• Perfect sanctification When we see Christ and
  become like Him (I John 32)

18

• Final words
• Word of God is important in the local church.
• The Word must govern our conduct and guide our
  lives.
• We must read the Word of God personally and hear
  in the fellowship of the local church.