Rev. David Holwick S
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
June 2, 1996
Acts 17:24-29
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I. Genuine "Family Values."
A. Modern life reduces us to tiny bits.
1) Individual is more important than family, especially in U.S.
2) When we think of groups, it is usually in context of
conflict.
3) Across America, there is a sense that people are drifting
apart. We are not close like we used to be.
a) Our families are not as close.
b) Our communities are not as close.
B. We need a wider sense of family.
1) Human relationships are critical to our survival.
2) These relationships need to be broader.
3) We have to go beyond asking, "What's in it for me?" and ask,
"What's in it for ALL OF US?"
C. How big is your family?
II. Nuclear family.
A. Very basic unit.
1) Building block for other relationships.
2) Cannot be duplicated or improved by government.
B. Never meant to stand alone.
1) Patriarchal clans in OT.
2) People always belong to something bigger.
C. Parents and In-laws.
1) Tension - leave and cleave. Gen 2:24
a) Big dilemma for many newlyweds.
b) They want independence, but also free meals.
2) They remain family and should be honored.
a) They provide glue (or guilt) to stick together.
b) Resources - money, entertainment, baby-sitting.
3) Some distance/independence is necessary.
III. Neighborhood / community / world.
A. Christians are often "us against them."
1) Even NT describes conflict in community against us.
a) Bible presents God's people as a few taken out of a
vast multitude.
b) Human divisions are real, not made-up.
2) Sometimes we overstate the conflict and become paranoid.
a) People may be reacting to our sin more than our
"righteousness."
b) Conflict is real, but love of God is more real, and
can convert our opponents.
B. Unity of humanity is desirable and God's will.
1) God is creator of all people.
a) In this sense we are all offspring of God. Acts 17:28
b) He wants all humans to be reconciled to each
other, and to him. 1 Tim 4:10
2) "Let us do good to all people." Gal 6:10
a) Even enemies.
1> Uniquely Biblical to accept outsiders. Lev 19:33-34
2> They are among neighbors we are to love.
b) Christians are to be "light" in darkness.
IV. Christians should be "world people." John 3:16
A. Have the broadest concept of who can be in your family.
1) Migrant workers in Texas.
2) Persecuted prisoners in Burma.
3) Starving, hurting people anywhere.
4) The size of your family shows the size of your faith.
B. Christians should set example of service.
1) Early church started orphanages, hospitals, schools.
2) Don't just be protestors, be doers.
a) Involvement in neighborhood, nation, world.
b) (Interfaith helping of homeless in August.)
C. Recent example in our church.
1) Celeste and several other families in area are helping
[a local family], whose mother is very sick.
2) Local families are helping us - cleaning house,
sending over meals.
V. The best family of all is the family of God.
A. Jesus says God's family is more important than human family.
1) His own thought he was nuts, but he pointed to his brothers
and sisters in faith.
2) Jesus bound them into a group that was closer than a family.
3) Revelation says that family will be uncountable, and will
include every language, color and nationality. Rev 7:9
B. People come to church for relationships.
1) We can get doctrine from books.
a) Inspired preaching is on T.V. every day.
b) Relationships require a church.
Kennon Callahan says that there are five motivational
resources the church has to work with.
There are five motives that cause people like us to support
a cause.
They are: community, compassion, reasonability, commitment
and challenge.
Which is most important?
Hundreds of surveys have been taken among church folk,
including those at the heart of the church's life and
those who are less active and those who think of coming.
Which of these five do you personally feel are most powerful
in drawing your participation in the church?
Again, they are:
compassion,
community,
reasonability,
challenge
and commitment.
A considerable majority of church folk pick two as by far
the most important.
They are COMPASSION and COMMUNITY.
That is what they want to find in the church -- what draws
them -- compassion and community.
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2) Only by having committed fellowship can we influence our
neighborhood.
a) We have to keep an outward, neighborly focus.
b) Too often, church keeps us too busy for others.
C. Are you part of family of God?
1) While all are offspring, only those of faith are true
children. John 1:12-13
2) He wants you to belong.
Copyright © 2024 by Rev. David Holwick
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