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Sadly, many Christian relationships with other believers are about thimble deep. But this is NOT God’s desire for His people.

Today we will discover 4 practices that will help us grow as a Family of Families

Jesus warned that following Him could even cost some family relationships (Luke 12:49-53). 

• Jewish families who did not trust Jesus as Messiah often chose to disown those who followed Him. Consequently, it was VITAL that believers began to lean on one another as brothers and sisters...to recognize that WE ARE FAMILY.
• Sadly, that sounds foreign to many contemporary Christians. We talk of surface stuff, but rarely treat each other as FAMILY.

* All of these practices are to be out of LOVE for one another.

Confrontation says, “What you are doing is wrong.”

Correction says, “I want to help you make it right.”

Biblical examples:

Nathan confronted King David with a story. You can read about it in 2 Samuel 12. 

Painting used with Permission by Jan van 't Hoff

Jesus confronts & corrects His disciples for their desire to have prominent positions rather than be servant leaders (Mk 9:33-35, Lk 22:24-27). He also confronted & corrected them when they wanted to call down fire on the Samaritans who didn’t respond to the gospel (Lk 9:51-56). Jesus called little children to Him and told His disciples must take the lowly position like humble children (Mt 18:1-5). Just before being arrested, Jesus washes their feet (Jn 13:1-17) as the King willingly takes the role the Servant. Throughout His ministry, Jesus models what servant leaders look like and gave them opportunities to put it into practice. 

Painting used with Permission by Jan van 't Hoff

Paul confronts & corrects Peter for treating some Gentile Christians like they were less valuable than Jewish Christians, pointing Simon Peter to the reality that their lives were made right by Jesus' payment on the cross, not by following the law (Gal 2:11-21).

We live in a culture that says to confront & correct others is considered by many to be UNLOVING, but - as every parent knows - confronting & correcting is necessary to protect & direct your children precisely BECAUSE you love them and want the best for them! Confrontation & correction is necessary for family relationships & friendships to be healthy. The Scriptures echo this sentiment.

While many quote Jesus saying, “Do not judge”, they very rarely quote the whole passage from Mt 7:1-6 and certainly don’t recall where Jesus commands his followers to CONFRONT & CORRECT others in their faith family.

According to Jesus, our Ultimate Authority, we are to GO TO other believers in sin and CONFRONT them with the TRUTH,

to CORRECT them to walk in the TRUTH once again.

Paul highlights the kind of care by which we help our brothers and sisters who have been caught in a sin.

Real friends care enough to get in your face. They are more concerned about your purity than your pleasure. They care more about your long term good than your immediate gratification, that will eventually result in future frustration & pain. This is the toughest part of being a real friend. 

Confronting & correcting won’t always turn out the way you want it to, but you can KNOW that you obeyed the Lord in it. Those who respond of confrontation & correction will likely become some of your best friends - your faith FAMILY.

Sometimes we have physical needs that we need help with. At other times have emotional needs - for example, sometimes we need someone to remind us that we are forgiven. 

Look at the kindness & graciousness that is to be extended to the repentant man! Is that how WE treat repentant people?

We see an example of this in the Old Testament, as David, before becoming king, becomes best friends with Jonathan - son of King Saul.

The 2 make a covenant to protect one another for life (1 Sam 18:1-4; 20:13-17).

When Saul attempts to hunt down David and kill him, Jonathan hides David, lying to his own father, and putting himself in danger to protect his dearest friend (1 Sam 20).

After Saul’s death...guess WHO was next in line? Jonathan! Yet, when Jonathan realized that God had chosen his best friend instead, look at how he responded.

Jonathan didn’t view David with jealousy. Instead, he celebrated God’s choice of his friend David, and was willing to take 2nd place behind him. WE should be the biggest cheerleaders of our brothers & sisters! Families aren’t in competition with each other. We’re on the same team!

A CHURCH is intended to be a Family of families - followers of Jesus who love & care about each other enough to: CONFRONT, CORRECT, COMFORT, & CELEBRATE.

Next week we will see the weighty command of Jesus that all of these practices are birthed from.

• Practice Biblical Confrontation & Correction – If you have been avoiding a necessary conversation, pray about it and follow Jesus’ model for confronting in love (Matthew 18:15-17). Make the first move & be full of grace!
• Reach out to encourage or comfort another believer. Send them a text, make a call, visit them, or meet a practical need. 
• Celebrate Others. Find a way to celebrate a fellow believer this week by acknowledging their hard work & sharing words of affirmation.

These open-ended questions are designed to help you LIVE what you LEARN with your Family, Friends, or Small Group.

1. Read Matthew 16:18. When Jesus said, “I will build my church,” was he referring to a building (Mt 16:18)? If not, then why do WE refer to the “church” as a building? 
2. Read Matthew 12:46-50. How does Jesus redefine family in this passage, and what implications does that have for how we view our church community?
3. Reflect on Luke 12:49-53. Why do you think Jesus warns that following Him may divide families? How have you seen this reality in your own life or in the lives of others?
4. Of the 114 uses of ekklesia (the Greek word translated for “church”), 111 refer to God’s people, NOT a place. How should this impact us, to think of “church as a family rather than a place? What’s the danger of focusing on a holy place instead of a holy people?
5. Study Galatians 2:11-21. Why was it important for Paul to confront Peter, and what does this teach us about accountability within the body of Christ?
6. Read Matthew 18:15-17. What steps does Jesus give for confronting a fellow believer? How does this differ from how most people handle conflict today?
7. Look at Colossians 1:21-23. What does it mean to be reconciled to God, and how can we comfort one another of this truth in times of doubt or struggle?
8. Read 2 Corinthians 2:5-8 & Galatians 6:1-2. How does this passage emphasize the importance of forgiveness and comfort in a church family?
9. Reflect on 1 Samuel 23:15-18. How does Jonathan’s attitude toward David challenge us in how we celebrate others in the church rather than compete with them?
10. Read John 13:34. How should Jesus’ command to love one another influence how we confront, correct, comfort, and celebrate each other?
11. Make sure to put FEET2FAITH! Go back to that section and put it into practice this week!
12. PRAY for one another and take some time to ENCOURAGE one another!