The Family You Find | Blake Houston

Mark 3:31-35 NIV

31 Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. 32 A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.” 33 “Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked. 34 Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” 

Three Marks of Spiritual Family

I. Proximity isn't the same as priority.

Mark 3:31-32 NIV

31 Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. 32 A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.” 

Jesus doesn’t prioritize people based on where they came from; He draws close to those who draw near to Him. 

Presence matters more than pedigree.

Three Marks of Spiritual Family

I. Proximity isn't the same as priority.
II. Participation redefines your people.
 

Mark 3:33 NIV

33 “Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked. 

Romans 12:4 NIV

4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. 

“You can belong before you believe, and once you belong, belief starts to grow.” 
- Nicky Gumbel, founder of Alpha

Belonging becomes the soil where faith can take root.

Three Marks of Spiritual Family

I. Proximity isn't the same as priority.
II. Participation redefines your people.
III. Pursuit is the path to belonging.

Mark 3:34-35 NIV

34 Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” 

The Church isn't a prize for the polished; it's a home for the hungry.

“The Church is not a gallery for the exhibition of eminent Christians, but a school for the education of imperfect ones.”
- Henry Ward Beecher