Strangers, Friends & Family

Strangers, Friends & Family
N. Keith Shepherd

I. Introduction

II. Strangers: The Power of Welcome

A. Church is a place where we can uniquely experience God’s presence .

Matthew 18:20 (NLT) “For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”

B. When we together, is there.

Psalm 22:3 (NLT) Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.

III. Friends: The Power of Connection

Acts 2:46 (NLT) They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity….

A. In small groups we find .

Galatians 6:2 (NLT) Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.

B. In small groups we find .

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NLT) So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

C. In small groups we find .

Hebrews 10:23-25 (NLT) ²³Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. ²⁴Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. ²⁵And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

D. In small groups we become .

Galatians 6:3 (NLT) If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.

IV. Family: The Power of Belonging

Ephesians 2:19-22 (NLT) ¹⁹So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. ²⁰Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. ²¹We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. ²²Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.

Mark 3:31-35 (NLT) ³¹Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him. They stood outside and sent word for him to come out and talk with them. ³²There was a crowd sitting around Jesus, and someone said, “Your mother and your brothers are outside asking for you.” ³³Jesus replied, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” ³⁴Then he looked at those around him and said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers. ³⁵Anyone who does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

V. Conclusion