We are going to focus on one of the primary visions we have here at SRC. We are a family church. Our focus is not only on families or if you have a family is what is needed to be here, but our focus is
F.A.M.I.L.Y.
F aith in God- Romans 5:1,2
A vailable to Serve- Joshua 24:14
M eet Together Often- Acts 2:46
I nclusive to All People- Galatians 3:28
L oving God and My Neighbor- Matthew 22:37-39
Y ou First Attitude- Matthew 5:41
Over the next 6 weeks, we will talk about each of these points, so as to remind ourselves of where we have been, and where we are going. You see, if you are a part of SRC, you have joined this family. We have different mothers, but we all have the same father as in our God. He is what unites us, because, normally, when you are in a family you have the same last name, maybe the same blood line, but we here have the same father, the blood that ties us together is Jesus Christs, and we are here together living out our lives to glorify our father.
Now, like any family, we have family members that we get along with, and then there are other family members that we want to not be related to. Just like any family, we will have disputes, we will have conflicts, and we are going to get on eachothers nerves, but we know that God has put us together for a reason, and I hope by the end of this series, we will have a better focus of being family, and why did God bring us together. Families, although they fight, they get on each other’s nerves, they also love each other, care for each other, work together, laugh together, cry together, isn’t that that family you want? Then let’s be a part of that family.
We will start with F today.
F stands for Faith In God
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. —Romans 5:1-2
You see, God is what unites us. Our beliefs of God bring us together. We know here at SRC that we are sinners that needed saving.
1 slide combining both verses please
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God —Romans 3:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. —Romans 6:23
That we couldn’t fix ourselves, even though we have all tried. We know that God loves enough that He sent His Son to die for my sins and for yours.
16 “For God so loved the world,[i] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. —John 3:16-17
We know Jesus was born humbly, lived a perfect life, died for our sins, and was resurrected and lives at the right hand of the Father now. We know in His death and resurrection that we have a means to become part of God’s family.
For Christ also suffered[b] once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit —1 Peter 3:18
That we become adopted sons and daughters to God, and that we have access to a right relationship with our good, holy, and perfect God by accepting the gift of Jesus. You see, we know what it means in
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. —Ephesians 2:8-9
We know what God has done for us, and faith has been a big part of this church’s life. From its start, we didn’t have a place to go to. Mike was not given a long period of time where his salary would be covered by Martindale Baptist church, which is where we started from. There was no grand design or master plan, it was simply where are you leading us God, and how can we serve you?
Faith is essential for our relationship with God.
What is faith?
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. —Hebrews 11:1
Faith is belief in God doing what He says He will do. We don’t know the whole plan, sometimes, oftentimes it is uncomfortable, but we are obedient. We follow our God because He is good, He is the way, He is the life, He is Lord. Doesn’t mean we like His plan, oftentimes we don’t, but here is the fact. His way is always better than our way. Remember the story of Bill telling of the little boy playing in the mud, having the time of his life, while his parents were trying to take him to Disney world? That is our plan in comparison to God’s.
So how do we know His plan Matt, how do we know what He will do?
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. —Romans 10:17
One way is reading His word. He left us a bunch of books and letters we call the Bible that tells us about God, who He is, what He has done, and what He will do.
So that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. —1 Corinthians 2:5
We believe in God when He says that He can do anything, is all powerful, all knowing, that He is good, that He is love, that He is the one we can rely on. What do we have to go by this?
His Word
His character
Our lives
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. —Hebrews 11:6
God unites us. We all have a unique relationship with Him, and we have similarities and differences, but we focus on what brings us together, not what divides us. As a family, that is our goal to glorify God together, not separate ourselves.
As John Wesley summed up St. Augustine phrase on this “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity,”
We know that God is truth, and if we experience truth it comes from God, so as you and I grow and develop, we need to rely on God, and not on our own thoughts, opinions, views, etc. We need to walk by faith in our God.
For we walk by faith, not by sight. —2 Corinthians 5:7
God lead the Israelites in the desert, God lead Moses, Gideon, David, Noah, the list goes on and on, and we know those stories right? In basic everyday common logic, thought, opinion, impossible things happened. Why? Because God did what God does, and we as man don’t understand that, nor can we comprehend it.
So that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. —1 Corinthians 2:5
We rely on God in His power, in His righteousness, in His Holiness, magnificence, goodness, in His wisdom, in His ways. That is what we do as a F.A.M.I.L.Y. church.
There are many here who have incredible stories of faith in God. I would encourage you to talk to each other about those stories. Anthony and Tiffany Schwandt have a favorite story of mine, you should talk to them. Scott and Maria McMahon what a story of redemption and faithfulness. You should talk to them. The Ryle’s, the Pratt’s, Mike and Susie, Fran, the list keeps going y’all. Everyone here had a step of faith to follow God, and then those steps lead you here.
What is God calling you to do right now that requires you to take a step of faith?
Worship Setlist:
Are You Washed/I’ll Fly Away - Alan Jackman
Because He Lives - The Worship Initiative
What a Friend We Have In Jesus - The Worship Initiative
Blessed Assurance - Matthew West