Genesis 4:8–9 (NLT) — 8 One day Cain suggested to his brother, “Let’s go out into the fields.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother, Abel, and killed him. 9 Afterward the Lord asked Cain, “Where is your brother? Where is Abel?” “I don’t know,” Cain responded. “Am I my brother’s guardian?” (Am I my brother’s keeper?)
“Dear Paco,
Please meet me in front of the newspaper office at noon. All is forgiven.
Love, Father”
Matthew was a tax collector. Simon was a tax protester.
Matthew collected revenue for the Romans. Simon was a rebel against the Romans.
Matthew was wealthy. Simon was a commoner.
Matthew lived to make money by overcharging people like Simon.
Simon lived to kill people like Matthew.
Jesus
Mark 3:31–35 (NLT) — 31 Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him. They stood outside and sent word for him to come out and talk with them. 32 There was a crowd sitting around Jesus, and someone said, “Your mother and your brothers are outside asking for you.” 33 Jesus replied, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” 34 Then he looked at those around him and said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers. 35 Anyone who does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”
The family of Jesus becomes the Church.
The Church becomes a family.
The Church is not an
The Church is not a
The Church is not a product or
The Church is the
Ephesians 2:18–19 (NLT) — 18 Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us. 19 So 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.
You can’t
1 John 4:20–21 (NLT) — 20 If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? 21 And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers.
We experience
We experience
Matthew 18:15–20 (NLT) — 15 “If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. 16 But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. 17 If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector. 18 “I tell you the truth, whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven. 19 “I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. 20 For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”
Life is
Conflict does not have to have the
We carry