Class 101: Discovering Our Church Family.
This class is the first of Rhema Sanctuary’s foundational classes. You were designed to be a part of a church family, and that’s exactly what Rhema Sanctuary is intended to be—your family. A healthy family has common beliefs, purposes, and commitments. That’s why we want to share with you what we believe and where we’re going.
WORKSHOP GOAL
In this class, we will discuss what we believe, how we operate, and the history of our church. We will discover the five purposes God has designed for us to live out in our lives, discuss why we need a church family, explore what Rhema Sanctuary believes, and learn what it means to be a member.
BEING A CHURCH MEMBER
The Bible says if you’re a Christian, it means you’re a part of the body of Christ. You could be the hand, the ear, the eyes, the nose, the liver. What would you say if the liver said, “I think for one week I’ll be a part of this body over here, and the next week I’ll be a part of that body over there, and the week after that I’ll be a part of this body over here”? Pretty soon, what’s going to happen is an unconnected liver shrivels up and dies. You need to be a part of a local church family.
What’s the difference between being a Christian and being a member of a church family? The difference is the word “commitment.” I become a Christian by committing my life to Christ. I become a member of a church by committing myself to other Christians. I say, “That’s going to be my church home, where I’m going to give and be given to, where I’m going to serve and be served, where I’ll love and be loved.”
Take a moment to reflect on the attached study guide and prepare to ask questions during the workshop.
WORKSHOP OBJECTIVES
The basis for this class is Ephesians 2:19 in The Living Bible.
You are members of God’s very own family… and you belong in God’s
household with every other Christian. – EPHESIANS 2:19 (TLB)
Out of this verse, we gather some very important keys about the Bible and what the Bible says about the church. The following are the key truths:
- The church is a family. It says “God’s household.” It doesn’t say the church is like a family. It says the church is a family. It’s a spiritual family. In fact, your spiritual family is going to outlast your physical family. The Bible says there isn’t marriage in heaven but there are Christians in heaven. So we’re all going to be related in heaven—together—and this family will outlast the blood family that you have here on Earth.
- God expects me to be a member of a family. Notice he says, “You are a member of God’s very own family.” That says it’s God’s will. It’s not optional. Every Christian needs a church family. A Christian without a church family is like a person who says, “I want to play NFL football, but I don’t want to be a part of any team” or “I want to be in the army but not serve in any platoon” or “I want to be a bee, but I don’t want to be a part of the hive” or “I want to play an instrument but not be in an orchestra.” The fact is, we need each other to be strong in our Christian faith.
- A Christian without a church family is an orphan. It says, “You belong in God’s household with every other member of the church.” God has given us at least 30 instructions in the New Testament that you can’t fulfill unless you choose to be a part of a local church.
