9.18.2013

An ideal family portrait

Getting a perfect family picture can be difficult, especially if you don't have a vision for what the picture should look like. And even if you do have a crystal-clear vision for what you are looking for in that family portrait - it doesn't always come out just so! But that doesn't mean you give up and abandon the vision!


When you 'confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.' [Romans 10:9], you become part of a forever spiritual family; when you find and join a Bible-believing church, you become part of a local family that is called to be a small-scale example of the global church. As a local (...and global!) family of believers, we have a vision of what the picture of our family snapshot should look like - it's described in the Scriptures! Though we will never be a perfect family on this side of Heaven, we can and should do our utmost to work toward the vision, with the hope that all people might come to love our Father and follow His Son, Jesus! Our pastor just did a wonderful three-week series on what that ideal family picture looks like for our church; if you're curious what you'd find if you visited us, please listen here:

Sermon #1: Who We Are {09/01/2013}
Sermon #2: How We Behave {09/08/2013}
Sermon #3: Why Are We Here? {09/15/2013}

Our church 'family portrait' may not look exactly like yours, but if you attend a Christ-following, Bible-preaching church, there are likely to be quite a few things we have in common! And even though there are differences in convictions, we can extend grace in those areas and know that we are still part of the same big, eternal family in Christ!

If you've got questions about what you've heard in these sermons, ask them! Honest, respectful questions (even if they are difficult!) are always welcome! How is your local church (if you attend one) similar? different?

Part of God's family,
for His glory!
~Lisha :)

I may be sharing this post at one of the following Link-up parties!

[If this post has inspired, blessed, or encouraged you, please comment or share with your friends!]

6 comments:

  1. One of the greatest joys we have as believers is realizing that we have family all over the world :-)
    Blessings and peace be with you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That is so true, and it's wonderful! Thank you - blessings to you, too!

      ~Lisha :)

      Delete
  2. Love the picture! I had to laugh!

    Yes, none of us will ever be perfect this side of Heaven. My post I wrote this week was on Living with Idiosyncrasies! (www.thecourageousjourney.com) Learning to not just "put up with" our friends' and family's idiosyncrasies - but to enjoy them - can be life changing!

    Thanks for the post!

    Lisa
    www.thecourageousjourney.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lisa, thank you for your encouragement! :) I did see your post on one of the link-ups and had it marked to go back and read!

      ~Lisha :)

      Delete
  3. Great post! It's good to remember that our church communities aren't perfect. We can sometimes feel let down by our churches but remembering that there are idiosyncrasies in us all is helpful.
    Thanks for sharing at Essential Fridays.
    Blessings
    Mel from Essential Thing Devotions

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And beyond the idiosyncrasies - Pastor dealt a little with some of the theological issues that tend to divide but don't have to, from local church to local church - and that each church, so long as it is rooted firmly in the gospel, can still fellowship joyfully with other churches - just as members of a church can fellowship with each other in grace even if they don't agree on every little thing.

      Thanks for visiting, and for hosting each Friday, Mel!
      ~Lisha :)

      Delete