Life With Your Crazy Uncle--Matthew 12:46-50

The reality of God’s family is that people have different backgrounds and personalities and opinions. They will clash. It will be messy. It’s a huge challenge committing to a family like this, but it is not optional. Adopted sons and daughters of God can’t just throw in the towel and retreat to our “just like me” friend groups and homogeneous cliques. We must lean into the awkward conglomeration of people who comprise the church. --Brett McCracken 

What are the requirements to be part of Jesus’ New Family? 

How is the biological family a sign for spiritual families? 

What does it look like to accept weaker members? 

While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Matthew 12:46

Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat.  When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.” Mark 3:20-21

What are the requirements to be part of Jesus’ New Family? 

Listening to Jesus   

Eager to do what He says 

Being in the company of like-minded people

How is the biological family a sign for spiritual families? 

How is the biological family a sign for spiritual families? 

Family imparts identity and belonging prior to performance. 

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Romans 8:14-16

For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother. Matthew 12:50

What does it look like to accept weaker members?  

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly.   Romans 12:16

Never be wise in your own sight. Get along with each other; don’t be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don’t be the great somebody. Romans 12:16 (The Message) 

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor.  And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 1 Corinthians 12:21-23 

And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.  1 Thessalonians 5:14 

What does it look like to accept weaker members? 

Confess and repent from sinful attitudes.

Recognize what makes you a difficult/weird person.

Initiate with people outside your “comfort” group. 

Look for moments of grace where you can applaud difficult people and balance your mindset.  

Exercise great restraint in tiering believers into good/bad categories or overly-simplified labels.  

Learn to listen attentively and non-defensively to those with different opinions. 

Set appropriate boundaries when needed. 

Recognize occasional embarrassment over your church family is part of the mix of following Jesus.  

Being part of Jesus' New Family is often awkward, messy and challenging, but it is the pathway God has chosen to make us more like Jesus. 

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. Romans 8:28-29