GDLC Audio

How we view the family relationship is one of the places that Christianity shines the brightest and yet, also runs most counter to our culture. We live in a “What can I get out of it?” culture. We live in a “How am I going to benefit?” culture. People believe “It’s all for me! It’s all centered in me! It’s all about me!” But for Christians, our lives are lived for others...centered-in and all-about others! And so in the Christian family, we’re not looking for a spouse that “completes” us, we’re looking for a spouse that I can pour myself into and love and serve in Jesus’ name for life. Having kids is not about having a bunch of “mini-me-robots” running around, but if God give us children He also gives us an opportunity to love, serve and nurture them into being loving, serving and nurturing adults. Counter Culture? Absolutely! God’s will? Also absolutely. Today we’ll consider what a true Kingdom Family looks like.

How we view the family relationship is one of the places that Christianity shines the brightest and yet, also runs most counter to our culture. We live in a “What can I get out of it?” culture. We live in a “How am I going to benefit?” culture. People believe “It’s all for me! It’s all centered in me! It’s all about me!” But for Christians, our lives are lived for others...centered-in and all-about others! And so in the Christian family, we’re not looking for a spouse that “completes” us, we’re looking for a spouse that I can pour myself into and love and serve in Jesus’ name for life. Having kids is not about having a bunch of “mini-me-robots” running around, but if God give us children He also gives us an opportunity to love, serve and nurture them into being loving, serving and nurturing adults. Counter Culture? Absolutely! God’s will? Also absolutely. Today we’ll consider what a true Kingdom Family looks like.

During the time of the early church, it was expected to care for the poor of your own family or tribe, but Christians took it to a whole new level. They were giving help & hospitality even to people of other races, people of other religions, and to the poor & outcast of society. Christians went against the values of society that said these people deserved what they were getting in life as they sought to love and alleviate the suffering from their lives. Acts 4 stands as a beautiful example of the unity that Jesus desires for His people and teaches us today what true Kingdom Hospitality can look like.