At Home with My Spiritual Family

It was very unusual for me to be absent from my church for three Sundays.  I walked in and sat down, the worship team was playing and the worship leader was welcoming everyone to the service. Then we began to sing and my spirit quieted down and I became  excited at the same time. I felt at peace and at one with the congregation. I felt like I was home!

Please don't misunderstand me. I really enjoyed visiting other churches. I was able to worship and praise my Savior, I enjoyed the fellowship with other Christians and was edified by the preaching of the Word.

The first church we visited on our vacation was a Baptist church in southern Ohio. This is my bridesmaid's church, nestled in the rolling hills of Ohio. A beautiful white church sitting on a ridge where you can see miles and miles of beautiful country. A former pastor taught the adult Sunday School Class in the sanctuary and he is a very capable Bible teacher. The choir sang beautifully and if you have a birthday, you go up to the front and put an offering in a container for missions. The pastor preached a good message and we were blessed with the friendliness of the people.

The second church we visited was my cousin Mark's church located in Michigan, just across the border from Toledo, Ohio. He is the worship leader, plays the guitar and sings in the contemporary service. This is a Lutheran church. The pastor has a childrens' sermon but it is more of a conversation as he sits on the steps of the platform with them and tells them a Bible story, involving them with questions. An interesting part of the service is when he asks if anyone has a joy to report. This includes answers to prayer or stories of God's goodness; a very relaxed time of community sharing.

When we arrived home a friend asked if I could take his parents to his church because his two daughters were going to be baptized. These grandparents are also friends and I couldn't have them miss this momentous occasion. This church is an Alliance church in Elizabethtown, Pa, about an hour and a half travel time. A guest worship team from a nearby college led us in worship. The pastor gave a short summary of a sermon series that was beginning the next Sunday, and he also gave a scriptural basis for baptism. The girls and two others read their testimonies and while we were singing Amazing Grace, all four girls were baptized. It was a very nice, sweet time of rejoicing with these preteens who are following Jesus. I enjoyed my visit at this church, their warm welcome upon arrival and seeing the family of God working together in community.

If you have been born again, having repented of your sins and have asked Jesus to be Lord of your life, you are a child of God (Ephesians 1:16), a fellow citizen with the saints (Ephesians 2:19), Jesus is your Brother (Matthew 12:48-50, God is your Father (I John 3:1-2), and you are a part of the family of God!  As a part of this family, we are exhorted in Hebrews 10:24-25, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” We can worship anywhere, but there is more to just walking into a church, sitting down and worshiping. We must have relationship with fellow Christians.

This is why I felt like I had come home when I came back from three Sundays away. I have a relationship with many in my church. These brothers and sisters in the Lord have prayed for me over the years. They were there with meals when I had surgeries. When I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992, many offered support, meals and prayer. They came to support us when our house burned to the ground in 2010. In Bible Studies, Sunday School and prayer groups, I have learned to love these people. We have shared many joys and sorrows and have become close as brothers and sisters in the Lord. We are family! And I feel at home.

  

I John 3: 1-2, “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are . . .Beloved, we are God's children . . .”

I Corinthians 12:27, “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.”

Ephesians 2:19, “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.”

Ephesians 1:16, “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.

Matthew 12:48-50 ”Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”