Planting Roots, Bearing Fruit:
Building Spiritual Families
Pastor Maymie Lau
Colossians 3:14-17
Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.
—Galatians 6:10
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1. Spiritual Family - Our Oikos
The Bible describes 2 kinds of family:
• Our Biological Family
• Our Spiritual Family
So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family.
—Ephesians 2:19 (NLT)
Oikos in New Testament Greek means: Household
Go home to your own people (your oikos) and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.
—Mark 5:19
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2. The Mission Emerging Out Of The Oikos
a) Building Friendships
The New Testament way of sharing about Christ within our oikos is all about building relationships. (Colossians 3:14-17)
b) Oikos on Mission
A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria… But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went.
—Acts 8:1, 4
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3. Geo Groups - Spiritual Families with Mission
What are Geo (Geographical) Groups?
a) Experience doing life as spiritual family
b) Live out the Mission
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Conclusion:
a) Jesus is already at work in the Community.
b) The world is in desperate need for Jesus.
c) Discipleship is about obedience.
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Small Group Discussion Questions:
1. The New Testament Church demonstrated a way of “Doing Life” together. What is one thing that you can identify with that your group is already practicing? What is one thing that you can identify with that your group is NOT doing, and would like to start?
2. In the sermon, the preacher said: “The New Testament Church has the Mission of Jesus at their very center. Mission reaches down to our very deepest understanding of who God is, what we are here, and how we live. Mission is not a tag-on. It is not something we just volunteer for a few hours a month. Mission is the sweeping force that runs through everything we are and do.”
How is your group engaging in the Mission of Jesus? Is it at the centre of your group? Let’s think of small steps first and take one step at a time by faith.
3. Encourage everyone in your group to sign up as Geo Host or Geo Members. Pray for one another to experience Jesus in a new way this summer.
