Family of God | Chris Searcy

I. FAMILY OF GOD 

A. Jesus committed to build His church, and He exhorted us to make disciples (Mt. 16:18; 28:19). Thus, the primary calling for each ministry is to know God and to make Him known, as we work together with others to build the Church and engage in the Great Commission. 

18 “I will build My church…” (Mt. 16:18) 

19 “Go…make disciples of all the nations…” (Mt. 28:19-20)

B. The Lord desires that all of His people have a sense of belonging to a spiritual family and that they take responsibility to do their part in serving, supporting, and building up that family.

C. Jesus revealed the transcendent God of Israel as the Father—He thinks, feels, and acts like a father. He desires to express His heart as a father through spiritual families that care for one another. He wants each member of His family to experience and express His love to others. 35By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. (Jn. 13:35)

D. When unbelievers see love consistently expressed in local churches to the weak, the needy, and the lost, they conclude that God is a Father who inspires such love. 

E. Spiritually strong believers are to pursue loving weaker believers who cannot enhance the natural resources, influences, or profile of the spiritually strong. 12This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” (Jn. 15:12)

F. God ordained that each believer be a “joint of supply” that reveals His love to others. 

16 ”From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” (Eph. 4:16)

G. We are not to forsake gathering together. Many embrace a “churchless Christianity.”

Not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25

II. THE FATHERS HEART AT HOME

A. In the end times, the Spirit will restore the heart of the father in the Church. There is a crisis of fatherhood in the home, society, and in the Church. This is the first generation in which children are influenced more outside their home than inside it. 

B. The solution starts with understanding and receiving the father-heart of God for our personal lives. 

5 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. 6And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children…" 

(Mal. 4:5-6) 

There is a concerted effort to separate families, physically, emotionally. 

TWELVE UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES:

APPLY IN RELATIONSHIP TO GOD, FAMILY, AND OTHERS

Principle #1 Relationship building: Friendship based training is not the same as being peers or pals relating around entertainment. We invest in others according to their heart cry and passions.

Principle #2 Affirming: Our greatest emotional need is for the assurance of being enjoyed. There is power in speaking blessing to others. God delighting in mercy gives us confidence (Mic. 7:18).

Principle #3 Calling forth: envisioning and inspiring them to take action.

Principle #4 Coaching: training in how to do it, giving them responsibility, then overseeing it

Principle #5 Encouraging: speaking words of life and reminding of God’s perspective

Principle #6 Serving: Seeking the greatness of the children with a servant spirit. Our goal is to their greatness in God’s will instead of seeing them only as a resource to help our vision.

Principle #7 Correcting: pointing out blind spots without provoking them to anger (Eph. 6:4)

Principle #8 Enduring: being patient and gentle with their failures without giving up on them

Principle #9 Celebrating: supporting them emotionally and enjoying God’s blessing on them

Principle #10 Providing: investing our resources (time and money) in them in practical ways

Principle #11 Taking initiative in reconciliation: takes the lead humbling ourselves in conflicts

Principle #12 Standing in difficulty: supporting them in the battles, difficulties, and setbacks.

KINGDOM AGENT II “Posture”

KINGDOM AGENT II

“Posture”

1 Peter 2:9

9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that

you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

2 Corinthians 5:20

20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we

implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.

Other names for Agent: Ambassador, Representative, Elect, Citizens of heaven. Ephesians 2:19,

Stewards,

I. A PORTRAIT OF THE KINGDOM

1. The Garden of Eden

a. Millennial Kingdom

 Tremendous peace Isaiah 2:2-4; 11:6-9

 Joy unspeakable Isaiah 9:3-4

 Longevity Isaiah 4:1-3

 No Sickness Isaiah 33:24

 Freedom from all Oppression Isaiah 14:3-6

 The Enemy bound Revelation 20:1-6

b. New Jerusalem

 No more tears, death, sorrow, crying or pain

 River of life Revelation 21:2

 Fruit to heal nations Revelation 22:1-2

 The enemy dealt with

2. Impact of the Kingdom

a. Change

Matthew 10:7-8

7 And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’

8  Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you

have received, freely give.

II. TOOLS OF THE KINGDOM

1. The Blood of Jesus

Revelation 12:11

11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their

testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

 Life is in the blood. Leviticus 17:11

 Blood has a voice. Genesis 4:8-10

 Highest form of legal transaction

2. The Name of Jesus

Mark 16:15-18

15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every

creature.

16  He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe

will be condemned.

17  And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out

demons; they will speak with new tongues;

18  they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no

means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

3. Faith

Acts 3:16

16 And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom

you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this

perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

III. KINGDOM POSTURE

1. EMT’S

Matthew 5:13-16

13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be

seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled

underfoot by men.

14  “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.

15  Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it

gives light to all who are in the house.

16  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and

glorify your Father in heaven.

2. Police Officer

Matthew 16:19

19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on

earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in

heaven.

3. Legislators

Matthew 16:18

18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church

(Ekklessia), and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

4. Dispatcher

Acts 12:5-7

5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for

him by the church.

6  And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping,

bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door

were keeping the prison.

7  Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison;

and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his

chains fell off his hands.

5. Doctor / Hospital

Matthew 10:7-8

7 And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’

8  Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you

have received, freely give.

6. Red Cross

Mark 1:40-41

40  Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to

Him, “If You are willing, you can make me clean.”

41  Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him,

and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.

Luke 7:11-16

11 Now it happened, the day after, that He went into a city called Nain; and many

of His disciples went with Him, and a large crowd.

12  And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being

carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd

from the city was with her.

13  When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not

weep.”

14  Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood

still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.”

15  So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his

mother.

16  Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has

risen up among us”; and, “God has visited His people.”

TOPS AND ROE

TOPS AND ROE

I. TWO EVENTS IN CULTURE

1. TOPS

Payton Gendron – 18year old –

Drove hours to zip code with highest black concentration

Killed 10 and wounded 13

Racist… Murderer

Racist Hatred is just Like Murder

Matthew 5:21-23

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and

whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22  But I say to you that

whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the

judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the

council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.

2. Roe v. Wade

Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization is a pending U.S. Supreme

Court case about the constitutionality of a 2018 Mississippi state law that bans

most abortion operations after the first 15 weeks of pregnancy

If federal mandate is struck down it returns to the States

II. GOD’S VALUE OF LIFE

1. It’s fearful and wonderful

Psalm 139:13-16

For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. 14 I will

praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works,

And that my soul knows very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I

was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16

Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all

were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.

Fearfully – yr’ (ya reah) reverence, frightening, afraid

Wonderfully – pl’ (pay la mi daliph) – separate, distinct, surpassing, extraordinary

2. The image and likeness of God is stamped on it

Gen 1:26-28

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…

1 Thess. 5:23

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your

whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord

Jesus Christ.

spirit – pneuma (pen ev ma) – Holy spirit, wind, spirit

soul – psuche (psu kay) – life, inner self, mind, thoughts, feelings

body – sōma (so máh) – body, corpse

3. Crowned with Glory and Honor

Psalm 8:4

What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?

5 For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned

him with glory and honor. 6 You have made him to have dominion over the works

of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet

Glory kābod – weight, divine Presence, reputation, importance

Honor – hādār – ornament, adorning, decoration, splendor, majesty

4. He Forbids the Killing of Innocent Human Beings

III. SHEEDING OF INNOCENT BLOOD

1. Life is in the Blood

Lev 17:11

“For the life of the flesh is in the blood…”

Gen 9:4-6

But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood. 5  Surely for your lifeblood

I will demand a reckoning; from the hand of every beast, I will require it, and

from the hand of man. From the hand of every man’s brother I will require the

life of man. 6 “Whoever sheds man’s blood, By man his blood shall be shed; For in

the image of God He made man.

2. Innocent Blood must not be shed

Exo. 23:7

Keep yourself far from a false matter; do not kill the innocent and righteous. For I

will not justify the wicked.

Deut. 27:25

‘Cursed is the one who takes a bribe to slay an innocent person.’ “And all the

people shall say, ‘Amen!’

Prov 9:16-17

These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 A

proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood

Psalm 106:35, 37-38

But they mingled with the Gentiles And learned their works; 37 They even

sacrificed their sons And their daughters to demons, 38 And shed innocent blood,

The blood of their sons and daughters

Psalm 106:38

And shed innocent blood, The blood of their sons and daughters, Whom they

sacrificed to the idols of Canaan; And the land was polluted with blood.

The heart and major blood vessels begin to develop earlier—by about day

16. The heart begins to pump fluid through blood vessels by day 20, and

the first red blood cells appear the next day. Blood vessels continue to

develop in the embryo and placenta.

IV. GOD’S PERSPECTIVE ON THE UNBORN

1. The unborn are people

Jer 1:5

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified

you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”

Luke 1:15

For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor

strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s

womb.

Ex. He (personal Pronoun)

Luke 1:41,44

And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe

leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit… 44  For indeed,

as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my

womb for joy.

Exo 21:22

“If men fight, and hurt a woman with child, so that she gives birth prematurely,

yet no harm follows, he shall surely be punished accordingly as the woman’s

husband imposes on him; and he shall pay as the judges determine

V. BOTH ISSUES HAVE RACISM AT THEIR ROOT

1. Margaret Sanger and Planned Parenthood

Planned Parenthood founder’s Margaret Sanger was an avowed White

Eugenicist. She started abortion clinics in Black communities and openly said that

she wanted to exterminate the Jewish and Black race. Margaret Sanger said,

“We don’t want the word to go out that we want to exterminate the Negro

population, and the minister is the man who can straighten out that idea if it

ever occurs to any of their more rebellious members.”

Ex. Caught on tape admitting racist tendencies against minorities.

2. Peyton Gendron

White Supremacists

All Democrats are not in favor of Abortion…

All Republicans ae not rase batting haters…

Hot Momma

HOT MOMMA

Revelation 3:14-22

14 “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the

Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:

15  “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.

16  So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My

mouth. 17  Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do

not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—

18  I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white

garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and

anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.

19  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore, be zealous and repent.

20  Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will

come into him and dine with him, and he with Me.

21  To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat

down with My Father on His throne.

22  “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” 

H – Holy

(Wholly) “gold refined in the fire” and white garments, that you may be clothed.

Revelation 3:18

Language of a Holy Person

 I Am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine. Solomon 6:3

 Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire

besides You. Psalm 73:25

 Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Job 113:15

 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” 68  But Simon

Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of

eternal life. John 6:67-68

O – Open

20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door.

Revelation 3:20

Everybody is into self.

2 Timothy 3:1-2

1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:

2  For men will be lovers of themselves…

I come to do thy will oh God. Hebrews 10:9

 Say yes when it comes to your children

 Say yes when it’s difficult

 Say yes when you are unsure

 Say yes when it hurts

T – Tender

Hebrews 3:15

15 Today, if you will hear His voice: “Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion, as in

the day of trial in the wilderness

Psalm 51:17

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God,

you will not despise.

1 Peter 3:8-9

8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers,

be tenderhearted, be courteous;

9  not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing

that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.

Ephesians 4:32

32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in

Christ forgave you

 Quick to repent…so repent quickly - 2 Kings 22:11,19-20

 Humble yourself. Proverbs 13:10

M – Mourner

Jeremiah 9:17-21

17 Thus says the LORD of hosts: “Consider and call for the mourning women, That they may

come; And send for skillful wailing women, That they may come.

18 Let them make haste and take up a wailing for us, that our eyes may run with tears, And

our eyelids gush with water.

19 For a voice of wailing is heard from Zion: ‘How we are plundered! We are greatly

ashamed, because we have forsaken the land, because we have been cast out of our

dwellings.’”

20 Yet hear the word of the LORD, O women, And let your ear receive the word of His mouth;

Teach your daughters wailing, And everyone her neighbor a lamentation.

21 For death has come through our windows, has entered our palaces, to kill off the

children—no longer to be outside! And the young men—no longer on the streets

Luke 2:36-37

36 Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She

was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity;

37  and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the

temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

 Get a prayer Language

 Pray without Ceasing

 Ask God for the Anointing to Pray

O – Optimistic

Psalm 27:13

13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD

in the land of the living

Faith is NOT HARD. JUST BELIEVE!

M – Mentor

Titus 2:3-5

3 The older women, likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given

to much wine, teachers of good things—

4  that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5  to

be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word

of God may not be blasphemed.

M – Mobilizer

Ephesians 4:11-13

11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some

pastors and teachers,

12  for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of

Christ,

13  till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a

perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

A – Appreciative

1 Thessalonians 5:18

18 In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you

Be joyful Grateful Women

Philippians 4:6

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving,

let your requests be made known to God.

How Do We Stay Engaged

Previous truths:

Jesus is the Lord of all

Who is worthy of servitude and relationship

We as the bride of Christ must obey turn away from idols and he will circumcise our hearth and

teach us to love him.

We are betrothed! However, with all that is happening in the earth, as darkness increases.....

How do we stay engaged?

ACTS 2. 


Details the moment the church became engaged, but also instructions on how to stay engaged.

In Acts 1 Jesus is resurrected and walking the earth confirming to his followers that he is risen

and is going to the right hand of the father, with the promise that he will go and prepare a place

for the bride before the wedding/day of reckoning. In Acts 1 verse 9 he ascends.

In Acts 2 you find the disciples and apostles growing the bride in number but also passion, zeal,

and ability.

Acts 2:1-4 ESV

“1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there

came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they

were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.

4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit

gave them utterance.”

In 1-4 they are together in one place growing in the gifts of the spirit. But also in trust. Acts 2:

7 “And they were amazed and astonished, saying, "Are not all these who are speaking

Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?

12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" 13 But

others mocking said, "They are filled with new wine."

Acts 2:14-19 ESV

14 “But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: "Men of Judea

and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15 For these

people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what

was uttered through the prophet Joel: 17

"'And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your

sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old

men shall dream dreams; 18 even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will

pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.

19 And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire,

and vapor of smoke;”

37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the

apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"”

Peter instructed them to repent and be baptized. So they did.

And in verse 46 it details their methodology for sustainability and growth.

46 “And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they

received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the

people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”

Hebrews 10 takes it a step further.

Hebrews 10:23-25

23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting

one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

The fullness of God’s purpose and power can only be experienced as the Body of Christ

functions together. Because that is part of our purpose.

Jn. 13:35

35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.

Historical Context

Church translates the Greek word ekklesia, which means an assembly.

Early Christians met in house churches scattered throughout large cities. The house churches,

like many synagogues, were small, usually numbering under fifty people. Each house church,

like a synagogue, maintained fellowship with a network of other house churches in the city.

The author of Hebrews is not thinking of gathering in buildings dedicated to worship with

hundreds and thousands of other people. He is focused on small group meetings designed to

encourage other believers through their commitment to one another.

The Father wants to express His heart as a father in every geographical place through spiritual

families that give each believer care, love, and a sense of belonging

Hebrews 3:13

13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through

the deceitfulness of sin.

It is through their godly fellowship led by Jesus when he walked among them that when the day

of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. Acts 2:1

The is another day coming!

When Jesus is coming back for his bride! The way for us to be ready is to fellowship in true

community together!

Attending a Sunday service designed to edify the local body is just the beginning.

It is walking out life together through the ups and downs with others that carry the living God

inside of them that will keep us sustained!

Many ask but how do I find this community? Where do I go?

(Take out)

(Raise your hand if) (that is the importance of the local church it connects us with other

believers that we can walk out life with)

That is why being apart of a local body is so important. Like in Acts 2 it will be filled with

imperfect weak and broken people but together we can empower each other to stay in the fight

and keep saying yes.