No Longer Strangers: The Family

Rev. Dr. Seth Thomas

St James Presbyterian Church

No Longer Strangers • Sermon • Submitted 3 years ago • 25:56

Ephesians 1:3–14

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Intro: Tell us about your family. Thomas, Strand. Nuclear. Chosen.

As we journey in Christ, we sometimes need to be reminded that we are members of a kin-ship and family of God. We belong. We are called here to be a part of that. We go out as ambassadors of that deep, deep welcome.

And what is required of us? Simply, praise. Glory. This is Good News — its the thing you celebrate and simply say, “yes, thank you!”

Last week, as many of you came into the building, I saw tears and smiles. Deep deep sadness and lament at our being physically separated for so long. And deep deep joy at the return “home.” I hope you feel at home here. You do belong. Each of you. You belong and are no longer strangers, outsiders, out there lonely and disconnected in the world. (In fact, you never were, but man, it sure feels like it sometimes, doesn’t it?!)

With this in mind, hear this morning’s reading from Ephesians 1, the opening reminder of God’s loving kin-ship with us and our shared family bonds with each other.

The New Revised Standard Version Spiritual Blessings in Christ

Spiritual Blessings in Christ

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. 5 He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight 9 he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 11 In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, 12 so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; 14 this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory.

This passage is somewhat difficult to preach on. It speaks for itself, in many ways. God loves us and has designed for us to belong as a part of God’s family, from the foundations of the universe. This passage is a proclamation of the Good News. And it serves as a reminder to us when we forget.

The next couple of weeks, we’re going to spend time with some of these encouragements from the letter to the Ephesians. Sometimes, we need to be reminded that we belong to God’s family.

Before I move on, I want to acknowledge that the term family is loaded and can contain baggage. Especially in our culture, we have this notion that there is the nuclear family — two parents, 2.5 kids, and a dog. But family is much more complicated than that. We may live alone, but have a close knit group of friends who would stand with us like blood kin. Perhaps we are physically or emotionally cut off from out relatives — we still find family in the kin who we gather with here at church or in our social circles. Perhaps we are the last living member of our once large kin-group. Our family has gone on to glory ahead of us — but our families live on in our memories. Family is complicated, but in that messiness, there is also beauty.

I want us to try an exercise today, a brief opportunity to turn to our neighbor and talk through a few things.

Turn and tell your neighbor about your family. Who is in it, where do they live? Perhaps you don’t have relatives you connect with…tell us about the chosen family you belong to? Is it people here in the pews? Are they co-workers, parents of your kids’ friends? Who do you think of when you think of family?

Have there been times when you have felt really close to your family or chosen family, the people who you have bonded with and attached to?

Called Together, in Christ

We are chosen in Christ

We are adopted into a family in Christ

We can discern God’s will in Christ

Mystery of God revealed, in Christ

Fullness of time

All things gathered, in Christ

Purpose, in Christ

The Family of God gathers, in Christ, as the Church.

Qualifier: Churches look different, we cannot get bogged down by the “right” way to do church. Rather, we expect that in a gathering in Christ’s name, we find the presence of Christ in all its beautiful manifestations.

You are being invited into the family

Fundamental Belief — The Church, our gathering in Christ, is the site of this inheritance and blessing, manifested.

Turn and process the following:

What does it mean to belong?

The Church is a place for Belonging

Welcome — the church is a place where we are accepted as our truest selves, the me and the you that we are made to be. However you are, whoever you are.

What does it mean to be safe?

The Church is a place for Safety

Refuge — the family is a place where we can find shelter. Bob Dylan’s shelter from the storm.

What does it mean to heal?

The Church is a place for Healing

Redemption — this whole thing is moving toward a future, an “eschaton” of restoration and hope.

To get: You are called to be one who belongs to the family of God. God is moving through us, in time and space, in the direction of the full redemption and restoration of all things. We are a part of a family that brings belonging, safety, and healing for all who claim Christ’s blessing. We are no longer strangers, set apart. Rather, we are called and we are made one in Christ.

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