The Household of God: Family

The Household of God: Family

Pastor David Jones

Family of God Series:

1- Growing as a Family - https://www.citywestchurch.org.nz/post/growing-as-gods-family

2- The Family of God - https://www.citywestchurch.org.nz/post/the-family-of-god

Objective: To help people in your group to better understand that, as followers of Jesus, they are full and equal members of God’s household, called to belong, serve, and grow together in faith. To encourage practical application by reflecting on how we treat others, offer spiritual worship, and embrace our role within the Body of Christ as a living, spiritual family

Leader: Please choose what best suits your group and fits the time well. You do not need to discuss every question. Adapt questions to fit your group. Choose two or three areas to discuss.

Have fun, Jesus people!

Introduction

We Are Members of God’s Household

Read key text: Ephesians 2:19–22

Opening Question: What does it personally mean to you to be called a member of God’s household rather than a stranger?

Verses 19–20Paul is referring to Christians of Gentile background who had come into the faith, and others of Jewish descent did not see them as having the same rights as they did. Paul wanted to remind them that they should not regard themselves as “second-class citizens” in God’s kingdom in any regard.

They are not only full citizens, but full and equal members of God’s household. There is application here in this text for God’s Church today. If you are a follower of Jesus, you and every other person, from any background and any tongue, are also part of this amazing family.

Remember: The Holy Spirit was poured out on all people.

Questions:

Where do people today sometimes feel like “second-class citizens” in church life, and why?

How should this truth shape the way we welcome and value others in the church?

Three Simple Thoughts About the Church

Read again: Verses 21–22

Firstly - The Church is perfectly designed by the greatest Architect.

Think about all the materials needed to build a large building to gather people in. There is concrete, stone, timber, pipes, roofing iron, gib board, flooring, and the list goes on. Imagine if all these materials were dumped in a field and left there. People would not say it was a building, or comment on what a spectacular building it was. Over time, it would simply become a mess.

God’s family is not a haphazard pile of stones randomly dumped in a field. God is the great Architect of His family, and He arranges the Church for His own glory and purposes.

Question: How does trusting God as the Architect change how we view the people God places around us?

Secondly - The Church is a dwelling place where God lives.

A dwelling place is a place that is inhabited — a place where God Himself chooses to dwell. It is not an empty house, like a museum that is admired from the outside but has no one living inside.

The Church is meant to be both the dwelling place of God and a true home for His people, where His presence is known and His people belong, grow, and live together in faith. We are His Church, not a building of human natural design.

Question: What helps a church feel like a spiritual home rather than just a place we attend?

Thirdly - The Church is a holy temple, set apart to God.

The Church is a holy temple, set apart to God for His purposes. It is not ordinary or common but consecrated to Him. As God’s children, we too are called to be holy and set apart for Him, reflecting His character in the way we live.

In Christ, we serve as priests, offering spiritual sacrifices to God. These sacrifices are not made with animals or incense, but from our lips and our hearts — the praises we speak, the gratitude we express, and the worship we offer in everyday life. Scripture reminds us of this in Hebrews 13:15: “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.”

When our worship is sincere, it rises to God as a sweet aroma, pleasing to the Father.

Question: What comes from our mouths in daily conversation, and do our words reflect praise, gratitude, and trust in God, or do they reveal complaint, bitterness, or indifference?

Our words and attitudes are a window into our hearts. They reveal what is truly shaping us on the inside and whether our lives are being lived as a holy offering to God.

We Are All in This Together

Read: 1 Corinthians 12:26

This verse speaks powerfully to the theology of the Body of Christ. The Church is not made up of isolated individuals, but of many members, each with different gifts, roles, and functions, all working together as one body. Every part matters, and what affects one member affects us all.

When one person suffers, we are called to share that burden with compassion, prayer, and practical care. And when one person is honoured or experiences success, we are invited to rejoice wholeheartedly with them, without jealousy or comparison. Their joy is not a threat to us — it is a cause for celebration within the family of God.

Leader: Encourage everyone to read the whole of 1 Corinthians chapter 12 during the week, reflecting on how God has uniquely gifted each member of the body and how we are meant to support one another.

Questions:

What part do I play in using my gifts to contribute to the body of Christ?

What does it look like to live well as part of God’s household?

Conclusion — and Final Point

We Are Part of a Living, Spiritual Household

The House of God: The Greek word for “church” was originally a non-religious term meaning a group of people called together for a purpose. The living God has called His people together for His purpose: a living family with a living purpose.

Remember: The Church is God’s house:

• He is the Designer

• He is the Architect

• He is the Builder

• He lives there

• He provides for it

• He is honored there

• He rules there

Warning: If you fight this, you will only find yourself fighting God.

Question: Which of these truths about God’s house speaks most strongly to you, and why?

What is one practical way we can become more intentional about embracing others as family?

Final Practical Application

We must reject any family-like thinking that allows prejudice or bias to linger in our hearts. True Christian hospitality shifts the focus from the Sunday stage to our table, because family is most often formed around shared meals and shared lives. As we open our homes and our hearts, we learn to pray for one another and to carry each other before God. In doing so, we also train ourselves to see the best in others — intentionally looking for the good while remaining discerning and grounded in truth.