So far in Alive and Kicking we have been looking mainly at the relationship that exists between an individual Christian and their God. But as we will discover tonight there is much more to Christianity than individual and personal belief.

What do all these verses have in common?

When someone becomes a Christian they are born into a family. They don’t have a choice in the matter! With new spiritual birth comes membership of the church, which is the family of God. Someone cannot decide once they become Christian whether they now want to be part of God’s church as well. No the very fact that they are a Christian means that they belong to the household of the living God.

So you see we are not to be lone rangers in the Christian life. Sometimes people have a very negative view of the church and in many ways this is not surprising. It can sometimes seem so out-of-touch and not valid for much other than ridicule. But that is not what the church should be like. Rather it is to be the support network for the individual Christian, the extended family to which we now belong. So if we are eager to feast on Christ then the church is one of the places to eat. And if we are eager to become more like Christ and to grow up in our faith then God’s family are there to help us.

Now the Bible is also quite clear about what is to be proper family behaviour. And so as we grow up as God’s children we are to learn the right ways to treat our fellow brothers and sisters. For example, we are told that God’s children are to:

• Encourage one another

Why are we to meet together?

How can we do this when we meet together?

Do you find you are encouraged when you meet together with God’s people at St John’s? Why or why not?

How does ‘the Day’ affect your attitude to other Christians?

• Accept one another

We are not able to choose who is in the spiritual family to which we belong. But what reason is given here to be accepting of others in the church?

• Forgive one another

Church life on this earth will not be perfect. Although we should have great expectations of church life we must still be thoroughly realistic. Neither we nor our fellow Christians are perfect and so relationships with them will often be hard. People will upset us and we will certainly upset others. But holding grudges against fellow Christians is not on!

What reason are we given here to forgive our brothers and sisters?

• Serve one another

What do you think serving one another means?

How can we become better at serving one another?

• Teach one another

Who are to be the teachers in church? (See also Ephesians 4:11-13)

What practical hints are given to these ‘teachers’?

• Love one another

What will be the mark of a true Christian church?

(See also Revelation 2:1-4)

What motivation are we given to love our fellow brothers and sisters?

Of course we don’t all behave like this overnight. But nevertheless this should be the desire of every Christian. Is it yours?