Formed For God's Family

Title: Formed For God's Family

Text: Mark 12:30-31 | Ephesians 1:5 | Psalm 139

“His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ.”    Ephesians 1:5 (NLT)

Outline:

I. God Knows You Completely (vv. 1–6)

II. You Were Created with Purpose (vv. 13–16)

III. You Were Made for God’s Family (vv. 17–18)

IV. Being Fully Known and Fully Loved (vv. 23–24)

Personal Reflection & Small Group Questions

Please complete this study on your own, then bring it to your small group for discussion.

1.   How does the idea of being 'formed for God's family' challenge or affirm your current view of church participation?  In what ways does the concept of being 'adopted into God's family' (Ephesians 1:5) reshape our understanding of our identity and relationships?

2.   In what ways might treating church like a 'spectator sport' hinder our spiritual growth and sense of community?

3.   How does understanding that God knows us completely (Psalm 139) impact our approach to vulnerability and authenticity in church relationships?

4.   What are some challenges we face in being 'fully known and fully loved' in our church communities, and how can we overcome them?

5.   Pastor Jeff mentioned, "You don't need to hide from God." What areas of your life do you find yourself trying to hide from God or others?

6.   In light of Spurgeon's quote about joining an imperfect church, how can we cultivate grace and patience within our faith communities while still pursuing growth?