My Adopted Family
By Mark Nordlund --
When a group of people feels safe and warm, we often say they feel like “family.” “Family” implies love, loyalty and lifelong bonds. Unfortunately, many people may have painful memories of their families or they may feel alone and like they don’t have family. But God, in His great love, was pleased to invite us into His family by adoption through Jesus!
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! 1 John 3:1
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will. Ephesians 1:4-5
Throughout the New Testament we read the language of family in the church such as Paul’s references to “brothers and sisters” in his letters. The church is God’s family, but it is also His adoption agency. He has sent His family to live out the gospel and announce the Father’s adoption plans to the whole world.
A few years back, someone told me about the Dennehy family. They practiced the Father’s love by traveling the world and adopting children with disabilities. In the video clip below, you’ll hear how they tell their children, “When you’re adopted, your parents looked down on the whole world and picked you.” That’s exactly what the Father did for us when He rescued and ransomed us for His family. If you have a few minutes, watch this brief and moving video on the Dennehy family, and notice how it resembles God’s family.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rztYMMhMT2Y
At GPBC, we want to be a family of God where people belong, grow and are living out the Father’s adoption mission. An important way that we invite you into this kind of “missional” community is through small groups. I was initially reluctant to join a small group, but now I can’t imagine following Jesus without the love and encouragement of these “brothers and sisters.” They are part of my life like an adopted family. If you are ready to follow Jesus with one of our small groups, please let us know on our website at “Join a Small Group:” http://www.pdxchurch.org/community/small-groups/
This Sunday we are very pleased to welcome Greg Lunsford who has been invited by the elder team to preach and spend a week with our church family as a candidate for lead pastor. I hope you will join us this week as we get to know Greg and his family!