Text:: Matthew 12:46-50
Title: A New Family
Preacher: Rev. Greg Brower
Family matters. We are often told blood is thicker than water. But in Matthew 12:46-50, Jesus chooses his disciples over his own mother. In the process, Jesus challenges us to rethink how our faith changes all of our other relationships. If our identity as disciples is primary, then it changes how we think about international conflicts and issues, because our first concern is not our nation, but our brothers and sisters around the world. If in Christ we have become a family, then there is hope for healing for those whose families of origin were less than ideal. If the church is really a big extended family, then we have even more cause to celebrate and embrace the many different backgrounds an experiences we find in the church. Ultimately, we remember that our place in the family is created by our trust in Christ and demonstrated by our obedience.