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2020
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Kannapolis EMC Welcomes Rev. Alan & Mrs. Crystal Woodie
The Kerusso – September | 2020 Kerusso (Greek): “To publish, proclaim openly: something which has been done.”
Family Ties As International General Superintendent, I have felt led to talk repeatedly about one word this year - FAMILY. Our geography doesn’t matter. Our heart language doesn’t matter. Our ancestral heritage doesn’t matter. We are not family because of those things. BUT WE ARE FAMILY BECAUSE OF JESUS. No matter whether we are in the United States, Asia, Africa, Europe, Mexico, Canada, or anywhere else in the world, we are connected by and through HIM.
“So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family.” (Ephesians 2:19)
If you were able to watch the Tuesday evening session of our online Journey in July, you heard me talk about the importance of spiritual family. This incredible concept is God’s creation. Jesus himself declared that His “real” family is made up of His followers, rather than His biological kinfolk. It is our spiritual family that should boast the most important family ties.
“While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” (Matt 12:46-50) What does all this mean for us today? Well, among other things, it means that we are never alone! Jesus’ promise that the Holy Spirit would dwell continually with us gives great comfort (John 14:7), but we are also to be directly connected to a large and wonderful family of fellowbelievers (Ephesians 3:15). And it means that we should be:
patient and humble (Ephesians 4:2) unified (Ephesians 4:3) mature and honest (Ephesians 4:14-15) and deeply connected (Ephesians 4:16)