Bible Verses About the Church as Family

In a recent article that our team wrote in Christianity Today, we challenged churches to consider whether their programs are serving community or whether the programs have become an end in and of themselves. For those who do the work of ministry, it can be easy to see our local congregation as an organization that needs to run smoothly and by popular business principles. While it’s true that groups of people need structure and systems to function in a healthy way, the way we do things ought to flow out of who we are and whose we are! What does scripture say about the people of God? Are we primarily an organization or a family?

The witness of scripture teaches that as the church, we are children of God the Father, siblings of Jesus the Son, and joined together by the Spirit of God.  We are the family of God.

Children of God

As children of God, we know we have a good father who loves us deeply and whose love binds us together as a family. Before our family relationships, before our personality traits, and before our careers, we are beloved sons and daughters of the heavenly King.

John 1:12

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

1 John 3:1-2

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

Siblings with Christ

As children of God, we are siblings with Jesus Christ. Jesus, the firstborn of all creation, is our brother. We are heirs with him of the Kingdom of God.

Matthew 12:46-50

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.”

Romans 8:14-17

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”  The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Joined together by the Spirit

Our relationship with one another goes beyond acquaintance and even far beyond deep friendship. We are joined together by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ. As the people of God, we are bound to one another and we carry the presence of Jesus into the world.

Ephesians 4:2-6

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

1 Corinthians 12

Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? Now, eagerly desire the greater gifts.