AI Summary
5 min readThe Only Family That Will Last Forever — Part 1
God created the universe because he wanted a family. That is the central claim Rick Warren makes in this message, and everything else he says flows from it. "God wasn't lonely, God is love," Warren says, "but he didn't need us, but he wanted a family to love and to share his glory." The universe exists not as an accident or a test, but as a stage for relationship. And that family, Warren argues, is the church.
What the Church Actually Is
Warren begins by clearing away common misunderstandings. The church is not a building, a location, or an event you attend. "It's a family that you belong to," he says. "Church is not an event you attend, it is a family you belong to." He offers a four-part definition: the church is (1) God's family on earth and in heaven, (2) composed of saved and baptized believers, (3) people committed to Jesus and to each other, and (4) the body of Christ where each member belongs to all the others.
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What you'll learn
- 1 (00:02) **Introduction to the Series** - Rick Warren begins a new series called *This Is Us*, focused on finding your place in God's family.
- 2 (00:53) **God's Original Purpose: Creating a Family** - Rick argues that the entire universe was created because God wanted a family, not because He was lonely.
- 3 (01:57) **The Church is God's Family** - Rick clarifies that the "family" God is building is the Church, which is the only thing that will last forever.
- 4 (04:22) **Defining the Church: Not a Building or Event** - Rick corrects common misconceptions about what the church actually is.
- 5 (06:49) **Composition of the Church: Saved and Baptized Believers** - Rick explains the second part of his definition, emphasizing the order of belief and baptism.
- 6 (10:59) **Commitment to Jesus and Each Other** - Rick presents the third part of his definition: church membership requires commitment to both Christ and other believers.
- 7 (13:22) **The Biblical Basis for Church Membership** - Rick defends the concept of church membership against critics who claim it is unbiblical.
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Guests on this episode
Show Notes
Before you join a church, you must first commit your life to Jesus. Join Pastor Rick as he teaches what it means to be part of the church.
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