 Alright so welcome once again. We just in the last hour we focused on the family altar and intercession. Thank you Avni and Anita once again for declaring scripture over our families on our behalf. May God's word be fulfilled even as we continue keeping these things specifically our children and families in prayer. We're going to look at the next portion or the next set of spiritual growth and nourishment and that is removing our way outside from the family into the local church and one part, an important part of our spiritual growth and development is knowing what the local church does for us and what is the importance of the local church as we nurture our families in the knowledge of God and in our spiritual growth. So the local church is a very important aspect of our growth of our lives and we're going to be looking at the importance of it as well as certain elements of how we can involve ourselves, our family members in the service of the local church as well and by doing so how do we also bring about kingdom culture, the kingdom of God in our lives. The church being involved in a church is a very important part of being a believer and finding a church where the word of God is taught, it is centered on Jesus Christ as well as a church that is filled by the power of the Holy Spirit is a church that we need to focus to be a part of. Just like if you look at when you are growing a certain plant, for those who are gardeners would know that a plant been grown in the midst of other plants of its kind thrive a lot better than maybe those single plants, not that they don't but they thrive a lot better. So as believers as being within a community or a fellowship of believers it is important that we plant ourselves in the house of God. Being in church is like being in a family and very often we see that people have the notion that getting to church is like having a good morning coffee. You go to church, attend the worship, have the word and that's it and you come out and you just leave the mug on the side. Having your coffee also means you may need to make it and you need to wash it and keep it back keep the mug back. So similarly very poor example but yet for the fact that being in a local church, being a member of a church is not just about attendance and not having to do anything with it. A part of that spiritual nourishment is being involved in serving the church, in serving the different members of the church. So being able to find a place that you can stay is something that will be helpful because you grow, you nurture others, you nurture yourself through being planted in a particular place. So by doing that we're not just helping ourselves but we also teach our children or the generations after that a church definitely builds each other up and we need the strength of the church to further the kingdom of God through what we may be doing individually and also what we are doing collectively. So we're going to be looking at some factors of how we can nurture the family to understand how we can be a part of a local church and thereby extending God's kingdom. So the first and important thing and this is a simple principle to being sure that you are in church every Sunday. When you look at the early church we see that it was a practice for them to meet on the first day of the week and we see that in scripture and those scriptures is given in your notes that the early church met the first day of the week and even the writer of Hebrews talks about that in chapter 10 verse 24 and 25. It says let us be concerned for one another to help one another to show love and to do good. Let us not give up the habit of meeting together as some are doing. Let us encourage one another all the more since you see that the day of the Lord is coming nearer. So establishing the practice of coming together of the family going together to church so that you get together with other believers to worship to pray to learn God's word as also fellowship. When you make this like a practice it begins to happen. So I remember right from the time when I was a child every Sunday we'd go to church there wasn't I can probably count on my fingers the days that I didn't go and there was never an excuse of exams never an excuse of laziness or tiredness only if you are really really sick or if you aren't in town and you're traveling and usually I remember our travel would never be around a Sunday either you know we would probably take an extra day off but would never be on a Sunday we would ensure getting back on a Sunday. So making this a norm making this a practice a discipline is that which which helps even the family the children understand that it is it it's a discipline it's something that you do to to build each other up as well as to grow within yourself. So yeah then there could be certain challenges that may come up because of work settings or things like that but you know we recommend that you move around those requirements and avoid working or taking up assignments on a Sunday but being in church to meet your family it's like you meeting your family and you know working with them and praying with them listening to God's word fellowshiping with them is is very important so establish that as a practice not just for you as an adult but even for the children. Why do we do this because like we said the Lord considers you know the church as his household so when you see in 1 Timothy 315 it says but if I delay this letter will let you know how you should conduct yourselves in God's household so he calls it the Lord's household he calls it God's family so the church is not a place where like a social gathering we come up and we you know give our attendance you know for service and and then you leave it is there where you're understanding you're nurturing others too as well as being nurtured so as part of being in the family of God we develop good relationships with other people of God where you can love you care you support you bless you help you encourage one another so it's God's family it's a household where you're where you are building each other up and belonging to a place there is a place there is a belonging that you have that I have another family and I've heard many you know believers say I have a second home and that's my church and that's that's a beautiful thing that you know you have an extended place an extended family that you can share life with and work together encourage love help seek each other grow each other up so not just being there but even a place where you feel that you belong a place where you're accepted into the family of God where all members help and strengthen each other okay by being a part of a church we are also called to to be of service in church to be to be at a place where we can serve God through serving the church when we look at first Peter 4 10 to 11 it reads as each one has received a gift ministered to one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God so the gifts that each one of us have received is something that we also use or give back to God so whatever has been given to you first Peter says to be a good steward of what has been given to you whatever gifting God has given you to be a good steward of it for the glory and for the for the grace from the grace of God that he gives you okay so and there are certain examples that it says it says if anyone speaks let him speak as the oracles of God if anyone ministers let him do it with the ability which God supplies that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ to him belong the glory and the dominion forever so whatever we have been given it could be certain giftings skills and and it could be anything it doesn't it it just doesn't mean that only those who are up on the pulpit or those who are up singing or those who've got the you know the the exposed talent is is ending even even smaller little things of you know just arranging chairs or ensuring you're doing things at the at the background you know and and it it's actually quite amazing to see how God places some skills in people that they're good at so there may be some who who do administrative tasks were really good at administrative tasks and using that to serve God or people who are good at media and technology and using that to to work work in church or there are so many areas where we do this for for God so it's it's not a place where we are showcasing our talents or our gifts but it is for service so whatever we are given it is given back for service so encouraging every member of the family to be able to engage in some way some part of their time or their effort or any skill towards the ministry or the work of the local church and there are so many areas that one can be involved and each of them are as important as as the other there's there's no work done in the service of God or service of in in God's family that is demeaning or that is that should be looked down upon everything every service has its own dignity has its own honor because we're doing it under God not unto each other so serving the church so you know for those of us who have children encouraging them first of all by being a good example of putting yourselves up in front and ministering to the church and then and thereafter also encouraging your children to get on to any place even if it may be an ushering or it is you know organizing chairs I remember the first time that I got into you know to to serving was helping in the children's church at that point of time you know there was there was one leader who would help the who would you know bring about God's word the rest were volunteers and all we had to do was you know ensure that the children are engaged or you know come in and arrange the chairs and dust it off or you know if a child wants to go to the toilet take them that was all that was there so those were the initial times of my my serving but you know I still remember that each of what you do is is honored by God the time and the effort you take to bringing back whatever skills you have is honored by God Kim the next would be mentoring you know coming to an important part of living in a community is to engage in mentoring with those in the fellowship like for those of us who may be at a workplace you know even if you are given a task you may be you may have someone under you who's learning from you and you've been given the responsibility to teach them well so so why not in in in a church community we see in Titus 2 chapter 2 verses 3 and 4 you know he says he gives this instruction to the church and he gives the instruction to the older women and says you know in the same way instruct the older women to behave as women should who live a holy life they must not be slanderers or slaves to wine they must teach what is good in order to train the younger women to love their husbands and children so you know this instruction that was given is to is maybe concerning very mundane practical things of how you know you conduct yourself as a wife what you should be doing as a as a young wife you know they would have probably shared notes or you know come up and struggles with little things that they were having in their marriage but they were older people to mentor them okay so we assume that this this is a practice that you know anyone can older older men women can engage with younger men or women depending I mean of course gender specific there again okay regarding practical things we also see that even Paul you know writes to Timothy and says this in first Timothy 412 do not let anyone look down on you because you're young but be an example to the believers in your speech your conduct your love your faith and purity so he encourages Timothy to live a life of example you see here how Paul is encouraging him Paul is taking on the the mentorship role and is modeling to him how he needs to be and thereby out of his life showing how other believers could conduct themselves so mentoring so being being in a family is like being is a part of being in a church family as well so just like how you nurture your children also coming to a place of either receiving nurtures yourself or being able to nurture others and out of this you know creates a greater stronger community of believers the next important part is that of life groups and we see it may be called differently in different churches it may be known as cell groups or life units you know or prayer groups whatever but they are specifically smaller groups of people who meet in the premises of a home or maybe another or maybe another convenient location so that you can engage build a relationship and also have fellowship with one another and of course with the aim of growing as disciples of Jesus Christ we see this also in the early church we see that in Acts 542 it says and daily in the temple and in every house they did not see teaching and preaching Jesus as Christ or Acts 246 it says breaking bread from house to house they ate their food and gladness and simplicity of heart so they continue daily with one accord in the temple not just a church but also at homes so this becomes important because you know in a larger church it may be more difficult to have meaningful connections with everybody so when it is smaller the connections are deeper the encouragement is stronger you know you walk with each other through life situations so one way of having a meaningful connect is to being a part of a life group during some part during the week and you know this not only we see that not just discipleship happens but there is also relationships that are built through the effect of life groups okay I'm going to stop here for a minute I haven't heard anybody's voice today is would anyone like to make any comments or probably maybe I'll raise a question here now what have you seen as a benefit of a life group or a cell group in your experience of of being part of one or the lack of one anybody just I just like to engage with people suddenly I just feel I'm the only one talking everyone's awake right yes we're awake so first I think this is this is an area that I have I have not unfortunately not experienced and and this is something that I strongly feel has been missing in my life for a long time now and very recently I started praying for it I've understood over the last I think very this year itself come across several places where I've understood that God has called us to be a community of believers to be a part of a small group not necessarily a big group but but to be a part of a small group and share each other's burden and pray with each other and I and my family have been going solo for a long time for the longest time so I've been praying for it and and I know that once God places me in the right group that that there will be a lot of spiritual growth for me and my family so I'm just waiting waiting for God to open doors for that one thank you Samir thank you for sharing thank you anybody else I think Harrison had unmuted no I admit that you know to let you know that we are still awake okay yeah okay but if I want to share something okay um I heard in the media department in my local church and um my wife is heard is heading the children department but there's so many things you know when I when I look at church and I see the behavior and the character of um and people service to God troubles me because you know when you look at the commitment you know you put into service you look at the commitment you put into seeing God's work you know move forward and then you will now see others you know who will sluggishly you know criticize you you know for what you do why they are not doing anything so the thing you know is just like you know you you cited about you know Paul you know right into Timothy that he should not um you know be intimidated you know by his young age you know but you know be conscious of you know his words and his actions you know to us you know service to God since Sally speaking that is what we need you know because there are times you know where we want all three things you know that are not pleasing to God and this can be as a result of you know what you know we see happening around also happening in the church and for me it's more like you know when I go to church and I walk in church I treat it I treat you know my service to God as we are treating my business so the way you know I don't want to what I don't want to see in my business I don't want to see it in church so the way I want to treat my own business or maybe all my job that they pay me salary is the same way I want to treat when I find myself you know doing what I'm doing in the house of God whether they pay me or they don't pay me it is very important you know we treat it as the way you know we want to treat anything that is special to us so that God himself you know will be pleased that yes people you know we have respect you know we love him and we obedient to him in everything that we do because I can tell you that even in my own local church you know when I see what is happening it can be crazy and it's enough you know for you to just tell yourself that okay it's enough maybe I should just step out you know just like you know my brother someone you said there are so many reasons you know they can make someone you know pipe low for a very long time because you know when people don't see the the effort you know you're putting to see that the work of God don't suffer one can be discouraged you know to just pipe low but the truth is that you know mother what it is you know we still need to keep you know doing what we do because we don't serve men we serve God thank you thank you thank you Harrison yeah that is I think that's such an important point that Harrison bought about is whatever we do for the Lord needs to be in taken with as much seriousness and reverence like how we would do in a place where we are being paid and you know that really shows expresses our commitment to God himself thank you thank you I think there was someone Kennedy I think you had raised your hand would you like to share yeah thank you very much just so I don't want to but that is on a today I have a personal experience just like in our group you decided to have a men's week where we conduct all the services for the ushering from ushering make sure that everything is in order and it's been a blessing after because I've seen to foster the young who had talent who had the ability it was a source and it's still a blessing but sometimes it was for a lot of volunteers you have the time go early make sure the time is clean make sure everything is orderly make sure the part needs to be taken care of but to be honest I've seen God work and uplift even the younger brothers people what you need you see they open up you get closer to thank you thank you thank you candy yes absolutely yeah when you're in a community when you're in serving together and I think he made a mention of certain teams I remember when we were part of when I was a part of a children's church we would meet on you know on some days of the month together to just and most most of the children's church here and with us were women so we would all meet for a potluck you know cup together and cook something and enjoy a meal together and that in itself was such strong fellowship where we were able to hear from each other and courage and build each other up yeah uh yes Isaac I think you have you you've raised your hand would you like to share yeah I want to share my own experience like 80 years ago I was part of a church that believed in the cell unit and then house churches as we call it house fellowship and there was a growing place for me to have developed I was taught how to study the word of God we usually have it in different places but every week we always have house fellowship happening in one area or the other but I was opportunity to be part of one in which has grown me to become what I am today so it has been a very great place to learn to interact we pray we do everything together we have breaking of bread the person in the house the owner of the house we provide something can provide something or the people coming can bring something so it's always very exciting when the week comes or the day comes to have a house church and we counted as part of the church so when the attendant is even been taken in the church the leader will mention the attendance of people that attended the house church and we counted as people that attended the church on Sunday so definitely some people may not be in church on Sunday but being in a house church means that you're in the church during the week so it was a place of growth and uh strengthening thank you thank you thank you Isaac thank you for sharing wonderful that's that's nice I think Rose also has written something she's written life groups are truly essential in our walk our journey especially for new believers life groups provide a setting of consistent follow-through for those still maturing the knowledge of the christian way life groups maintain our connection with the rest in the church and with God every weekend LG meetings build up and let members participate towards sorry uh members and let's members anticipate towards regrouping for Sunday service there is also wisdom in the council of the godly many in the life group absolutely so I think that's it just resounds with each one of us as to the importance of a of a life group okay the other important things are just a few more to go is is what we look as into missions how do we help our families or do we encourage our families to engage in mission and here I think it's wise to say that every one of us who are believers we are called to engage in missions and what do we mean by missions it's just being in some way uh fulfilling the commission that the lord gave to us about making disciples of all nations so in whichever way uh this involves which could which would mean by winning the lost um and discipling people in faith bringing them to christ so as uh as families we make a commitment to to uh engage in missions uh not just us as adults but also natural and so one way is to often take them alongside with you so that they begin to see how you personally involve and commit to sharing god's word or equipping people of god in the ways of god you know or discipling them so it is important for them for for families to commit to being missional it's not just reserved for those who are missionaries but for each one of us so in uh like for example in our church we do conduct mission trips where we keep it open to the entire church and uh you know there is a certain structure that is given there is a certain teaching that people go through and people sign up and they engage in missions so either either you know through um uh bringing about the gospel to the others or in any other form of service that they may feel most equipped in but engaging in missions is is something that we are called to do to because of the commission that he's given us to make disciples the next is of course being generous being kind and uh tithing a practice that we need to develop in families and also groom in our children is that of being generous being good to others being kind to others as well as tithing into the local church so this is a practice like again it's a discipline that we need to teach the children uh and especially you know going back to scripture we see this in 2 Corinthians 9 6 to 8 you know where uh Paul talks about those who sparingly so will reap sparingly those who so bountifully will also reap bountifully so when you give you don't give grudgingly but you give with a cheerful heart and uh you know because all our sufficiency comes from God so it is important to show children to be kind um through maybe through material goods or through any other form of maybe certain works or acts of kindness not that any of this aids in our salvation but out of our love for God we we we consider it our responsibility to show the love and grace that God has for us uh tithing is another way that we uh something that we need to build this principle for our children and smaller ways of doing that is you know um i know many homes do give what's that called why am i not able to get the word they give uh pocket money yeah the pocket money to children or a certain kind of a monthly allowance to children and whatever they earn from it encouraging them to keep a tent and being able to uh either put it into the offering or give it in some way to the church so that they learn this is a principle principle right from the beginning and uh it becomes a part of them the importance of tithing through all of this or in all that we do something that we keep focused is that we we we are expressing and showing our families our children that whatever we do it is to establish the the kingdom of God um and and whatever and and we are doing it as a result of having uh having a culture a kingdom culture a mindset that we want to extend the kingdom of God so not just in probably doing things but also the way that we think the choices we make the life that we have um the uh you know the small disciplines that we have everything that we do is doing are we doing in order to establish the kingdom of God and the purposes of God and that's what we want our children to see that it doesn't it's not turned into something that's ritualistic or something that seems more like a duty to be done but it is being done as a result of our love for God and to see his kingdom being extended so in everything in the things that we do maybe through worship through prayer um through fellowship through service through giving through uh through meeting together through encouraging through uh building all of this comes through the mindset of developing this kingdom mindset of being focused on the kingdom of God so whatever wherever we are that is what we want to focus on on with our children thereby you know and encouraging the entire spiritual experience that they have that it's not just spiritual experience or spiritual growth yes it's personal but it's also something that's done collectively and of course for the kingdom of God at large right all right okay we have oh this is one of the first times we've finished five minutes before class that's good uh is is there any question any any thought anything that you all would like to express um um if not we can close with a word of prayer and uh yeah okay so let me just let me close with a word of prayer and uh then we can we can close the class today heavenly father we thank you god for your word that desires of us to be spiritually nurtured and nourished lord and we thank you for the churches for the communities that you have put us in where we are we are being built we are being encouraged we are being strengthened lord we thank you because you have opened up these places your family god where we can connect back father we pray for those of us who have families that we will be diligent and lord out of our desire that our families grow in you would encourage our children would encourage our families to become part of your fellowship of of a greater household and family father we pray god that each of us will be blessed in our churches and we will be a blessing to those around us father lord we pray master that uh even as you've given us these places of worship of fellowship that we will be good stewards of all the talents and gifting you've given us we will use each one of what you've given us to your service lord and that we would do each of it well and in excellence god not keeping away anything father lord help us to know that the more that we sow into your kingdom father the more god that we are going to reap out of it father we pray god our families what lord will have a kingdom mindset that everything we do in church outside of church father will lord bear a culture that that progresses your kingdom father lord even in the little things of maybe showing kindness to someone of giving a glass of water to someone of providing for somebody's need father maybe be focused in expanding your kingdom and more so lord in the families of you have placed us in in in the churches you've placed us may maybe be lord true to your calling of being with love and compassion and and goodness to one another thank you lord we bless our churches we bless the places you have planted us in father together maybe bring more disciples lord to you maybe maybe fulfill the commission that you have for each one of us thank you for hearing our prayer lord i pray for each person on this call lord i pray for those who may not be yet connected to a family of god yet connected to a church father who may be seeking for one father i pray in jesus name that you will open the doors of a loving community that they can they can come to father i pray for those hearts who have been hurt in in a church community i pray that you will release your forgiveness upon their hearts lord and and bring them lord to a place of love and oneness even in their communities thank you once again lord i pray especially for our children any of them father who are who may rebel against coming to church who may rebel against being a part of your community lord i pray god that you will find them out you will seek them out you will touch their hearts and bring about a desire in them to connect with people of god father and through that connection lord see you in a greater light thank you for hearing our prayer lord i bless each one on our call and those who have not been able to attend i pray for your hand of wisdom protection and blessing be over them in jesus matchless name i pray amen amen thank you pastor thank you thank you amen thank you everybody god bless and we shall meet next week thank you