THE POWER OF BELONGING

Ephesians 2:19

Abraham Maslow, a noted psychologist, believes that needs build on one another. Throughout our lives we move from one cluster of needs to another as motivations for our actions. One basic set of needs, he argues, springs from our bodies. They are called physiological needs – food, drink, recreation, etc.
Men and women also have needs that result from living with other people. These social-dependency needs include the desire for self-esteem, love and affection, security, self-realization, and self-expression. People want to know that they are loved, that they have worth, that they can grow, develop, and realize their potential.
In trying to satisfy these needs, people try many things…

I. In trying to satisfy his need to belong, man seeks love and affection from….

A. Social Groups
• Family
• Peers –same age group
• Fraternities/Sororities
• Friendship Groups
• Special Interest Groups – (Athletes, Dancers, Singers, Artists, Gays, Writers, Scholars, Book Worms, Leaders, Entrepreneurs, etc)
• Task Groups – (Cleaners, Janitors, Snack servers, etc.)
• Diads

These social groups that we belong to shape the way we think, the way we talk, the way we act, the way we live. They form our convictions and principles. They help us know ourselves. They affect and influence us in various ways. They help us feel sense of identity. That you belong!
However, these social groups are limited and temporary. Family, for one, is a beautiful gift from God but they are temporary and fragile, often broken by divorce, distance, growing old, and inevitably death. No matter how solid and wonderful relationships are there is always a time when you have to say goodbye.
Illus: High School life….



II. God has established a spiritual family to meet our need to belong and this family will last for eternity.
“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.
You are called to belong, not just to believe.
Even in the perfect, sinless environment of Eden, God said, “it is not good for man to be alone.” We are created for community, and formed for a family, and none of us can fulfill God’s purposes by ourselves. We need the Body of Christ – the Church, the community of believers.
For the organs of your body to fulfill their purpose, they must be connected to your body. Imagine your feet walking without you.
The same is true for you as a part of Christ’s body. You were created for a specific role, but you will miss this second purpose of your life if you’re not attached, committed to a living, local church.
Disconnected and cut off from a local body, your spiritual life will wither and eventually cease to exist. This is why the first symptom of spiritual decline is usually inconsistent attendance at worship services or gatherings of believers.
The Church is God’s agenda for the world. Jesus said, “I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.” The Church is indestructible and will exist for eternity. The Church is so significant that Jesus died on the cross for it.
Many believe one can be a “good” Christian without committing to a local church, but God would strongly disagree.

WHY DO I NEED A LOCAL CHURCH?

1. A CHURCH FAMILY IDENTIFIES ME AS A GENUINE BELIEVER.
You can’t claim to be following Christ if you’re not committed to any specific group of believers. There’s no such thing as ‘bogus’ Christian. You can’t be a guest or attender forever without any identity, accountability, or commitment.

2. A CHURCH FAMILY MOVES ME OUT OF SELF-CENTERED ISOLATION.
The local church is the classroom for learning how to get along in God’s family. As a participating member, I learn to care about others and share the experiences of others. God expects us to give our lives for others.

3. A CHURCH FAMILY HELPS ME DEVELOP SPIRITUAL MUSCLES.
You’ll never learn to play basketball if you’re just in the sideline watching others play. In the same way, you will never grow to maturity just by attending worship services and being a passive spectator. Only participation in the full life of a local church builds spiritual muscle.
We need more than the Bible in order to grow; we need other believers. We grow faster and stronger by learning from each other and being accountable (responsible) to each other. That’s the main purpose of having a cell group. Kung wala ka may mga maghahanap. Kasi they care about you.

4. A CHURCH FAMILY HELPS ME DISCOVER, DEVELOP MY SPIRITUAL GIFTS AND NATURAL ABILITIES.
God has a unique role for you in His family. This is called your ‘ministry’. And God has gifted you for this assignment.
Your local fellowship is the place God designed for you to discover, develop, and use your gifts. It is also the place where we share in Christ’s mission for the world.
As members of Christ’s body, we are his hands, his feet, his eyes, and his heart. He works through us in the world. We each have a contribution to make.
Jesus said, “As the Father has sent me, so I’m sending you.”

5. A CHURCH FAMILY WILL KEEP ME FROM BACKSLIDING.
‘Mind your own business’ is not a Christian phrase. We are called and commanded to be involved in each other’s lives.
We need a community. When you’re struggling with sin, you can’t battle it on your own. You need believers who will check on you, pray for you, encourage you, and reprimand you.
Life is difficult and we need the encouragement of other believers to get us through. Encouragement is not the responsibility of a gifted few, but the responsibility of all in the family of God. We live by encouragement, and we die without it – slowly, sadly, angrily.

IF THIS IS NOT A PLACE
(Ken Medema)

If this is not a place where tears are understood,
Then where shall I go to cry?
And if this is not a place where my spirit can take wings,
Then where shall I go to fly?

I don’t need another place for tryin’ to impress you
With just how good and virtuous I am, no, no, no.
I don’t need another place for always bein’ on top of things
Everybody knows that it’s a sham, it’s a sham (fake).
I don’t need another place for always wearin’ smiles
Even when it’s not the way I feel.
I don’t need another place to mouth the same platitudes (boredom)
Everybody knows that it’s not real.

So if this is not a place where my questions can be asked,
Then where shall I go to seek?
And if this is not a place where my heart’s cry can be heard,
Where, tell me where, shall I go to speak?
So if this is not a place where tears are understood,
Where shall I go, where shall I go to fly?

Do you have a spiritual family you can call your own? A family you can go to? A family who will welcome you home? A spiritual family personally chosen by you? A family that will help you grow in the Lord?