A Disciple, Their Family & Relationships

December 3, 2024

A DISCIPLE IS COMMITTED TO STRONG FAMILY AND PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH LOVE, PROTECTIONS, PROMISES & BIBLICAL VALUES

"Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Heb. 10:25

“...whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, (Greek. Minister Servant) 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave (Greek Bond Servant) (Matthew 20:26-27, NIV)

The Christmas season, or Advent as it is described by many, is a time that we see ourselves becoming more acquainted with family and the appreciation of the Christmas pageantry. For some, like our family who sees it as an opportunity to be acquainted more with the idea of Jesus Christ. It is a realization that these acquaintances are ideal for the development of disciple-type relationships in our family. We pray more and deliberately during this period for each other, and we share the Word of God relative to what we see and who has needs in the Christmas season; we also have planned times for fellowship with family and friends, church events, parades, and festivities all around. In some instances, we invite people outside of our family and other acquaintances to join us for dinner. So, what is the real meaning of the season? What is more important; Is it receiving wrapped presents or enjoying being wrapped in the Lord’s presence and the people who are followers of Jesus Christ? As much as I love the presence of Jesus Christ during the Christmas season, I also enjoy receiving at least one wrapped present during the Christmas Holiday.

The affirmation of family-type relationships and fellowship during this time of the year is felt by almost everyone worldwide who shares in the event that we call Christmas. Most of us share plenty of merriment during this season. There are still people who, however, experience feelings of isolation from these types of relationships, and many feel the season to be purposeless and directionless without someone to pour themselves into or for someone to pour into their lives. These are just a couple of the dilemmas that we see quite often during the Christmas and Holiday seasons. Despite this, there are so many opportunities for people to express their need to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I believe people should be involved with other people during this time of the year, either in the family or in so many other types of opportunities where they can experience love and acceptance. Many opportunities are available in churches and Christmas functions throughout cities worldwide. Friends, family, and community relationships are important for some and should be important in every person’s life.

My family was very tight, and Christmas was one of the biggest events in our Family and community. We had gatherings and get-togethers to celebrate holidays, birthdays, and church events. These were get-togethers, like most families that flourished in the community that I lived in. My parents were actively part of what were called Social Clubs. These clubs held regular social gatherings that celebrated events in the community and in the church. They would travel with their families to the beach, to the mountains, to the regional theme parks, and to the lakes around the country, which really solidified fellowship among church believers and families.

I call this “Realized Fellowship,” which always begins with a relationship with the person of Jesus Christ. Most of the community people that I knew growing up had as their central relationship the church. These relationships flowed out to the community of most individuals and into the lifestyle of what could be called fellowship and community discipleship. During the holiday season, everybody I was familiar with encouraged each other in these small community relationships. This included the Christmas season as well as the other seasons, like Thanksgiving and Easter. My mom would always say anybody in the community could visit your house, share your food, and ask for favors without a doubt.

This concept of “Realized Fellowship” begins with God and flows to other individuals, which is similar to the type of fellowship seen in the lifestyle of the disciples. F. F. Bruce, writing about the first disciples, explains that the twelve arrived at their final intimate relationship and fellowship with Jesus by degrees. This is like the community I grew up in. Christmas was a community event that started in the church and extended to the houses and neighbors who lived around us. We would share food, cakes, and pies with our neighbors. Like that process described by FF Bruce, in distinct stages of their development, the disciples began as simple believers and occasional companions at convenient times, particularly during festive seasons. Fellowship followed in interrupted attendance, even to the abandonment of their secular vocations. Finally, they were set apart by their master as certain disciples.[i]

Leslie Weatherhead remarks that the normal life of the Christian is a life of fellowship. Fellowshiping with other believers is walking in obedience because a normal and full Christian life cannot be lived alone.[ii] Ray Stedman, in Body Life, emphasizes this fellowship element as well. He reiterates the point that as an essential part of early Christianity, this fellowship element is still necessary today.[iii] Eims also believes that a growing Christian needs fellowship, which is one of the basic needs of a growing Christian church. Like family, it is not a group of people in one building like marbles in a bag, but like lumps of chocolate that have melted together and become part of one another.[iv] This emphasizes both the relationships of believers with one another and the relationship of believers with God. Inwardly, people must be motivated to have fellowship with Jesus Christ, and outwardly, they must become witnesses to Jesus Christ.

As we approach the busyness of this season, I want to encourage you to please help yourself and others to slow down and encounter Emmanuel – God with us. A good place to start is by opening our ears to hear the word of God and the voice of the Holy Spirit, igniting imagination to engage with God through his son, Jesus Christ. Make Christmas a time of preparing your heart for the wonder of His birth, but also the excitement of his soon return to receive us at His coming. He promised us that he will come again, so this is a good time to not only look at his birth it is also a good time to reflect on his return. We make promises to our families that we may or may not keep. God makes promises that you can guarantee he will keep. Please look for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is my belief that it is ever closer than ever before. We are also on the precipice of one of the greatest revivals that is about to take place. This revival will be local, and it will be worldwide. We are about to experience one of the greatest unified efforts ever seen in the history of the world. I pray you have an awesome holiday season and a very Merry Christmas!

Discussion

When Jeff was just a boy, his grandfather promised, “Someday, I will take you to our family roots in Germany.” Jeff grew up with the excitement of someday making that trip. Grandpa didn’t take his own promises as seriously as did his grandson, however. The trip never happened.

David had served as Israel’s’ king for about seven years. The highlight of his formative years had been his relationship with Jonathan, son of the former king, Saul. David and Jonathan had made a promise to take care of each other’s households should something happen to either of them. Jonathan said to David, “And remember, you must demonstrate the love and kindness of the Lord not only to me during my lifetime, but also to my children after the Lord has destroyed all of your enemies” (1 Sam. 20:15, LB). One day, David began wondering if any of Saul’s family was still living, for David wanted to be kind to them, just as he had promised (Sam. 9:1-13).

David was fulfilling his promise given to Mephibosheth’s father, Jonathan (1 Sa. 20:42), not only towards Mephibosheth but also his son Mica after him. The chapter twice reminds the reader that Mephibosheth was crippled, so stressing his helplessness. It is doubtful if he could ever have been an effective rival to David, in spite of Ziba’s later accusation (16:3). David was fulfilling his promise given to Mephibosheth’s father, Jonathan (1 Sa. 20:42), not only towards Mephibosheth but also his son Mica (12) after him. The chapter twice reminds the reader that Mephibosheth was crippled, so stressing his helplessness. It is doubtful if he could ever have been an effective rival to David, in spite of Ziba’s later accusation (16:3).[v]

If you are married in a Family or any relationship (Church, Work, School), talk with the people connected to you and let them know how important they are to your life. Encourage them to see God’s provision and solution for every concern (Rom.8:28; Phil.4:19). Spend quality time with the people you care about during this Christmas season doing things that they like.

"And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near," (Hebrews 10:25 NLT).

How To Keep Promises:

Through Love

• Keep your promises (James 5:12).

• Let them know you are praying for them (Romans 1:9, 10).

• Instruct them in a nurturing way (Ephesians 6:4).

• Assure them that you are proud of them.

  
  

Providing Protection

• Teach them how to recognize and avoid dangers (Proverbs 3).

• Pray a hedge of protection around them (Job 3:23; Psalm 34:19).

• Teach them to ask the Lord for protection and wisdom at all times (Proverbs 3:5-8, James 1: 5-8).

  
  

Using Biblical Values

• Help them to respect and honor God in all they do (Proverbs 1:7).

• Model and instill godly standards and discipline

• Teach them to seek the Lord’s will in everything (Psalm 37:5).

• Encourage them to be dependent upon the Lord for every aspect of their lives (Psalm 37:23; Prov. 3:5-6).

• Help them to find their God-given gifts and then develop them.

CLOSING THE GAP

1. Can you recall a promise made to you that was kept or broken?

2. What can we do to keep promises at home or in our relationships?

3. Ask this: who may be the person in my relationships or home who needs my kind attention now? (Each individual names one person.)

4. What can I do to express kindness to the person I named above?

[i] A. B. Bruce, The Training of the Twelve (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 1971), p. 11, 12.

[ii] Leslie Weatherhead, Discipleship (London: SCM Press, 1958), p. 63.

[iii] Ray Stedman, Body Life, (Glendale: Regal, 1972), p. 107

[iv] Eims, p. 64.

[v] D.F. Payne, 1 and 2 Samuel, ed., D. A. Carson et al., New Bible Commentary: 21st century edition. Accordance electronic ed. (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1994), 325.