The document discusses the concept of 'my father's house' as a metaphor for the church, emphasizing its nature as a body where each member is interconnected and essential. It contrasts this with negative portrayals of family dynamics and stresses the importance of encouragement and support within the community. The text highlights that the church should embody fellowship and love, reflecting a family-like relationship among its members.

2. 1 Corinthians 12:20-26 But now indeed there are many
members, yet one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to
the hand, "I have no need of you"; nor again the head
to the feet, "I have no need of you." 22 No, much
rather, those members of the body which seem to be
weaker are necessary. 23 And those members of the
body which we think to be less honorable, on these we
bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts
have greater modesty, 24 but our presentable parts
have no need. But God composed the body, having
given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25 that
there should be no schism in the body, but that the
members should have the same care for one another.
26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer
with it; or if one member is honored, all the members
rejoice with it.

3. MY FATHER’S HOUSE
A. Psalm 122:1 -- A Song of Ascents. Of David. I was
glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the
house of the LORD!"
1. My Father's House is a house of Joy.
2. If a house is not of joy, it must not be My
Father's House.
B. Bad scenes from the Home
1. Father kicked son out of car in freezing weather
to teach him a lesson.
2. McLaren Hospital 48 yr old son--tried to kill his
75 yr old mother.
3. Fifteen year old tries to kill his mother after she
took away his cell phone.

4. MY FATHER’S HOUSE
C. A House (home) is supposed to be the
source of encouragement.
1. Why then, do so many children run away?
2. Why are the statistics for drugs among
teens growing?
3. Why so much suicide?
D. Is My Father's House that way?
1. Do children of God run away from home?
2. Do children of God find pleasure in the
addiction of sin?
3. Do children of God simply give up and give
in to spiritual suicide?

5. MY FATHER’S HOUSE
E. What is My Father's House?
1. Lecture Hall?
2. Theater?
3. Corporation
4. Social club?
5. An IT?
6. NO!!!!---

6. I. MY FATHER'S HOUSE IS A BODY
A. Not an organization, an ORGANISM!
1. Ephesians 1:22-23 And He put all things
under His feet, and gave Him to be head
over all things to the church, 23 which is His
body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
2. 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 For as the body is
one and has many members, but all the
members of that one body, being many, are
one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one
Spirit we were all baptized into one body--
whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or
free--and have all been made to drink into
one Spirit.

7. I. MY FATHER'S HOUSE IS A BODY
B. We ARE a body, not simply like one.
1. No longer simply a group of people who believe
alike.
2. . . . who work toward a common goal.
3. . . . who worship according to a similar pattern.
C. We define OURSELVES by how we relate to one
another.
1. Ephesians 5:29 No one ever hated his own flesh,
but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord
does the church.
2. So long as we consider each other a part of a body,
there is OWNERSHIP. We are part of one another.
It hurts to lose a part.
3. We value each part and each limb of our body, so
also Christ's.
4. 1 Corinthians 12:27 1 Now you are the body of
Christ, and members individually.
D. My Father's House is a Body

8. II. MY FATHER'S HOUSE IS A FAMILY
A. Closer than blood relations - Matthew 12:47-
50 Then one said to Him, "Look, Your mother
and Your brothers are standing outside,
seeking to speak with You." 48 But He
answered and said to the one who told Him,
"Who is My mother and who are My
brothers?" 49 And He stretched out His hand
toward His disciples and said, "Here are My
mother and My brothers! 50 For whoever does
the will of My Father in heaven is My brother
and sister and mother.”

9. II. MY FATHER'S HOUSE IS A FAMILY
B. Not a religious title-a relationship - - "Brother
Pasley”
1. 1 Peter 2:17 Honor all people. Love the
brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
2. Galatians 6:10 Therefore, as we have
opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to
those who are of the household of faith.
3. Ephesians 2:19 Now, therefore, you are no
longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow
citizens with the saints and members of the
household of God,
4. 1 Timothy 3:5 for if a man does not know how
to rule his own house, how will he take care of
the church of God?
C. NT uses family image to stress church relation

10. III. MY FATHER'S HOUSE IS A FELLOWSHIP
A. Koinonia - Partnership, marital relationship,
Participation, Close relationship
B. Acts 2
1. On Pentecost 3000 were added to the
number of believers
2. BUT devoted themselves to the fellowship
(v. 42)
C. 1 John 1:3
1. . . . you also may have fellowship with us.
2. . . . our fellowship is with the Father and
with his Son, Jesus Christ.

11. III. MY FATHER'S HOUSE IS A FELLOWSHIP
D. Galatians 2:9
1. Peter & John extended the "right hand of
fellowship" to Paul & Barnabus
2. . . . our fellowship is with the Father and
with his Son, Jesus Christ. 1 Jn. 1:3
E. Not "Fellowshipping" verb, but "Fellowship"
noun - Not what we DO, but what we ARE.
F. 1 Corinthians 12:26-- if one member suffers,
all the members suffer with it; or if one
member is honored, all the members rejoice
with it.

12. IS IT YOUR FATHER’S HOUSE?
A. CHRISTIANS ARE THE HOUSE OF CHRIST -
Hebrews 3:6 but Christ as a Son over His own
house, whose house we are if we hold fast the
confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to
the end.
B. GOD’S HOUSE IS THE CHURCH - 1 Timothy
3:15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may
know how you ought to conduct yourself in the
house of God, which is the church of the living
God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
C. GOD’S HOUSE WILL ULTIMATELY BE IN HEAVEN -
2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if our earthly
house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building
from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in
the heavens.

13. IS IT YOUR FATHER’S HOUSE?
D. A PLACE IS PREPARED FOR US IN HIS HOUSE
- John 14:1-3 "Let not your heart be troubled;
you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My
Father's house are many mansions; if it were
not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a
place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place
for you, I will come again and receive you to
Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
E. GOD WANTS HIS HOUSE TO BE FILED - Luke
14:23 Then the master said to the servant, 'Go
out into the highways and hedges, and compel
them to come in, that my house may be filled.