1. WHY WE NEED A CHURCH FAMILY Bishop Flynn Johnson Atlanta Metro Cathedral

2. WHY WE NEED A CHURCH FAMILY People go to church for three – Traditions: The influence of parents and friends – Guilt: They feel bad about them themselves – Habit: This is what we have always done (Life-style)

3. WHY WE NEED A CHURCH FAMILY The Church is the “body of Christ” “The Family of God” The Church is God’s extended family! Ephesians 1:22–23 - “Christ is the head over all things to the church, which is His body...” “1 Corinthians 12:18 – “But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.” (as He sees fit) KJ

4. 1. To help you center your life around God. Your life should revolve around God. You cannot fit God into your life. He’s not that kind of God. We must fit our lives around Him. He must be the center and the reason for all things. – The first thing that happens to you when you place Christ as the center of your life is that you are at peace. When you trust Christ as the center of your life, He answers your most difficult questions and conflicts. (Guilt, Purpose, Conflict) – Matthew 6:33 – “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteous and all these things shall be added unto you.”

5. 2. To connect you with other believers (fellowship). a.You know that Christ is the center of your life when He becomes the first and the highest purpose of your life. – Matthew 22:37–39 – “And He said to him, “ ‘Y OU SHALL LOVE THE L ORD YOUR G OD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ “This is the great and foremost commandment. “The second is like it, ‘Y OU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ b.Acts 2:42 - “They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

6. 2. To connect you with other believers (fellowship). c.Romans 12:5 – “so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. d.Hebrews 10:24–25 (NASB95) — and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

7. 3. To unlock the potential in you!