JESUS SAID His family were those who were of God.
He promised us a big family.
He said He would "build His church".
His church is family!
Another family word for the church is "household" -- "household of faith", "household of God".
One of the chief characteristics of this family, the church, is love. The Holy Spirit pours God's love into our hearts.
Jesus said that His new commandment was "love one another".
As a result the first Christians formed a devoted family together. So have we!
So this family, this church, comes together only because God loves us, forgives our sin, gives us new birth, baptises us into His family and fills us with the Holy Spirit.
The Jesus Fellowship is a growing family! We're set to grow fast!
It's not too good to speak of particular groups (there are no divisions in Jesus!) but it does help to show how the Jesus Fellowship family is made up. You'll find yourself here (your children are included if you are a parent).
We have many "New Friends"
There's always lots of them around. They come to our meetings and our houses, find friendship among us and meet Jesus. We love them! They are so welcome! We're looking forward to meeting many more of them in these days when the Jesus Movement is growing around the land.
We have "Cell-church Members"
They are regular attenders at a midweek Cell-church meeting, have found faith in Jesus, and been baptised. They truly belong to our 'family'!
We have "Congregational Members"
They are regular attenders at our congregational meetings, have found faith in Jesus and been baptised. Like cell-church members, they want us to regard them as belonging to the family without officially becoming members of the whole church.
We have "Baptised Members"
They are members of the church, regularly involved in it's activities and supportive of it's vision and practice. They are not covenant committed but find their way among us at their own pace. But they are very much part of the family!
We have "Style One Covenant Members"
These are members of our church family who are baptised and join in a heart-to-heart covenant relationship. They are often those who are spiritually "young" in Jesus and cannot yet handle a stronger commitment. Others are "Style One" because of their circumstances. "Style One Members" normally attend the Tuesday evening Agape meal and weekend meetings of the church household and congregation.
We have "Style Two Covenant Members"
These are baptised members of our church family who feel that they can join in a heart-to-heart covenant relationship with a stronger commitment. This includes a recognition of the radical nature of Kingdom of God culture, with time, financial and serving commitments. It is for those who feel unable to join Style Three community, preferring to retain their own house and lifestyle but who are keen to live in simplicity, discipleship and sharing.
We have "Style Three Covenant Members"
These are baptised members of our church family who have responded to the call to have "all things in common" like the first Christians. They join in a heart-to-heart covenant relationship, desiring the fullest possible commitment. They see the Kingdom of God in the church and desire the church family to be a community over which Jesus is Lord. They share wealth, possessions and income (and pay debts!). They live in small or large houses owned by the church family.
We have "Style Four Covenant Members"
These are baptised members of our church family who desire to join in a heart-to-heart covenant relationship, but live at a distance from any Jesus Fellowship congregation, so cannot regularly participate. Nevertheless they are loved and fellowship with them is maintained.
Come and belong to the Jesus Fellowship family!
Come and Belong!
