When you were born, you were born into a family-as every person in the world. Through baptism, you were born into a spiritual family. This family has God as your Father, Jesus as your elder brother and the Holy Spirit as your constant companion and friend. You were also born into a spiritual family of relationships with other Christians called “brothers and sisters in Christ.” There are over 58 “one anothers” in the New Testament. These statements of God’s word describe how Christians are to relate to one another. For example, “Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good, love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honor.” Romans 12:9-10. We are formed to belong to God’s family. Practically, this means that we are to cultivate relationships with Christians in small group settings so as to encourage one another in being friends of Christ, support each other in living life and exhort one another to be passionate about following Christ.
