BFAM

BFAM

Romans 8.12-17

My brother-in-law taught me by example what it means to be a "Brother from another mother.” Our wives are sisters and they tell us that we act and think so much alike that clearly we were born in a pod together, separated at birth, and then reunited later in life by our splendid taste in women. Over the years we have truly become "brothers from another mother."

Pop culture may have offered up the nifty B.F.A.M. phrase, but the apostle Paul caught on to the notion 2 millennia ago. He wrote in Romans 8 "...that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ..." In other words, Christ is our brother, and we are brothers and sisters to one another.

This passage is up for consideration in this Sunday's sermon. It's a fitting passage because we also will celebrate Pentecost, the "birthday" of the church. Pentecost is documented in Acts 2 as the day when the Holy Spirit visited a gathering of worshipers and all those gathered (who spoke many different languages) began to understand in their own native tongue, and a great spiritual awakening resulted.

The Holy Spirit bound the early church together that day, despite the deep ethnic and religious differences. Romans 8 deserves our hearing so that we, "brothers from another mother" and "sisters from another mister," might learn to understand and appreciate the differences that exist within the church, claim our spot as heirs with Christ, and show the world what it means to live in harmony while honoring our diversity.

If you're in the DC metro area this weekend I hope you'll join us for Bible study at 9:15 and worship at 10:30 on Sunday. We'll be observing Pentecost and Multicultural Sunday, and we'll honor our diversity by hearing scripture, prayer, and song in the many different languages spoken in our church.

The sermon, My Brother from Another Mother, My Sister from Another Mister, will empower us to seek ways that the church can teach the world to work together despite and differences and because of our differences. After worship we'll share a potluck meal, so bring a dish to share that represents your own ethnic/cultural heritage and come hungry!

See you Sunday,
Pastor Gary