Family of God

The church is not a problem to fix but a people to love and belong to.

Speaker: Pastor Caleb Culver
Date: February 8, 2026

Loving Jesus means loving His people. The church isn’t perfect, but it’s perfected by Jesus. Pastor Caleb Culver shares why spiritual formation within the church is essential—and why you belong in the family of God.

Here's a 5-day devotional guide based on this sermon:

Day 1: Adopted into the Father's Family

Reading: Romans 8:14–17

Devotional: Before Jesus, God was known primarily as Lord, King, and Judge. But through Christ's sacrifice, we have been given the incredible privilege of calling God "Abba, Father." This wasn't just a theological shift—it was a complete transformation of our identity. You are not merely a servant or subject; you are a beloved child, adopted into God's eternal family. The Spirit within you confirms this reality, even when feelings of rejection or unworthiness arise. Today, pause and let this truth sink deep: you belong to the Father not because of your performance, but because of Jesus' finished work on the cross. You are home.

Day 2: The True Older Brother

Reading: Luke 15:11–32

Devotional: We often see ourselves as the prodigal son who comes to his senses and runs home. But the deeper truth is this: we were in a foreign land, unable to return on our own. Jesus, the true older brother, came to find us, carried us home, and through His blood reconciled us to the Father. Unlike the elder brother in the parable who resented grace, Jesus celebrated our return with His very life. You did not find your way home—you were brought home. This changes everything about how we approach God. We come not with shame and distance, but with confidence and intimacy, knowing we have been carried into the Father's embrace by the One who loves us most.

Day 3: Family Held Together by Loyalty to Jesus

Reading: Matthew 12:46–50

Devotional: When Jesus declared His disciples as His true family, He was not diminishing earthly relationships but establishing a deeper, eternal bond. The family of God is held together not by bloodline or preference, but by shared loyalty and allegiance to Jesus. This means our primary obedience is to our Heavenly Father, and from that overflow, we love our earthly families well. When Christ is at the center, our earthly relationships are strengthened, not weakened. Today, examine where your ultimate loyalty lies. Are you trying to find in earthly relationships what only Jesus can provide? Let your love for the Father be the source from which all other love flows, and watch how it transforms your relationships.

Day 4: Choosing to Belong

Reading: Romans 12:4–5

Devotional: Belonging to the family of God is not primarily a feeling—it is a choice. Just as an adopted child must choose to embrace their new family, we must choose to belong to the body of Christ, even when it is difficult or disappointing. The church is not a problem to fix but a people to love and belong to. This requires laying down our expectations of what we think the church should be and embracing what God has called it to be: His imperfect-yet-beloved bride. Have you been wounded by the church? Jesus weeps with you. But He also invites you into the very healing that comes through relationship. Today, make the choice to belong, not because the family is perfect, but because you have been made part of it through Jesus.

Day 5: The Scent of a Flower Not Yet Found

Reading: 1 John 3:1–3

Devotional: Even the most beautiful moments of earthly family—the laughter, the embrace, the deep connection—are only echoes of what awaits us in eternity. C.S. Lewis described them as "the scent of a flower we have not found." You have been wounded with a longing for perfect belonging that will only be satisfied when you see Jesus face to face. This is not meant to discourage you but to free you. Stop demanding that earthly relationships satisfy eternal longings. Receive the gift of family—both earthly and spiritual—with gratitude, but hold it with open hands. One day, we will experience unity and love beyond anything we have known. Until then, let these relationships point you to that glorious hope.