Sermon Notes

This week’s message from Brad Kirby unpacks Galatians 3:23–4:7 to show how the Jesus Way reshapes the church as a gospel family. We aren’t just freed from sin, we’re adopted into a spiritual household where our relationship with Jesus defines identity, unity, and belonging.

If you’ve ever struggled with disappointment or isolation in community, this message will reframe your view of church. The Jesus Way reminds us that family is formed not by preference, but by God's promise, and it’s worth fighting for.

Key Takeaways

We are no longer prisoners of sin—we are adopted sons and daughters in Christ
Church is meant to be a family, not a crowd of spiritual strangers
Gospel family fights against isolation, self-sufficiency, and idealism
God calls us to love with sympathy, unity, tenderness, and humility
Real community transforms our faith and helps us endure
Discussion Questions

How do you view your church? More like a meeting or a family?
What’s keeping you from a deeper gospel community right now?
Are you currently contributing to unity or division in your church family?
What unrealistic expectations might be hurting your experience of church?
How can you reflect God’s adoption of you in how you treat others?

Transcript

Would We Pass the Test?

Brad Kirby opens with a challenge. If Jesus were to evaluate CityBridge, would He see a church fulfilling His mission or just another weekly gathering? In Matthew 28, Jesus gives us a clear mission: make disciples. But this mission is not just about activity. It is about becoming a spiritual family that lives differently.

From Sunday services to small groups, Brad asks whether we are just showing up and sitting next to strangers, or if we are living as members of God’s household.

From Slugline to Spiritual Family

Brad compares church life to an odd practice he saw in Washington, D.C. called slugging. Strangers hop in cars together for the commute, but no one talks or connects. It is efficient, but it is not personal.

That might be how many people approach church. We ride together, sit together, and then leave. But that is not what Jesus intended. We are not spiritual strangers—we are family. And family is built on connection, commitment, and shared mission.

Adoption Changes Everything

In Galatians 3 and 4, Paul teaches that we are adopted into God’s family through faith in Christ. Brad shares a personal story of adoption in his own family to illustrate how identity and heritage shift the moment adoption occurs.

Before Jesus, we were prisoners under the law. But in Christ, we are justified and adopted. This adoption is not a metaphor. It is our new spiritual reality. We are sons and daughters of God, and that changes how we see ourselves and how we treat one another.

The Enemies of Gospel Family

Living as family is not easy. Brad names the enemies that keep us from gospel community.

Affluence and busyness fill our lives with options but leave no room for people.
Self-directed spirituality convinces us we can grow without community.
Messiness in relationships causes frustration and hurt.
Unrealistic expectations can leave us disappointed and disconnected.

All of these factors push us away from the very people God has given us to walk with.

How to Fight for Family

Brad turns to 1 Peter 3:8 to show how we fight for real community. Peter lists five traits that protect and strengthen gospel family.

Unity of mind: Not sameness, but a shared focus on Christ.
Sympathy: Not just feeling for others, but walking with them.
Brotherly love: Deep affection that stays even when things are hard.
Tender hearts: A posture of compassion and forgiveness.
Humble minds: Listening, learning, and serving without pride.

When we live with these traits, we become the kind of family that reflects Christ.

The Power of Gospel Community

Brad closes with a vision of what gospel family makes possible.

In community, we find spiritual growth, biblical encouragement, and real accountability. We are reminded that we do not walk alone. God has given us each other so that we can stir one another up to love and good works. And when life gets hard, it is community that keeps us going.

Isolation is dangerous. But real gospel community is where faith gets stronger, love gets deeper, and lives get changed.