Non-Traditional Family
June 28, 2026
Every family is broken. Some family brokenness is simply more visible than others.
The question is not whether your family is broken. The question is: How do you faithfully follow Jesus in the middle of it?
1. Jesus Understands Complicated Family Dynamics
“And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.’” Matthew 13:57 (NIV)
You can stay faithful even if your family doesn’t validate you.
We have to show our family grace.
“21Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?’ 22Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy times seven.’” Matthew 18:21-22 (NIV)
2. Jesus Is Not Your Fixer—He Is Your Savior
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” Exodus 20:17 (NIV)
God’s plan isn't always to remove the chaos. His plan is to walk with us through the chaos.
“25Many people were traveling with Jesus. He said to them, 26‘If you come to me but will not leave your family, you cannot be my follower. You must love me more than your father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters—even more than your own life! 27Whoever will not carry the cross that is given to them when they follow me cannot be my follower.’” Luke 14:25-27 (ERV)
Jesus is telling you to walk with Him in the middle of your family dynamics.
3. Jesus Redefined Family
“46While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, His mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to Him. 47Someone told Him, ‘Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.’ 48He replied to him, ‘Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?’ 49Pointing to His disciples, He said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. 50For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.’” Matthew 12:46-50 (NIV)
- Jesus wasn’t rejecting His biological family.
- He was expanding the definition of family.
4. You Have Been Adopted
“4But when the set time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. 6Because you are His sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father.’ 7So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are His child, God has made you also an heir.” Galatians 4:4-7 (NIV)
- Jesus calls us into a new family (adopted) inside of the family currently living in.
- Our family’s reaction does not determine our faithfulness.
- Our identity is not found in our family history. Our identity is found in Christ.
“1See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. 2Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” 1 John 3:1-2 (NIV)
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