Bill Cosby's son, Ennis was meaninglessly killed Thursday. [1/9/97] Ennis may have been a citizen of the United States, a member of many prestigeous clubs, and organizations. But when it comes right down to what matters. The most important membership he had was a relationship, the one that made him a member of the Cosby family.

God says when you put your faith in Jesus you become a member of His family. Jn1:12 As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.

Believers in Jesus are part of the what the Bible calls an "Oikeios," members of a household, a family.

Believers are in immediate relationship with God. It is a closer relationship than - citizens, it is a member of the family. They belong to his household and there can be no higher the priveilege than that. We belong together in the household of God.

I recently took a survey at New Life and the top two things you say you find most motivating and helpful at church are the teaching and the family atmosphere of relationships.

Family atmosphere topped teaching almost two to one. That tells me we need family relationship at church are valued by you. It is a right expectation that we come together and have relationships.

We should give special attention to those who are in the family of believers. Gal 6:10

Right expectation. Not for somebody else. But for myself. One of the things God expects me to do is get into relationship. John Wesley, "The Bible knows nothing of solitary religion."

The Bible tells me God has a plan for my spiritual family. Now you are no longer strangers to God and foreigners to heaven, but you are members of God's very own family, citizens of God's country, and you belong in God's household with every other Christian. Ephesians 2:19LB

The church is a family. {Ephesians 2:}

A Christian isn't just a believer but a belonger.

Rom 12:5LB We belong to each other, and each needs all the others.

How do I know which church?

A lot of people go to church - a USA Today survey found that going to church was a favorite activity - surpassing goin out to eat, sports and movies. Church attendance in 1995 was 5.3 billion. Movie attendance was 1.2 billion.

A 1993 Gallup Poll showed attendance a religious functions totaled 5.6 billion Baptist: Churches-Methodist Church -Presbyterian-Lutheran-Anglican-Catholic-Pentecostal-Nazarene -Christian Reformed Church -Evangelical-Mennonite-Assemblies of God

Sometimes I think people feel like Chuch Yeager - a test pilot - It can be scary. How do I know what church has the right stuff?

Go to the next page: What the Right Church Can Do

Also try: Church Why Bother? by Philip Yancey