What practical steps can we take to “make our family a little church”?
We choose how we tell our family story.
How would you tell the story of being arrested for being a Christian?
Philippians 1:12 I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel,
Tell your family story as it relates to the gospel.
Philippians 1:13–14 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
Tell your family story as it relates to others.
But what about parts of the story that are unavoidably bad?
Philippians 1:15–17 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment.
Philippians 1:18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice,
Tell your family story with joy.
Philippians 1:19–20 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.
Tell your family story with hope.
Philippians 1:21–22 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell.
Tell your family story with faith.