THIS WEEK: WHO IS YOUR TRIBE? 

•   What we’re really asking: “How do I identify myself? What do I do? What is my purpose?” which all leads to “Who do I identify with?” People tend to gather together based on these questions.
•   A tribe can be built around a set of beliefs, ethnicity, hobby, nation, job, sexuality, economic status, or even age group.
•   We live in a culture that is disintegrating into mini-tribes. When there is less we can agree on (big picture, over-arching concepts), we break into cultural subgroups.
•   The truth: part of being a follower of Jesus is that you have allowed Him to give you a new identity—the one He, as Lord, has given.

NOTICE JESUS’ WORDS: “IN THE WORLD . . . BUT NOT OF IT.” (See also 1 Peter 2:10 and Ephesians 2:18-20)

•   He is praying for His immediate disciples as well as future disciples (we are identified as disciples of Jesus).

• •  Discipleship is the process of discovering who you are in Christ and your purpose.
•  “In the world but not of it” means we’re also unified together as one tribe.

• •  The tribe was called various things: Ekklesia, followers of the way, the disciples of Jesus, Christians (Josephus actually called them the tribe of the Christians).

John 17:13–23 (NIV) . . . 14I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. . . . 20My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. . . .

CHARACTERISTICS OF JESUS’ TRIBE (See also Romans 12:2)

•   Jesus’ tribe had a shared identify based on a relationship with God.
•   My identity if I am a disciple of Jesus: I am a child (and we are children) of God.
•   Inside the family of God, we are brothers and sisters.

Galatians 3:26–28 (NIV) 26So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

JESUS’ TRIBE HAS A COMMON FUNCTION: WE ARE THE BODY OF CHRIST.

•  We are saved for a purpose within the body.

Ephesians 2:8–10 (NLT) 8God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

WHAT DO I DO? (See Ephesians 4:11-16)

•   Don’t spread fake news. (verse 14)
•   Don’t speak hate speech. (verse 15)

JESUS’ TRIBE HAS A COMMON MISSION.

•   We share a mission given to us by our King (a new nation).
•   This speaks of authority and purpose for both myself and the Kingdom I am in.

Matthew 18:18-20 (NIV) . . .19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. . . .

1 Peter 2:1–10 (NIV) 1Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. . . . 9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

THIS ANSWERS SOME QUESTIONS:

•   Who am I? My identity is in Christ.
•   What do I do? I function in the body first—that’s my primary role.
•   What is my purpose? Why am I here? My mission is to bring glory to Jesus and deliver His message to the world.
•   What is my tribe? As a Christian, I am a part of God’s family, body, and spiritual nation.

THEN, HOW SHOULD I LIVE?

IN THE TRIBE, THERE IS UNITY OF BOTH BEHAVIOR AND TRUTH (See also 1 Corinthians 1:10)

Ephesians 4:1–6 (NIV) 1As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

OUR “PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE” IS OUR FIRST PRIORITY (See also Matthew 6:9-13)

•   “Our Father” : denotes the most important relationship is a personal relationship with God, and I am also a part of a family with others. This is the first priority, and it both dictates and changes everything else about us.
•   “Hallowed be your name” : God is primary.
•   “Your will be done” : Defines what I do. I rely on God for my provision and protection which comes through His family.
•   We become better citizens both at home and in the world as we are a family of believers. (see Galatians 5:22-26)

QUESTIONS TO DISCUSS IN LIFE GROUP OR WITH YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS

Passages to consider: Ephesians 2:1-10, 19-22; 1 Peter 2:9-10

1. What was impactful and insightful to you from the sermon?
2. How do you see yourself? When you think about who you are, what comes to mind? List the top 2-3 things.
3. Take a look at Ephesians 2:1-10, 19-22 and 1 Peter 2:9-10. What do you see about being a part of God’s tribe/people from these passages?
4. What determines what/who gets your attention, your efforts, and your resources? A) How has that changed over your lifetime? What has caused some of those changes?
5. Currently, how does being a child of God and a member of God’s household affect how you see yourself and what you do? A) What kind of impact does it have on other “tribes” you might be a part of?
6. In this season of your life, how do you think you should respond to being a part of God’s tribe? A) What would that look like for you? What adjustments will you make?