Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 New International Version (NIV)

⁹ Two are better than one,

    because they have a good return for their labor:

¹⁰ If either of them falls down,

    one can help the other up.

But pity anyone who falls

    and has no one to help them up.

¹¹ Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.

    But how can one keep warm alone?

¹² Though one may be overpowered,

    two can defend themselves.

A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Since in the beginning, when Adam was created, God already knew that we need companions in life; that we are created for relationship with Him and also to others so we can be stronger in our life battles.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 clearly distinguishes between a person who is trying to live by him/herself and a person living with a sense of partnership. Persons who tend to live by themselves get easily affected by the challenges in life, while persons who tend to live in partnership with others become more resilient in life. That is same principle why God encourages us to be part of spiritual family or church.

According to the bible, church is not the physical structure where we hold our congregational worship, but rather church refers to the people, the Christian believers. Biblehub.com defines church as coming from the Greek word 1577 ekklēsía (from 1537 /ek, "out from and to" and 2564 /kaléō, "to call") – properly, people called out from the world and to God.  It is a fellowship of Christian believers who come together to strengthen their faith and devotion to God and to help one another. With this, having a spiritual family is very essential and necessary to every Christian believer. It is a place God sets for us to grow and mature in our faith in Him. Not being in the spiritual family will make us very vulnerable to the works of the enemy, which brings discouragement and weakness to our life.

Ecclesiastes 4:12 New International Version (NIV)

¹² Though one may be overpowered,

    two can defend themselves.

A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Like a group of stands, which are not easily broken, Christians who have spiritual a family tend to become more mature in faith and stronger in their life journey, while Christians who tend to live by themselves and don’t associate themselves with any spiritual family tend to be easily affected by pressures in life. This is the same reason why many Christians stumble in their faith because of lack of support in their life journey.

Hebrews 10:25 New International Version (NIV)

²⁵ not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Many people nowadays find little value of having an active involvement to a spiritual family (e.g. cellgroup, caregroup or weekly worship services). Due to this reason, many Christians develop a habit of skipping such activities and find themselves detached from the body of Christ. Also some refrain from attaching themselves to any spiritual family mainly due to bad experiences they encounter, such as being hurt by other members, disappointment with group leaders and abuses seen by organized religious groups. But even in the existence of these issues, we should not allow them to hinder us to be part of the spiritual family of God who is the head of His Church.

Acts 2:42-47 New International Version (NIV)

⁴² They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ⁴³ Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. ⁴⁴ All the believers were together and had everything in common. ⁴⁵ They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. ⁴⁶ Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Facing challenges in life alone can be tough and tiring. Living away from others will not only makes your burden heavier but also limits your source of ideas in solving your issues/problems in life.

Proverbs 18:1 New Life Version (NLV)

18 He who stays away from others cares only about himself. He argues against all good wisdom.

God appoints people, mentors and leaders who can help you grow in your spiritual journey with Him. These people will encourage you to use your God-given talent so you can live a life with a purpose and direction. Keeping away from the spiritual family will not just make you weak but also hinders you from connecting to people who have Godly wisdom to help you to succeed in live and be a blessing to others.

Ephesians 4:11-12 New International Version (NIV)

¹¹ So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, ¹² to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up

Having a spiritual family gives you avenues to people to help you in times of need. Being a member of the family give us access to people who can help, support and encourage us in times of our need, not just spiritually but also emotionally and physically.

 Acts 2:45 New International Version (NIV)

⁴⁵ They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.

God give us different kinds of gifting and talents not to use for ourselves but to edify others. Spiritual Family give you avenues where you can use and enhance your God-given talents and giftings.

Church is not a place just to expect some help, encouragement and support, but a place where you can contribute and participate in edifying the body of Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 New International Version (NIV)

¹¹ Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Proverbs 27:17 New International Version (NIV)

¹⁷ As iron sharpens iron,

    so one person sharpens another.

Having a spiritual family will not just help and support you physically, but also helps you by covering you in prayers. These interceding prayers help us to fight the battle in spiritual realms and cause us supernatural breakthrough in our lives.

 1 Thessalonians 5:25 New International Version (NIV)

²⁵ Brothers and sisters, pray for us.

Always remember that church is the not structure or a social gathering but rather a community of Believers who have dedicated their lives to honoring God and helping one another. It is a support system that God established so we can grow and mature together. A place where love of God is the center of everything and not ourselves alone.

1 John 4:7-12 New International Version (NIV)

⁷ Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. ⁸ Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. ⁹ This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. ¹⁰ This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. ¹¹ Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. ¹² No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

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All quotations from scripture in this training material unless otherwise indicated are taken from the

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