Howard Webb is one of the Love Your Neighbour team, who wrote the books that the Redemptive Family series is based on. This post is adapted from his sermon on 28 June, which concludes the 6-week church series. You can listen to it on our church podcast here.

What does it mean to belong to the family of God?

Romans 12 paints a beautiful picture of the church—not as an organisation or a social club, but as a family. Each person has been given unique gifts, yet none of us is designed to flourish alone. We belong to one another, and together we reflect the life of Christ to the world.

A striking illustration of this comes from emperor penguins. In the harsh Antarctic winter, they survive by huddling together. As they constantly rotate positions, no one penguin is left exposed to the freezing wind. Their strength isn’t found in individual resilience but in their willingness to care for one another.

The church is called to live in much the same way.

Paul reminds us that every member of Christ’s body has a part to play. Some encourage, some lead, some teach, some serve, some give, and some quietly show kindness. None of these gifts exists for personal recognition; they are given so that the whole body might flourish. Our strengths help fill another person’s weaknesses, just as theirs strengthen us.

This kind of community is more than simply meeting together each week. It is marked by genuine love, hospitality, humility, shared burdens, and a commitment to honour one another. When we live this way, the church becomes a place where people encounter the love of Jesus in tangible ways. It becomes a beacon of hope in a world that often feels isolated and fragmented.

God’s mission has always been carried out through His people together. As we embrace our place in His family, we discover not only our purpose but also the joy of participating in His work of bringing hope, healing, and transformation to others. We really are stronger together, and through our shared life, God is glorified.

Reflect

What gaps are you aware of that your God-given gifts, skills or simple kindness might be able to fill within our church family?