Steven Goulstone is the pastor at Wellington South Baptist. This post is adapted from his recent sermon on 24 May 2026, and is a part of the “Redemptive Family” series. You can listen to it on our church podcast here.

Many of us know the feeling of wondering whether we truly belong. We compare ourselves to others, question what we have to offer, and worry whether our contributions will be valued. Beneath those feelings lies a deeper question: “What is my place here?”

This question sits at the heart of our Redemptive Family journey.

Romans 12 contains three truths about what it means to be the family of God. First, we belong to one another. Paul writes that although we are many parts, we are one body in Christ, and “individually we belong to each other.” Christian belonging is more than membership or attendance; it is a commitment to love, honour, and care for one another as family.

Second, every person has God-given gifts. Like Mirabel in Disney’s Encanto, whose unique contribution helped bring healing to her family, each of us has something valuable to offer. Some gifts are obvious, while others are easily overlooked. Yet every gift matters because every person matters. The question is not simply, ‘What are my gifts?’ but ‘How can my gifts serve others?’

Third, our belonging and gifts are most clearly outworked in the ways we treat the vulnerable. Paul describes a community marked by hospitality, generosity, compassion, and practical care. True family welcomes strangers, supports those in need, and makes room for people who are often overlooked by society.

Being a Redemptive Family means creating a community where people belong, where gifts are recognised and encouraged, and where love becomes visible through action. It is not simply about how we gather on Sundays, but about how we live together throughout the week.

Reflect

Where might God be inviting you to use your gifts this week to help someone feel that they truly belong?