09/09/2026
Introducing: Familyship
Over the course of my studies and conversations, it has become increasingly clear that the Lord offers believers something far greater than ordinary or typical fellowship.
He offers us something deeper.
Several years ago, I began using a new term in my biblical teachings and conversations.
Recently, I have focused on developing its full definition for both spiritual and secular frameworks: Familyship (noun).
1. The Spiritual Definition:
A nurturing union between Father God and His children, as well as the unique devotion shared among brothers and sisters in Christ. It demands an active, consistent commitment among the body of Christ, explicitly surpassing passive kinship or casual fellowship.
2.The Secular Definition:
An intentional, highly supportive bond between individuals who actively function as a family unit through mutual loyalty, nurture, and shared responsibility, whether inclusive of or independent of biological or legal ties. It elevates a standard relationship into a network of covenant safety. So, especially as those who have received the spirit of adoption (Romans 8:15-16), I suggest we are called to move past casual connections and ordinary fellowship and step into genuine familyship.
— Dr. Timothy G. Hoflund
