The Bible uses many metaphors as word pictures for the church. The church is a city on hill. The church is the light of the world. The church is a flock, the sheep of his pasture. The church is a spiritual house for God. It is the body of Christ. It is the bride of Christ. One image, though, stands out above all of these, and that is family. But family is not a metaphor for the church. The church is not like a family. The church IS a family.