Embracing Biblical Unity in a Divided World

 

Summary

Standing at the Lincoln Memorial, I am reminded of the unity that President Lincoln fought to preserve during a turbulent time in our nation's history. Today, we find ourselves in a similarly desperate time, where the unity of our Republic is at stake. However, the Church, which should be a model of unity for the nation, is often divided by personalities, platforms, denominations, and perspectives. This division is occurring at a time when our nation desperately needs to witness the unity that God intended for us to have and to model before a watching world.

It is crucial for the Church to understand that in this hour of chaos and confusion, biblical unity is essential. This unity is not about uniformity but about oneness of purpose, where everyone moves toward a common goal. Such unity will be the key to the United States of America truly becoming one nation under God. I urge the Church of Jesus Christ not to allow illegitimate divisions to pull us apart. Instead, we must become one Church under the lordship of Jesus Christ, based on His inerrant word, and march forth to show the United States what true, God-based unity looks like.

Unity is not a call for all of us to be the same. If God wanted us to be the same, He would have made us alike. Just as a band has a central conductor who brings harmony out of a variety of instruments played by different personalities, so the Lord Jesus Christ calls His people from different histories, backgrounds, races, and denominations to follow Him. He takes our uniqueness and blends it into a beautiful sound of harmony.

Key Takeaways

- Biblical unity is about oneness of purpose, not uniformity. It involves everyone moving toward a common goal, which is essential for the United States to become one nation under God. This unity is crucial in times of chaos and confusion. [01:06]

- The Church should model the unity that God intended, especially in a time when our nation needs to see it. We must not allow illegitimate divisions to pull us apart but become one Church under the lordship of Jesus Christ. [01:43]

- Unity is not about being the same; God created us with unique differences. Just as a band has a conductor to bring harmony from diverse instruments, Jesus Christ calls us to follow Him and blend our uniqueness into harmony. [02:18]

- The Church's division by personalities, platforms, and denominations is a barrier to the unity that our nation desperately needs to witness. We must overcome these divisions to model true unity before a watching world. [00:27]

- The Lord Jesus Christ is the central conductor who can bring harmony out of our diversity. By following Him, we can create a coordinated sound that reflects the unity God desires for His people. [02:18]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:27] - The Church's Role in Unity
[01:06] - Biblical Unity Explained
[01:43] - Overcoming Divisions
[02:18] - Harmony in Diversity

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. John 17:20-23 - Jesus prays for all believers to be one, just as He and the Father are one, so that the world may believe.
2. Ephesians 4:3-6 - Paul urges believers to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, emphasizing one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all.
3. 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 - Paul describes the Church as one body with many parts, each with a unique role, yet all part of the same body.

#### Observation Questions
1. What are some of the divisions within the Church mentioned in the sermon that hinder unity? [00:27]
2. How does the sermon describe biblical unity, and how is it different from uniformity? [01:06]
3. What analogy is used in the sermon to describe how Jesus brings harmony out of diversity? [02:18]
4. According to the sermon, what role does the Church have in modeling unity for the nation? [01:43]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. In John 17:20-23, Jesus prays for unity among believers. How does this prayer relate to the current divisions within the Church mentioned in the sermon?
2. Ephesians 4:3-6 speaks of maintaining the unity of the Spirit. How might this passage guide the Church in overcoming the divisions highlighted in the sermon? [01:43]
3. The sermon uses the analogy of a band with a conductor. How does this relate to the concept of the Church as one body with many parts in 1 Corinthians 12:12-14? [02:18]
4. How does the sermon suggest that the Church can become a model of unity for the nation? What practical steps are implied? [01:43]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced division within a church community. How did it affect your faith and relationships? What could have been done differently to promote unity? [00:27]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of moving toward a common goal. What is one specific goal your small group can work toward to promote unity within your church? [01:06]
3. Consider the unique gifts and backgrounds within your small group. How can these differences be used to create harmony rather than division? [02:18]
4. How can you personally contribute to overcoming illegitimate divisions in your church community? What steps can you take this week to promote unity? [01:43]
5. Think about a situation where you might have contributed to division, even unintentionally. What can you do to seek reconciliation and promote unity in that context? [00:27]
6. How can your small group become a model of unity for others in your church and community? What specific actions can you take to demonstrate this unity? [01:43]
7. In what ways can you follow Jesus, the "central conductor," to bring harmony in your interactions with others in your church? [02:18]

Devotional

Day 1: Unity Through Purpose
In times of chaos and confusion, biblical unity is essential for the Church and the nation. This unity is not about everyone being the same but about moving toward a common goal. The United States can truly become one nation under God when the Church models this oneness of purpose. It is crucial for believers to understand that unity is not uniformity; it is a collective movement toward a shared mission. This unity is vital for demonstrating to the world what it means to be united under God's guidance. [01:06]

Ephesians 4:3-6 (ESV): "Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."

Reflection: What is one common goal you can pursue with your church community this week to demonstrate unity in purpose?


Day 2: The Church as a Model of Unity
The Church is called to be a model of unity, especially in times when the nation is divided. This unity should be based on the lordship of Jesus Christ and His inerrant word. The Church must not allow illegitimate divisions to pull it apart but should strive to become one Church under Christ. By doing so, the Church can show the nation what true, God-based unity looks like. This is a critical time for the Church to rise above divisions and demonstrate the unity that God intended. [01:43]

1 Corinthians 1:10 (ESV): "I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment."

Reflection: How can you contribute to overcoming divisions within your church community this week?


Day 3: Embracing Diversity in Unity
Unity is not about being the same; God created us with unique differences. Just as a band has a conductor to bring harmony from diverse instruments, Jesus Christ calls us to follow Him and blend our uniqueness into harmony. This diversity is a strength, not a weakness, and it is through our differences that we can create a beautiful sound of harmony. The Lord Jesus Christ is the central conductor who can bring harmony out of our diversity. [02:18]

Romans 12:4-5 (ESV): "For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another."

Reflection: What unique gift or perspective can you bring to your church community to enhance its harmony?


Day 4: Overcoming Divisions for True Unity
The Church's division by personalities, platforms, and denominations is a barrier to the unity that our nation desperately needs to witness. These divisions can prevent the Church from modeling true unity before a watching world. It is essential to overcome these barriers and focus on the unity that God desires for His people. By doing so, the Church can become a powerful example of unity in diversity, showing the world what it means to be united under Christ. [00:27]

Colossians 3:14-15 (ESV): "And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful."

Reflection: Identify one division in your church community. How can you actively work to bridge this gap?


Day 5: Harmony in Diversity
The Lord Jesus Christ is the central conductor who can bring harmony out of our diversity. By following Him, we can create a coordinated sound that reflects the unity God desires for His people. This harmony is not about erasing differences but about blending them into a unified purpose. The Church is called to demonstrate this harmony to the world, showing that diversity can lead to a beautiful and unified expression of faith. [02:18]

1 Peter 3:8 (ESV): "Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind."

Reflection: How can you better follow Christ's lead to create harmony in your interactions with others this week?

Quotes

I'm standing at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. President Lincoln emerged during a turbulent time in our nation's history, and he had to work and fight to keep this nation together. The United States of America was able to be held together during the time of his leadership. And we're in a desperate time today to keep our Republic together. [00:00:01]

But unfortunately, the Church that should be modeling the unity that we want for our entire nation is constantly being divided by personalities, platforms, denominations, perspectives that are disunifying us at a time when our nation desperately needs to see the unity that God intended for us to have and to model before a watching world. [00:00:34]

It is absolutely critical that the Church understands that in this hour of chaos, confusion, that biblical unity, which is oneness of purpose—not uniformity but everybody moving toward a common goal—will be the key to the United States of America becoming and being one nation under God. [00:00:59]

So I plead with the Church of Jesus Christ to not allow illegitimate divisions to pull us apart, but rather, become one Church under the lordship of Jesus Christ, based on His an inerrant word, marching forth, letting these United States of America see what true unity—God based unity—really looks like. [00:01:26]

Unity is not a call for all of us to be the same. If God wanted all of us to be the same, He would have made all of us alike. But just like a band has a central conductor to bring harmony out of a variety of instruments played by a variety of personalities, but all under his leadership, giving a clear coordinated sound, so the Lord Jesus Christ is calling His people from different histories, backgrounds, races, denominations to follow the Conductor as He takes our uniquenesses and blends them together into a beautiful sound of harmony. [00:01:50]

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Transcript
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