Embracing Unity: Strengthening Our Community in Christ
Summary
Good morning, Living Faith. Today, we continue our series on the essence of the church, focusing on the vital theme of unity within our community. The church is not merely a building but the people of God, and our mission is to embody this truth both locally and globally. We've explored our identity, mission, beliefs, and worship, and today, we delve into the unity that binds us as a community, as taught in Ephesians 4.
Unity is the glue that holds us together, and it is both a gift and a responsibility. Ephesians 4 urges us to live a life worthy of our calling, characterized by humility, gentleness, patience, and love. These attitudes are essential for maintaining unity in a world that often seeks to divide us. Our unity is rooted in our shared faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ, which transcends our diverse backgrounds and experiences. This unity is not uniformity; rather, it celebrates our diversity while holding fast to the core truths of our faith.
Paul speaks of the seven elements of unity: one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father. These elements form the foundation of our unity, both universally and locally. We are united with believers worldwide, sharing the same Spirit and hope in Christ. This unity is a testament to the world of the transformative power of the gospel.
However, maintaining unity can be challenging due to differences in personalities, preferences, and principles. These "three P's" can threaten our unity if not navigated with grace and understanding. We must strive to prioritize our allegiance to Christ above all else, even in matters of political and personal differences. Our unity in Christ should supersede any earthly affiliations, reminding us that our ultimate allegiance is to the Lamb of God.
To protect our unity, we must embody the attitudes of humility, gentleness, patience, and love, as outlined in Ephesians 4. We are called to make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace, serving one another and speaking the truth in love. By doing so, we build up the body of Christ, ensuring that each member contributes to the health and growth of our community.
Key Takeaways:
- Unity in the church is both a gift and a responsibility. It requires us to embody humility, gentleness, patience, and love, as these attitudes are essential for maintaining unity in a divided world. [03:35]
- Our unity is rooted in our shared faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ, transcending our diverse backgrounds. This unity is not uniformity but a celebration of diversity within the body of Christ. [05:02]
- The seven elements of unity—one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God—form the foundation of our unity, both universally and locally. [08:04]
- Differences in personalities, preferences, and principles can threaten our unity. We must prioritize our allegiance to Christ above all else, even in matters of political and personal differences. [13:38]
- To protect our unity, we must make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace, serving one another and speaking the truth in love. [28:05]
Youtube Chapters:
#!!0:00!!# - Welcome
[03:35] - The Call to Unity
[05:02] - Celebrating Diversity
[08:04] - Seven Elements of Unity
[10:08] - One Baptism Explained
[12:06] - Challenges to Unity
[13:38] - Navigating Differences
[14:33] - Principles Over Preferences
[16:57] - Politics and Unity
[19:35] - Biblical Truth vs. Secular Culture
[20:30] - Guiding Principles in Voting
[21:28] - Political Allegiances
[23:22] - The Party of the Lamb
[24:52] - Relationships Over Politics
[26:33] - Protecting Unity Through Attitudes
[28:05] - Actions to Promote Unity
[29:09] - Practical Steps for Unity
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Unity in the Church
Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 4:1-16
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Observation Questions:
1. According to Ephesians 4, what are the attitudes Paul urges believers to embody to maintain unity? [03:35]
2. What are the seven elements of unity mentioned in Ephesians 4, and how do they contribute to the foundation of the church's unity? [08:04]
3. How does the sermon describe the relationship between unity and diversity within the church? [10:08]
4. What are the "three P's" mentioned in the sermon that can threaten unity, and how do they manifest in church life? [12:06]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of unity as both a gift and a responsibility challenge the way believers interact with one another in the church? [28:05]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that unity in Christ should transcend political and personal differences? [23:22]
3. How does the sermon interpret the role of humility, gentleness, patience, and love in protecting the unity of the church? [26:33]
4. What does the sermon imply about the importance of speaking the truth in love, and how does this practice contribute to the growth of the church community? [05:02]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you struggle to embody humility, gentleness, patience, or love? What steps can you take to cultivate these attitudes in your interactions with others? [26:33]
2. Consider a time when differences in personalities, preferences, or principles have caused tension in your church community. How can you apply the principles from the sermon to navigate these differences with grace? [12:06]
3. How can you prioritize your allegiance to Christ above political affiliations in your daily life? What practical steps can you take to ensure your political views do not overshadow your unity with fellow believers? [23:22]
4. Think of a person in your church or community with whom you have a disagreement. How can you initiate a conversation that focuses on unity in Christ rather than division? [24:52]
5. The sermon emphasizes the importance of serving one another to maintain unity. Identify a specific way you can serve your church community this week to promote unity. [28:05]
6. How can you celebrate the diversity within your church while maintaining unity? What actions can you take to appreciate and learn from the different backgrounds and experiences of your fellow believers? [10:08]
7. Reflect on the sermon’s message about the transformative power of the gospel. How can you share this message of unity and hope with someone outside your church community this week? [08:04]
Devotional
Day 1: Unity as a Divine Gift and Responsibility
Unity within the church is both a divine gift and a responsibility that requires active participation. Ephesians 4 emphasizes the importance of living a life worthy of our calling, marked by humility, gentleness, patience, and love. These attitudes are essential for maintaining unity in a world that often seeks to divide us. Unity is not just about agreement but about embodying these virtues in our interactions with one another. It is a testament to the transformative power of the gospel and a reflection of our shared faith in Jesus Christ. [03:35]
Ephesians 4:1-3 (ESV): "I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
Reflection: Think of a recent conflict or disagreement you had with someone in your church community. How can you apply humility, gentleness, patience, and love to resolve it and promote unity?
Day 2: Celebrating Diversity in Unity
Our unity in the church is rooted in our shared faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ, which transcends our diverse backgrounds and experiences. This unity is not about uniformity but about celebrating the diversity within the body of Christ. Each member brings unique gifts and perspectives that enrich the community. By focusing on our common faith, we can appreciate and embrace our differences, recognizing that they contribute to the strength and vitality of the church. [05:02]
1 Corinthians 12:12-14 (ESV): "For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt different or out of place in your church community. How can you use your unique gifts and experiences to contribute to the unity and diversity of the church?
Day 3: The Foundation of Unity
The seven elements of unity—one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God—form the foundation of our unity, both universally and locally. These elements remind us that we are united with believers worldwide, sharing the same Spirit and hope in Christ. This unity is a powerful witness to the world of the gospel's transformative power. By holding fast to these core truths, we can navigate differences and remain steadfast in our mission as the body of Christ. [08:04]
Ephesians 4:4-6 (ESV): "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: Consider the seven elements of unity mentioned in Ephesians 4. Which one resonates most with you today, and how can you focus on it to strengthen your connection with the global church?
Day 4: Navigating Differences with Grace
Differences in personalities, preferences, and principles can threaten our unity if not navigated with grace and understanding. We must prioritize our allegiance to Christ above all else, even in matters of political and personal differences. Our unity in Christ should supersede any earthly affiliations, reminding us that our ultimate allegiance is to the Lamb of God. By focusing on our shared faith, we can navigate these differences with grace, ensuring that they do not divide us but instead enrich our community. [13:38]
Romans 14:19 (ESV): "So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding."
Reflection: Think of a personal or political difference you have with someone in your church. How can you prioritize your shared faith in Christ to navigate this difference with grace and understanding?
Day 5: Protecting Unity Through Attitudes and Actions
To protect our unity, we must embody the attitudes of humility, gentleness, patience, and love, as outlined in Ephesians 4. We are called to make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace, serving one another and speaking the truth in love. By doing so, we build up the body of Christ, ensuring that each member contributes to the health and growth of our community. These attitudes and actions are essential for maintaining unity in a divided world. [28:05]
Colossians 3:12-14 (ESV): "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."
Reflection: Identify one specific action you can take today to promote unity in your church community. How can you embody the attitudes of humility, gentleness, patience, and love in this action?
Quotes
Here are the selected quotes from the sermon transcript:
1. "And this series is emphasizing the importance of the nature and the mission of our church in connection with the church, the worldwide church, and how we as a local church can be all that God has called us to be here in Brick, New Jersey. So far, we've been looking at things like, questions like our identity as a church and our message, what's our message, our essential message is Christ -centered and evangelistic, right? We talked about our mission as a church, to come and serve and to come and grow. We've talked about our beliefs as a church, what beliefs should stay the same and what ways can we change as a church over the years. We talked about our commission, the Great Commission, and we welcomed missionaries to join us that we partner with around the world. And last week, we talked about worship, how we're all called to participate in worship." [01:41] (56 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "So what is the basis of our unity? What's the basis of our commonality as believers who have gathered here from different homes and different streets and brick and across Ocean County? What brings us together? Paul says in these verses, first of all, our unity lies in our commitment and our understanding and our knowledge of Jesus Christ. To everyone here today who has come to know Jesus Christ, and that's not just an intellectual knowledge, but an experiential knowledge. In the Bible, the word knowledge means to really experience and know and on a practical experiential level, Jesus Christ. I want to ask you, do you know Jesus Christ? Have you called upon him? Have you called upon him to be your Savior?" [06:55] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "That's the basis for our unity as a body of Christ, and we should celebrate that. But as we celebrate our commonality, we can also celebrate our diversity. Paul talks about in verse 7, to each one of us, individuals, we have received grace, God's unmerited favor in Jesus Christ, and the grace to serve Him in the body of Christ. We've received grace, and Christ has apportioned it. Christ is the head of the church. He is the one who gives the gifts to you and to all of you. He is the one who gives the gifts to all of us in the church, and He gives gifts to His people. But He gives individual gifts to individuals in unique ways, and your uniqueness is different than mine, and that's what makes us diverse. And we should celebrate that. There are various offices He describes in verse 11. Christ gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors, and the teachers. There's various ways in which people serve in the body of Christ. That's diversity, and it should be that way, and we celebrate that. But here's one thing to understand. Unity is not uniformity." [10:26] (67 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "In other words, you don't have to be just like me. You don't have to look just like me. You don't even have to think just like me for us to be united in the things that we can be united in in Jesus Christ. In fact, the more diverse we are, yet united, the greater our witness is. Right? We can differ on some fundamental matters, like who's going to win the World Series. No, I mean, you know, we can have diversity, but our unity in Christ is what matters the most." [11:33] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "And so as a church, a local church here in Brick, we must celebrate our community, our unity, despite our diversity, different backgrounds, different nationalities. That's what makes us unique. And God has called you uniquely here, to use the VeggieTales theology, God made you special. We're all special, but we can be united." [12:06] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "navigate differences like worship styles that's an area where Christians often differ on worship styles different personalities different preferences different principles theological emphases some people have a certain ism to their theology and maybe it's not your ism but it's still not denying fundamental truth it's it's a different way of organizing theology and so it could be a second level doctrinal debate that we would just say listen my principle is different than yours but we're still united in Christ there may be lifestyle practices that are different some people may when it comes to alcohol have different views of of their use of alcohol and so as Christians we may have differences about those kinds of things but yet we're called to be united in Christ the goal is summed up in a maxim you're called to be united in Christ the goal is summed up in a maxim that's been used for centuries in essentials, unity, in differences, liberty, in all things, charity." [15:18] (68 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "To the best that we can, when it comes down to the essentials of the faith, we have to try and be as united as we can be. Was Jesus Christ born of a virgin? Was he fully human and fully God? To me, that's an essential truth that we should come as closely united as we can absolutely be on that essential truth. On other areas, we can have some liberty and differences, but in every situation, with charity or love, we should treat each other as the body of Christ." [16:26] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "It's a tough place to be, but it's a place that we have to be from time to time. So I want to ask you about the three P's now. And to me, the most important P to navigate our differences in politics, whether it's between brothers and sisters in Christ or between you and your neighbor, is principles. And I want to encourage each of us to ask ourselves these three questions. The first one is, what are my guiding principles that underlie my vote? What are the convictions that I have that are guiding my vote? And are those convictions biblical, rooted in Scripture and truth, guided by the Spirit or not?" [20:08] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "Will you still have hope? Will you still have joy? Will you still have the Holy Spirit? Will you still have Christ? Will you still have a gospel to share with others? If so, then guess what? Your allegiance to the Lamb wins out. It might be harder or easier depending on your perspective, but nevertheless, that's what matters most. Let's remember that. The third thing I would say is personalities. When we're differing with people, we have to make sure, and I want to encourage myself and you to ask this question, are my political stances more important than the people around me?" [24:13] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "So let me try to bring it around and give you just a few practical steps as we get ready to conclude. I want to suggest to you that unity is a gift from God that we celebrate, but it's also something that we need to protect. So let me mention about protecting our unity back to the text. Look back at Ephesians chapter four, verse two. Boy, these attitudes, if they're in us, we can protect. We can protect our unity. Look at these four attitudes that Paul describes in Ephesians chapter four, verse two. Be completely humble and gentle. Be patient, bearing with one another in love. What are those four attitudes? Humility, gentleness, patience, and love." [26:34] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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