One Voice: Pursuing Unity in the Church Family

Today’s gathering was a beautiful reminder of what it means to be the church—together, as one body, with one heart and one voice. We began by lifting up Bob and Emily in prayer, celebrating the privilege of interceding for one another and trusting God’s hand in every detail of our lives. This spirit of unity and care set the tone for everything that followed. We reflected on the importance of hiding God’s Word in our hearts, especially the verses from Romans that lay out the path of salvation. Memorizing and meditating on these truths equips us to share the hope of Christ with others and strengthens our own faith.

We looked back at the Jesus Movement of the 60s and 70s, a time when young people discovered that Jesus was better than anything the world could offer. That movement birthed places of true fellowship—koinonia—where believers gathered not just for coffee or music, but for deep, life-changing community. This same spirit is what we are called to embody today. The Christian life is not meant to be lived in isolation; it is inherently relational because our God is relational. When we come to Christ, we enter not only a personal relationship with Him but also an eternal relationship with every other believer.

Romans 15:1-7 calls us to a unity that is more than just getting along. It’s a unity marked by bearing with one another’s weaknesses, building each other up, enduring together through trials, encouraging one another, worshiping with one heart and one voice, and welcoming others as Christ has welcomed us. This is not optional—it’s a non-negotiable for the people of God. The world is full of tearing down, bullying, and division, but the church must be a place of radical encouragement, endurance, and welcome. We are called to be a people who intentionally pursue unity, who refuse to tolerate anything that would sow discord, and who open our arms wide to anyone seeking Jesus, no matter their background.

This unity is both corporate and personal. For “we” to be the church God desires, each of us must respond individually—confessing, believing, forgiving, encouraging, and welcoming. The invitation is for all of us, but it starts with each of us. May we be a church that truly lives out koinonia, for the glory of God and the advancement of His kingdom.

Key Takeaways

• 1. True Christian unity is rooted in the relational nature of God. Because God is not distant but deeply relational, our faith is not just about a personal relationship with Him, but also about how we relate to one another in the church. We are called to intentionally and biblically connect, support, and love each other as family, reflecting the very heart of God to the world. [46:14]
• 2. Bearing with and building up one another is a non-negotiable for the church. The world is quick to tear down, but the church must be a place where we come alongside each other in weakness, carry one another’s burdens, and actively seek to edify and encourage. This means zero tolerance for any form of bullying or tearing down, whether among children or adults, and a commitment to maturity in our relationships. [55:10]
• 3. Endurance and encouragement are essential marks of a unified church. Life in a fallen world guarantees suffering and trials, but God uses these to produce perseverance and deepen our faith. We are called to endure together, encouraging one another with the hope that Jesus is coming back, and reminding each other not to give up, no matter how hard the race becomes. [59:44]
• 4. Worshiping with one heart and one voice glorifies God and strengthens our unity. When we come together, our diverse backgrounds and experiences blend into a single chord of praise, magnifying God in a way that no individual could alone. This unity in worship is both a testimony to the world and a source of deep encouragement for the body. [64:19]
• 5. Welcoming others as Christ has welcomed us is at the core of gospel community. Jesus welcomed the broken, the outcast, and the sinner with love, compassion, and truth. We are called to do the same, making our church a place where anyone—regardless of background, appearance, or beliefs—can encounter Jesus and find a home among His people. [68:40]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [07:51] - Praying for Bob and Emily
• [12:43] - Greeting Guests and Memory Verse
• [13:11] - The Roman Road to Salvation
• [14:42] - Worship and Prayer
• [24:58] - Worship: “It’s Your Breath in Our Lungs”
• [31:04] - Brag on Jesus and Childhood Memories
• [34:59] - The Jesus Movement and Koinonia
• [38:41] - Reading Romans 15:1-7
• [41:04] - Recap of Romans Series
• [43:24] - The Relational Nature of God
• [50:13] - Entering Eternal Relationship with the Church
• [51:33] - The Non-Negotiable of Unity
• [54:58] - Bearing With and Building Up
• [59:44] - Endurance and Encouragement
• [64:19] - Worshiping with One Voice
• [68:40] - Welcoming as Christ Welcomed
• [72:28] - The Call to Personal Response
• [75:27] - Closing Prayer and Invitation
• [80:12] - Announcements and Dismissal

Bible Reading

Romans 15:1-7 (ESV) — 1 We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.
3 For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.”
4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus,
6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

Observation Questions

1. According to Romans 15:1-2, what are the two main things Paul says the strong should do for the weak in the church?
2. In verse 5, what does Paul pray that God would grant the church, and how does this relate to the way we worship?
3. The sermon described “koinonia” as more than just hanging out or eating together. What are some of the “one another” commands mentioned that define true fellowship? ([52:30])
4. In verse 7, what is the reason given for welcoming one another as Christ has welcomed us?

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon said unity in the church is a “non-negotiable.” Why do you think Paul and Jesus both put such a high value on unity among believers? ([53:10])
2. The world is described as a place of tearing down, bullying, and division, but the church is called to be different. What does it look like for a church to be a place of “zero tolerance” for tearing others down? ([58:08])
3. The passage says we are to “worship with one heart and one voice.” Why is worshiping together as a unified body so important, and how does it encourage us? ([01:04:19])
4. The sermon said that when we come to Christ, we enter not just a personal relationship with Him, but also an eternal relationship with every other believer. How does this change the way we see our church family? ([50:13])

Application Questions

1. The sermon challenged us to “bear with and build up” one another, not just tolerate each other. Who in your life or in our church do you need to come alongside and encourage this week? What would that look like in a practical way? ([55:10])
2. The world is quick to tear down, but the church must be a place of radical encouragement. Have you ever experienced bullying or tearing down in a church setting? How can we as a group make sure that never happens here? ([58:08])
3. The pastor said endurance and encouragement are essential marks of a unified church. Is there someone in our group or church who is going through a hard time right now? How can we encourage them and help them not give up? ([59:44])
4. Worshiping with “one heart and one voice” means setting aside our differences to praise God together. Are there any personal preferences or opinions you need to lay down so that our worship can be more unified? ([01:04:19])
5. The sermon said we are to “welcome others as Christ has welcomed us.” Is there anyone you find it hard to welcome or include? What step could you take this week to reach out to someone who might feel like an outsider? ([01:08:40])
6. The invitation at the end of the sermon was “intensely personal.” Is there an area where you need to confess, forgive, or seek forgiveness in order to help our church be more unified? ([01:13:07])
7. The pastor said unity starts with each of us. What is one specific thing you can do this week to intentionally pursue unity in our church or small group? ([53:52])