United in Faith: The Power of Being All In
Summary
In today's message, "All In," we explore the profound impact of unity within the church and our lives. Drawing inspiration from Acts 4:32, we see how the early believers were united in heart and mind, sharing a common story and mission. This unity is not about uniformity but about coming together with our diverse backgrounds and experiences, united by our faith in Jesus Christ. We all share the same spiritual DNA, having been redeemed, restored, and renewed through Jesus. This shared story is the foundation of our unity, reminding us that we are all sinners saved by grace, and it is this grace that binds us together.
Unity is essential for success, not just in a marching band or a church, but in every aspect of life. When we are united, we can achieve great things, and God can work miracles among us. The African proverb, "If you want to go quickly, go alone; if you want to go far, go together," encapsulates this truth. As a church, we must be all in, committed to our mission of growing people and making disciples. This requires every member, whether new or seasoned, young or old, to be fully engaged and aligned with our shared goals.
Our mission is to be disciples and make disciples, focusing on six pillars: discipleship, youth development, worship, community and missions, infrastructure, and financial development. We are embarking on a journey to raise eight million dollars in 18 months to support these initiatives and make necessary improvements to our campus. This is a significant challenge, but with unity and faith, we believe God will provide.
Generosity is a natural outflow of unity. When we recognize that everything we have belongs to God, we can live with open hands, ready to give and share. This generosity reflects God's own open-handedness, as He continually blesses and provides for us. By coming together and being all in, we can accomplish incredible things, just as those who participated in the Montgomery bus boycott did. Their unity and sacrifice brought about significant change, and we too can make a difference when we unite for a common cause.
Key Takeaways:
- Unity is a powerful force that can lead to success and miracles. When we are united in heart and mind, God can work through us in extraordinary ways. Our shared faith in Jesus Christ is the foundation of this unity, reminding us that we are all sinners saved by grace. [10:52]
- Being all in means committing to our shared mission of being disciples and making disciples. This involves prayer, service, witnessing, and encouraging others. Our mission is not just about personal growth but about reaching others with the transformative power of the gospel. [26:04]
- Generosity flows from unity. When we recognize that everything we have belongs to God, we can live with open hands, ready to give and share. This reflects God's own generosity and allows us to participate in His work. [26:04]
- Our shared story unites us. Despite our different backgrounds and experiences, we all share the same spiritual DNA, having been redeemed and restored through Jesus. This common story is a powerful reminder of God's grace and love for us. [10:52]
- When we are all in, God is all in. Our unity invites God's presence and power into our midst, enabling us to accomplish great things. Just as snowflakes can shut down a city when they stick together, we too can make a significant impact when we unite for a common cause. [26:04]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:30] - Introduction to "All In"
[01:15] - The Power of Unity
[02:45] - HBCU Bands and Unity
[04:00] - Lessons from Drumline
[05:30] - Unity in Relationships and Church
[07:00] - The Importance of Being All In
[08:30] - Our Common Story in Christ
[10:52] - Unity Through Shared Faith
[12:30] - Our Common Mission
[14:00] - Six Pillars of Our Mission
[16:00] - Generosity and Open Hands
[18:00] - God's Open Hand
[20:00] - Historical Examples of Unity
[22:00] - Conclusion and Call to Action
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: "All In"
Bible Reading:
- Acts 4:32
- John 17:20-22
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Observation Questions:
1. In Acts 4:32, what does it mean for the believers to be "one in heart and mind"? How does this unity manifest in their actions? [10:52]
2. How does the sermon illustrate the concept of unity using the example of a marching band? What lessons can be drawn from this analogy? [02:45]
3. According to John 17:20-22, what is Jesus' prayer for the church, and how does it relate to the theme of being "all in"? [16:00]
4. What are the six pillars mentioned in the sermon that form the mission of the church? How do they contribute to the church's overall goal? [14:00]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the shared spiritual DNA of believers, as described in Acts 4:32, serve as a foundation for unity within the church? [10:52]
2. What does the African proverb "If you want to go quickly, go alone; if you want to go far, go together" suggest about the importance of unity in achieving long-term goals? [07:00]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that generosity is a natural outflow of unity? How does this reflect God's own generosity? [26:04]
4. How does the sermon connect the historical example of the Montgomery bus boycott to the power of unity in effecting change? [26:04]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced unity in a group setting. How did it impact the outcome of your efforts? How can you foster similar unity in your church or community? [07:00]
2. The sermon emphasizes being "all in" for the church's mission. What specific steps can you take to be more engaged in your church's mission of making disciples? [16:00]
3. Consider the six pillars of the church's mission. Which pillar resonates most with you, and how can you contribute to its development? [14:00]
4. Generosity is highlighted as a key aspect of unity. How can you practice open-handed generosity in your daily life, recognizing that everything you have belongs to God? [26:04]
5. The sermon mentions the importance of shared stories in building unity. How can you share your personal story of faith to encourage and connect with others in your community? [10:52]
6. Reflect on the historical example of the Montgomery bus boycott. What modern-day issues could benefit from a similar unified effort, and how can you be part of that change? [26:04]
7. How can you ensure that your actions and attitudes contribute to unity rather than division within your church or community? What changes might you need to make? [07:00]
Devotional
Day 1: Unity as a Catalyst for Miracles
Unity is a powerful force that can lead to success and miracles. When believers are united in heart and mind, God can work through them in extraordinary ways. This unity is not about being identical but about coming together with diverse backgrounds and experiences, united by faith in Jesus Christ. The early church, as described in Acts 4:32, exemplified this unity, sharing everything they had and being of one heart and mind. This shared faith in Jesus is the foundation of unity, reminding believers that they are all sinners saved by grace. When the church is united, it invites God's presence and power, enabling them to accomplish great things. [10:52]
"Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common." (Acts 4:32, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you contribute to unity within your church community today, fostering an environment where God can work miracles?
Day 2: Commitment to the Mission of Discipleship
Being all in means committing to the shared mission of being disciples and making disciples. This involves prayer, service, witnessing, and encouraging others. The mission is not just about personal growth but about reaching others with the transformative power of the gospel. Every member, whether new or seasoned, young or old, is called to be fully engaged and aligned with the church's shared goals. This commitment requires a willingness to be all in, to be fully invested in the mission of growing people and making disciples. [26:04]
"And he said to them, 'Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.'" (Mark 16:15, ESV)
Reflection: What specific steps can you take this week to actively participate in your church's mission of making disciples?
Day 3: Generosity as an Expression of Unity
Generosity flows naturally from unity. When believers recognize that everything they have belongs to God, they can live with open hands, ready to give and share. This generosity reflects God's own open-handedness, as He continually blesses and provides. By coming together and being all in, the church can accomplish incredible things. Just as those who participated in the Montgomery bus boycott brought about significant change through their unity and sacrifice, believers too can make a difference when they unite for a common cause. [26:04]
"Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7, ESV)
Reflection: How can you practice generosity today in a way that reflects God's generosity towards you?
Day 4: The Power of a Shared Story
Despite different backgrounds and experiences, believers share the same spiritual DNA, having been redeemed and restored through Jesus. This common story is a powerful reminder of God's grace and love. It unites believers, reminding them that they are all part of the same family, saved by grace. This shared story is the foundation of unity, encouraging believers to come together and support one another in their faith journey. [10:52]
"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." (1 Corinthians 12:13, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on your own story of redemption. How can sharing your story with others strengthen the unity within your church community?
Day 5: Inviting God's Presence Through Unity
When believers are all in, God is all in. Unity invites God's presence and power into the midst of the church, enabling them to accomplish great things. Just as snowflakes can shut down a city when they stick together, believers too can make a significant impact when they unite for a common cause. This unity is essential for success, not just in a church, but in every aspect of life. The African proverb, "If you want to go quickly, go alone; if you want to go far, go together," encapsulates this truth. [26:04]
"Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them." (Matthew 18:19-20, ESV)
Reflection: How can you actively seek to foster unity in your relationships today, inviting God's presence and power into your life and community?
Quotes
"Unity unlocks a limitless future where there is unity God can do amazing things and we are trusting God for all he wants to do in the life of our church here's the first principle out of the text I'm all in because we share a common story can you sit over and say I'm all in because we share a common story." [00:06:50] (29 seconds)
"All the believers were one in heart and mind that word all means large number means multitude or many people a mass group he said it is not a few it's not just one he says all the people all the believers were of one mind all the believers that's a picture of what unity looks like." [00:07:50] (25 seconds)
"We are believing the Lord that he can do exceedingly and abundantly we are believing the Lord that he can open the windows of heaven and help us to do this work and we believe that the church needs to be strong in this season and if we make this investment we can do the work of the Lord in real and meaningful ways." [00:16:47] (28 seconds)
"When you are all in God is all in God is so values unity that when his people get all in it causes him to show up in a unique and special way you don't believe me look at my Acts chapter 2 when all of a sudden all the people are gathered together and the text says verse 1 they are all together in one place." [00:19:16] (28 seconds)
"Snowflakes, a single snowflake, it's one of the weakest things on the earth. You can crush it with your fingers. But when that snowflake sticks to other snowflakes, that stick to other snowflakes, that little fragile thing by itself can shut down an entire city, can shut down an entire airport, can shut down an entire metroplex, all because they learned how to get together." [00:21:02] (32 seconds)
"Notice this, friends, their unity led to generosity. I mean, no one claimed any of their possessions were their own, but there was this koinos. This is this sharing freely that they were able to do and to give because the text says they shared. It's not the ideal of equal giving. It's equal sacrifice." [00:22:16] (24 seconds)
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