Unity in Christ: A Call to Bless and Cooperate

Devotional

Day 1: Be a Blessing in a Divided World

As Christians, we are called to be a blessing in our nation, speaking against acts of hate and division. This includes honoring everyone who bears the image of God and striving to be a unifying force. Our actions and words should reflect our commitment to God's kingdom and His principles. We must remember that our calling is not just to avoid evil but to actively promote good. This means standing up against injustice, showing kindness to those around us, and being peacemakers in our communities. By doing so, we reflect the love and grace of Jesus Christ to a world in desperate need of hope and healing. [33:47]

Jeremiah 29:7 (ESV): "But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare."

Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you witnessed division or hatred. How can you be a blessing in that context today, either through words, actions, or prayer?

Day 2: Cooperation Without Compromise

Cooperation within the church is essential for achieving great things for God's kingdom. This cooperation must be done without compromising our loyalty to Jesus Christ and His Word. We should work together at local, state, and national levels to support missions, education, and other ministries. The example of the Macedonian churches in 2 Corinthians 8 shows us that when we come together in unity, we can accomplish much more than we could alone. However, it is crucial that our cooperation is grounded in the truth of Scripture and our commitment to Christ. We must be discerning about who we partner with, ensuring that our shared efforts glorify God and advance His kingdom. [43:24]

2 Corinthians 8:3-4 (ESV): "For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints."

Reflection: Reflect on a ministry or mission you are involved in. How can you ensure that your cooperation with others remains true to the teachings of Jesus Christ?

Day 3: Guarding Your Relationships

We must be cautious about who we form intimate relationships with, both personally and within the church. The Bible warns against being unequally yoked with unbelievers, as this can lead us away from God. Our close relationships should be with those committed to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the truth revealed in Scripture. This doesn't mean we isolate ourselves from non-believers, but rather that our deepest connections and influences should be with those who share our faith and values. By doing so, we protect our spiritual health and ensure that our relationships draw us closer to God rather than away from Him. [50:02]

2 Corinthians 6:14 (ESV): "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?"

Reflection: Consider your closest relationships. Are there any that might be pulling you away from your faith? How can you seek to strengthen your connections with fellow believers?

Day 4: Unity in Truth and Love

Our unity as Christians is based on the truth about Jesus Christ and His teachings. This truth should lead us to love one another earnestly and to work together for the kingdom of God. Love is the essential identifying mark of an authentic believer, and it should be evident in our relationships with one another. When we are united in truth and love, we can effectively serve God's purposes and be a powerful witness to the world. This unity is not just about agreement on doctrines but about a shared commitment to live out the love and teachings of Jesus in our daily lives. [01:04:21]

1 Peter 1:22 (ESV): "Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart."

Reflection: How can you show earnest love to a fellow believer today? What practical steps can you take to strengthen the unity within your church community?

Day 5: Practicing Unity Through Service

We practice unity through our tithes, offerings, mission trips, and service within the church. Each of us has different spiritual gifts, and we are called to use these gifts to further the kingdom of God. By working together, we can effectively share the good news of Jesus Christ and support one another in our faith journey. Our unity is demonstrated through our collective efforts to serve and uplift others, reflecting the love and grace of God. When we serve together, we not only accomplish more but also grow closer as a community of believers, united in our mission and purpose. [01:08:26]

1 Corinthians 12:4-7 (ESV): "Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good."

Reflection: Identify your spiritual gifts and consider how you can use them to serve your church and community. What specific actions can you take this week to practice unity through service?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we are reminded of our calling as Christians to be a blessing in this world, much like the Israelites were called to be a blessing in Babylon. We have a responsibility to speak against acts of hate and division, and to honor everyone who bears the image of God. This includes praying and fasting, not to manipulate God, but to surrender to Him what we cannot do in our own strength. We must also repent of our contributions to division and strive to be a unifying force in our nation.

We explored the importance of cooperation within the church, using the example of the Macedonian churches in 2 Corinthians 8. Cooperation is essential for achieving great things for God's kingdom, but it must be done without compromising our loyalty to Jesus Christ and His Word. We discussed the various levels of cooperation within the Baptist community, from local associations to state and national conventions.

However, we must be cautious about who we cooperate with. Unity should not come at the expense of compromising biblical truth. We are bound by Scripture, which warns us against intimate fellowship with those who reject the teachings of Jesus Christ. This includes being cautious in our personal relationships and church practices. The Bible is clear that we should not be unequally yoked with unbelievers, as this can lead us away from God.

Despite the call for separation from falsehood, we are also called to be united in truth, love, and the work of Jesus. Our unity is based on the truth about Jesus Christ, and this truth should lead us to love one another earnestly and to work together for the kingdom of God. We practice this unity through our tithes, offerings, mission trips, and service within the church.

In conclusion, we must love the truth, love one another, and love the lost so much that we join together with other Christians to reach them. We must also reflect on our relationships and ensure they draw us closer to Jesus and His kingdom.

###

Key Takeaways

1. Responsibility to Be a Blessing: As Christians, we are called to be a blessing in our nation, speaking against acts of hate and division. This includes honoring everyone who bears the image of God and striving to be a unifying force. Our actions and words should reflect our commitment to God's kingdom and His principles. [33:47]
2. Importance of Cooperation: Cooperation within the church is essential for achieving great things for God's kingdom. This cooperation must be done without compromising our loyalty to Jesus Christ and His Word. We should work together at local, state, and national levels to support missions, education, and other ministries. [43:24]
3. Caution in Relationships: We must be cautious about who we form intimate relationships with, both personally and within the church. The Bible warns against being unequally yoked with unbelievers, as this can lead us away from God. Our close relationships should be with those committed to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the truth revealed in Scripture. [50:02]
4. Unity in Truth and Love: Our unity as Christians is based on the truth about Jesus Christ and His teachings. This truth should lead us to love one another earnestly and to work together for the kingdom of God. Love is the essential identifying mark of an authentic believer, and it should be evident in our relationships with one another. [64:21]
5. Practical Application of Unity: We practice unity through our tithes, offerings, mission trips, and service within the church. Each of us has different spiritual gifts, and we are called to use these gifts to further the kingdom of God. By working together, we can effectively share the good news of Jesus Christ and support one another in our faith journey. [01:08:26]
### [68:26]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[33:47] - Responsibility to Be a Blessing
[43:24] - Importance of Cooperation
[50:02] - Caution in Relationships
[64:21] - Unity in Truth and Love
[68:26] - Practical Application of Unity
[74:13] - Closing Prayer and Invitation

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

According to 2 Corinthians 8:3-4, how did the Macedonian churches demonstrate their cooperation and generosity?
In 1 Peter 1:22-23, what is the basis for the command to love one another earnestly?
What does 2 Corinthians 6:14 warn against, and why is this warning significant for Christians?

Interpretation Questions

How does the example of the Macedonian churches in 2 Corinthians 8:3-4 illustrate the importance of cooperation within the church?
What does it mean to love one another earnestly from a pure heart, as described in 1 Peter 1:22-23? How does this love reflect our obedience to the truth?
Why does Paul caution against being unequally yoked with unbelievers in 2 Corinthians 6:14? How can this principle be applied to both personal and church relationships?

Application Questions

Reflect on your own life: Are there any relationships that might be pulling you away from God rather than drawing you closer to Him? How can you address these relationships in a way that honors God?
In what ways can you actively work to be a unifying force in your community and church, especially in times of division and conflict?
How can you contribute to the cooperative efforts of your church, whether through tithes, offerings, mission trips, or other forms of service? Identify one specific action you can take this week.
Think about a recent situation where you had to choose between standing firm in biblical truth and compromising for the sake of unity. How did you handle it, and what did you learn from that experience?
How can you practice loving one another earnestly within your small group or church community? Share one practical way you can show sincere brotherly love to someone this week.
Consider the importance of prayer and fasting as mentioned in the sermon. How can you incorporate these spiritual disciplines into your life to surrender to God what you cannot do in your own strength?
Reflect on the sermon’s call to repent of contributions to division. Is there a specific area in your life where you need to seek forgiveness and strive for unity? How will you take steps toward reconciliation?

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "We need to bear the responsibility that God has given to us to honor one another to honor everyone who bears the image of God not to speak or act in ways of evil to be a unifying force and a blessing in this nation for days like yesterday certainly feels like we woke up to a different nation but I give God thanks that it is not as different as it could have been if a shot were placed just centimeters in a different direction." [34:40] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "We cannot condone any act of violence we cannot condone any transgression against those who bear the image of God cannot support words of evil that tear down and mar that image so us to a place where we each have come before you and repent of our contribution in this division in this nation help us to be the light that you've invited us to be for the blessing and betterment of this country these United States of America." [38:45] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Baptists are Christians who are willing to cooperate for kingdom purposes and in simple terms our statement of faith says that we should we being the church we should when necessary join with other believers to advance God's kingdom but all the while respecting the autonomy of the local church so that we are not compromising our loyalty to Jesus Christ and his word in the process." [43:24] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "We are the light of the world and we're not meant to be mixed with darkness that doesn't give us a license to be mean for Jesus or to walk about the streets of divine or wherever we may go to this week with a holier than thou attitude we don't have God's permission to be that we're still called to speak the truth and love even though speaking the truth will not be received well and at the same time we've got to be prudent in our relationships both those personal relationships and the relationships that our churches make." [01:02:31] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "We are to love the truth love one another and love the lost so much that we join together with other Christians to reach them but I want to close by leaving you with some questions to reflect upon these questions are for you to take before the Lord and to answer honestly and respond in the way that the Lord would have you to influencing you? do those relationships draw you closer to Jesus? or do they pull you further away from him? do those relationships encourage you in the work of the kingdom? or do they pull you towards the things in God's kingdom." [01:10:21] (67 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "We fast in response to both wonderful and difficult because we know nothing but to surrender before the Lord what we cannot do in our own strength and we pray in the same manner nation as well." [35:15] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Many congregation have lots of folks who work hard but often strive in absolutely different directions with different goals and incompatible agendas and the result is a lack of unity the result is a lack of unity the result is a lack of cooperation and that can result in a schism and a break in fellowship." [41:31] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "The fellowship of the saints is not based on some sentimental feeling or on what the world would describe as just doing good deeds the fellowship of the saints the church that thing which initially and most substantially unites us is the truth about Jesus Christ and not just believing it's true but trusting in Jesus and having his spirit live within us that's the foundation of our unity the truth about Jesus which we believed and his spirit lives within us his spirit who's doing the work of transforming us into the likeness of Jesus himself." [01:03:46] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "We can also be united in the love of Jesus and we can spend all day in the scriptures which over and over again command us to love one another but not merely in word but in action in fact the passage that we read from 1 Peter tells us that we are to love one another reverently and with a pure heart or if you will with the right emotions and the right motive when we hold the same truth we're all bound to the same commandment that Jesus gave us in John chapter 13 where Jesus said a new commandment I give to you that you love one another just as I have loved you you also are to love one another by this all people will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another." [01:06:08] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "We are to love the truth love one another and love the lost so much that we join together with other Christians to reach them but I want to close by leaving you with some questions to reflect upon these questions are for you to take before the Lord and to answer honestly and respond in the way that the Lord would have you to influencing you? do those relationships draw you closer to Jesus? or do they pull you further away from him? do those relationships encourage you in the work of the kingdom? or do they pull you towards the things in God's kingdom." [01:10:21] (67 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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