Unity in Christ: A Call to Spiritual Maturity

Devotional

Day 1: The Mandate of Unity in the Body of Christ

Unity among believers is not optional but a calling that reflects the very heart of God for His people. When the church walks in unity, it becomes a powerful testimony to the world of the reconciling work of Christ, drawing together people from diverse backgrounds into one family. Disunity, on the other hand, weakens our witness and undermines the message of the gospel. We are called to walk in a manner worthy of our calling, striving to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, so that the world may see the love and power of Christ at work among us. [36:57]

Ephesians 4:1-6 (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. 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: Is there someone in your church family with whom you need to pursue reconciliation or greater unity? What is one step you can take this week to move toward them in love?

Day 2: Walking Worthy of Your Calling

To walk in spiritual unity, you must first remember who you are in Christ and live in a way that matches your identity as one called by God. This means living with strength, balance, and purpose, not just going through the motions but intentionally representing Christ in every aspect of your life. Just as a royal child is reminded to walk like royalty, you are called to walk as a child of God, letting your practice match your position and your daily actions reflect the grace you have received. [44:38]

1 Peter 2:9 (ESV)
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Reflection: In what area of your life do you most need to remember your identity in Christ today, and how can you let that truth shape your actions?

Day 3: Practicing Christlikeness—Humility, Gentleness, and Patience

Spiritual unity is the fruit of spiritual maturity, and maturity is seen in how we act and react—especially when things don’t go our way. Christlikeness means embracing humility (thinking of yourself less), gentleness (strength under control), and patience (bearing with one another in love). These qualities are not just ideals but are modeled perfectly by Jesus, who humbled Himself for our sake and calls us to count others as more significant than ourselves, to be slow to anger, and to pursue peace above all. [52:38]

Philippians 2:3-8 (ESV)
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Reflection: When was the last time you chose to put someone else’s needs above your own, and how might you intentionally practice humility or gentleness in a relationship that is difficult for you?

Day 4: Tearing Down Walls—The Power of Forgiveness and Peace

Christ came to break down the dividing walls of hostility, making peace by His blood and uniting us as one. When we act in impatience, gossip, or dismissiveness, we risk rebuilding the very walls Jesus died to destroy. Instead, we are called to be merciful, gracious, slow to anger, and steadfast in love, reflecting the character of God Himself. Our commitment to forgiveness and peace is not just for our own sake but for the sake of the gospel and the unity of the church. [01:01:09]

Ephesians 2:12-14 (ESV)
Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility.

Reflection: Is there a “wall” of hurt, offense, or misunderstanding between you and another believer? What would it look like to take a step toward tearing it down today?

Day 5: Our Witness—Unity as a Testimony to the World

The unity of the church is not just for our benefit but is a powerful witness to the world of the reality of Jesus. When people see a diverse group of believers loving one another, serving together, and living in harmony, it points unmistakably to the transforming power of the gospel. Our unity is rooted in the one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all. As we pursue unity, we make the gospel visible and compelling to those who are watching. [01:06:27]

John 17:20-23 (ESV)
“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.”

Reflection: How might your attitude and actions toward unity in the church impact someone who is exploring faith or watching from the outside? What is one way you can make the gospel more visible through your relationships this week?

Sermon Summary

All our hope is in Jesus, and all our boasting is in what Christ has done for us on the cross. We are not saved by our own merit, but by the grace and love of God, who calls us to live as his redeemed people. This grace is not just a personal gift, but a calling to live differently, to walk in a manner worthy of the calling we have received. Our lives are to be marked by humility, gentleness, patience, and a deep eagerness to maintain unity within the body of Christ. Unity is not a side issue; it is central to our witness in the world. When we allow disunity to take root—whether through pride, personal preferences, or spiritual immaturity—we undermine the very message of reconciliation and hope that we are called to proclaim.

The story of the church split over a simple wooden peg reminds us how easily we can let trivial matters divide us, and how such divisions can damage our testimony to the world. The world is watching, and if we cannot live out the gospel in unity, how can we expect others to believe its power? Paul’s words in Ephesians 4 urge us to walk in unity, not as a suggestion, but as a mandate rooted in the very nature of God and the work of Christ. Spiritual unity is the fruit of spiritual maturity; it is the result of growing up in Christ, learning to act and react with humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another in love.

We are called to be peacemakers, not peace fakers or breakers. This means not just acting like Christians for a few hours on Sunday, but allowing the character of Christ to shape our reactions, especially when we are hurt, offended, or things don’t go our way. True maturity is seen in how we respond under pressure, and in our eagerness to maintain the bond of peace. We do this because there is only one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all. Our unity is a reflection of the unity of God himself, and it is through this unity that our witness to the world becomes powerful and effective. May we be a people who walk in unity, so that the world may see the love and power of Christ in us.

Key Takeaways

1. Spiritual unity is not optional; it is a mandate rooted in the very nature of God and the gospel. When we walk in disunity, we are not just harming relationships—we are undermining the message of reconciliation that Christ has entrusted to us. Our unity is a living testimony to the world of the power of the cross to bring together those who would otherwise be divided. [36:21]
2. Spiritual maturity is the soil in which unity grows. If we remain spiritual infants—content with surface-level faith and resistant to growth—we become more susceptible to division and conflict. Maturity means learning to act and react with humility, gentleness, and patience, reflecting the character of Christ in all circumstances. [46:41]
3. Humility is not thinking less of ourselves, but thinking of ourselves less. It is the posture of Christ, who humbled himself even to death on a cross. True humility counts others as more significant, pursues the good of others, and seeks the glory of God above personal preference or pride. [50:36]
4. The way we react when things don’t go our way reveals the true state of our hearts. Anyone can act “Christian” for a short time, but our reactions under pressure—when offended, hurt, or overlooked—expose our need for deeper transformation. Spiritual maturity is seen in patience, longsuffering, and a relentless pursuit of peace, even when it is costly. [57:05]
5. Our unity is anchored in the unchanging realities of the gospel: one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all. These are not just theological statements, but the foundation for how we live and relate to one another. When we embody this unity, our witness to the world is strong and compelling; when we neglect it, our testimony is weakened. [65:14]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[20:25] - All My Hope Is in Jesus
[22:03] - Boasting in Christ Alone
[24:15] - Missionary Update: Jennifer Feselt
[25:35] - The Heartache and Joy of Ministry
[26:54] - Addressing the Roots of Sex Trafficking
[28:07] - The Church and Confession
[31:16] - Living as Exiles: Series Recap
[31:55] - The Mandate for Unity
[33:14] - The Anti-Peg Baptist Church Story
[35:47] - The Power and Danger of Disunity
[36:57] - Ephesians 4:1-6: The Unity Mandate
[40:44] - How to Walk in Spiritual Unity
[46:06] - Practicing Christlikeness
[53:13] - Meekness: Strength Under Control
[57:05] - Maturity Revealed in Our Reactions
[63:55] - Seven Reasons for Unity
[67:10] - Responding to the Call of Unity
[69:11] - Communion: Celebrating Unity in Christ

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Ephesians 4:1-6 (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. 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.

Observation Questions

According to Ephesians 4:1-3, what specific attitudes and actions does Paul say should mark the way we “walk” as Christians?
In the sermon, what was the story of the “Anti-Peg Baptist Church” meant to illustrate about church unity? [[33:14]]
What are the “seven reasons for unity” that Paul lists in verses 4-6? How do these reasons relate to our identity as believers? [[01:03:55]]
How does Paul describe the difference between “walking in unity” and “walking with a spiritual limp”? [[39:33]]

Interpretation Questions

Why does Paul connect spiritual maturity with unity in the church? What does the sermon say happens when believers remain “spiritual infants”? [[46:41]]
The sermon says, “Humility is not thinking less of ourselves, but thinking of ourselves less.” How does this definition of humility challenge common ideas about what it means to be humble? [[50:36]]
According to the sermon, how do our reactions when we are hurt or offended reveal our true spiritual maturity? [[57:05]]
Why is unity described as a “mandate” and not just a suggestion for Christians? What is at stake if we fail to pursue unity? [[36:21]]

Application Questions

The story of the church split over a wooden peg shows how small issues can cause big divisions. Can you think of a time when a minor issue caused conflict in a church or group you were part of? How could humility and gentleness have changed the outcome? [[33:14]]
The sermon says, “Anyone can act ‘Christian’ for a short time, but our reactions under pressure—when offended, hurt, or overlooked—expose our need for deeper transformation.” Think of a recent situation where you were hurt or frustrated. How did you react? What would it look like to respond with patience and love next time? [[57:05]]
Paul urges us to be “eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” What are some practical steps you can take this week to pursue peace and unity in your relationships—at church, at home, or at work? [[42:04]]
The sermon describes spiritual maturity as “learning to act and react with humility, gentleness, and patience.” Which of these qualities do you find most challenging? What is one specific way you can practice it this week? [[46:41]]
The sermon warns against being a “peace faker” or “peace breaker.” Are there any relationships in your life where you have been pretending things are okay (faking peace) or where you have contributed to conflict (breaking peace)? What is one step you can take toward real peacemaking? [[42:04]]
Our unity is rooted in the gospel: “one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all.” How does remembering these truths help you when you feel frustrated or disconnected from other believers? [[01:05:14]]
The sermon says, “Our unity is a living testimony to the world of the power of the cross to bring together those who would otherwise be divided.” Is there someone in your life you need to reconcile with for the sake of your witness? What is one step you can take this week to move toward reconciliation? [[36:21]]

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

What is the key to walking in spiritual unity?

How does humility foster church harmony and growth?

Why is unity essential for effective gospel witness?