Unity in Christ: Love, Word, and Witness

 

Summary

In our time together, we explored the profound significance of unity within the body of Christ, emphasizing that our unity is not contingent upon agreeing on every theological nuance but is rooted in our shared love for Jesus and the authority of His Word. This unity is a testament to the world of the transformative power of the Gospel. We reflected on the importance of cultivating deep community, even amidst differences, as a reflection of the love Jesus commanded us to have for one another. This love is not merely a superficial agreement but a deep, sacrificial love that mirrors the relationship between the Father and the Son.

We also delved into the necessity of abiding in God's love, as Jesus instructed in John 15. This abiding is not passive but an active engagement with God's Word, allowing it to saturate our lives and transform our relationships. We are called to live in the reality of God's love, which empowers us to love others with a supernatural love that transcends human understanding. This love is the foundation of our unity and the catalyst for the spread of the Gospel.

Furthermore, we discussed the critical role of God's Word in our lives. In a world filled with countless voices and distractions, we are urged to prioritize God's Word, to meditate on it, and to let it guide our lives. This commitment to Scripture is not just for personal edification but is essential for the health and unity of the church. As we immerse ourselves in God's Word, we are equipped to stand firm in our faith and to share the hope of the Gospel with a world in desperate need of truth.

Finally, we acknowledged the challenges of living in a divided world and the cost of pursuing unity. True unity requires humility, forgiveness, and a willingness to bear with one another in love. It demands that we lay aside our pride and preferences for the sake of the Gospel and the glory of God. As we pursue this unity, we become a powerful witness to the world of the reality of Jesus and His love.

Key Takeaways:

- Unity in the body of Christ is not about uniformity in thought but about a shared commitment to Jesus and His Word. This unity, rooted in love, is a powerful testimony to the world of the Gospel's transformative power. [06:54]

- Abiding in God's love is essential for our spiritual health and unity. As we live in the reality of God's love, we are empowered to love others with a supernatural love that mirrors the relationship between the Father and the Son. [11:35]

- The Word of God must be central in our lives. In a world filled with distractions, we are called to prioritize Scripture, allowing it to guide and transform us. This commitment is vital for personal growth and the unity of the church. [40:22]

- Pursuing unity requires humility, forgiveness, and a willingness to bear with one another in love. It involves laying aside personal preferences for the sake of the Gospel and the glory of God. [20:16]

- Our unity and love for one another are directly linked to the effectiveness of our witness to the world. As we embody the love of Christ, we become a compelling testimony of the Gospel's truth and power. [12:08]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:08] - Trusting the Spirit
- [00:54] - The Birth of a Partnership
- [02:17] - Unity Amidst Differences
- [03:39] - Trust in Teaching
- [05:12] - The Cost of Unity
- [06:54] - Oneness and the Gospel
- [09:26] - Jesus' Prayer for Unity
- [11:17] - Trinitarian Oneness
- [13:50] - The Unique Call of John 17
- [17:02] - Abiding in Love
- [20:16] - Eager for Unity
- [29:41] - Experiencing Family
- [31:07] - The Importance of Theology
- [40:22] - Prioritizing God's Word
- [50:06] - Hunger for the Word
- [55:19] - Living for a Greater Dream

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. John 15:9-12
2. Ephesians 4:1-3
3. Romans 14:1-3

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Observation Questions:

1. According to John 15:9-12, what does Jesus command us to do in relation to His love? How does this relate to the concept of abiding in God's love discussed in the sermon? [17:02]

2. In Ephesians 4:1-3, what qualities are believers encouraged to exhibit to maintain unity? How does this align with the sermon’s emphasis on humility and forgiveness? [20:16]

3. Romans 14:1-3 talks about accepting those with different opinions. How does this passage support the sermon’s message about unity amidst differences? [02:33]

4. What examples from the sermon illustrate the cost of pursuing unity in the body of Christ? [06:03]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the command to "abide in my love" in John 15:9-12 challenge the way believers typically engage with God's love? What does active engagement look like in daily life? [18:22]

2. Ephesians 4:1-3 speaks of being "eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit." What practical steps can believers take to demonstrate this eagerness in their church communities? [20:16]

3. How does Romans 14:1-3 encourage believers to handle theological differences within the church? What might be the impact of this approach on church unity? [02:33]

4. The sermon mentions the transformative power of the Gospel as a testimony to the world. How does unity in the church serve as a witness to non-believers? [06:54]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your current relationships within the church. Are there any areas where you need to practice humility or forgiveness to promote unity? How can you take a step towards reconciliation this week? [20:16]

2. Consider the distractions in your life that might be hindering your ability to abide in God's love. What specific changes can you make to prioritize your relationship with God? [40:22]

3. Think of a time when you disagreed with someone in your church. How did you handle it? What could you do differently next time to ensure the disagreement does not hinder unity? [02:33]

4. Identify one way you can actively engage with God's Word this week. Is there a specific passage you want to meditate on or memorize? How will you incorporate this into your daily routine? [40:22]

5. How can you demonstrate the supernatural love of Christ in your interactions with others this week? Is there someone specific you feel called to reach out to? [18:41]

6. Reflect on the sermon’s message about the cost of unity. Are there personal preferences or pride you need to lay aside for the sake of the Gospel? How will you do this? [06:03]

7. How can your small group work together to be a compelling testimony of the Gospel’s truth and power in your community? What specific actions can you take as a group? [12:08]

Devotional

Day 1: Unity Rooted in Love
In the body of Christ, unity is not about achieving uniformity in every theological detail but is centered on a shared commitment to Jesus and His Word. This unity, deeply rooted in love, serves as a powerful testimony to the world of the Gospel's transformative power. It is a call to cultivate a community that reflects the love Jesus commanded us to have for one another, a love that is sacrificial and mirrors the relationship between the Father and the Son. This unity is a testament to the world, showcasing the reality of Jesus and His love. [06:54]

Ephesians 4:2-3 (ESV): "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: Who in your church community can you reach out to today to strengthen your bond of unity and love?


Day 2: Abiding in God's Love
Abiding in God's love is essential for our spiritual health and unity. This abiding is not a passive state but an active engagement with God's Word, allowing it to saturate our lives and transform our relationships. As we live in the reality of God's love, we are empowered to love others with a supernatural love that transcends human understanding, mirroring the relationship between the Father and the Son. This love is the foundation of our unity and the catalyst for the spread of the Gospel. [11:35]

1 John 4:16 (ESV): "So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him."

Reflection: How can you actively engage with God's Word today to deepen your experience of His love?


Day 3: The Centrality of God's Word
In a world filled with countless voices and distractions, the Word of God must be central in our lives. We are called to prioritize Scripture, allowing it to guide and transform us. This commitment to God's Word is not just for personal edification but is essential for the health and unity of the church. As we immerse ourselves in Scripture, we are equipped to stand firm in our faith and to share the hope of the Gospel with a world in desperate need of truth. [40:22]

Colossians 3:16 (ESV): "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God."

Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to prioritize God's Word in your daily routine?


Day 4: The Cost of Unity
Pursuing unity requires humility, forgiveness, and a willingness to bear with one another in love. It involves laying aside personal preferences for the sake of the Gospel and the glory of God. True unity demands that we lay aside our pride and preferences, embracing the cost of pursuing unity. As we do so, we become a powerful witness to the world of the reality of Jesus and His love. [20:16]

Philippians 2:3-4 (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."

Reflection: What personal preference or pride can you lay aside today to promote unity in your community?


Day 5: Unity as a Witness
Our unity and love for one another are directly linked to the effectiveness of our witness to the world. As we embody the love of Christ, we become a compelling testimony of the Gospel's truth and power. This unity, rooted in love, is not merely for our benefit but serves as a testament to the world of the transformative power of the Gospel. It is a call to live in a way that reflects the reality of Jesus and His love. [12:08]

John 13:34-35 (ESV): "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."

Reflection: How can your actions today serve as a testimony of Christ's love to those around you?

Quotes


"Unity is not oh you know I had a thousand friends and now I became friends with David Platt so I have a thousand and one. No, I'll have like 800 one because I'll probably lose like 200 of the friends I used to have. That's the world we live in, and you have to decide am I going to take the scriptures literally, am I going to tremble at his word where he says because the spirit of God is in David Platt, then Christ wants me to love him in the same way that Christ loved the church." [00:06:02]

"This is something that is so heavy on Francis's heart, my heart. Our lack of unity in the body of Christ is hindering our ability to spread the gospel of Christ to the world. There's a direct relationship between unity and the body and the spread of the Gospel. And so if we just talk about the spread of the Gospel in the world and we bypass the need for Unity like a unified what was happening last night seeking after God together is throne together clinging to the gospel, holding tightly to that which is primary, loosely to things that are secondary or tertiary." [00:11:50]

"As the father has loved me, so have I loved you. Would you just let that soak in for a minute, especially anybody today who feels unworthy, who feels dirty, who feels guilty, who feels shame. As the father loves the son, the son loves you. Just picture how much does the father love the son. Infinite love, otherworldly, supernatural, indescribable. That just feel this where you're sitting right now this is how much the son loves you, he loves you so much." [00:17:21]

"God has is telling us right now in his word live today in my love for you just live in it, and then now to make sense if Francis is living in the love of God for him that he's overwhelmed by the throne of grace and mercy that he's received from God and I'm doing the same, then we're now free to love each other with an other worldly love, with a supernatural love that the father has for the son that the Son shows to us we now share with each other this is so awesome to be a part of the body of Christ there is no other community like it in the world." [00:18:32]

"Lean fully into this unique otherworldly community, and don't settle for anything less than the fullness of God's love experienced in that kind of community, which involves humility, our willingness to bear with each other, that involves a willingness to forgive each other, to encourage and build each other up and lock arms together to show the world how much love God has shown to us and to invite them to be a part of it." [00:19:23]

"To live in a way that's worthy of our calling is to be eager to maintain the unity of the spirit and the bond of peace. We've got to be eager for this, okay, we've got to be eager to be one. Our faith, okay, being a Believer is our faith is a faith of attachment, okay, that's what Ephesians 4 talks about how it was built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets with Christ being the Cornerstone." [00:20:09]

"Scrolling through this thing, it's just being led astray, it's all kinds of councils, it's just endless messages, and we're addicted to it. Let's just confess that before God is one of the first things in these last few weeks in our church family are just confessing addiction. This one person said I'm just addicted to my phone, it just my impulse is to turn it on and look, my impulse is not to seek the face of God." [00:38:19]

"How much are you filling your mind with this word compared to how much you're filling your mind with this world? Just ask the question, you don't just this is a quantitative measurement, like look at your life, look at the fruit of your life. How many, well I just, I'm guessing that for most people in this room, it's filling our mind with hours from the world and maybe minutes from the word." [00:39:29]

"Let's meditate on his word, memorize his word, fill his, your mind with his word that's the word we're commanded all of all over scripture not just to read it they meditate on it day and night, soak it in. There are, there's Muslims who have just begun Ramadan, and many of them in the world by the time they are college age have memorized the whole Quran. They've memorized the whole thing." [00:40:43]

"Why are they that committed to the words of a false god, and we are not far more committed to the words of the one and only true God? So what does this need to look like in your life like God's speaking right now to your heart open wide your mouth like what do you need to start memorizing, like get together with some others be like let's start memorizing a chapter a book of the Bible together." [00:41:16]

"Reading it silently is about half that time, so it took me about 40 hours total so I did in a couple weeks and I share that because I hope you will do it because it is such a different experience than what I've been doing for the last 40 years. I've been reading the Bible every year for the last I don't know 10 12 years or so where I read through the Bible in a year, which is great but there's something about just reading it in continuity that I never saw before." [00:44:58]

"Let's not settle for anything less than that, the fullness of God's word, God's spirit in our lives, the fullness of love in the church as we lock arms together to take the word of God to the world. What else would we spend our lives for, like leave behind every other dream including a comfortable Christian spent on the American dream. Leave it behind you're created for a greater dream, live that dream let's do that together." [00:55:19]

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Transcript
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