Unity in Christ: Our Role as Ambassadors
Summary
Today, I began by expressing my joy at being back to preach after a four-week hiatus, during which I preached elsewhere but missed the unique atmosphere of our own congregation. I introduced the sermon by framing it with a verse from 2 Corinthians chapter 5, emphasizing our role as Christ's ambassadors, through whom God makes His appeal to the world. This set the stage for a deeper exploration of how we, as a church and individuals, embody this divine responsibility.
I then delved into the narrative of God's promises starting from Abraham, highlighting the continuity of God's plan through various generations, despite apparent periods of inactivity or deviation. This historical journey through the scriptures underscored the faithfulness of God in fulfilling His promises, which culminates in the ultimate promise of salvation through Jesus Christ, a promise made to Abraham and reiterated through the prophets.
The sermon took a reflective turn as I discussed the division of the kingdom of Israel after Solomon's reign, which led to the scattering of the ten tribes. This historical division served as a metaphor for the potential divisions within the church and the broader Christian community. I emphasized the importance of unity and the dangers of division, drawing parallels between the divided kingdom of Israel and the potential for division in our own times.
I shared personal anecdotes and broader historical insights to illustrate how easily unity can be disrupted and the long-term consequences of such disruptions. The call for unity was anchored in Jesus' prayer for His followers, that they may be one as He and the Father are one. This unity is not about uniformity but about harmonious diversity, reflecting the unity within the Godhead.
As I moved towards the conclusion, I reiterated our role as ambassadors for Christ, reflecting on how our actions and the quality of our communal life together witness to the character of God. I challenged the congregation to live in such a way that people outside the faith are drawn to Christ not just by our words but more so by our actions and the quality of our communal relationships.
Key Takeaways:
1. As ambassadors for Christ, our primary role is to embody and articulate God's appeal to the world. This is not merely through evangelistic efforts but through our everyday interactions and the quality of our relationships within the church community. Our life together should be a testament to the reconciling work of Christ. [34:33]
2. The historical narrative of Israel, particularly the division of the kingdom, serves as a cautionary tale for the church today. Division often starts not from huge theological disagreements but from smaller, unresolved conflicts that fester. Maintaining unity requires humility, forgiveness, and a commitment to communal well-being over personal preferences. [42:06]
3. The promise of God to Abraham and its fulfillment through Christ is a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness. We are part of this ongoing story, called to live in a way that points back to this promise and forward to its complete fulfillment in Christ's return. This perspective helps us navigate present challenges with hope and determination. [37:25]
4. Our witness to the world is significantly shaped by how we handle internal conflicts within our church community. When we live out the gospel in our relationships, demonstrating forgiveness and love, we offer a credible witness to the reconciling power of Christ. This is essential in a world that is increasingly skeptical of organized religion. [53:29]
5. The ultimate expression of our faith is not found in the grandeur of our church buildings or the eloquence of our sermons but in the quality of our communal life. Our gatherings should reflect the character of Christ, making everyone who comes in contact with us feel the presence of God's Spirit among us. [01:04:03]
Chapters:
0:00 - Welcome
0:34:33 - Christ's Ambassadors: Our Role and Responsibility
0:37:25 - The Promise to Abraham: God's Faithfulness Across Generations
0:42:06 - Lessons from Israel's Division: The Cost of Disunity
0:53:29 - Reflecting God's Character: The Church as a Community
1:04:03 - Closing Prayer: A Reflection on Our Witness
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. 2 Corinthians 5:20 - "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God."
2. Genesis 12:1-3 - "The Lord had said to Abram, 'Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.'"
3. John 17:20-21 - "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does it mean to be an ambassador for Christ according to 2 Corinthians 5:20?
2. How does the promise made to Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3 relate to the overall narrative of God's faithfulness?
3. In John 17:20-21, what is Jesus' primary request for His followers, and why is it significant?
4. What historical event does the sermon use as a metaphor for potential divisions within the church? [42:06]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the role of being Christ's ambassadors influence our daily interactions and relationships within the church community? [34:33]
2. What lessons can we learn from the division of the kingdom of Israel that apply to maintaining unity in our church today? [42:06]
3. How does understanding God's promise to Abraham and its fulfillment through Christ help us navigate present challenges with hope and determination? [37:25]
4. Why is unity within the church so crucial for our witness to the world, according to Jesus' prayer in John 17? [48:04]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your role as an ambassador for Christ. How can you better embody this role in your everyday interactions? [34:33]
2. Think of a recent conflict or disagreement within the church. How can you apply humility, forgiveness, and a commitment to communal well-being to resolve it? [42:06]
3. How can you live in a way that points back to God's promise to Abraham and forward to its fulfillment in Christ's return? What specific actions can you take this week? [37:25]
4. Consider a time when you witnessed or experienced division within a church. What steps can you take to promote unity and prevent such divisions in the future? [42:06]
5. How can your actions and the quality of your relationships within the church community serve as a testament to the reconciling work of Christ? [53:29]
6. Identify one specific way you can contribute to the harmonious diversity within your church, reflecting the unity within the Godhead. [48:04]
7. What practical steps can you take to ensure that your church gatherings reflect the character of Christ and make everyone feel the presence of God's Spirit? [01:04:03]
Devotional
Day 1: Living as Christ's Ambassadors
As ambassadors for Christ, we are called to represent Him in every aspect of our lives. This role extends beyond the walls of the church and into our daily interactions, where the quality of our relationships can either draw people to Christ or push them away. Being an ambassador means embodying the reconciliation that Jesus offers, showing the world a different way of living that is marked by grace, peace, and love. It's about making the gospel tangible through our actions, attitudes, and how we treat others. This responsibility is profound, as it involves not just speaking about Christ but living in a way that people can see Him through us. [34:33]
2 Corinthians 5:20-21 (ESV): "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
Reflection: How can you demonstrate the reconciling work of Christ in your interactions at work or home this week?
Day 2: The Caution of Division
The historical division of Israel serves as a stark reminder of how easily unity can be disrupted within a community. This narrative is not just a tale of ancient times but a caution for the modern church, highlighting the dangers of allowing small, unresolved conflicts to fester and lead to greater division. The call for unity is crucial, requiring humility, forgiveness, and a prioritization of communal well-being over personal preferences. As members of the church, it is essential to actively work towards maintaining unity, recognizing that our collective testimony is at stake. [42:06]
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: What is one unresolved conflict you can address this week to foster unity in your community?
Day 3: Anchored in God's Faithfulness
The promise of God to Abraham and its fulfillment through Christ underscores the unwavering faithfulness of God across generations. This narrative invites us to view our current challenges through the lens of God's long-term plan, which is anchored in His promise of salvation. Understanding our place in this ongoing story helps us to live with hope and determination, looking forward to the complete fulfillment of God's promises when Christ returns. This perspective not only sustains us but also empowers us to navigate life's difficulties with a steadfast faith. [37:25]
Hebrews 6:13-15 (ESV): "For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, saying, 'Surely I will bless you and multiply you.' And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise."
Reflection: How does the promise of God's faithfulness change your view of the current challenges you face?
Day 4: Reflecting God's Character in Community
Our witness to the world is profoundly shaped by how we manage internal conflicts within our church community. Living out the gospel means demonstrating forgiveness and love, which not only heals our relationships but also serves as a credible witness to the reconciling power of Christ. This approach is essential in a world increasingly skeptical of organized religion. By reflecting God's character in our communal life, we offer a glimpse of His kingdom to those around us, inviting them to experience the transformative power of His love. [53:29]
Colossians 3:12-14 (ESV): "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive."
Reflection: Who in your church community needs your forgiveness or understanding today?
Day 5: The True Expression of Our Faith
The ultimate expression of our faith is not found in external symbols like church buildings or eloquent sermons but in the quality of our communal life. Our gatherings should be a reflection of Christ's character, where everyone feels the presence of God's Spirit among us. This environment of love, acceptance, and spiritual vitality is what truly communicates the essence of our faith to the world. It's in these authentic expressions of communal life that people are most profoundly touched and drawn to Christ. [01:04:03]
1 Peter 2:4-5 (ESV): "As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."
Reflection: How can your church community better reflect the character of Christ to those who visit?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "We speak for Christ when we plead, come back to God. So, God is making his appeal through us. He has no other avenue, no other method for communicating who he is." [34:33]
2. "You don't have to come to church to get saved. You can give your heart to Christ anywhere, at any time, at any moment when you begin to realize the need of your life." [54:50]
3. "We're to live in a unity that reflects the person of God. Can you imagine the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit getting into some kind of dispute? Certainly not. We're to reflect that unity." [55:25]
4. "People walk away and they say, I don't know. It's not a very big church. But then I'd pray that they would say that there's something about them that makes me think of Jesus." [01:04:03]
5. "I believe something good is here. Anyone else? Are we okay? Yeah. If there's somebody here and you want to come and put a hand on the shoulder, you could do that. I believe there's power in touch." [01:08:45]
### Quotes for Members
1. "Living in unity. Oh, and I thank God for the unity that pervades. It prevails in our congregation right now. We are united. Maybe not in everything, but in the big thing." [56:48]
2. "The reputation of God, the character of God, the person of God is still being presented to a pagan culture by the people who call themselves by the name of Jesus." [45:05]
3. "We are to be people come in and fellowship with us. They should see and sense and feel God here. I don't care if you ever remember anything that I've said." [01:02:24]
4. "The kingdom of God has been split in two. Divided. And the world has no real way at that time to know who God is. And we live in a country now that doesn't know who God is." [47:07]
5. "God is using these people to tell the world who he is. Not with just words. But with our actions and with our demeanor. So, God is at work." [40:03]
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