Unity in Christ: Redirecting Our Drives for Love
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored the concept of drive and motivation, recognizing that everyone is driven by something—be it love, approval, money, or fame. These drives can lead us to seek power, but they also have a shadow side, especially within the church, where they can lead to comparison and competition. We looked at a humorous video of children playing soccer to illustrate how we often chase after our own goals rather than aligning under one common vision in God's house.
We delved into the third chapter of Ephesians, where Paul addresses the unity of Jews and Gentiles in Christ. Paul’s mission was to break down the walls of division and bring everyone together in the church. He emphasized that our hunger for power should be redirected towards the Holy Spirit, which offers eternal satisfaction. Paul’s message was revolutionary, especially in a city like Ephesus, a melting pot of cultures and religions, where the worship of many gods was common.
Paul’s letter to the Ephesians was written from prison, yet he was filled with amazement at God’s grace and the mystery revealed through Christ. This mystery, once hidden, is now made known: that Gentiles are fellow heirs in Christ. Paul’s mission was not just to unite people but also to teach angels about God’s manifold wisdom. He paid a high price for this mission, including his freedom and pride, but he considered it worth it for the unity of the church.
We are reminded that unity in the church is paramount. Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:14-21 is a call for us to acknowledge God’s holiness, intercede for one another, and be filled with the fullness of God’s love. This unity is not just theoretical but practical, requiring us to pray for and support each other, regardless of our differences. The ultimate goal is to create a church that reflects the unity and love of Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit to achieve what seems impossible.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Nature of Drive and Motivation: Everyone is driven by something, whether it's love, approval, or material success. These drives can lead us to seek power, but they also have a shadow side that can cause division and competition within the church. We must align our motivations with God's vision to avoid these pitfalls. [01:27]
2. Unity in Diversity: Paul’s mission in Ephesus was to unite Jews and Gentiles in Christ, breaking down walls of division. This unity is essential for the church today, where cultural and ideological differences can still cause strife. We must strive to be one body in Christ, reflecting His love and grace. [11:53]
3. The Mystery Revealed: The mystery that Paul speaks of is that Gentiles are fellow heirs in Christ. This revelation was revolutionary and showed that God's grace extends to all people. Understanding this mystery helps us appreciate the inclusivity of God's love and the unity it brings. [14:52]
4. The Cost of Unity: Paul paid a high price for his mission, including his freedom and pride. This teaches us that true unity in the church may require sacrifices. We must be willing to lay down our own desires and prejudices for the greater good of the body of Christ. [19:54]
5. Praying for One Another: Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:14-21 is a model for us. We must acknowledge God's holiness, intercede for each other, and seek to be filled with the fullness of God's love. This kind of prayer fosters unity and helps us support one another in our spiritual journeys. [25:02]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:27] - The Nature of Drive and Motivation
[02:44] - The Soccer Game Analogy
[04:04] - Hunger for Power and Its Shadow Side
[05:51] - Prayer for True Hunger
[07:28] - Context of Ephesus
[09:03] - Cultural and Religious Melting Pot
[10:32] - Paul’s Mission in Ephesus
[11:53] - Breaking Down Walls of Division
[13:12] - The Mystery Revealed
[14:52] - Dispensation of Grace
[16:48] - New Era of Grace
[18:45] - Purpose of the Mystery
[19:54] - The Cost of Unity
[21:16] - No More Division
[23:20] - Teaching Angels About God
[23:54] - Appreciation of the Mystery
[25:02] - Acknowledging God’s Holiness
[26:20] - Call to Unity
[27:37] - Praying for One Another
[29:00] - Inviting Jesus into Every Aspect of Life
[30:22] - Knowing the Love of Christ
[32:14] - Exceedingly Abundant Unity
[34:17] - Playing Our Part in Unity
[36:06] - Praying for One Another in Unity
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Ephesians 3:1-21
#### Observation Questions
1. What are some of the different drives and motivations mentioned in the sermon that people might have? [01:27]
2. How did Paul describe the unity between Jews and Gentiles in his letter to the Ephesians? [11:53]
3. What was the "mystery" that Paul revealed to the Ephesians, and why was it significant? [14:52]
4. What sacrifices did Paul make for the sake of unity in the church, according to the sermon? [19:54]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Paul emphasized the need to redirect our hunger for power towards the Holy Spirit? How does this align with the overall message of Ephesians 3? [04:04]
2. In what ways did the cultural and religious diversity of Ephesus make Paul's mission more challenging? How did he address these challenges? [09:03]
3. How does Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:14-21 serve as a model for fostering unity within the church? What specific elements of this prayer can we incorporate into our own prayers? [25:02]
4. What does it mean to be "filled with the fullness of God’s love," and how can this fullness contribute to unity within the church? [30:22]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own drives and motivations. Are there any that might lead to comparison and competition within the church? How can you align your motivations with God's vision? [01:27]
2. Paul worked to break down walls of division between Jews and Gentiles. Are there any divisions within our church community that need to be addressed? How can you contribute to breaking down these walls? [11:53]
3. The sermon mentioned that true unity might require sacrifices. What personal sacrifices might you need to make for the sake of unity in our church? [19:54]
4. Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:14-21 includes interceding for others. Who in your life can you start interceding for, and how will you commit to doing this regularly? [25:02]
5. The sermon highlighted the importance of praying for one another, regardless of our differences. Think of someone in the church who you find difficult to get along with. How can you start praying for them this week? [27:37]
6. How can you practically show the love of Christ to someone from a different cultural or ideological background within our church? [26:20]
7. The sermon emphasized the need for unity in the church. What specific steps can you take to foster a more unified and loving community in our church? [32:14]
Devotional
Day 1: Aligning Our Motivations with God's Vision
Everyone is driven by something, whether it's love, approval, or material success. These drives can lead us to seek power, but they also have a shadow side that can cause division and competition within the church. We must align our motivations with God's vision to avoid these pitfalls. When we chase after our own goals, we often miss the bigger picture of what God is doing in our lives and in our community. By focusing on God's vision, we can find true fulfillment and avoid the traps of comparison and competition.
[01:27]
Bible Passage:
"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world." (1 John 2:15-16, ESV)
Reflection:
What drives you the most in your daily life? How can you realign this motivation to better reflect God's vision for you and your community?
Day 2: Embracing Unity in Diversity
Paul’s mission in Ephesus was to unite Jews and Gentiles in Christ, breaking down walls of division. This unity is essential for the church today, where cultural and ideological differences can still cause strife. We must strive to be one body in Christ, reflecting His love and grace. In a world that often emphasizes differences, the church is called to be a place of unity and inclusion, where everyone is welcomed and valued.
[11:53]
Bible Passage:
"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:
Think of someone in your church who is different from you in some way. How can you reach out to them this week to build a stronger sense of unity and community?
Day 3: Understanding the Mystery of God's Grace
The mystery that Paul speaks of is that Gentiles are fellow heirs in Christ. This revelation was revolutionary and showed that God's grace extends to all people. Understanding this mystery helps us appreciate the inclusivity of God's love and the unity it brings. It reminds us that no one is beyond the reach of God's grace and that we are all part of His family.
[14:52]
Bible Passage:
"This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel." (Ephesians 3:6, ESV)
Reflection:
How does understanding that you are a fellow heir in Christ change the way you view yourself and others? How can you share this inclusive love with someone who feels left out?
Day 4: The Cost of True Unity
Paul paid a high price for his mission, including his freedom and pride. This teaches us that true unity in the church may require sacrifices. We must be willing to lay down our own desires and prejudices for the greater good of the body of Christ. Unity is not always easy, but it is essential for the health and growth of the church.
[19:54]
Bible Passage:
"I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment." (1 Corinthians 1:10, ESV)
Reflection:
What personal sacrifices might you need to make to promote unity in your church? Are there any prejudices or desires you need to lay down for the greater good of the body of Christ?
Day 5: Praying for One Another in Unity
Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:14-21 is a model for us. We must acknowledge God's holiness, intercede for each other, and seek to be filled with the fullness of God's love. This kind of prayer fosters unity and helps us support one another in our spiritual journeys. When we pray for each other, we strengthen the bonds of love and unity within the church.
[25:02]
Bible Passage:
"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being." (Ephesians 3:14-16, ESV)
Reflection:
Who in your church can you pray for today? Take a moment to intercede for them, asking God to fill them with His love and strength.
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "We're all motivated by something, right? I've lost my voice from screaming so loud in worship. It's so good. But allow me to just take us down this road of drive. And the majority of us, we use that drive to help us get up in the morning, to make decisions. It fuels our actions. And for some of us, that drive, that motivator is love. We want to be loved. Some of us, it's approval. We want the approval of our parents. We want the approval of our peers." [00:00] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The thing is, drive and hunger are all good things. They're not bad things. But with much of everything that we talk about in this room, it has a shadow side, right? Especially within the church. When we walk into the church obsessed with our own thing, walk into the church with our own needs, with our own motivators. When it's not the same, when it's not congruent, what tends to happen is it begins to clash." [01:27] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "God is out here wanting to teach us spiritually the proper rules of engagement with him and living according to that one standard, living according to that one set of rules, that one common goal. And that was Paul's life message. When Paul came, he wasn't exactly, it wasn't the most ideal of circumstances. But his job on this earth was to turn us from little kids chasing a ball like that to strategy-minded, kingdom-focused adults in the kingdom of God." [03:33] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "The word of God, this thing right here, it holds the key to take back what the enemy's trying to steal from us. If we choose to live immersed in the word of God, we can live not immersed and still hunger for power. But what tends to happen is instead, we're not immersed in the word of God. We're not immersed in the word of God. We're not hungering for truth. And then released from this truth is the Holy Spirit power that we need, that never runs dry, that we can have for eternity." [04:04] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Because of Jesus, a new dispensation. A new dispensation of grace has arrived. And that very spirit of God is here on earth. And not only is he here on earth, but because of Jesus wants to commune with you and talk with you. And you have access to not just talk with him, but be a part of his family. What? I don't have to serve him like a subservient. I can actually stand face to face with God and see him for who he is. And he draw me in like a friend. What?" [16:48] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "When Paul arrives in Ephesus, he is completely and fully empowered by the Holy Spirit because no one else would tell you to go and do something like that. Where there is so much strife, so much animosity between the Jews and the Gentiles. And the Gentiles were, the Jews were the Jews and the Gentiles were everybody else, right? We learned that last week. And so he was asked by the Spirit of God to do what was absolutely impossible. And which was to break down the walls or the stubborn walls between the Jews and the Gentiles and bring them together in a thing called the church." [11:53] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Paul is saying that the purpose of this mystery, twofold, this mysterion being revealed at this, at that point in time, was because, of them. And Paul speaks of it, that he's honored, and that it was a privilege, and all the things that God has done, but also, he also tells us that there was a high price that he had to pay. He's in prison, right? He paid to share this mystery. The mystery being that there is unity in Christ for all men. Jews and Gentiles alike, God's heart, was to unite his bride and to unite all people everywhere." [19:54] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "We must also be able to acknowledge the people around us. People who we've been called into a body with. And the funny thing about it is whether we like them or not. Imagine the Jews and the Gentiles. They hated each other. They thought that these both were obnoxious. They thought both did not have truth in their lips. They thought they had the true knowledge and the other team didn't. And so whether we find people kind or obnoxious, generous or selfish, we have to learn how to labor in intercession for each other. Why? Because that is the key to unity in Christ." [25:02] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "This prayer teaches us not just to pray for one another but infuse the very best of God into one another whether we like each other or not because unity is far more important than feelings or experiential feelings. What this tells me is that we really ought to be praying for parents you should be praying for your children yes but children should be praying for adults too." [27:37] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Remember the football soccer game. It is possible for us to have one unified goal as a church. That we don't come into church wanting God to fix me and my thing. And then when I get my goal I'm done. That the church is going to be able to help me. And so the goal is unity in Christ Jesus. One and for all. The whole church. And we just get to play our part. Whether I'm a midfielder. Whether I'm a striker. Whatever it is. I just get to play my part. And that's good enough for me Lord. That's where God's taking us. Exceedingly. Abundantly. Above all we could ever ask or think." [34:17] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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