Unity in Diversity: Embracing God's Purpose Together

Devotional

Day 1: Unity Is Good, But Its Purpose Matters

True unity is a beautiful and powerful thing, but it is not an end in itself; it must be directed toward a purpose that aligns with God’s will. When people come together, it is important to ask, “United for what?”—for unity without a God-given direction can become empty or even misguided. The story of the church gathering with other congregations, and the experience of being united in worship, reminds us that unity feels good, but it is only truly meaningful when it serves God’s greater plan and not just our own comfort or ambition. [45:52]

Psalm 133:1 (ESV)
Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!

Reflection: When you think about the groups you are part of—at church, at work, or in your family—what is the purpose that unites you? Is it aligned with God’s vision, or is it simply for comfort or tradition?

Day 2: The Tower of Babel—Unity Against God’s Plan

The people of Babel were united, but their unity was used to resist God’s command to “fill the earth.” Instead of spreading out as God intended, they sought to make a name for themselves and avoid being scattered, showing that unity can be misused when it is set against God’s purposes. God’s intervention at Babel was not just a punishment, but a redirection—reminding us that true unity must always be in service to God’s calling, not in defiance of it. [53:14]

Genesis 11:1, 4 (ESV)
Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. … Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.”

Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you are resisting God’s direction because it feels safer or more comfortable to stay united with others in the status quo?

Day 3: Diversity Is a Blessing, Not a Curse

God’s scattering of the people at Babel and the resulting diversity of languages and cultures is not a curse, but a blessing—a way for humanity to progress and reflect the fullness of God’s creativity. Engaging with diversity can be challenging, but it is God’s preferred way for us to grow, learn, and accomplish even the most difficult tasks, like making disciples of all nations. Rather than seeking uniformity, we are called to embrace and celebrate the differences God has given us. [54:39]

Genesis 9:1 (ESV)
And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.”

Reflection: How can you intentionally seek out and appreciate the differences in those around you today, seeing them as a gift from God rather than an obstacle?

Day 4: Oneness in Christ Does Not Mean Sameness

In Christ, there is no longer Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female; all are one in Jesus. This oneness is not about erasing our differences, but about belonging together in Christ despite them. The early church struggled with the temptation to enforce uniformity, but Paul’s letter to the Galatians reminds us that our unity is rooted in Christ’s work, not in cultural or religious conformity. We are called to resist the urge to make others just like us and instead honor the unity that comes from our shared faith. [56:43]

Galatians 3:28 (ESV)
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Reflection: Is there someone in your church or community who follows Jesus differently than you do? How can you affirm their belonging in Christ without expecting them to become just like you?

Day 5: Bring Your Unique Self to Strengthen the Body

Each person’s unique gifts, background, and perspective are needed to build up the church and bless the wider community. The church is strongest when everyone brings what is unique to them, rather than trying to fit into a single mold. You are invited to consider how your own talents, story, and presence can contribute to the life and witness of the church, trusting that God has made you just as you are for a reason. [01:06:45]

Romans 12:4-6a (ESV)
For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them.

Reflection: What is one unique gift, perspective, or experience you can offer to your church community this week to help strengthen and bless others?

Sermon Summary

Unity is a beautiful and powerful thing, but it is never meant to be an end in itself. Throughout Scripture, unity is celebrated, yet always with a purpose that aligns with God’s vision for humanity. Psalm 133 reminds us how good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity, and we have all felt the joy of being united in worship and fellowship. However, it is important to ask: united for what? Unity without direction or purpose can become stagnant, or even dangerous, as seen in the story of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11. The people of Babel were united, but their unity was aimed at making a name for themselves and resisting God’s command to fill the earth. Their unity became a way to avoid God’s calling, and so God intervened, scattering them and introducing diversity through language.

This scattering was not a punishment, but a blessing. Diversity—of language, culture, and experience—is God’s gift to humanity. It is through diversity that we grow, learn, and more fully reflect the image of our Creator. Yet, embracing diversity is not always easy. It can be tempting to believe that uniformity would make things simpler, especially when facing the daunting task of sharing the gospel with all nations. But the way of Jesus is not about making everyone the same; it is about being one in Christ while celebrating our differences.

The early church struggled with this very issue. Paul’s letter to the Galatians addresses the temptation to enforce sameness, reminding the church that in Christ there is no longer Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female. This unity in Christ does not erase our differences, but rather transcends them, making space for all to belong. Sadly, the church has not always lived up to this calling. The history of Christian mission in North America, for example, is marked by attempts to erase indigenous cultures in the name of the gospel. It took courageous voices, like Alberta Billy, to call the church to repentance and to recognize that confusing Western culture with the gospel was a grave mistake.

True unity in Christ is not about conformity, but about belonging. Each person’s unique gifts, background, and story are needed to strengthen the body of Christ. As we move forward, let us bless one another with our differences, working together toward God’s vision of beauty, justice, and mutual love. May we continue to be a living witness to the world, united in Christ and enriched by our diversity.

Key Takeaways

1. Unity is only meaningful when it serves God’s purpose. The people of Babel were united, but their unity was directed toward self-glorification and resisting God’s command to fill the earth. True unity seeks God’s vision and is always open to being led beyond comfort and sameness. [45:52]
2. Diversity is not a curse, but a divine blessing. The scattering at Babel introduced linguistic and cultural diversity, which is God’s preferred way of moving humanity forward. Embracing diversity challenges us, but it also opens us to the fullness of God’s creativity and love. [53:55]
3. The gospel calls us to unity in Christ, not uniformity. Paul’s words to the Galatians remind us that our oneness in Christ transcends all human divisions, but does not erase our differences. The church is strongest when it welcomes and values the unique contributions of every member. [56:43]
4. The history of the church warns against confusing culture with the gospel. Attempts to force others into conformity—whether through colonialism or rigid religious practices—distort the image of God in us and impoverish the church. Repentance and humility are necessary steps toward healing and true unity. [62:44]
5. Each person’s uniqueness is essential to the body of Christ. God calls us to bring our talents, stories, and perspectives to strengthen the community. The church flourishes when everyone is empowered to contribute as they are, reflecting the rich diversity of God’s kingdom. [66:45]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[43:13] - Gathering and Introduction
[43:53] - The Beauty of Unity in Scripture
[44:35] - Experiencing Unity in Worship
[45:52] - United for What Purpose?
[46:40] - A Story of Unity and Getting Stuck
[49:19] - The Tower of Babel: Unity Misapplied
[49:54] - Babel’s Motivation and God’s Command
[53:14] - God’s Intervention: Diversity as Blessing
[53:55] - Embracing Diversity in God’s Plan
[56:05] - Unity in the Early Church
[56:43] - Paul’s Vision: One in Christ
[58:41] - The Struggle for Uniformity in the Church
[60:43] - Lessons from Church History and Colonization
[62:44] - Repentance and the Power of Apology
[64:06] - Belonging in Christ, Not Conformity
[66:45] - Your Unique Role in the Body of Christ

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Psalm 133 — “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!”

- Genesis 11:1-9
(The story of the Tower of Babel and the scattering of people through different languages.)

- Galatians 3:26-28
“There is no longer Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Observation Questions

In Psalm 133, what words are used to describe unity among God’s people? What images or feelings does this bring to mind?
According to Genesis 11, what was the motivation behind the people building the tower at Babel? What did they hope to achieve? ([50:40])
In Galatians 3:28, what kinds of differences does Paul mention, and what does he say about them in Christ? ([56:43])
The sermon mentioned that God’s scattering at Babel was not a punishment but a blessing. What evidence from the Genesis story or the sermon supports this idea? ([53:55])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think unity is described as “good and pleasant” in Psalm 133? What might be the deeper purpose behind unity in God’s people?
The people at Babel were united, but their unity was aimed at making a name for themselves and resisting God’s command. What does this teach us about the importance of purpose in unity? ([50:40])
Paul says in Galatians that we are “one in Christ Jesus,” but the sermon points out that this doesn’t mean we all become the same. How does unity in Christ differ from uniformity? ([56:43])
The sermon shared about the church’s history of confusing culture with the gospel, especially in the treatment of Indigenous peoples. What are the dangers of trying to make everyone the same in the name of faith? ([01:02:44])

Application Questions

Think about a time when you experienced unity in a group or church. Was that unity focused on God’s purpose, or was it just about being together? How did it feel, and what was the result? ([45:52])
The people of Babel wanted to avoid being scattered and tried to stick together for their own reasons. Are there ways you might be resisting God’s call to step out of your comfort zone or embrace diversity? ([50:40])
The sermon says diversity is a blessing, not a curse. What is one way you can celebrate or learn from someone in your church or community who is different from you? ([53:55])
Paul’s words in Galatians challenge us to welcome all kinds of people. Is there a group or type of person you find it hard to include or value? What might help you see them as part of the body of Christ? ([56:43])
The church’s history includes times when it tried to force others to conform. Are there ways, even small ones, that you might be expecting others to fit your preferences or traditions in church? How can you practice humility and repentance? ([01:02:44])
The sermon ended by inviting everyone to bring their unique gifts and stories to strengthen the church. What is something unique about you—your background, skills, or experiences—that you can offer to your church family? ([01:06:45])
How can you encourage someone else in your church to use their unique gifts, especially if they feel different or left out? ([01:06:45])

Sermon Clips

It is good to be united isn't it friends. The Bible says so in a lot of different places and I'm going to be talking about a lot of different places in the Bible including some in some detail that you might want to follow along with so if you can find a Bible close to you in your seat or if you can find a Bible app on your smartphone it might be good to follow along my my favorite Bible app is biblegateway.com by the way but some of the places where we we hear more about unity is Psalm 133. [00:43:21]

Unity feels good, but unity for unity's sake is rather empty. You know when we hear a call for unity we should immediately ask, united for what and where is this unity going to go, because I find that to be united well we we need some kind of leadership for our unity. [00:45:52]

While we had done a good job uniting the faith leaders we hadn't taken into consideration just how many other united groups there were and so we only marched a half a block and then we got stuck behind thousands of other people. [00:48:36]

United people do get stuck especially in the throughout church history sometimes on purpose and I think that's part of what was going on in this story of the uber ancient city of Babel so if you've got your got your Bibles now is a good time to flip back there so that you can follow along with me so we are reading from uh there in uh Genesis uh Genesis chapter 11 there and the Bible says that all the people of the world were united united with one language. [00:49:25]

Those people decide to use their unity to build a city a grand city with a big tower in the middle of of it and and that sounds that sounds pretty good there right but again we should ask that question well united for what where is this going what is the purpose of building a a city with a grand tower in the middle of it. [00:50:11]

If you look at the beginning of chapter nine you'll see that this is actually the very ending of the story of Noah and the ark by chapter nine the great flood had subsided and Noah and his family and their grand menagerie had left the boat and God is offering Noah and his family and their descendants a blessing. [00:51:34]

God commands Noah and his family and their descendants quote to be fruitful and multiply and let me pause again for dramatic effect, fill the earth quote unquote god wanted humanity to spread around the world to be scattered across the face of the earth, which of course is exactly the thing that the builders of Babel did not want to do. [00:52:33]

See here's my interpretation siblings in Christ I believe that linguistic and cultural diversity is a blessing it is God's blessing and not a curse, so therefore blessed is diversity but let's face it engaging diversity can often be hard. [00:54:22]

Wouldn't it be better if everyone already spoke the same language so that they could more efficiently uh accomplish some kind of project you know uh and especially if the project is really big and complex maybe even seemingly impossible like trying to make disciples of Jesus Christ of all nations wouldn't it be easier to get everyone to speak the same language first and then you could share the gospel with them much more easier. [00:54:52]

I've heard some people use that verse to try to enforce uniformity in the church we're all run in Jesus, therefore we should all be the same in everything basically, now Paul of course did write those words but beware of a Bible verse taken out of context. [00:56:50]

There were people who were trying to force other people to be the same when they weren't already see the one of the big divisions in the first generation of the church was between people who had been who had grown up Jewish because Jesus and all of his first disciples were Jewish and people who had you know received the good news of Jesus but weren't Jewish already. [00:58:03]

Paul says "You foolst Galatians don't you know that you are already one in Jesus because you have been baptized into Jesus because Jesus has already paid the price for all of sin and you have claimed Jesus through your faith you're already one in Jesus, why are you working so hard why are you oppressing your neighbors when they are already one in Jesus with you." [00:59:14]

Very often Christians have tried to enforce a specific way of doing things on other people who follow Jesus a little bit differently you know medieval Europe is full of those kinds of stories you got stuff like the the Spanish Inquisition and and and things like that and we also have the unfortunate stories of what happened when Christian missionaries came to this land that we now call North America. [01:00:02]

It took us a long time in the United Church of Canada to realize that that was not actually the way of Jesus and it took a a figure to uh kind of like St paul who said "You foolish Galatians to come and call out the church and demand an apology." Back in the 1980s an indigenous elder uh from what's what's uh called uh you know British Columbia, her name is Alberta Billy went to a meeting of the General Council of the United Church of Canada and demanded an apology for the way that the United Church of Canada had treated indigenous people for for decades and even centuries before that and the spirit was certainly on the move. [01:01:29]

The leaders of the church back in the 1980s responded to that demand for an apology with an honest to God apology and uh let me read this to you this this apology this first apology to indigenous people this comes from 1986 leaders of the United Church said "We confused Western ways and culture with the depth and breadth and length and height of the gospel of Christ we imposed our civilization as a condition of accepting the gospel we tried to make you be like us and in so doing we helped to destroy the vision that made you what you were as a result you and we are poorer and the image of the creator in us is twisted blurred and we are not what we are meant by God to be quote unquote." [01:02:28]

Each one of us belongs to Jesus because of what Jesus has done for us, not because of what languages we speak or songs we sing or even necessarily the prayers that we pray jesus has already made us one so let's act like it let's bless each other with our differences and continue on a path toward God's preferred future a future of beauty justice and mutual love. [01:04:11]

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