Unity in Diversity: Our Call as Citizens of Heaven

 

Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound call to unity amidst a world that is increasingly divided, particularly along political and ideological lines. As followers of Jesus, we are reminded that our primary allegiance is not to political parties or ideologies but to the Lamb of God. Our identity as citizens of heaven should guide our actions and interactions, especially as we approach times of political tension and division. We are called to be a prophetic witness to the world, demonstrating that Jesus is King and that His kingdom is our ultimate pursuit.

We delved into Ephesians 4, where Paul urges the church to live a life worthy of the calling we have received, emphasizing humility, gentleness, patience, and love. This passage calls us to make every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Unity, as we discussed, is not about uniformity but about celebrating our diversity as a mosaic that reflects the image of God. Each of us, with our unique backgrounds and perspectives, contributes to the beautiful tapestry of God's family.

In practical terms, we are encouraged to choose right relationships over being right, to honor others over hostility, and to speak the truth in love rather than simply loving to speak the truth. These principles challenge us to listen and learn from one another, to honor the intrinsic value of every person as an image bearer of God, and to commit to love as the guiding principle of our interactions.

As we navigate these polarized times, let us be marked by the Spirit of unity, demonstrating to the world that unity is possible through the reconciling work of Christ. By doing so, we become a masterpiece of grace, a sign and wonder to a world in desperate need of hope and healing.

Key Takeaways:

1. Citizens of Heaven: Our primary identity is as citizens of heaven, and our allegiance is to Jesus, not political ideologies. This perspective should guide our actions and interactions, especially in politically charged times. [03:49]

2. Unity as a Mosaic: Unity is not about uniformity but about celebrating diversity. Like a mosaic, each of us contributes uniquely to the body of Christ, reflecting the image of God in our diversity. [10:09]

3. Right Relationships Over Being Right: We are called to prioritize right relationships over being right. This involves listening to understand, rather than to reply, and valuing relationships over winning arguments. [21:54]

4. Honor Over Hostility: Every person is an image bearer of God and deserves honor and respect. Our call is to choose honor over hostility, recognizing the intrinsic worth of every individual. [29:31]

5. Speak the Truth in Love: We must speak the truth in love, not just love to speak the truth. Our words should be seasoned with love, reflecting the character of Christ and building up the body of Christ. [39:31]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [03:49] - Citizens of Heaven
- [08:28] - The Mosaic of Unity
- [10:09] - Unity vs. Uniformity
- [12:42] - The Mystery of the Gospel
- [14:26] - The Call to Unity
- [16:35] - Main Idea: Keep the Spirit of Unity
- [18:45] - Right Relationships Over Being Right
- [21:54] - Listening to Understand
- [27:16] - Honor Over Hostility
- [29:31] - Image Bearers of God
- [33:19] - Learning as Honor
- [39:31] - Speak the Truth in Love
- [45:17] - The Fruit of the Spirit
- [50:27] - Responding to the Call for Unity

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Unity in a Divided World

Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 4:1-6

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Observation Questions:

1. What specific qualities does Paul urge believers to embody in Ephesians 4:1-6, and how do these qualities contribute to unity? [08:28]

2. According to the sermon, how is unity different from uniformity, and what metaphor is used to describe this concept? [10:09]

3. What does the sermon suggest is the primary identity of believers, and how should this identity influence their actions and interactions? [03:49]

4. How does the sermon describe the role of Jesus' sacrifice in achieving unity among believers? [12:42]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How might the qualities of humility, gentleness, patience, and love, as mentioned in Ephesians 4:2, practically manifest in a believer's life? [08:28]

2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that political and ideological divisions can impact the church, and how should believers respond to these challenges? [16:35]

3. How does the concept of being "citizens of heaven" challenge the way believers engage with political and social issues? [03:49]

4. What does it mean to "speak the truth in love," and how can this principle be applied in difficult conversations within the church? [39:31]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a recent interaction where you prioritized being right over maintaining a relationship. How could you have approached the situation differently to foster unity? [21:54]

2. Identify a person in your life with whom you have a political or ideological disagreement. What steps can you take to honor them as an image bearer of God, despite your differences? [29:31]

3. Consider the media you consume. Are there any sources that cause you to love God and your neighbor less? How might you adjust your media consumption to align with your identity as a citizen of heaven? [03:49]

4. Think of a time when you were quick to speak rather than listen. How can you practice listening with the intent to understand in your next conversation? [22:44]

5. Choose one aspect of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) to focus on this week. What specific action can you take to cultivate it in your interactions with others? [45:17]

6. Reflect on a relationship in your life that has been strained by differences. What practical steps can you take to rebuild that relationship through love and understanding? [33:19]

7. How can you commit to speaking the truth in love in your daily interactions, especially when faced with challenging topics? What might this look like in practice? [39:31]

Devotional

I'm ready to provide the 5-day devotional based on the steps outlined. Here it is:

Day 1: Our Allegiance to the Kingdom of Heaven
As citizens of heaven, our primary allegiance is to Jesus Christ, not to political ideologies or parties. This perspective should guide our actions and interactions, especially in politically charged times. Our identity in Christ transcends earthly affiliations, calling us to live in a way that reflects His kingdom values. This means prioritizing love, peace, and unity over division and discord. By focusing on our heavenly citizenship, we can navigate political tensions with grace and wisdom, demonstrating to the world that our hope and trust are in the eternal kingdom of God. [03:49]

"But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself." (Philippians 3:20-21, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you prioritize your identity as a citizen of heaven over your political or ideological affiliations today?


Day 2: Celebrating Diversity in Unity
Unity in the body of Christ is not about uniformity but about celebrating our diversity. Like a mosaic, each of us contributes uniquely to the body of Christ, reflecting the image of God in our diversity. This diversity is a strength, not a weakness, as it allows us to see the fullness of God's creativity and love. By embracing our differences, we can create a community that honors each person's unique gifts and perspectives, ultimately reflecting the beauty of God's kingdom. [10:09]

"For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 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 12:12-13, ESV)

Reflection: How can you celebrate and honor the diversity of those around you in your community or church today?


Day 3: Prioritizing Relationships Over Being Right
We are called to prioritize right relationships over being right. This involves listening to understand, rather than to reply, and valuing relationships over winning arguments. In a world that often values being right over being kind, this principle challenges us to put love and understanding first. By choosing to listen and learn from others, we can build stronger, more meaningful relationships that reflect the love of Christ. [21:54]

"Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God." (James 1:19-20, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a recent disagreement you had. How can you prioritize the relationship over being right in future interactions?


Day 4: Choosing Honor Over Hostility
Every person is an image bearer of God and deserves honor and respect. Our call is to choose honor over hostility, recognizing the intrinsic worth of every individual. This means treating others with kindness and respect, even when we disagree with them. By choosing honor, we reflect the love and grace of God, creating a culture of respect and dignity in our interactions. [29:31]

"Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor." (1 Peter 2:17, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life do you find difficult to honor? How can you begin to see them as an image bearer of God and treat them with respect today?


Day 5: Speaking the Truth in Love
We must speak the truth in love, not just love to speak the truth. Our words should be seasoned with love, reflecting the character of Christ and building up the body of Christ. This means being mindful of how we communicate, ensuring that our words are edifying and encouraging. By speaking the truth in love, we can foster an environment of trust and growth, where people feel valued and understood. [39:31]

"Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person." (Colossians 4:6, ESV)

Reflection: How can you ensure that your words today are both truthful and loving, building others up rather than tearing them down?

Quotes

We are committed to being people who seek God's kingdom and promote God as king more than any other kingdom, more than any other king in the world. And especially as we draw near to the election, we want to anchor ourselves as people who are the citizens of the kingdom of God. And we want to reveal heaven on earth as we engage in our culture and engage in our context so that we can give a prophetic witness that says Jesus is king. Amen? [00:02:43]

We want to be focused and giving our attention and our hope and allowing God and his word and his presence to guide us and direct us in these times. And so one of the things that we're calling our community to consider fasting in this time is any polarizing news outlets or social media, we'd encourage you to consider fasting that over the span of the next 40 days. And please hear me out on this. I'm not saying don't watch the news or don't participate in social media. What I am saying is if those things cause you to love God and love your neighbor less, then give them up. [00:04:19]

And that God's Word displayed in these pages, it's not just something that we read from a book. It calls us to action. And that's why we stand to our feet each week. So Ephesians chapter 4 verses 1 through 6 is what we're going to be reading this morning. The Word of the Lord says this, As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle. Be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called. One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. [00:06:37]

And what Jesus actually did was he not only made a way for this, but he prayed in John 17 that the disciples, the followers of the Lamb would be one as the Father and the Son and the Spirit are one. And then he laid down his life for this to be their reality. And the New Testament writers, the early church, thought this was so important that nearly every New Testament document, every New Testament letter contains a call for the church to pursue and celebrate and preserve unity that is found in Christ Jesus. And this call continues today, beloved. It continues today. [00:10:49]

And in this reconciling work, he even launches into this place where he says, God has not only made you united with him in right relationship, but he made you united with the people where there were dividing barriers. He said, the barriers that you built up, Jesus' blood has broken down. And these people were divided ethnically and politically and religiously and socially. And God was able to enter into the space where there was division and create reconciling unity, beloved. [00:12:30]

The simple truth is that just as Paul called the early church to make every effort to keep the spirit of unity, we are called to do the same in our context. And the truth is that our context breeds us to be always right. We are fixate on it. We are addicted to being right. For some of the couples in the room, that's the sexiest thing your spouse can say to you. You were right. We're addicted to it. [00:20:44]

And in our world right now, what that looks like is when we have disagreements, we just say we're done in our relationship. But what we chose to do, painfully, time and time again, was meet together and say, I'm not here to debate over what we disagree on. I'm here to preserve our relationship, because that's more important. Did we walk out seeing eye to eye on every topic? Absolutely not. But did we walk out seeing eye to eye on this? I love them, and they love me? Absolutely. [00:24:09]

This word, honor, in the original language really holds this meaning that's associated with cost or with value. It's kind of where we get the root of some phrases, such as paying respects, right? And ultimately, when we practice honor towards one another, we are treating one another based off of the value that the other person holds. Now, I'm going to ground this in this. And the truth of what Jesus has done, is everybody ready? The truth about me and you and about every single person on the face of the earth is this. We all hold the price of God's Son on our lives as our value. [00:26:46]

And I said, I'm not certain. You know what? I'm not certain what you're referring to. Would you like to meet up and talk? And they said, this is what you said on Sunday. And they quoted that passage, not knowing it was a passage of scripture, and said, I am leaving the church. Just in case you're wondering, to clear the air, I'm not a socialist. And I'm not here to talk about economic viewpoints. I bring this up to say, more than anything, I grieve the fact that relationship was broken, because a sound bite was taken out of context. [00:31:30]

And maybe you read that with me, that there are different gifts, by the way. It's not all the same gift. There's different gifts that reveal a unity and a maturity and a building up together. Because in our diversity, in our distinction, there is a beautiful unity that is found in our movement together and from the same empowerment from the same spirit who raised Jesus from the dead. Amen? [00:38:07]

And I believe these things are a part of me. They're a part of what makes up the thing that I'm called to and why I do the thing that I do. But can I tell you this? Without doing these things in love, I am just another voice. Without doing these things in love, I'm a loud, passionate person. Without love, I'm just confused for an activist when in actuality, I am called to be a kingdom catalyst, beloved. [00:43:31]

And we are seeing divisions. And we're seeing the damage of misplaced value systems. We are seeing the impact of what it looks like to place our value systems in only wanting to be right about a topic or only having people in my circle that agree with me. We're seeing what happens when we don't see the worth and dignity of all people. And we're seeing what happens when we, when we elevate loving to speak the truth rather than speaking the truth in a loving posture. [00:47:36]

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Transcript
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