Unity in Purpose: Fulfilling Our Mission Together
Summary
Unity is not achieved by merely striving for it; rather, it emerges naturally when we share a common goal. This is evident in the way the Lakers have come together as a team, driven by their shared pursuit of a championship. Similarly, in the church, unity is not an end in itself but a means to a greater purpose: to make Jesus known to the world. In John 17, Jesus prays for the unity of His followers, not for unity's sake, but so that the world may believe in Him. This unity is a powerful testimony to the truth of Jesus' mission and the love of God.
The mission of the church is to bring people to faith in Jesus Christ. This mission should be the obsession of our lives, driving us to pursue unity and love for one another. When we are consumed with the desire for others to know Jesus, we naturally set aside our own needs and work together towards this common goal. This is not just about agreeing in our minds but taking tangible steps to love our neighbors and demonstrate the love of Christ.
Our lives have a purpose, and God has specific works for us to accomplish. Like Jesus and Paul, we should strive to complete the work God has given us, bringing glory to Him. This requires us to be intentional about our time on earth, seeking God's will for our lives and being open to His leading. It is an honor to be used by God, and we should approach each day with the expectation that He has something for us to do.
As believers, we are sent into the world with a mission, just as Jesus was. This mission involves loving our neighbors and living out the gospel in practical ways. It is not enough to talk about Jesus; we must show Him through our actions. This means being hospitable, serving others, and living in a way that reflects the love and sacrifice of Christ. Our marriages, relationships, and daily interactions should all point to Jesus and His love for the church.
Finally, we must be proactive in pursuing unity and love within the church and our communities. This involves overcoming barriers such as fear, selfishness, and inconvenience, and taking practical steps to love those around us. By doing so, we fulfill our mission and display the reality of Jesus to the world.
Key Takeaways:
- Unity is achieved through a shared goal, not by striving for unity itself. When our lives are centered on the mission of making Jesus known, unity naturally follows as we work together towards this common purpose. [01:07]
- The mission of the church is to bring people to faith in Jesus Christ. This should be the driving force of our lives, leading us to pursue unity and love for one another as a testimony to the world. [03:19]
- Our lives have a purpose, and God has specific works for us to accomplish. Like Jesus and Paul, we should strive to complete the work God has given us, bringing glory to Him and fulfilling our mission on earth. [13:09]
- We are sent into the world with a mission, just as Jesus was. This involves loving our neighbors and living out the gospel in practical ways, showing the love of Christ through our actions. [28:05]
- We must be proactive in pursuing unity and love within the church and our communities. This involves overcoming barriers and taking practical steps to love those around us, fulfilling our mission and displaying the reality of Jesus to the world. [45:51]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:07] - Unity Through a Common Goal
[03:19] - The Mission of the Church
[06:36] - The Power of Unity in Belief
[08:39] - Obsession with the Mission
[10:55] - Serving God as a Reward
[12:31] - The Honor of God's Calling
[13:09] - Completing the Work
[14:33] - Paul's Confidence in Departure
[16:59] - Running the Race
[18:04] - Discovering Your Purpose
[19:27] - Assuming God's Plan
[20:32] - Prayer and Reflection
[24:14] - Jesus' Prayer for Protection
[26:23] - Purification Through Truth
[28:05] - Sent with a Mission
[29:30] - Finishing the Race
[31:40] - Taking Action in Love
[33:11] - Overcoming Barriers to Love
[37:20] - Practical Acts of Love
[40:12] - Listening and Serving
[45:51] - Displaying Jesus Through Unity
[47:31] - Invitation to Baptism
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- John 17:20-23
- 2 Timothy 4:6-8
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Observation Questions:
1. In John 17:20-23, what does Jesus pray for concerning His followers, and what is the intended outcome of this prayer? [03:19]
2. How does the sermon illustrate the concept of unity using the example of the Lakers? What is the common goal that brings about their unity? [01:07]
3. According to the sermon, what is the primary mission of the church, and how does it relate to unity among believers? [06:36]
4. What does Paul express in 2 Timothy 4:6-8 about his life and mission, and how does this relate to the idea of completing the work God has given us? [14:33]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the unity of believers serve as a testimony to the world about Jesus, according to John 17:20-23? Why might this be a powerful witness? [03:19]
2. The sermon suggests that unity is not achieved by striving for it directly but through a shared goal. How does this perspective challenge or affirm your understanding of unity within the church? [01:07]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that our personal mission aligns with the mission of Jesus and Paul? How does this understanding impact our daily lives? [13:09]
4. How does the sermon describe the relationship between serving God and the honor of being used by Him? What implications does this have for how we view our daily tasks and responsibilities? [12:31]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your personal goals and priorities. How aligned are they with the mission of making Jesus known to others? What changes might you need to make to better align with this mission? [08:39]
2. Consider the barriers that prevent you from loving your neighbors or fellow church members. What practical steps can you take this week to overcome one of these barriers? [33:11]
3. Think about a specific relationship or situation where unity is lacking. What is one action you can take to promote unity in that context? [45:51]
4. Identify a specific way you can demonstrate the love of Christ through your actions this week. How can you make this a regular practice in your life? [40:12]
5. Reflect on the idea of being sent into the world with a mission, as Jesus was. What is one specific mission or task you feel God is calling you to focus on this week? [28:05]
6. How can you incorporate the practice of prayer and reflection into your daily routine to better discern God's will for your life? What might this look like practically? [20:32]
7. Consider the example of Paul in 2 Timothy 4:6-8. What steps can you take to ensure that you are running your race with perseverance and faithfulness? [16:59]
Devotional
Day 1: Unity Through Shared Purpose
Unity is not achieved by merely striving for it; rather, it emerges naturally when we share a common goal. This is evident in the way the Lakers have come together as a team, driven by their shared pursuit of a championship. Similarly, in the church, unity is not an end in itself but a means to a greater purpose: to make Jesus known to the world. In John 17, Jesus prays for the unity of His followers, not for unity's sake, but so that the world may believe in Him. This unity is a powerful testimony to the truth of Jesus' mission and the love of God. [01:07]
Ephesians 4:3-6 (ESV): "Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."
Reflection: Consider a group or community you are part of. How can you contribute to a shared goal that promotes unity and reflects the love of Christ?
Day 2: The Church's Mission
The mission of the church is to bring people to faith in Jesus Christ. This mission should be the obsession of our lives, driving us to pursue unity and love for one another. When we are consumed with the desire for others to know Jesus, we naturally set aside our own needs and work together towards this common goal. This is not just about agreeing in our minds but taking tangible steps to love our neighbors and demonstrate the love of Christ. [03:19]
2 Corinthians 5:18-20 (ESV): "All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us."
Reflection: Identify one person in your life who does not know Jesus. What is one practical step you can take this week to show them the love of Christ?
Day 3: Fulfilling God's Purpose
Our lives have a purpose, and God has specific works for us to accomplish. Like Jesus and Paul, we should strive to complete the work God has given us, bringing glory to Him. This requires us to be intentional about our time on earth, seeking God's will for our lives and being open to His leading. It is an honor to be used by God, and we should approach each day with the expectation that He has something for us to do. [13:09]
Ephesians 2:10 (ESV): "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
Reflection: Reflect on your daily routine. How can you intentionally seek God's will and be open to His leading in your everyday activities?
Day 4: Living Out the Gospel
As believers, we are sent into the world with a mission, just as Jesus was. This mission involves loving our neighbors and living out the gospel in practical ways. It is not enough to talk about Jesus; we must show Him through our actions. This means being hospitable, serving others, and living in a way that reflects the love and sacrifice of Christ. Our marriages, relationships, and daily interactions should all point to Jesus and His love for the church. [28:05]
James 2:14-17 (ESV): "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and filled,' without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."
Reflection: Think of a practical way you can serve someone in your community this week. How can this act of service reflect the love of Christ?
Day 5: Overcoming Barriers to Unity
We must be proactive in pursuing unity and love within the church and our communities. This involves overcoming barriers such as fear, selfishness, and inconvenience, and taking practical steps to love those around us. By doing so, we fulfill our mission and display the reality of Jesus to the world. [45:51]
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. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."
Reflection: Identify a barrier that is preventing you from loving someone in your community. What steps can you take to overcome this barrier and demonstrate Christ's love?
Quotes
You develop unity by having a common goal. And when you have a common goal and that goal is the obsession of your life, then unity is just going to happen naturally. [00:01:36] (10 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
Because unity just for unity's sake isn't going to work. It's about this goal. You see, and when we have a goal, when we all collectively say, you know what? This is the most important thing in my life. This goal of ours, this purpose of ours, then you know what? We'll naturally be unified because we'll need each other to accomplish this. [00:01:54] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
See, isn't that a strange truth that the world will believe that Jesus was sent from the Father if the church is united? You ever thought that? [00:03:19] (13 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
Because to me, I go, is there anything more important I have to do this week than to somehow help those people I love who don't believe in Jesus, that won't spend eternity with me? Man, is there something more important that I have to do than to somehow bring them along? [00:07:28] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
And we're frustrated because we're going, man, if I did this, this, and this, man, if I serve God, He should reward me this way on earth, rather than realizing that the reward for serving God is serving God. [00:11:13] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
God has an assignment for me? See, that's the reward. That should be the honor right there. I get to be used by God? Man, I hope that serving God isn't this burden to you, but you think, why in the world would God choose this filthy human being, and He knows the things I've done, He knows the failures of my life, He knows better than anyone in this room, anyone on this earth, He knows what I've done, and yet He's going to ask me to do something for Him? [00:12:02] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
I brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. [00:13:09] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
Do you, like Jesus, believe that this earth is not your home and you're just on a mission and you want to complete those works and then go, and go to your real home and receive that crown, whatever that's like, you know, that Paul was talking about. [00:19:27] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
So just as Jesus was sent on this mission to have this time on the earth, to have something done there on the planet, and he's saying, you know what, God, I finished it. I completed the work you gave me to do. And now, he says, now I'm sending them. I'm sending these followers of mine. [00:28:05] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
I know I'm going to receive my reward because I fought the good fight. I kept the faith. Man, you know how many times I was tempted to go another direction? And the evil one, man, he just kept sending me. Temptation after temptation, but I pulled it off. I fought the good fight. I'm done now. God, take me home. What a great moment. [00:29:30] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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