Unity, Love, and Discipleship in the Body of Christ

Summary

In today's gathering, we focused on the profound need for unity and love within the body of Christ. As we welcomed the Holy Spirit into our midst, we were reminded of the power and presence of God that transcends our understanding and expectations. The call to unity is not just a superficial gathering but a deep, spiritual alignment that reflects the heart of God for His people. We explored the idea that true discipleship goes beyond mere academic study; it involves living out the teachings of Christ in a way that transforms both the individual and the community.

Reflecting on recent experiences, we were reminded of the importance of being open to the unexpected moves of God. The Holy Spirit's work is often surprising and transformative, challenging us to step out of our comfort zones and into His plans. This season calls for a re-evaluation of how we approach discipleship, emphasizing the need for experiential learning and active participation in the work of the Kingdom.

We also discussed the critical issue of racial unity within the church. The church must lead the way in breaking down barriers and fostering an environment where love and acceptance are paramount. This involves recognizing and addressing biases, both within ourselves and within our communities, and striving for a unity that reflects the diversity of God's creation.

Moreover, we were encouraged to engage in acts of love and service, not just within our church walls but in the broader community. This includes reaching out to those who are different from us, loving them with the love of Christ, and working towards a united church that can effectively minister to a divided world.

Finally, we were reminded of the importance of generosity and the principle that God blesses those who give with a cheerful heart. Our resources, when sown into the Kingdom, yield a harvest that goes beyond material wealth, bringing spiritual abundance and growth.

Key Takeaways:

1. Unity in the Body of Christ: True unity requires more than just gathering together; it demands a spiritual alignment that reflects God's heart. This unity is essential for the church to effectively minister to a divided world. [01:20:41]

2. Experiential Discipleship: Discipleship should go beyond academic study to include living out Christ's teachings. This involves active participation in the work of the Kingdom and experiencing the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. [01:14:47]

3. Breaking Down Racial Barriers: The church must lead in addressing racial biases and fostering an environment of love and acceptance. This unity reflects the diversity of God's creation and is crucial for effective ministry. [01:22:25]

4. Generosity and Abundance: God blesses those who give with a cheerful heart. Our resources, when sown into the Kingdom, yield a harvest that brings spiritual abundance and growth. [01:57:18]

5. Love as a Transformative Force: Love, when rooted in Christ, has the power to transform lives and communities. It is more powerful than theology and is essential for effective ministry and outreach. [01:18:57]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [12:56] - Inviting the Holy Spirit
- [14:33] - Worship and Praise
- [48:11] - Prophetic Words for the Region
- [49:21] - Looking to God Alone
- [49:56] - Combining Faith for Fulfillment
- [50:48] - Personal Encounter with the Holy Spirit
- [51:44] - Experiencing God's Power
- [54:08] - Prophetic Insights for the Community
- [56:45] - Divine Appointments
- [58:36] - Call to the Alley
- [01:00:14] - Unity and Love in Action
- [01:14:47] - Rethinking Discipleship
- [01:20:41] - Praying for Church Unity
- [01:22:25] - Addressing Racial Biases
- [01:57:18] - Generosity and Blessings

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. John 17:20-23 - Jesus prays for unity among believers.
2. Acts 2:42-47 - The early church's example of unity and community.
3. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 - The principle of cheerful giving.

---

Observation Questions:

1. What does the sermon suggest is the deeper meaning of unity in the body of Christ beyond just gathering together? [01:00:14]
2. How does the sermon describe the role of the Holy Spirit in transforming our approach to discipleship? [01:14:47]
3. What examples were given in the sermon about addressing racial biases within the church? [01:22:25]
4. How does the sermon illustrate the concept of generosity and its impact on spiritual growth? [01:57:18]

---

Interpretation Questions:

1. In John 17:20-23, Jesus prays for unity among believers. How does this prayer relate to the sermon’s emphasis on unity as a reflection of God's heart? [01:20:41]
2. Acts 2:42-47 describes the early church's unity and community. How does this passage support the sermon’s call for experiential discipleship and active participation in the Kingdom? [01:14:47]
3. The sermon discusses breaking down racial barriers. How does this align with the biblical call to love and acceptance in a diverse body of believers? [01:22:25]
4. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 talks about cheerful giving. How does the sermon expand on this principle to encourage generosity as a means of spiritual abundance? [01:57:18]

---

Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own church experience. How can you contribute to fostering a deeper spiritual unity that goes beyond just attending services? [01:00:14]
2. The sermon emphasizes stepping out of comfort zones. What is one area in your life where you feel God is calling you to take a bold step in faith? [01:14:47]
3. Consider your own biases. What practical steps can you take to address and overcome them, fostering a more inclusive and loving church environment? [01:22:25]
4. How can you incorporate acts of love and service into your daily routine, both within your church and in the broader community? [01:18:57]
5. Think about your approach to giving. How can you cultivate a heart of generosity that aligns with the sermon’s message of cheerful giving and spiritual growth? [01:57:18]
6. Identify a person or group in your community who is different from you. What specific action can you take this week to reach out and show them the love of Christ? [01:18:57]
7. Reflect on the sermon’s call for a united church. What role can you play in promoting unity among different churches or denominations in your area? [01:20:41]

Devotional

Day 1: Spiritual Alignment Reflects God's Heart
True unity within the body of Christ is not merely about gathering together physically but involves a deep spiritual alignment that mirrors God's heart for His people. This unity is essential for the church to effectively minister to a divided world. It requires believers to transcend personal differences and biases, seeking a collective harmony that reflects the love and purpose of God. This spiritual alignment is a call to action, urging the church to embody the teachings of Christ in a way that is transformative both individually and communally. [01:20:41]

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: In what ways can you actively contribute to spiritual unity within your church community this week?

Day 2: Living Out Christ's Teachings
Discipleship is more than academic study; it involves living out the teachings of Christ in a way that transforms both the individual and the community. This experiential discipleship calls for active participation in the work of the Kingdom, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide and transform. It challenges believers to step out of their comfort zones and embrace the unexpected moves of God, fostering a deeper understanding and relationship with Him. [01:14:47]

James 1:22-25 (ESV): "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing."

Reflection: What is one teaching of Christ that you can actively live out today, and how will you do it?

Day 3: Embracing Diversity in Unity
The church is called to lead in breaking down racial barriers and fostering an environment of love and acceptance. This involves recognizing and addressing biases within ourselves and our communities, striving for a unity that reflects the diversity of God's creation. By embracing this diversity, the church can effectively minister to a divided world, showcasing the love and acceptance that is central to the Gospel. [01:22:25]

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: Identify a bias you hold, and consider how you can begin to address it in your interactions with others.

Day 4: Generosity as a Path to Abundance
Generosity is a principle that God blesses, especially when given with a cheerful heart. When resources are sown into the Kingdom, they yield a harvest that goes beyond material wealth, bringing spiritual abundance and growth. This principle encourages believers to view their resources as tools for Kingdom work, trusting that God will provide and multiply their efforts for His glory. [01:57:18]

2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (ESV): "The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work."

Reflection: What is one way you can practice generosity today, and how might it impact your spiritual growth?

Day 5: Love as a Transformative Force
Love, when rooted in Christ, has the power to transform lives and communities. It is more powerful than theology and is essential for effective ministry and outreach. This love calls believers to engage in acts of service and kindness, reaching out to those who are different and loving them with the love of Christ. By doing so, the church can become a beacon of hope and unity in a divided world. [01:18:57]

1 John 4:7-8 (ESV): "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love."

Reflection: Who is someone in your life that you can show Christ-like love to today, and what specific action will you take to demonstrate this love?

Quotes

1. "In the East, discipleship looks very different from the West. Right? In the West, we are so heavy on courses and things and trying to get people to study, study, study, study. And a study is not bad. Please understand when I say this. Study is not bad. I'm not saying it is bad. But what I am trying to say is that the Lord is really looking for a season where we need a disciple. A disciple differently this season. And I think that we've made discipleship all about getting through a program and getting a certificate. And feeling like I've been discipled. Right? I've been discipled." [01:14:55] (53 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "We as the body of Christ need to start praying for unity. Amongst the church. Desperately. Before the nation can come together. The body of Christ needs to come together. Secondly. We need to stop treating those who are different from us. Like they are against us. We need to start to come to this place. Where love is way more powerful than our theology. Right. The love of God. Not our self-love. See we can love out of our flesh." [01:19:28] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "I want you to fight for a united church. And I said. How do I do that? And he said. Just look around Aiken. And identify the churches that don't have any other color. Other than one particular color. And bring all of them together. Right. So. And he said. You understand it more than anybody else. That race definitely plays a role in our church. More than we want to talk about it." [01:21:00] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "I believe that racism is a demonic stronghold. That America has not spoken about. The church hasn't spoken about. And has just kept it hidden. Saying. Yeah. Maybe. We all have biases. In fact. I think as Indians. Indians have a lot of bias. In India. If you have darker skin. You are definitely looked down upon." [01:22:58] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "The Lord was really strongly speaking to me. About unity. And the love that we carry for one another. You see. If we don't have love for one another. The gospel is premature. It's too much useless. It's fake. Why are we not seeing healing and restoration and revival. And all these things in the CSRA. Because honestly. People lack love." [01:23:30] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "We don't condone their lives. we don't condone sin we don't believe in living in sin we believe that the righteousness of God has to overtake you that you can live a sinless blameless life how many of you believe that we can live sinless because Jesus did that and Jesus set that for us are we all there yet no but we have the Holy Spirit that will empower us to walk in righteousness for the rest of our lives till Jesus comes back and then once he comes back we have glorified bodies praise the Lord we have nothing to worry about but till that happens our flesh will constantly desire sin even a new nature till our flesh is also comes to that sanctification process we're we're in that in that season this this this season where we are the Lord is calling us without unity without love for one another without going out in love for one another we're not going to get anywhere there's a critical spirit in the in the body of Christ that you know sometimes we get sucked into this critical spirit and and and this critical spirit is what caused a lot of things here in glory city a couple of months ago in the beginning of the year right because we get so critical about things that you believe is right before you hear the Lord the Lord doesn't always work the way man works he never works the way man works right he does what he wants to do are selling grace this this yesterday are saying grace he's God and we're not sometimes we want certain things like we put certain conditions before God and said God I want you to do X Y & Z and if you do X Y & Z I will do ABC and God's like I saw how it works not with the Lord what he tells us is that we need to go low when we go low he takes us higher our job this season and that's why when George and was saying the anointings on the floor that's the truth the anointings not all on the floor only when Randy Clark walks on it the anointings on the floor throughout our lives because when we're on the floor we go low and Jesus can then stand upon us and do what he has to do if we come to that place in our lives we will truly see revival and reformation like we have never seen before because in this season we're not looking just see I want to see people healed I want to see people delivered but I want to first see people loved I have an issue with deliverance without love I have an issue with deliverance so that we can pick a statistics and say my church is for a church that does deliverance who cares I don't care if the person who you're doing deliverance doesn't leave from here feeling so loved feeling so accepted that they want to feel like they want to go back and run back to Jesus you have actually failed right and so in the season we have to come to that place where unless we preach love the love of Jesus we were not going to win anybody so one we need to break that spirit of racism so much in the body of Christ you know we we need to we can't judge a man based on on his color but you have to judge him on his character and his fruit that's Martin Luther King said that I was reading his his his I have a dream speech today morning and I was I was thinking about it and I said how much has America gone away from that speech people forgot about it people don't even want to talk about it people now judge judge each other based on success they judge them based on random metrics of your bank balance that's not what God wants us to to to look at people for look at their fruit this is your season of great fruit and that fruit is going to come from from from you to your family first right our family our family first um I know uh our family is going to see revival and it has to come from us loving our family like Jesus loved us one of the things that we were we we heard a lot about is that how Christians forget the cross that that we we love we love about love resurrection but we forget the cross you know we do communion every every Sunday and the Lord asked me to do communion every Sunday and asked him why are you asking me to do communion every day as I was sitting with the Lord maybe a couple weeks ago he said I'm I'm I'm making you do comment uh at the communion table every day because I want you to know that I use broken people because you know he you know he he he he was looking you know what what did Jesus do this this is something Leif preached a lot about he said Jesus you know he prayed for the bread then he broke it and then he sent it out so when you say just God is called you then he will pray over you then he will break you and then he will release you and so it that's how it works because that's where we are at this season we are at a season where if you're broken God's going to use you like you've never been used before and it doesn't matter your your history is" [01:25:15] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "The Lord was really strongly speaking to me. About unity. And the love that we carry for one another. You see. If we don't have love for one another. The gospel is premature. It's too much useless. It's fake. Why are we not seeing healing and restoration and revival. And all these things in the CSRA. Because honestly. People lack love. People just don't love one another. They want to get their way. No matter what happens. They want to get their way. Right? It's not love." [01:23:30] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "The Lord said there's more cancer in my body than there's outside and I was like yeah and so yeah but we are the solution the yes yes and that's yeah amen sign of what is to come yes yesterday what happened was a prophetic sign totally what to come totally beautiful God had to take me and Grace out into Atlanta from a distance we were both under the anointing I had to go do we do I felt like a lot of prophetic things that happened these two days when I was sitting at when I was driving back the Lord said you're not going back to anything before everything's going to be new yeah yeah just it's just a fresh new anointing and I truly believe that we're going to have a lot of combined services with different churches a lot of combined services so some will happen here some may happen in other churches don't be afraid because I don't believe in sheep scattering or sheep stealing or any of those things I just believe that God has called us to be the church and if you know you guys have been here you know we are called this season to lead you into something that has never happened before now if you ask me what that looks like it looks like many being saved and coming to the Lord we heard a testimony of a Brazilian church that went from 50 members to 7,000 members in five and a half years and 95% of them are new believers totally new converts nobody has ever been churched they do 700 baptisms every three months and it's still growing and they're not they're just people go out they get filled they get they preach they bring people in they get baptized and they don't wait around for multiple classes they're immediately set back into action" [01:41:13] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "PRAISE GOD FOR THAT it's the same building so the reason I feel like the Lord is doing this is because come Tuesday is the fifth Tuesday come Tuesday no matter who wins no matter who wins we need to start praying peace for the nation right we need to and unity for the nation send it out speak it out I don't care who wins but I want this nation to be united I know who will win I want someone to win but that doesn't cloud my judgment on what the Lord wants me to do because his his will is greater than what I want right whatever he does I'm willing to trust him because he knows better than me he knows the beginning and the end he knows everything that America needs he is God's I'm not and I need to be in that place submitted to that place everything else your own like our own political bias cannot cloud the voice of the Lord I have to be neutral in that way I mean I'm very political in general I care I care for righteousness and righteous voting but I can't let it cloud my my direction of where the Lord is taking the church and I believe that no matter you're Democrat Republican Independent don't believe in anything you all need Jesus and we all need to come together and unless we come together this nation will not be ready for the next generation" [01:45:04] (98 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "and one more thing love your liberal neighbor right don't be against it I know that they may be against you if you're not on the same same political party please don't divide people with political parties I've been really careful in telling people what I believe in and who I would vote for but being careful to say that I love the person I have to put Christ first before my political my political leanings and so in this season I want you to do that I want you to be there no matter what happens how much ever Jesus was cursed he was abused and yet he loved because he was on the cross he said forgive them for they don't know what they do you know and so if Jesus can do that we can do the same and so don't be mad you know I've repented because when I see like a certain poster of somebody else that I don't think I should vote for I say man Lord you know do something you know help them or something like that and the Lord's been convicting me and I said Lord let the love of Jesus come to every person and I pray for the Christians who don't have the love and understanding of the word of God anyway the reason for all of this the United Church is because if the church is not united America will not be united either what is happening in the church is what is happening in our nation if there's confusion in our nation it is because there's confusion in our church in the churches so let's come together let's use unite together let's bring this this season of God being about a united church united in faith for Jesus Christ and I'm telling you when we all get together there's hundreds of things that we're going to disagree about there's no problem if you have Jesus as your first love then you can disagree if if Jesus is you know post pre-trib tribulation post-tribulation what's going to happen all of that don't worry about it does he heal yes I believe that he heals he restores there are certain things that we believe in they may not believe in those things but we just have fine and grace says that you have healthy boundaries but not fences you know fences are not necessary but boundaries are good the only fence we need is at our border you know so anyway I'm just kidding alrighty guys this is that's what I wanted to say I want to know I encourage you to start praying for faith for the churches to come together that is our message for this season if we don't have the churches together if we don't have unity then we all are fighting we are fighting a losing battle right we are we are a few here we are struggling I'm not saying in a negative way but like we are trying to do something somebody else is trying to do something it's like the body is trying to run in five different ways when they should all be together five ways to do things together and the poor resources come together love one another encourage one another put things together and so God will do those things because when we do those things now we are going to see so many in Aiken see Jesus especially those who have been hidden there is a lot of people in Aiken who are hidden who are wealthy alone sad miserable sitting around trying to figure out what to do with life God wants to touch them God yeah and they are really sick and spiritually God wants to touch them there is there is a lot of trafficking that is happening here in Aiken with children that needs to break in this city and it will only break if the churches come together because a lot of churches don't communicate together" [01:48:23] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?