11/20 SERMON: THE CHALLENGE OF UNITY

Happy Thanksgiving week my friends. I thought Sunday's message on unity was great. I hope you know that you are a valuable puzzle piece and we would not be the community that we could/should be without you. Here are some questions to help your group go deeper into Sunday's message.

The Challenge Of Unity

 

John 17:23 – May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.

Acts 4:32 – All the believers were united in heart and mind.

Romans 15:5 – May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 4:3 – Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit. 

• Over and over in the New Testament we see the importance of being a community that is marked by love and unity. One of the key reasons for this is that it shows the watching world what it means to relate with others the way that God designed for us to. 
• How are you doing in building unity in our church community?
• How do you think we are doing at being a community marked by unity? 
• What can you do to increase our unity in our church community?

 Different Parts But One Body:

1 Corinthians 12:12-28 – The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit. Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. If the foot says, "I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand," that does not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, "I am not part of the body because I am not an eye," would that make it any less a part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. How strange a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, "I don't need you." The head can't say to the feet, "I don't need you." In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. All of you together are Christ's body, and each of you is a part of it. 

• Why do you think the author makes such an effort to communicate that there are different parts in this body that we call the church?
• What does this say teach us about the intricate nature of unity?

7 Principles of Christian Unity:

As you read through the following list, ask the question: How am I doing in this area of my life, and how can I increase the level of unity in my family, friendship circles, and church.

#1 – We cannot properly function by ourselves. 

•   What do you see as the benefits of having others in your life?

#2 – Unity takes place in the context of diversity.

• Which areas in the church do you see diversity thriving?
• Which areas can you take part in seeing diversity grow?  

 #3 – We don’t connect well with all people, but we do with a few.

•  Have you found the few people at New Life that you connect deeply with?
• Do you have space in your life for God to bring a few others into that close knit circle?
• If no, how can you create that space?

#4 – Unity happens in our heart of the church, not on its edge. 

• Ron reminded us that unity takes place as we move into the heart of the church rather than staying on the fringes. Are you on a journey toward the heart of New life (i.e. do you find yourself saying yes to the things that God wants to do in your life through the church)?
  

#5 – Strategy and organization are required to transform chaos into unity.

• Do you see the benefit in setting up strategy and organization to help move the church from chaos to unity? Why/Why not and where do you see your point of view supported in Scripture?

#6 – It takes everyone to make our church complete.  

• Have you found your place at New Life? If no, why not? If yes, how did you find your place?

 #7 – When we all comes together…and stay together…we are beautiful! 

Putting It Into Practice:

Ron closed by talking about the biggest unity destroyer which is gossip. He suggested that listening to gossip is as destructive as speaking it and encouraged us to politely but firmly stop someone mid sentence if they begin to gossip about someone (or something that a person is overseeing) and encourage them to go and talk to the person. 

• Is there any gossip (either speaking it or listening to it) in your life that God is calling you to repent of?  If there is, first off, ask God for forgiveness, then go to the person who you gossiped about (or if you were listening, go to the person who was talking), and make it right.  As you do this, you will be taking giant steps to help our church be the place of unity that God is calling us to be.