UnityinTheBody

QuestionsToPonder

Someofthesequestionsshouldbeconsiderprivatelyaswellasinagroup.Theyarealsobestunderstoodinlightofthesermon

• DoyouwantthistypeofUnity?• AreyouseekingtobetunedtoChrist– behonest•Whatsecondaryissue(s)areyouwillingtolaydown• Areyouwillingtostayatthetable• Areyouwillingtoloveyoubrotherorsisternomatterwhat

John17:20-23- “Idonotprayforthesealone,butalsoforthosewhowillbelieveinMethroughtheirword;thattheyallmaybeone,asYou,Father,areinMe,andIinYou;thattheyalsomaybeoneinUs,thattheworldmaybelievethatYousentMe.AndtheglorywhichYougaveMeIhavegiventhem,thattheymaybeonejustasWeareone:Iinthem,andYouinMe;thattheymaybemadeperfectinone,andthattheworldmayknowthatYouhavesentMe,andhavelovedthemasYouhavelovedMe.

•1billionRomanCatholics•400millionProtestants•220millionOrthodoxChurch•85millionAnglicans•275millionwhowouldlabelthemselvesasindependent

Yet there is one church and not five

Ephesians4:1-6 I,therefore,theprisoneroftheLord,beseechyoutowalkworthyofthecallingwithwhichyouwerecalled,withalllowlinessandgentleness,withlongsuffering,bearingwithoneanotherinlove,endeavouringtokeeptheunityoftheSpiritinthebondofpeace.ThereisonebodyandoneSpirit,justasyouwerecalledinonehopeofyourcalling;oneLord,onefaith,onebaptism;oneGodandFatherofall,whoisaboveall,andthroughall,andinyouall.

UnityisBiggerthanhowchurchesrelate

•Howfamilieswork• Friendstalktooneanother• Friendstalkaboutoneanother•HowCharitiesandbusinessarerun•Howwetreatoneanotherprivatelyandpublicly

ThePowerOfUnity

Genesis11:1-9- Nowthewholeearthhadonelanguageandonespeech.Anditcametopass,astheyjourneyedfromtheeast,thattheyfoundaplaininthelandofShinar,andtheydweltthere.Thentheysaidtooneanother,“Come,letusmakebricksandbakethemthoroughly.”Theyhadbrickforstone,andtheyhadasphaltformortar.Andtheysaid,“Come,letusbuildourselvesacity,andatowerwhosetopisintheheavens;letusmakeanameforourselves,lestwebescatteredabroadoverthefaceofthewholeearth.”

ThePowerOfUnityButtheLordcamedowntoseethecityandthetowerwhichthesonsofmenhadbuilt.AndtheLordsaid,“Indeedthepeopleareone andtheyallhaveonelanguage,andthisiswhattheybegintodo;nownothingthattheyproposetodowillbewithheldfromthem.Come,letUsgodownandthereconfusetheirlanguage,thattheymaynotunderstandoneanother’sspeech.”SotheLordscatteredthemabroadfromthereoverthefaceofalltheearth,andtheyceasedbuildingthecity.ThereforeitsnameiscalledBabel,becausetheretheLordconfusedthelanguageofalltheearth;andfromtheretheLordscatteredthemabroadoverthefaceofalltheearth.

WhatDoesUnityLookLikeHasiteveroccurredtoyouthatonehundredpianosalltunedtothesameforkareautomaticallytunedtoeachother?Theyareofoneaccordbybeingtuned,nottoeachother,buttoanotherstandardtowhicheachonemustindividuallybow.Soonehundredworshipersmettogether,eachonelookingawaytoChrist,areinheartnearertoeachotherthantheycouldpossiblybe,weretheytobecome'unity'consciousandturntheireyesawayfromGodtostriveforcloserfellowship.”A.W.Tozer

“Idonotprayforthesealone,butalsoforthosewhowillbelieveinMethroughtheirword;

WhatUnityisNot

•UnityisnotTolerance•Unity is not agreeing with Sin•Unity is not avoiding the hard conversations

1 Corinthians 8, Romans11

DebatableMattersPrimary and Secondary issues

AnActiveworkingUnity

Indeedthepeopleareone(inme)thereisnothingtheycannotdo.

QuestionsToPonder

Someofthesequestionsshouldbeconsiderprivatelyaswellasinagroup.Theyarealsobestunderstoodinlightofthesermon

• DoyouwantthistypeofUnity?• Are you seeking to be tuned to Christ – behonest•What secondary issue(s)areyouwillingtolaydown• Are you willing to stay at the table• Areyouwillingtoloveyoubrotherorsisternomatterwhat