POPE FRANCISLet our communication

be a balm which relieves pain and a fine wine which

gladdens hearts.

FALSE NARRATIVEIf you don’t look like us, act like us,worship like us or think like us, we aren’tobligated to have fellowship with you…

TRUE NARRATIVEIf you do not look, act, worship or believeas I do, but your heart beats for Jesus,then regardless of our differences, we can& must have fellowship with one another;And if you don’t believe in Jesus, I will stilllove you, serve you and treat you withrespect as a fellow human being

FELLOWSHIPKOI-NO-NI-A

Community, joint participation,sharing the highs & lows of life,

joint contribution to a common cause

JESUS’ NARRATIVE – John 13A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.

JESUS’ NARRATIVE – John 17I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word, that they may all be one, just as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believethat You have sent Me.

JESUS’ NARRATIVE – John 17The glory that You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one even as We are one, I in them and You in Me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that You sent me and loved them even as You loved Me.

PAUL’S NARRATIVE – Gal. 3There 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.

PAUL, cont. – Rom. 16I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out

for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that

you have been taught; avoid them.

PAUL, cont. – 1 Cor. 1I appeal to you, brothers, by the name

of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you,

but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.

DAVID’S NARRATIVE – Psalm 133Behold, how good and pleasant it is    when brothers dwell in unity!...For there the Lord has commanded the blessing,    life forevermore.

AUGUSTINE & WESLEYIn essentials, unity;In non-essentials, liberty;In all things, charity.

JAMES BRYAN SMITHI am not a liberal or a conservative.

I am an apprentice of Jesus. I am simplytrying to discern that which is essential

and that which is non-essential…For me, the basic teaching found in the creeds

is essential. Everything else is nonessential.Not unimportant, just not important

enough to divide over…

NICENE CREEDWe believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty,

maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord,

Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from

Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father.

Through Him all things were made.

NICENE CREEDFor us and for our salvation He came down from

heaven: by the power of the Holy SpiritHe became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,

and was made man. For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate; He suffered death and was buried. On the third day He rose again

in accordance with the Scriptures;

NICENE CREEDHe ascended into heaven and is seated at the right

hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord,

the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son

He is worshiped and glorified.He has spoken through the prophets.

NICENE CREEDWe believe in one holy catholic (universal)

and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.

Amen.

SOUL TRAININGFive ways to love those we disagree with…

1. Treat them as companions2. Don’t think/speak evil of them3. Pray for them4. Encourage them5. Collaborate w/them