Jesus said the world would know we were His disciples NOT by our fancy buildings, tags and bumper stickers, cross jewelry or Christian t-shirts. He said they would know we were His by the love we demonstrated for each other.
Maintaining a unity among a body of believers in Jesus Christ is work – hard work, but worthy work. Today’s message takes a look at both the threats to unity and the attitudes necessary to maintain unity.
Unity and Unanimity are not the same thing. We don’t always have to agree, but we have to always come to agreement.
The unity Jesus is looking for is not centered around a person or group of persons in the church – not a preacher, leader, or even the majority of the congregation itself. Unity is established only in discerning and obeying the Holy Spirit.
Church Members have BOTH A PASSIVE and ACTIVE RESPONSIBILITY for unity.
Passive – don’t be a source of division
Active – be “eager to maintain”
Threats to Unity:
- GOSSIP – (whisperer) – Romans 1:29-31 – Gossip is saying anything about person that they would not want publicly declared.
- NEGATIVITY – Philippians 2:14
- LYING – Ephesians 4:25 – misrepresenting the truth or manipulating facts to achieve one’s own agenda. We can also lie when share something that we have decided is true when we have not carefully validated it.
- CRITICISM – Ephesians 4:29 – words that tear down and not build up “corrupting words”
- ARGUING – Ephesians 4:31–combative words, tones, and gestures; stirring up strife,
discord, and dissension.
Maintaining Unity: – Ephesians 4:2
- Humility
- Gentleness
- Patience
- Bearing With One Another