October 17, 2021
“Church Unity” Donna Kunsch
Good morning and welcome to Laity
Sunday. Portions of this message were
authored by the Rev Matthew McCraw (First Baptist Church, Florida).One of the
greatest challenges in local churches is disunity. Squabbles over use of funds, music
preferences, choosing a mission project, worship times, and more. In today’s scripture Paul is giving the
church instruction and knowledge that will better help us operate as a church
in which Jesus Christ is head. We will
be focusing on three aspects of unity within the church. Before we do so, let’s define unity. Unity is the state of being united or joined as a whole. Unity is not uniformity or conformity. It’s not about everyone agreeing with
everything. Unity means we work together
as one. Unity is a solidarity among
believers focused on the mission of the church, in order to advance God’s
kingdom for the good of the people.
Division is focused on self and unity is focused on God.
The first aspect is unity in our
walk. In verse 1 Paul says “I
urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received.” As part of the family of God we have the
inheritance of God, we have access to the incalculable riches of Christ, and
are a unified people in Christ. God has
chosen us to be Christ’s representatives on earth. Paul challenges us to walk (or live) in a
manner that is worthy of this calling.
We are to be humble, meaning we think of others’ needs ahead of our
own. We are to be patient, meaning we
don’t prioritize our time and desires ahead of others. We are to bear with one another, meaning that
we put up with other people in a peaceful manner. Bearing with one another is based in love. If we love each other we should bear with one
another. It is essential to our
unity. No one is ever going to be
perfect here on earth, so we must accept and love other Christians in spite of
their faults. People are watching your
life. Can they see Christ in you? We will never be a fully unified church
unless we are humble towards one another, patient towards one another, and we
bear with one another. There is unity
found in the way we live and the way we act towards one another. Unity doesn’t just happen; we have to work at
it. Often differences among people can
lead to division, but this should not be true in the church. Instead of focusing on what divides us, we
should remember what unites us: one
body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God! God is over all and through all, this shows
his active presence in the world and in the lives of believers.
The second aspect of unity is in
our ministry which leads to maturity in the faith. Verses 7-13 stress the way in which the Lord
personally and intentionally gives gifts to the church. Our oneness in Christ does not destroy our
individuality. The Holy Spirit has given
each Christian special gifts for building up the church. Now that we have these gifts, it is crucial to
use them. Are you spiritually mature,
exercising the gifts God has given you?
If you know what your gifts are, look for opportunities to serve. If you don’t know, ask God to show you, with
perhaps help from the Pastor or Christian friends. Then, as you begin to recognize your special
area of service, use your gifts to strengthen and encourage the church. Christ is building his body, and he knows
exactly how he wants it shaped.
Therefore, he uniquely redeems and repurposes people in the church. The whole church is built upon God’s word,
and the saints are equipped to use their gifts to build up the body as the
pastor/teachers teach and explain the Bible to us. In this way, the whole church is built up in
love, with the result being a body that grows together in maturity. Everyone in the church is to be ministering,
not only the pastor. As the body of
Christ, we can accomplish more together than we would dream possible working by
ourselves.
The third aspect is unity in our
growth. Paul says in verses
14-16 that if we walk in unity, if we serve in unity, and if we grow into maturity,
then we will no longer be like little children, who are easily drawn away by
false teachings. Paul goes on to say
that we should speak the truth in love.
This sounds simple, but it seems so hard for us to do. Some of us are fairly good at speaking the
truth, but we forget to be loving. Some
of us are good at being loving, but we don’t have it in us to level with others
if the truth is painful. The instruction
here is to do both. Let us speak what is
true to each other, but let us do so in love.
Let us encourage each other, unify each other, build up each other. As we speak the truth in love, we will grow
into Jesus who is the head of the Church.
As we grow in Jesus we are fit together and knit together, we are bound
together, and we are supporting each other.
If you want to participate in further dialog on this topic, I encourage
you to join us after the 10:00 service as we discuss the book Speaking the
Truth in Love – How to Be an Assertive Christian. We will be discussing how to use assertive
behavior to serve people, to build your self-respect, and to enlarge your skill
and willingness to show respect for others in a manner that will bring honor to
God and to the whole body of Christ. An
assertive Christian is a person who is open to God’s direction and
leading. Assertive Christians are
concerned first for God’s approval and ask God’s help to reject unhealthy
social pressure. Assertive behavior
enriches, stabilizes, and protects relationships with others, with yourself,
and with God.
The church
cannot grow strong if the individual members are not working in harmony.
As anyone who has been involved in the leadership of a congregation knows,
working harmoniously is harder than it sounds. The only way we can do it
is by acting in agape love—love
that focuses on the well-being of the other person. That kind of love
makes it possible for us to hold our tempers when things don’t go our way—and
to maintain harmonious relationships even when we don’t agree with one another.
It makes it possible for us to avoid selfish, self-destructive behaviors.
We find unity in our walk, we find unity
in our ministry, and we find unity in our growth. God’s design for His church is that we would
work together to maintain the unity that He gives. Through that unity, we will be mature, holy,
and focused to accomplish the mission that He has given us here at Bethel.
Commit to bearing with one another.
Commit to equipping others and being a gift to one another. Commit to growing together as a church: each
of us focused on growing in the Lord and helping others grow in the Lord.I
invite you to do your part at Bethel to maintain unity in our walk, ministry
and growth. Amen.
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