God Has A Great Concern For Christian Unity Series

God Has A Great Concern for Christian Unity

Ephesians 4:1-6

Sermon by Rick Crandall

Series: The Book of Ephesians

(Prepared May 3, 2024)

BACKGROUND:

*The Lord has always had a great concern for unity in His Church. Even the first Apostles had to overcome bitter jealousy and arguments. Mark 9:33-35 tells us that the disciples had been in an argument as they travelled with Jesus:

33. Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, "What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?''

34. But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest.

35. And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.''

*This incident in took place maybe 8 or 9 months before the cross. But this wasn't the only time the disciples argued about who was the greatest. Matthew 20:20-24 gives us another example. Then just a few hours before the cross, even after Jesus led the first Lord's Supper, Luke 22:23-27 says:

23. They began to question among themselves, which of them it was who would do this thing (that is, who would betray Jesus).

24. But there was also rivalry among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest.

25. And He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called 'benefactors.'

26. But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves.

27. For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves."

*This "I'm the greatest" mindset is a very common problem, common among the disciples, common among most people. And this kind of pride is one of the main reasons why churches fuss and fight. No wonder God has a great concern for unity in His Church, and this a major theme in Ephesians 4. Please think about this as we read Ephesians 4:1-6.

MESSAGE:

*There has never been a perfect church in this world. I have often recalled something I heard Louis Bartet say 40 years ago: "If I searched and searched until I finally found the perfect church, then after I joined it, it wouldn't be perfect anymore."

*There is no perfect church on this side of Heaven, and on some level, all churches struggle to keep harmony in the body of believers. The main reason why is because the devil does everything he can to stir up trouble in God's Church. On top of that, Christians, we have different opinions, attitudes, and backgrounds. Some of us like chocolate. Some of us like vanilla. Some of us are morning people. Some of us are not. Sometimes we make false assumptions, and sometimes we misunderstand other people.

*Quite a few Christians also get stubborn and selfish about "their" church, and they want to be in control. They think God's Church belongs to them, and they have a "my way or the highway" point of view.

*There are many reasons for disunity in God's Church. And it started with the first church in Acts 6, the poverty-stricken church of Jerusalem. In that case, the widows of the Grecian Jews were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. The local widows were getting more than their fair share, and that problem is why we have deacons today.

1. THE LORD HAS A GREAT CONCERN FOR UNITY IN HIS CHURCH. THAT’S WHY GOD GAVE US A PREACHER OF UNITY IN THIS SCRIPTURE.

*Of course it's the Apostle Paul, and again in vs. 1 Paul said, "I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to have a walk worthy of the calling with which you were called."

*Paul was a strong preacher for Christian unity. This was the first problem he addressed with the very troubled church in Corinth. In 1 Corinthians 1:10-17, Paul said this to those proud, divided Christians:

10. Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

11. For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions among you.

12. Now I say this, that each of you says, "I am of Paul,'' or "I am of Apollos,'' or "I am of Cephas,'' or "I am of Christ.''