Becoming United

Permission is granted to reproduce the following Sermon Outline for corporate worship distribution. The manuscript, which follows the outline, contains the text needed to complete the handout. For further sermon resources or help, contact Rev. A.S. DiCostanzo at adicostanzo@pastors.com

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TODAY’S MESSAGE:

"Becoming United"

Philippians 1:27-2:4

Snowflakes are one of nature’s most fragile things, but just look at what they can do when they stick together ---Vesta Kelly

Are you proud to be a citizen of the United States of America? How well do you take advantage of your religious freedom? There are innumerable Christians in other parts of the world who are unable to worship with the same liberty and openness for fear of

imprisonment and/or death. Yet, regardless of the risk, many of them still fearlessly live as citizens of the Kingdom of Christ in the hopes that others will come to know their savior—Jesus. Do you live with the same passion and purpose? What does real biblical unity look like?

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ by…

1. _____________ ___________ in one spirit. (Phil.1:27; Acts 4;32)

2. Having __________ _______________ striving together for the faith of the Gospel. (Acts 2:44; Phil. 1:27; 2 Cor. 13:11)

3. Living ___________________ together for the

advancement of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.(Luke 12:4-7; Acts 5:41-42; Phil. 1:28-30)

In Philippians 2:1-4, Paul gives us a picture of unity that involves:

-being like-minded

-having the same love

-being one in spirit and purpose

-in humility consider others better than yourselves\

Memory Verse: Philippians 2:4

“Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others”

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Introduction:

Illstration:Tonto and the Lone Ranger were riding through a canyon together when all of a sudden both sides were filled with Indian warriors on horses, dressed for battle. The Lone Ranger turned to Tonto and asked, “What are we going to do?” Tonto replied, “What you mean ‘we,’ Whiteman?”

--In search of Unity, Edward Dobson

Sadly, that sometimes seems like the behavior we see and experience in the church.

Have you ever felt like the Lone Ranger?

Let’s begin with some of the most profound words ever spoken in all of scripture:

"The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me."

Those are the words of the Lord Jesus Christ from John Chapter 17.

The prayer of Jesus is for a unity among His followers that would be unlike anything that this world has ever seen.

We’re called to change the world, and it shouldn’t be the other way around.

Illustration: Miss America 2003, Erika Harold, yesterday said pageant officials have ordered her not to talk publicly about sexual abstinence or to promote her pro-chastity opinions. I guess they thought it wasn’t good for ’Business.’ The world’s values are always being pressed upon us.

You see, secular society, the media and the rest want to shape us. They want to influence/give us our value system.

They want to shape the way we think. They want to influence what we spend our money on and how we spend our time--just consider televison commercials or Billboards by the side of the highway. But we’re called to be different.

The world wants you to believe otherwise, but make no mistake about it, it’s attractive, alluring and magnetic to be a strong Christian. They gathered in droves to see and hear our Lord Jesus Christ. Sometimes trampling over one another to get to Him.

Walking like Christ will result in people following you, as well. At very least, people will be watching you. What do they see when they watch you?

The question is this: Who are you influencing and how?

-How would your Husband or wife describe your faith?

-What type of faith do your children witness at home?

-How much of an impact are you making on your friends?

How about the countless people that watch you every day whether at work, school or your neighborhood?

Are you making a Godly influence on the world, or is the world making a greater influence on you?

What are they seeing when they watch you?

Paul wants the church at Philippi to know that they’re to live always as if they were being watched! That’s why Paul says, “whether I come and see you or only hear about you” vs. 27

However, it’s not by accident that Paul has preceded those words by first talking about his personal passion for Christ and eternity. Your passion for God and your relationship with Him must be the driving force for all that you do. Why? Because in the end what we do isn’t as important as who we are. God wants your heart before he wants anything else(Rev. 2:1-5).