How An Individual Can Help To Keep And Develop Unity In A Family, A Church

HOW AN INDIVIDUAL CAN HELP TO KEEP AND DEVELOP UNITY

IN A FAMILY, A CHURCH, OR A GROUP

A. RECOGNIZE THE PURPOSE & VALUE OF UNITY AND THE HARM OF DISUNITY.

(John 17:20 NIV) "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,

(John 17:21 NIV) that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

(Mat 18:19 NIV) "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.

(Eph 4:3 NIV) Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

(1 Pet 3:7 NIV) Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

(Prov 3:30 NIV) Do not accuse a man for no reason- when he has done you no harm.

(Prov 15:18 NIV) A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel.

(Prov 17:14 NIV) Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.

(Prov 17:19 NIV) He who loves a quarrel loves sin; he who builds a high gate invites destruction.

(Prov 18:6 NIV) A fool’s lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a

beating.

(Prov 20:3 NIV) It is to a man’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel.

(Prov 25:8 NIV) do not bring hastily to court, for what will you do in the end if your neighbor puts you to shame?

(Prov 26:17 NIV) Like one who seizes a dog by the ears is a passer-by who meddles in a quarrel not his own.

(Prov 26:21 NIV) As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.

(Prov 6:16 NIV) There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him:

(Prov 6:17 NIV) haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,

(Prov 6:18 NIV) a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil,

(Prov 6:19 NIV) a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.

B. KEEP THE EXAMPLE OF THE SELFLESSNESS OF CHRIST ALWAYS BEFORE YOUR EYES,

(Phil 2:1 NIV) If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,

(Phil 2:2 NIV) then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.

(Phil 2:3 NIV) Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

(Phil 2:4 NIV) Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

(Phil 2:5 NIV) Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

(Phil 2:6 NIV) Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

(Phil 2:7 NIV) but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

(Phil 2:8 NIV) And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!

(Phil 2:9 NIV) Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,

(Phil 2:10 NIV) that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

(Phil 2:11 NIV) and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

See such an example illustrated by Abraham in his strife with Lot.

(Gen 13:7 NIV) And quarreling arose between Abram’s herdsmen and the herdsmen of Lot. The Canaanites and Perizzites were also living in the land at that time.

(Gen 13:8 NIV) So Abram said to Lot, "Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, for we are brothers.

(Gen 13:9 NIV) Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left."

(Gen 13:10 NIV) Lot looked up and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan was well watered, like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, toward Zoar. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)