A PLEA FOR UNITY
Text: Philippians 2:1 – 4
Introduction:
• There are some churches with a problem
o Arguing over which Bible, what kind of music, what to wear
o Feelings hurt, people leaving, bad witness
• Christians are supposed to exemplify unity
• Unity doesn’t mean being together
• Tie two cat’s tails; together, but not united
• World Book Dictionary – “the fact, quality, or condition of being one; oneness; singleness; concord between two or more persons; harmony"
• Divisions had started to cripple some of the churches in the first century (Corinthians)
• Church at Philippi had unity; Paul was concerned that they maintain it
A. The Reasons for Their Unity (v. 1)
• They all had encouragement from being united with Christ
o Every believer is given the promise of forgiveness and the hope of salvation
• They all had comfort from Christ’s love
o No matter what they went through (Romans 8:35 – 39)
• They all had fellowship because of the Spirit
o Fellowship with God and with other Christians
o Means more than just getting together; investing in each other’s lives
• They all had the tenderness and compassion of Christ
o They understood that since they had been forgiven and loved, they should forgive and love others
• We have the same reasons today
B. The Responses to Their Unity (v. 2)
• They should have the same mind
o Doesn’t mean to agree on everything
o Opinions are just like noses
o Means we should have the same priorities as Christ and look at things like He would
o What is more important; what kind of music or if the Gospel is preached to the lost?
• They should have the same love
o Show the same Christian love and service to everyone, no matter who they are
o One church tells people don’t come back with NIV, tattoos, pants
o Casting Crowns song "If We are the Body" – Jesus paid much too high a price for us to pick and chose who can come
• They should have the same spirit
o Greek = “one-souled”; having same desires and passions
o We should all want to serve the Lord
o We should all want to help others
• They should have the same purpose
o Three goals of the church: Glorify God, Edify believers, Testify to the lost
• We should have the same responses today
C. The Recommendations to Keep Their Unity (vv. 3, 4)
• Put away selfish ambition
o It’s not about getting your way; it’s about letting Him have His way
o So what if you want to be the teacher of that class; is it what God wants?
• Put off attention-seeking behavior
o Glorify Him, not yourself, not the church, not the pastor
• Put on an attitude of Christlike humility
o Doesn’t mean to put yourself down; humility is a healthy respect for who God is and a healthy respect of ourselves because of what God has done on our behalf
o Next time you start to judge someone else, ask yourself, “Of what sin am I guilty of?” “Where have I fallen short?”
• Put the interests of others on equal footing with your own
o Part of fellowship is taking time during the week to pray for others in the church; calling them and encouraging them during time of trouble; crying with them when they hurt, and laughing with them when they are happy
o Don’t get so self-centered that you forget about the needs of others
• We need to follow the same recommendations today
Conclusion:
• Paul not writing because there was a problem; writing because there wasn’t
• Don’t exalt your opinions to the level of Scripture
• Care about others and their needs
• Don’t find fault; don’t cause others to want to
Challenge:
• Take church directory and every day pray for one family
• Every week, encourage someone with a call, card, hug, a kind word
