1. Religious Disunity
Hartford Institute for Religious Research says that there were 217 denominations listed in the 2006 Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches. But there may well be other groups that function as a denomination but do not regard themselves as such. These denominational groups claim to best represent what God wants for His people. Christianity Today reported on a study of the Center for the Study of Global Christianity (CSGC) at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, there are approximately 41,000 Christian denominations and organizations in the world.
2. Religious Division is not new 1 Corinthians 1.10-13
10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 12 What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
3. One of the reasons for fighting and feuding in our churches is that certain people think they are always right about everything and they become very legalistic about it. “It’s my way or the highway!” They focus on themselves and their point of view, not in introducing people to God. We must work at building up one another, not tearing one another down.
4. This is the kind of world to which the Restoration Movement reacted in the late 18th and 19th centuries. They saw the reality of a divided Christian Church and worked to unite it. T. Campbell was expelled from the Old Light Seceder Anti-Burgher branch of the Presbyterian Church;
5. Unity is an important issue in the large and small scales – John 17.11a; 20-23
11. . . Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.
20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.
I. Our Unity is Based on Imitating Our Master –
A. He was United with the Father (John 17.11b, 21a, 22b, 23a)
B. He Was (is) United with His Disciples as seen through Philippians 2.1-11
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any incentive of love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others better than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
A.W. Tozer in The Pursuit of God said, “Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one hundred worshipers met together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be, were they to become 'unity' conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship.”
II. Our Unity is Based on the Proper Motives
In a Peanuts cartoon, Linus is watching TV when Lucy comes in and demands that Linus change the channel.
Linus asks, “What makes you think you can walk right in here and take over?”
“These five fingers,” Lucy responds. “Individually they’re nothing, but when I curl them together like this into a single unit, they form a weapon that is terrible to behold,” and she makes her power play.
Linus looks at her fist, walks over to the TV, and says, “What channel do you want?”
Then he turns away, looks at his own fingers, and says, “Why can’t you guys get organized like that?”
Our goal --- and our calling from God --- is UNITY. It is UNITY that pleases God --- not power, not success, not size, not clever programs, … UNITY—Ephesians 4.1-3
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
A. This Unity is not about Power, It’s about Service –
1. Most people try to get organized for that same reason --- Power. Sadly, sometimes the Church can act the same way. Too often you hear about power-struggles between Christians. But POWER is not our goal. [Jesus’ brother, James rises to the key leadership role in Jerusalem!
2. The quest for power destroys unity – Arguments over greatest in Kingdom
3. God’s Kingdom is about service Matthew 23.11 The greatest among you shall be your servant.
B. This Unity is not about Exclusion, It is about Inclusion
1. The Exorcists – Mark 9.38-41 40 For the one who is not against us is for us.
2. Jesus constantly included the excluded
• Within the Disciples – Tax Collector and Zealot
• Questionable Women – anointing his feet; woman at the well (Samaritan)
• Even the corrupt religious leaders as illustrated in the Older Brother of the Prodigal Son story
• Another more pertinent set of people – US!
C. This Unity is not about Uniformity – It is Unified in Purpose
1. The reason for the “body” image of the church – one body, many members
1 Corinthians 12.12-27
12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit . . . 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body . . . 27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
2. Unity in purpose – we focus on the same objective – follow the word of God in order to glorify him and advance his kingdom. show me your faith – not orthodoxy; right formulas
III. Our Unity is Based on the Magnificence of God
A. Just as Loving One Another – John 13.35
B. Unity Brings Authenticity – John 17.23
[Imagine a Roman Amphitheater in which gladiatorial battles were performed. You are on a team of gladiators, fighting against lions or other gladiators. Your armor has no protection for the back (Ephesians 6) you must rely on your teammates to “have your back.”
Suddenly as the enemy approaches, one of your team accidentally steps on your foot. Visualize the absurdity of turning on your team. You are in a life and death struggle. You need your team – in spite of mistakes and short comings. You don’t interrupt the battle to chew out your team.
Picture the reaction of the crowd to such an action. The in-fighting would be short-lived for the enemy would seize the opportunity to destroy the self-centered team.
We do not fight against flesh and blood. . . – an even bigger enemy!
Since division is expressly contrary to Jesus’ prayer it causes the devil joy and Jesus sorrow – don’t be part of it; refuse to participate it; refuse to have an enemy
[Stand; hold hands with someone near you (or put your hands on someone’s shoulders, or stand nearby) and silently prayer for the person next to you –
“LORD, help ________ to know you more fully; and for us to serve you together in unity so that the world will know you sent Jesus.
Song: “Bind Us Together”
Dismiss Congregation
