The Effort That Unifies

West Greeley Baptist Church

June 10th 2001

“The Effort That Unifies”

Ephesians 4:1-3

By Pastor Mark Hensley

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:1-3

Introduction: Mickey is a 41year old store manager, married with two children from Texas. Asked why he would rather sleep in on Sundays than attend church he replied:

“ About 10 years ago my wife and I began attending a church, but then it split over some controversy that didn’t seem important to us. In fact it was so insignificant that I can’t even remember what it was. We stayed with the original group for about a year. They bickered over this and that and kept comparing themselves to the split-away church that seemed to be growing. One day I just got fed up. I felt like we were in high school arguing over who had the best team. It just felt so juvenile.

Finally we joined another church but somehow nothing about it really compelled us to go on a regular basis. When we came after a few weeks away, no one

said “Hey we missed you” I don’t even think they noticed.

Of course, I admit we weren’t saying that to anyone else either. Anyway, we finally drifted away and decided it was enough to talk to God when beginning our

dinner a practice we have continued as a family”

Transition: Unity is precious to the church a lack of unity and disharmony creates an oppressive atmosphere. And too many Godly and good people have left the organized Church because of the childlike, temper tantrum throwing conduct of adults!

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

With a desire that we continue to stick together maintaining unity in this dear church I want to talk to you today about “The effort that unifies”

Ephesians 4: 1-3

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:1-3

The “Effort that unifies” results in our:

Living worthy lives

Being humble, gentle, patient and loving

Making every effort to keep unity of the Spirit

I. Living worthy lives:

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

*Paul visited Ephesus a total of five times. He first saw the city at the close of his second missionary journey, sometime around 51 AD. He remained only long enough to keep the feast of Pentecost, then continued on his travels. He left two of his disciples behind, Aqulia and Priscilla, to attend to the missionary work.

The second time Paul mentions Ephesus,(is in the context of our study today) he stayed for three years. He was very successful at spreading the word, so successful that "all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks" (Acts 19:10). Seven churches were formed, often called the Church’s of the Apocalypse. When he finally left the city, it was with a heavy heart, which accounts for the moving good-bye written to the people of Ephesus in Acts.

*John Cotton & Melissa Warren

*It was here that he preached his famous sermons calling upon the hearers to embrace the faith in one God. He taught that God had no need of a house made with human hands and that he was present in all places at all times. This was all greatly resented by the craftsmen who had amassed great wealth from their production of statues of Artemis in gold, silver or other materials.

Secular history records that a silversmith by the name of Demetrius stirred up the people and led a crowd of thousands of Ephesians to the theatre, where they booed and stoned Paul and his two colleagues, chanting "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians! Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" So turbulent was the crowd that Paul and his companions escaped only with great difficulty. * From Turism.net

This background gives to each of us an appreciation of the hardships that come to every person who wants to live for the Lord. Misunderstandings and real persecution come frequently to those who seek to make Christ known! The Apostle begins by saying to us these many years later:

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received."