Sermon Tone Analysis
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Introduction
I had the privilege of being raised in a pastor’s home.
My Dad has been a pastor now for over 40 years.
That means that I have some insider information when it comes to the life of the local church.
I’m curious to see if my experience out in CA compares to things here in NE.
Over the years I have know churches that split over seating, chairs or pews.
I have seen people lose their tempers over the color a wall got painted when they chose not to be part of the decision beforehand.
When we do things, how we do things, how often we do them, and even who gets invited!
All of these have led to conflict and disunity in churches.
The heart-wrenching reality is that conflict and disunity render the church ineffective in its purpose and mission.
Here is the truth.
Disunity stunts the growth of believers, cripples the mission of the church, and leaves people hurting and broken.
There is a desperate need for unity today.
To illustrate this need, let’s turn to the timeless wisdom of the comic strip Peanuts.
Lucy’s statement has application far beyond getting to watch your favorite TV show.
"These five fingers, 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."
Individual members of the body of Christ can be, and have been, taken out by the enemy.
And yet…
Scripture reveals that when the body of Christ is unified in purpose our march for Christ shakes the gates of hell!
We need unity and unity is possible.
This morning we are going to learn How to have unity.
First, let’s pray.
Go with me to Ephesians 4.
As you turn there let my give a 40K foot overview.
I know you have recently had a couple messages in Ephesians, so if I repeat what others have said, please bear with me.
The Ephesian Church was started by Paul in Acts 19.
This church had a pretty rough start.
When the church was only about 2 years old there was a riot because of fear that Christianity would make the worship of false gods in Ephesus obsolete.
Roughly 5 years later, Paul writes the Ephesian church this letter.
The letter to the Ephesians has 2 parts.
In chapters 1-3 Paul is explaining the doctrine that the Ephesians have been taught and need to be reminded of.
This is what they need to believe.
Here in chapter 4 Paul begins to explain the practical outworking of what they believe.
Basically, Paul is showing them how to live out what they believe, what does faith in Jesus Christ look like on a day to day basis?
What is fascinating to me is that the first thing Paul addresses is the need for unity.
The Ephesian church was facing division along cultural, ethnic, religious, and economic lines.
Not at all like today.
In that division and difficulty, Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, calls them to unity.
Here is what we are arguing for today.
For the body of Christ to be effective, there must be unity.
Let me personalize this.
For the body of Christ in Wayne, Nebraska to be effective there must be unity.
One step farther.
For the body of Christ at Calvary Bible Church, in Wayne, NE to be effective at the mission and call of God, there must be unity.
With that thought in mind we turn to our passage.
There are three requirements for the church to experience unity.
When these requirements are met, the body of Christ will experience unity and effectiveness in the mission and call of God.
Requirement #1…
Unity Requires Engagement vv.
1-2
Throughout this message, there is an image I want us to keep in mind.
That image is tug of war.
When you trust Jesus as Savior, it puts your hand on the rope.
Whether or not you will pull as part of the team is up to you.
Look with me at v. 1
In light of everything just said.
In light of all that you are to believe, walk worthy of your calling.
Paul mentions his imprisonment to remind us that there is a cost to following Jesus.
The Ephesians knew this already.
But so often we need to be reminded of what we know.
Paul, as someone in prison for the cause of Christ, is begging the Ephesian believers to walk worthy of their calling.
Paul is not introducing a new topic, he started talking about calling all the way back in chapter 1.
Here is the reality:
Every single believer has been called by God.
God has called you to be on His side of the rope, to pull for His team.
Our goal, our task is to glorify God as we make disciples and then equip them to make more.
1 Peter 2:9 says this
We have been called from darkness, into light.
What a difference!
Because we have been called into the light we are to walk in the light!
Walk worthy of the calling of God.
How?
Good question.
Look at v. 2
This is what it looks like to walk worthy of our calling.
Lowliness - humble.
Gentleness - even-tempered.
Long-suffering - patient.
Bearing - endure something unpleasant or difficult.
The only way we bear with difficult people is love.
The love of Christ flows through us to others.
Notice that the focus of these attitudes is external.
These are to be true of us as we engage with other people.
Why?
Because these attitudes promote unity.
Let’s use our tug of war rope to illustrate.
What’s the opposite of humility?
Pride.
A proud person cannot win at tug of war.
Why?
Either bragging or trying to do it alone.
Opposite of even-tempered?
Angry.
Can’t win because not thinking.
Patient - hasty - doesn’t wait for right time.
Endure - give up.
Can’t win if you quit.
Here’s what I’m driving at with this point.
If we want to have unity we have to engage.
We have to grab the rope and pull with the team.
There is a second element to this.
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