Power of Love

United in Christ:

- Galatians 3:28

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.[1]

- John 17:11

And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.[2]

- Ephesians 4:1-16

There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.[3]

Main thoughts:

We do not pass judgement but show patience and honor to one another| Romans 14:1-23

Quotes:

Before Christ comes it is useless to expect to see a perfect Church.

J. C. Ryle[4]

Now, I know there are some who say “Well, I have given myself to the Lord, but I do not intend to give myself to any church.” Now, why not? “Because I can be a Christian without it.” Now, are you quite clear about that? You can be as good a Christian by disobedience to your Lord’s commands as by being obedient? Well, suppose everybody else did the same. Suppose all Christians in the world said, “I shall not join the Church.” Why, there would be no visible Church; there would be no ordinances. That would be a very bad thing, and yet, why should not all of us do it? You believe that if you were to do an act which has a tendency to destroy the visible Church of God, you would be as good a Christian as if you did your best to build up that Church? I do not believe it, sir! Nor do you either. You have not any such a belief; it is only an excuse for something else.

There is a brick. What is the brick made for? To help to build a house with. It is of no use for that brick to tell you that it is just as good a brick while it is kicking about on the ground as it would be in the house. It is a good-for-nothing brick; until it is built into the wall, it is no good. So you rolling-stone Christians, I do not believe that you are answering your purpose; you are living contrary to the life which Christ would have you live, and you are much to blame for the injury you do.

Charles Spurgeon[5]

As a church we need unity in order to…

- Grow (connected to Christ)

- Develop (connected to Christ)

- Do more for more (As the body)

Eph 4:1-16

- Urgh to walk in the calling that you have been called

o With…

§ Humility

§ Gentleness

§ Patience

o Eager to maintain…

§ Unity of the spirit

· Bond of peace

o One body and one Spirit

o Called to One hope

o One Lord, one faith, one baptism, on God and Father of all

§ Over, through, and in all

Unity:

(1) The quality or state of not being multiple

God is not calling us to be independent of eachother but harmonically unity

(2) a condition of harmony

Intro…

Unity is not brought about by the work of one of us, how I crafted this sermon. It comes from the living and active work of the Holy Spirit act work in us.

What is this unity?

Scripture as a picture of unity…

- Unity in Christ (John 15:1-17)

o Gardener | His Father

o Vine | Jesus

o Branches | Us

§ Fruitful

§ Unfruitful

- Unity as a body (1 Corinthians 12:1-11; 12-26)

o Baptised into the body

§ Drink of one spirit?

o We are many together (v.15-19)

§ All belong (v.15)

§ None are useless (v.16)

§ All parts are gifted with special and diverse gifts (v.17)

§ God is the body builder (arranger) (v.18)

§ We need each other (v.18)

§ All are one (v. 19)

o Our placement is a meant for unity (v.21-26)

§ The weaker are indispensable (v.22)

§ Less honorable are bestowed greater honor (v.23)

§ Unpresentable(s) are treated with modesty (v.23b)

§ Presentable are given no concealment (v.24a)

§ God is managed the body to provide proper care to all (v.24b-25)

§ Care is defined through suffering and honor (v.26)

- Unity in love (1 Corinthians 13:1-13)

o Gifts are not essential love is…

§ Love is…

· Patient and kind

· Rejoices in the truth

· Bears all things

· Believes all things

· Hopes all things

· Endures all things

§ Love is not…

· Envious or boastful

· Arrogant or rude

· Insist on its own way

· Irritable or resentful

· Rejoices at wrongdoing

The fruit that we show in our lives… (

- Fruits of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)

o Love

o Joy

o Peace

o Patience

o Kindness

o Goodness

o Gentleness

o Faithfulness

o Self-control

Conclusion:

What does unity have the power to do?

1. Unity gives all of us a call.

a. With in our giftings we are all called to strive together in the call of Christ

2. Unity gives us power to connect in common life.

a. We come to love one another

Outline:

1. Intro

2. What is Unity?

a. Product

i. John 15

b. Diversity/harmony

i. 1 Corinthians 12:12-26

3. Where does unity come from?

a. The Spirit

4. What power is predicted from unity?

a. Unity of the call

i. We were all call to follow Christ

b. Unity in common life

i. Acts 2:42-47

1. The early church came “together” to break bread and praise God and hear from the teachers

c. Unity to purpose

i. Have the mind of Christ grows us in maturity (Phil 2:5-8)

ii. Equipping… (pastoral instruction and counsel)

5. Where do we go from here?

a. Unity isn’t an act of will, it’s biproduct of a living and active connection to God

b. Unity is not uniformity, it’s harmony amongst the diverse.

c. Unity is found in our connection to the Spirit

[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ga 3:28). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles. [2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Jn 17:11). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles. [3] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Eph 4:4–6). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles. [4] Ritzema, E. (Ed.). (2012). 300 Quotations for Preachers. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press. [5]Ritzema, E. (Ed.). (2012). 300 Quotations for Preachers. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.