Project Milestone Section III Assignment – Visionary Sermonntitled Sermon (2)

Title: 20/20 Vision for 2024

Sermon Manuscript by Jeremy Zura

Text: Ephesians 4:1-5, 11-16

Thesis Statement: Throughout the centuries, we have seen the Church split repeatedly, but now is the time for it to come together as one Church.

Introduction:

2024 is an election year in the United States. We have what appears to be an impending showdown between Republican nominee, the former President of the United States, Donald Trump, and the incumbent and current President of the United States, Joe Biden. Of course, this is not the only political race up for election come November, and I am not here to endorse one candidate or another. I only mention this because the climate of our country has rarely been so divided. It has been split politically, which trickles down into our views socially, economically, and culturally, driving people apart, even our families.

Another institution in our country which has been divided has been the Church. Denominations have split from other church groups, and even have split within each other based on some man-made regulations. However, NOW is the time for the Church to come together as one. NOW is the time that we agree on the essentials of the Gospel message and its mission of The Great Commission, to “go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen” (Matthew 28:19-20, NRSV). The church has lost some of its focus and its standing in the world. It has failed to keep to biblical standards and lost members for countless reasons. We, as the Church, need to drop our denominational differences and come together as one united Church, the Bride of Christ, getting ready for her Bridegroom. Leaders need to humble themselves and seek God in repentance from pride, prejudice, and division.

Point 1: The Call

A. This passage of the New Testament is the only time the word “unity” is mentioned, but it calls for oneness in the Church (Heckel, 2021, pgs. 571-572; Jeremiah, 2013, p. 1644):

a. One Body, made up of all believers.

i. Romans 12:4, 5

ii. 1 Corinthians 12:12

b. One Spirit, who indwells each believer.

i. Romans 8:9

ii. 1 Corinthians 12:13

c. One Hope, which is Christ’s promise to return to take His followers to heaven.

i. Ephesians 1:14

ii. Colossians 1:27

iii. Titus 2:13

d. One Lord, Jesus Christ, who has redeemed us by His blood.

i. Ephesians 1:7

ii. 1 Corinthians 1:13

iii. 1 Peter 1:18, 19

e. One Faith, once for all delivered to the saints.

i. Jude 3

f. One Baptism, referring primarily to the baptism of the Spirit.

i. Romans 6:3-5

ii. 1 Corinthians 12:13

g. One Father, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and the heavenly Father of our Lord Jesus Christ

i. Malachi 2:10

B. The Church must unite under these bonds that unite us, and dismiss the reasons for division.

Point 2: The Call to Action/Ministry

A. The Church must be a unified body of ministerial function to impact our communities and world.

a. Ephesians 4:11-16

b. Our purpose is to come to the unity of the faith (v. 13), growing in knowledge of Christ (v. 13), and speaking the truth in love (v. 15)

c. We need to unite in our message, purpose, and mission – the Great Commission.

B. “…it is a unity in diversity. The image of one body and many members describes not the uniform organization of a corporate body, but the plurality and vitality…with different gifts of grace, talents, tasks, ministries, and offices” (Heckel, 2013, p. 576).

C. Henkel (2013) states:

As far as ministries are concerned, it could also state that they have been established by Christ…If there is agreement on this biblical basis,…differences in the structure of ministries would no longer need to have a church-dividing effect; instead, the worldwide church, as a living organism in reconciled diversity, could be as diverse as a body with many members” (p. 580).

Point 3: Application

A. Preach Christ.

B. Model Christ.

C. Make disciples of Christ (Matthew 28:19).

D. Teach Christ.

E. Live Christ, bearing one another in love (Ephesians 4:2).

Personal story:

A. I grew up in a Pentecostal church setting.

B. I attended a Bible college that was related denominationally.

C. I used to have an “Us vs. Them” mentality.

a. Evangelical vs. Liturgical

b. “Spiritual” vs. “dead”

D. However, I left the Pentecostal church after feeling “off” in my spirit about some doctrinal beliefs.

E. After being out of the church and exposed to believers of all different Christian backgrounds, I grew to appreciate their faith.

a. There were some things I disagreed with but there were some foundational truths with which I did agree.

b. This is when God stirred in me this vision of a unified Body of Christ.

Vision:

A. Unify the Christian churches of all denominations to impact our community.

a. Meet and greet.

b. Develop relationships and contact lists.

c. Monthly meetings of church representatives for prayer and support.

d. Communicate ministry opportunities.

e. Suggest programs that are working within the church.

f. Collaborate on outreaches, involving leaders and members.

g. Focus on Christ and His mission, not denominational agendas and teachings.

Conclusion:

A. We are called to be a united church.

B. What is our response?

a. Operate as the status quo?

b. Or be bold and reach out to Christian brothers and sisters in the bond of unity and peace to reach the lost, make disciples, and develop leaders within the church and our community?

References:

Heckel, U. (2021). The Seven Marks of the Unity of the Church: Exegetical Impulses for an Ecumenical Theology of Unity According to Ephesians 4:1-6. The Ecumenical Review, 73(4), 566–580. https://doi-org.ocu.idm.oclc.org/10.1111/erev.12638

Jeremiah, D. (2013). The Jeremiah Study Bible, NKJV. Franklin, TN: Worthy Publishing.