Unity In Christ: A Beacon Of Hope In A Divided World - FBC Burnside
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Introduction And Scripture Reveal
Good evening church, it is great to be with you again in the House of The Lord. If you have your Bible's would you please turn with me to Ephesians chapter 4. We'll read there in just a moment.
Establish Relevance To Audience
Tonight we’re going to move fairly quickly through a subject that I believe is not only relevant to every church, but critical that we get right during times of change, such as pastor transitions. I pray tonight that this study will help guide your hearts and minds to seek cooperation with other church members, to keep peace during this season of change, and will that it help you as a church to lovingly embrace your next pastor and whatever direction The Lord places on His heart for your church.
Callback To Previous Visit And Initial Illustration
A couple of Sundays ago, we studied the book of Jonah and learned about the righteous character of God. If you'll recall we read about the sailors who tried to guide their ship through a violent storm. The wind was howling, the waves were crashing, and the sailors were terrified, each crying out to their own gods. In the midst of this chaos we had Jonah running from the call of God and he knew that the safety of that ship and its' sailors were in jeopardy because of his disobedience to God's will. Jonah had the solution to rescue them from their troubles and once he surrendered, the seas calmed, and the ship was saved.
Like that ship, we find ourselves in a world filled with storms. Yes, the wars between Gaza and Israel and Russia and Ukraine are raging, yes, the political climate in the United States is more divided than ever, and yes, fear and anxiety seem to be at an all-time high. But, just like Jonah did, we as the church of Jesus Christ have a clear mission and we have the solution to rescue those around us from the storms of life.
Proposition
While the world is marked by division and conflict, the church is called by The Gospel to be a beacon of unity, of peace, and of love. We must build intentional bridges of unity, and through that, bring comfort and care to those around us in these troubled times by pointing them to hope. Hope has a name and His name is Jesus.
Transition Into Main Points
Christian unity means that by the influence of The Spirit, we set aside our differences, seek peace and love, and serve others to the glory of God.
As the body of Christ, as individual church members, our unity is a testimony to a world that watches and waits in desperate need of hope. This morning, we will explore how the church and each member in it can embody unity, provide comfort, and offer hope to a world in need.
Scripture Context
Let us turn to God's Word this morning, where we're going to pickup in Ephesians chapter 4. The Apostle Paul has been explaining to the church at Ephesus the Good News of The Gospel, what Jesus Christ has done for them. He's been celebrating with them and encouraging their belief. Where we pickup in chapter 4, Paul makes a shift and he begins to instruct them on how they are to live as witnesses of Christ, how to walk the journey of faith and he's going to begin first by calling them to unity.
Scripture Reading And Opening Prayer
If your able, would you please stand with me in honor of God's Word and we're going to read starting in Ephesians Chapter 4 verse 1.
READ EPHESIANS 4:1-6; 4:11-16
1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,
2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,
3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,
15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—
16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
OPENING PRAYER
You may be seated.
Questioning
We see in this text the Apostle Paul calling the church at Ephesus to unity. Why would he start here? Surely he should start by structuring the leadership of the church or establishing budgets and committees? Why doesn't he immediately call them to preach and teach, enjoy fellowship, begin discipleship, and to go out on mission?
Additional Context
The Apostle Paul begins with the foundation of the church which is built on Christ. He spent the last three chapters focusing on Jesus as the solid rock foundation of the church and now he adds another layer, saying that as God's people we must be united in our love and our service to Christ before adding anything else on.
Jump Back Into Scripture
Looking back at Ephesians chapter 4, we see Paul commanding them in verse 3 to "keep the unity of The Spirit in the bond of peace".
Unity Scripture - Paul
Paul commands us to keep unity. In fact this is a reoccurring theme of Paul's teachings. In 1 Corinthians 1:10 Paul rebukes the church at Corinth for their lack of unity.
10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
Unity Scripture - Jesus
Not only does Paul command unity and rebuke those who do not seek it, but Jesus Himself prayed for our unity. In John 17:11, Jesus prayed to The Father saying,
11 Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.
He continued in John 17:20-23
20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
Love Quote - C.S. Lewis
We can see that there is a very real Biblical command for us to seek unity in our church and in our relationships with one another. Paul commanded it, he taught churches how to live it out by faith, and we see that Jesus prayed begging that our unity would reflect the relationship between God The Father and God The Son. Jesus ended praying that by our unity, the world would see in us the love of our Heavenly Father. C.S Lewis talked about our love this way, he said
Our love is "Different from being in love. True love isn't a feeling, but a deep unity." - C.S. Lewis
Our love is "Different from being in love. True love isn't a feeling, but a deep unity." - C.S. Lewis
Love Scripture - Jesus
Jesus said in John 13:35,
35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Love Scripture - Paul
Finally, let’s bring it back around to Paul and see what He said in Colossians 3:14 using the CSB translation,
14 Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.
Transition From Love To Personal Responsibility
We see a clear picture in Scripture calling us to pursue unity and for it be apparent in how we receive love from The Father and in how we demonstrate that love in our own relationships with other people. We have a personal individual responsibility to love God and love others and pursue unity. A church without unity is a church without love.
We must as God’s people accept our personal responsibility to maintain unity in the body of Christ. That means each of us taking ownership for our words and actions, each of us actively participating in the work of the church and each of us remaining committed to serving where God has placed us with the people He’s put alongside us. Let’s turn back to our main passage of Scripture this morning and reread Ephesians 4:1-3
Jump Back To Scripture
1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,
2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,
3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
We see the Apostle Paul calling us urging us to walk worthy of the calling you have received. How do we do that? It goes on, we must demonstrate humility, gentleness, patience, longsuffering, bearing with one another, striving to keep unity, and keep peace. These are all character qualities. Paul calls us as Christians to demonstrate a higher level of character than the rest of the world. He calls us to be different. We see that unity comes about by our character and our love for one another. It shows up in our fellowship, our relationships with one another, and it demonstrates itself in our service to each other.
To serve one another, to love one another, to seek unity and cooperation in our relationships and in our church, we must keep our focus on the main thing, that is Jesus Christ and His message of salvation. We must surrender our personal preferences, put others needs before our own, and resist the temptation to complain, fight, and gossip against one another. We have a personal responsibility as church members to seek the unity that Jesus prayed and begged for us to have.
Thom Rainer put it this way:
“True church members serve others, not themselves.” - Thom S. Rainer
“True church members serve others, not themselves.” - Thom S. Rainer
Defining The Roles Of The Church
In God’s Word He also designates leaders to prepare us for ministry, build up the church, and protect out unity. Let’s skip down to Ephesians 4:11-12
11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
Paul began in the first three chapters of Ephesians laying out the foundation of the church in Christ, he then adds on the layer of unity and our personal responsibility, and finally he starts getting into the details, how the church is structured. He says that Christ gave some to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, and some pastors and teachers. Apostles and Prophets were gifts of that time for performing miracles and recording The Word of God. Today, we recognize two spiritual gifts in the church, evangelist and pastor or teacher. From Philippians we also recognize the two separate roles in church leadership of elders and deacons.
So altogether, we have functionally three roles in the local church, we have evangelists, elders or pastors, and deacons. Why do we need to know this? Because of what Paul said in verse 12. The leaders of the church are given by Christ for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying or building up of the body of Christ. Leaders equip others for ministry and build up the church.
The Additional Responsibility And Burden Of Church Leaders
We understand our individual responsibility as church members, but know this, church leaders, that is our pastors, teachers, and deacons are set apart by Christ specifically to equip others and build up the church, that means calling each of us to pursue righteous living and modeling Christ-like behavior themselves, that means teaching us to abide by God’s Word and hold to sound doctrine, that means obeying the Biblical mandate for church discipline in situations of unrepentant sin, and yes that means maintaining the unity of the church. Our church leaders play a crucial role in maintaining unity by serving as examples of integrity, humility, and selflessness. Our church leaders seek and protect our unity. But if God gave us protectors, there must be something, or someone to protect it against.
Know this church, we have a very real enemy, 1 Peter 5:8 reminds us that the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
The Devil Will Use Your Preferences And Gossip To Disrupt Unity
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
Know that he is cunning and deceitful. He will exploit any weakness he can find. He will seek to ruin your relationships and divide the church over petty preferences, small arguments, and backstabbing gossip. Don’t let the devil use you to attack God’s church. Shift your focus from serving yourself to serving others and putting their needs first. When we shift our focus from serving ourselves to serving others, the church becomes stronger and more unified. Look at what Philippians 2:1-4 teaches us,
1 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
Transition From Personal Responsibility To Beacon of Unity - Point One
The Scripture commands us to walk worthy and demonstrate a higher level of character than the rest of the world. Scripture calls us to be different, to stick out, to honor God by our words and actions. We the church are called to be different, to be a light in the darkness, a shining city on a hill, a beacon of unity in a world of division.
The Church Is A Beacon Of Unity In A World Of Division
The Church Is A Beacon Of Unity In A World Of Division
Point number one this evening, the church is a beacon of unity in a world of division. Turning back to our main Scripture Ephesians 4:4-6 says,
4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Callback To Jesus Unity Prayer
We see again our call to be one. To be unified. To follow the model of one that Jesus has set before us and prayed that we would be. Remember back in John 17:20-23 where we read, Jesus prayed that we would be one so that “the world may believe that You have sent me” and “the world may know that you have sent me, and have loved them as you have loved me.”
Our Unity Is Unique Application
Jesus prayed that we would be one, that we would be unified because unity brings glory to The Father. In our world which is filled with division, chaos, and fighting, unity is weird, it sticks out, it’s different. Our unity is special because it is a gift of God working in us by His Spirit and if we pursue Jesus’ model of unity, nothing else in this world can compare or compete.
Comparing Ephesus Context To Ours - Modern Day Illustration
If we look back at the book of Ephesians, we can see that the context or setting that Paul is addressing in Ephesus is very similar to what we deal with as Christians today. Paul called the church at Ephesus to be unified in the middle of a chaotic divisive city. The city of Ephesus ranked with Rome as one of the most influential cities of its day. It was a hub of international tourism and trade boasting ports, trading centers, monuments, theaters, and one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the temple of Artemis. Ephesus was a city of wealth and magic. The church at Ephesus under the leadership and teaching of Paul actively spoke out against idol worship, undermining the economy of the whole city. In fact, because of their faithfulness, the city declined to the point of rioting in the streets which was recorded in Acts 19.
I don’t think I have to point out too much about our world, our country, or even our city to recognize that we live in chaotic, divisive times as well. The wars between Russia and Ukraine and Israel and Gaza are still raging and we have people here at home choosing sides and rioting here over which side deserves to win. We have political pressure mounting between America, The Middle East, Russia, China, and North Korea. We have political pressure here at home fighting over the coming presidential election and all of the controversy surrounding the candidates and their positions. It’s no wonder that Christians are afraid to speak out, to show up, and to preach what we know to be true from The Word of God.
Persecution Personal Illustration
I work at our Somerset Walmart and I can honestly say there have been times I have shared The Gospel with someone or spoken about my beliefs and what The Bible teaches on issues such as abortion or LGBT and I’ve wondered if I was on the list to get fired for stating my beliefs at work.
Persecution And Our Calling Application
Listen if you unapologetically share God’s Word, you will be persecuted. Jesus said in John 16:33, reading from the NIV.
33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Persecution against the church isn’t coming, if you step outside of the walls of the church, it’s here. But we can’t back down from the call to preach, teach, and evangelize with the truths of God’s Word. We must be unapologetic and intentional to share The Word of God. That doesn’t mean we shove it in people’s faces, but we meet them where they are with grace, mercy, and forgiveness. Like Jesus did, we meet their needs where they are, establish relationships with them, have compassion and mercy towards them, and then we extend our comfort and care as we share the love and hope of Christ.
We are called in The Great Commission of Matthew 28 to go to the ends of the Earth to make disciples, baptize, and teach. We are called to enjoy fellowship together and disciple one another in the safety of the church but to then go together for the work of evangelism, meeting lost people with the hope of The Gospel and inviting them into a personal relationship with Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. We must first be unified together as God’s people in a local church, a beacon of unity, and then we go out together to build intentional bridges of unity.
Build Intentional Bridges Of Unity
Build Intentional Bridges Of Unity
Point number two, we must build intentional bridges of unity. Look back to our main Scripture Ephesians 4:13
13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness.
We seek unity together in the faith, equipping one another and working in cooperation with The Spirit of God, to grow in our knowledge of Scripture, and to grow into maturity as measured by the character of Christ. The key to church unity is the body of Christ seeking to live like Christ! To live like Christ is to love other people, to truly genuinely care about them, to leave our self-centeredness behind and take genuine interest in the lives and struggles of other people. I’m talking about establishing real relationships.
“As You Are Going” Make Disciples - Build Relationships
The Great Commission commands us to go. This can be best understood as “as you are going” make disciples. As you go throughout your lives participating in the local church God has placed you in, as you interact with the friends and family God has given you, and you go to school or work interacting with peers and coworkers that God has placed you among, honor Him by establishing relationships with these people. Have casual conversation with them, take genuine interest in their stories, in their families, in their hopes, dreams, and struggles.
Look for opportunities as you get to know someone to turn the conversation to spiritual matters and eventually, plainly share The Good News of The Gospel with them. It doesn’t have to be forced or feel fake. If you take a genuine interest in other people and you know the hope that is found in Christ, you’ll have a desire in your heart to share your faith with those around you, God will equip you by His Spirit with the words to say, and when the time is right He will create the opportunity, if you’re praying and looking for it.
Listen to me, here’s a word of warning for all of us, never assume just cause you work beside someone for years, that they’re a Christian if you’ve never asked them.
Walmart Relationships Illustration
I mentioned Walmart earlier and I’m gonna do it again because that is a mission field that God has placed me in at this time in my life. Some days I do better than others but I am regularly praying and watching for opportunities as I work alongside my fellow associates, to turn the conversation into spiritual matters when the time is right, to pray with them, to share The Gospel with them, or to invite them to church. I’ve had multiple opportunities to share The Gospel or at least have spiritual conversations with associates on my team, fellow managers, and even some of my bosses. This past week I decided one night to take a break from writing this sermon to go to Walmart and interact with one particular associate with the purpose of sharing The Gospel with them. Not only did I get to pray for them and present The Gospel Message, but another associate joined the conversation and I was able to share with them too. Before I left Walmart, I had shared The Gospel with two associates and prayed for six and that’s with having organic conversations thanks to relationships that had already been built. It wasn’t faked or forced.
Relationships Application
We tell others about the love of Christ and we demonstrate that love ourselves in our relationships with them, we invite them into a relationship with Jesus and then we surround them with the fellowship of the church to care for them, disciple them, and invite them into the work of The Kingdom. By our unity, our love, and our service to one another we can stick out in a world of division and become a beacon of unity, reaching out and building intentional bridges of unity, and inviting lost souls to come and see what we’re about and what makes us so different.
Once we’ve established our church as a beacon of unity, we’ve went out to build intentional bridges of unity, now we can use those relationships, to bring comfort and care to those who are lost and hopeless in a world of chaos and division.
Unity In The Church Brings Comfort And Care
Unity In The Church Brings Comfort And Care
Point number three, our last point, unity in the church brings comfort and care. Look back at Ephesians 4:14-16
14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,
15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—
16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
The Goal Of Unity
The goal of unity is to work together trusting in The Spirit, building up one another in love, equipping one another with God's Word, so that we may come to fullness in Christ and reflect Christlike character.
A Church Of Unity Provides A Shelter Of Comfort And Care
Once we reach unity in the faith and in knowledge of Christ Jesus and we begin living according to the character of Christ, the church becomes a strong shelter, protecting us from the chaos and division of the world. We comfort and care for one another, expressing our love in our words and actions. And the body of Christ grows in strength and in number.
As a body we are members of one another, called to care for each other. We are to teach and admonish, instruct, speak truthfully in love, encourage, build up, and stir up one another. We care by comforting, bearing burdens, serving, being hospitable, pursuing genuine fellowship, and seeking the good of one another.As the body of Christ we exhort, forgive, sing with, rejoice, admonish, pray for, commit, and help one another.
When we are united as believers, each of us growing in our faith together and every member contributing to the growth of the body, we are no longer vulnerable to the chaos and division of the world. Instead, we find stability and protection within the body of Christ. In our unity, we support one another, providing spiritual shelter and emotional care during life’s storms.
Our Shelter Entices Others To Join To Receive The Same Love
As we experience this comfort, we express our peace, joy, and love in our interactions and relationships with lost people. We extend the same unity and care that we receive, inviting those outside to experience the peace and protection that Christ offers through His redemptive work on the cross. We care for souls because God gave us his church to be his community of care, his Word as our guide for care, and his Spirit as the strength of our care. In a world overwhelmed by conflict, the unified church becomes a beacon of hope, where people can find rest, healing, and community. Our unity is both a comfort to us and a witness to others, showing the world the transformative power of Christ’s love.
Conclusion
We build unity by setting aside our differences, seeking peace and love, and serving others to the glory of God. We demonstrate our unity by sharing in baptism and The Lord’s Supper, by gathering together for worship, for teaching and preaching, for weddings, for funerals, by serving together. We protect our unity by prayerfully electing leaders in the church who God has called to equip us, to build up the church, and to protect our unity. This is how we show the world that our church is a beacon of unity. We then go out to intentionally build bridges of unity, establishing caring relationships with lost people, and finally we use those relationships to offer comfort and care in a world of chaos and division by sharing the hope and love of Christ.
Before we pray, let me end by giving you some clear application. Obviously, we must accept our individual responsibility, pursue Christlike character, pursue peace with one another, serve together, and go establish relationships to bring the hope of Christ. I hope you will do that. But I want to ask you to do a few things on the administration side of the church that will set your church up for success and put you on track to maintain unity. Number one, make sure your church as a clear vision and mission statement, meaning know what your church is set out to do. Your mission statement should closely follow The Great Commission to go and make disciples but your vision statement says “this is what God has specifically gifted our church to do at this current time”. It’s what makes your church unique from the church down the street. Number two, make sure your church has a member covenant, a document that all members sign saying these are the requirements to become and stay a member at our church. Make sure your church has a clear statement of faith, this is what our church believes about God, Christ, The Bible, and so on. Make sure your church has and upholds its’ bylaws, saying this is the structure of our church, how we do our work, and how we hold accountability. Make sure these three documents are clear and public. They will protect the church legally from a world that wants to attack us and they will promote unity within the church, if done right. Finally number three, have a clear documented process for how your church enforces the Biblical mandate for church discipline. Church discipline is necessary to safeguard unity, address sin, and foster repentance and reconciliation. I hope you will do that.
Let us close in prayer and then we will go into a time of invitation for those who need prayer or have a decision to make to come forward. The altar is open if you simply wish to come.
CLOSING PRAYER