Greater Unitity: working together for Greater Things:

Announcements:

The $10 gift cards sign in the community room

Next week is the last day to bring in your Operation Christmas Child Boxes

Share story about how little girl asked Amy if she was the one who sent her box the year before and how much they loved receiving the gift.

BAPTISM NEXT SUNDAY- Nov 17th After church at the Lake

We are moving and we need all hands on Deck - In the foyer are sign up sheets for everyone to get involved. - If you are willing and able to be part of the moving the cleaning and the fixing please sign up so that we can start setting everything up.

FINALLY

VETERANS DAY SPEACH

Today, we pause with hearts full of gratitude to honor our veterans—men and women who have answered the call to protect our freedoms.

They come from different places, with different stories, but all share a common courage, sacrificing time, comfort, and safety so we can live in a land of liberty.

As Christians, we recognize the deep love shown in their willingness to lay down their lives for others.

Jesus said, "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends."

Our veterans embody this selfless love, putting others above themselves.

For many, this love and sacrifice has come with scars we cannot see—of battles fought, nights endured, and memories that linger.

Toady We thank them for their courage, for every hardship they bore, and every moment they spent away from family to ensure ours were safe.

We honor their dedication, and we lift them up to the Lord, asking Him to bring peace, healing, and strength to every veteran among us.

If you are a veteran her this morning would you stand so that we can give you the honor that you deserve.

Clap

Every one stands-

Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we thank You for these brave men and women who have served. Bless them abundantly, protect them, and may they know how deeply loved and appreciated they are. In Jesus' name, Amen.

SONG SERVICE

Introduction: The Family Road Trip and the Importance of Unity

You know, I was thinking this week about family road trips. Remember those?

Everyone crammed into the car, bags piled high, snacks being passed around, drinks spilling, and the whole family trying to make it from Point A to Point B in one piece.

But then, inevitably, it starts: “Mom, he’s on my side!” “Dad, she’s taking up all the legroom!” He will not stop looking at me, “Can we listen to different music I dont like this one.!”

It’s funny how, in just a short time, a fun family adventure can start to feel like a battleground over territory and who gets to control the aux cord!

And in that moment, all you want to remind everyone is, “Hey, we’re all in the same car here, heading in the same direction! Let’s just enjoy the ride together!”

Now, as we prepare to move into our new church building, I can’t help but see a little parallel here.

We’re all packed in and ready for this next leg of our journey as a church family.

Sure, some of us might have different ideas about how to make the trip a little more comfortable.

Maybe we won’t argue over legroom or music, but we might have different opinions on colors, room usage, or ministry styles. And that’s normal!

But today, as we dive into our second message of the “Greater Things” series, we’re going to look at what God says about unity in the church.

Because just like a family on a road trip, we’re all heading in the same direction, and we’re in this together.

Our mission is to reach more people, make and equip more disciples, so that we will bring more glory to God.

And church, we want to make sure we don’t let small things—like the color of the carpet, the shade of the paint, or any detail that isn’t central to this mission—distract us from that unity.

Turn with me in your Bibles to Eph. chapter 4

Where we will see the characteristics of Unity, the Foundation of our Unity and the purpose of our Unity

Paul Begins with he Characteristics of Unity in the church

Point I: The Characteristics of Unity

Look with me at verses 1-2

Ephesians 4:1–3 (ESV)

1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Paul Begins by urging the church to “walk worthy of the calling by which you have been called”.

To walk worthy doesn’t mean to prove ourselves worthy of God’s love—that’s something we could never earn.

It means to live in a way that reflects the value and significance of what Christ has done for us.

it means to exemplify Christ in our lives-

And what Paul says in verse 3 is that one of the primary ways we walk worthy is by protecting unity within the body of Christ.

Unity is an attitude—a mindset that’s rooted in humility and an others-centered focus.

True unity in the church begins when we let go of “me-first” thinking and embrace an “others-first” attitude.

Jesus modeled this perfectly.

He humbled Himself,

served those around Him,

and laid down His life for us.

In the same way, we are called to take on this attitude of Christ and put the needs, the perspectives, and the well-being of others before our own.

To walk in unity, is Hard work- and Paul says if we want to truly be unified as a church then we each must embrace specific characteristics He mentions in vers2

But understand that Each one of these traits is a choice, and each one helps us to put others first as we pursue unity together.

Look at what he mentions firs tin verse 2

Ephesians 4:2 ESV

2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

Humility

Humility is the foundation of unity. It’s the choice to put others before ourselves, to value their perspectives and contributions.

Humility recognizes that we are not the center, that all things revolve around.

and it doesn’t demand to be right or to have things done our way.

It acknowledges that our brothers and sisters in Christ are valuable and that they, too, have a role and purpose.

Humility is essential in any community, but especially in the church, because it’s where we follow Jesus’ example of laying down His life.

Humility says, “I don’t have to be noticed. I don’t need the credit. I’m here to serve and to build others up.”

Paul goes on and He says Unity Requires the characteristic of

Gentleness

Gentleness, or meekness, is often misunderstood as weakness, but nothing could be further from the truth.

Gentleness is strength under control.

It’s the ability to respond to others in a calm, respectful way, even when emotions are high. Even when the other person is speaking untruthful words

In church life, we face all kinds of disagreements.

We’ll have different ideas, and sometimes we get frustrated with one another.

But gentleness reminds us to respond with grace.

Gentleness protects unity because it chooses to build bridges rather than burn them down.

It chooses the peace of the body over the satisfaction of “winning” an argument.

Next Paul tells us that this must be done with Patience

Patience

Patience with people can be one of the greatest tests of our character as a Christian.

It’s like standing in line at the grocery store behind someone who just can’t seem to figure out the self-checkout.

You’re watching them scan the same item ten times, trying to figure out why it’s not working, and then—after they finally scan their last item—they pull out a huge stack of coupons and start sorting them one by one.

looking for anything that matches their groceries.

Meanwhile, you’re standing there praying, “Lord, give me strength, Help me not explode!”

In the church, patience often looks like this too.

We’re all works in progress, and sometimes we’ll run into people who test our patience in all sorts of ways.

But true patience means sticking with each other, offering up grace, and choosing to walk together in love.

Patience is the ability to endure discomfort without complaint, to bear with one another in love, even when it’s hard.

Patience means that we don’t give up on each other, even when we’re not on the same page.

Patience gives grace for growth and space for God to work in others, and this protects unity.

Paul goes on and says to truly have the characteristic of Unity we must…

Bearing with One Another in Love

Bearing with one another is more than simply putting up with each other. Its more than saying we will agree to disagree.

It’s a proactive, compassionate commitment to walk alongside each other. Especially when it gets tough

When Paul says to bear with one another “in love,” he’s calling us to love as Christ loves us—with sacrificial, steadfast, unchanging love.

This love isn’t based on whether someone else is easy to love;

it’s based on the commitment we’ve made to love them as Christ loves us.

When we bear with one another in love, we create a place where unity can thrive because we’re no longer focused on each other’s faults or failures.

Instead, we’re focused on lifting each other up.

– Finally, in verse 3 Paul calls us to “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”

Ephesians 4:3 (ESV)

3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Eagerness to Maintain Peace

This isn’t just a casual suggestion; it’s a command to be intentional about protecting unity in the church.

Keeping peace is a proactive pursuit. It means we don’t wait for issues to arise but choose, every day, to build each other up.

No matter what!!!

Church if we want unity as we move forward, we must make the choices now in our own hearts to seek reconciliation and to forgive even when its hard.

We must make the choice now to let go of offenses rather than hold on to them.

Friends, It’s this kind of intentional effort that creates an environment where peace and unity are protected, even when the going gets tough.

Church family - These characteristics aren’t just “nice to have” in a church—they’re essential.

They’re the foundation of unity.

And It’s Only When we embrace humility, gentleness, patience, love, and an eagerness for peace, that we will build up the Unity in the church,

In John 13 Jesus said

John 13:35 (ESV)

35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Church -our unity doesn't just help us get along in the church it proclaims the gospel to the world.

As we prepare to move into our new building, these attitudes will be tested.

There will be decisions and preferences that differ, but if we choose humility, gentleness, patience, love, and peace, we can protect the unity of our church.

And this unity will allow us to walk worthy of our calling, to reach more people, to equip more disciples, and to step into the “greater things” God has planned for us.

But unity doesn’t just come from our attitudes; it’s grounded in the foundation we share in Christ.

Paul in the next 3 veres , reminds us that we are united because of what we have in common as the redeemed church of God!

Look with me at the next three veres in Eph. 4:4-6

Ephesians 4:4–6 (ESV)

4 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.

Point II: The Foundation of Unity – Seven “One” Statements

Text: Ephesians 4:4-6 Orchestra Illustration

Over the past few years, I’ve gone to my fair share of school orchestra concerts to support some of the kids from our church.

And let me tell you, there is a radical difference between the fifth-grade orchestra and the high school orchestra.

Now, don’t get me wrong—I’m sure those fifth-graders are giving it their all!

But when they start playing, it’s as if each instrument has its own idea of what the song should sound like.

The violins are squeaking, the cellos are rumbling in their own key, and the poor kid with the cymbals is usually just a beat behind.

It’s well-intentioned, but “harmony” isn’t exactly the word that comes to mind when I sit there!

Now Fast forward a few years to the high school orchestra, and it’s a totally different experience.

Those same kids are playing the same instruments and even sometimes the same songs- but now they’re in sync.

They’re following the conductor, blending their individual parts into one beautiful, powerful sound.

Each musician knows their role, and together they create something that’s much more than any one instrument could produce alone.

They are in Harmony and the sound is sweetness to your ears!

In the same way, Ephesians 4:4-6, describes the kind of unity that the mature body of Christ should have- through a powerful list of seven “one” statements.

Let’s walk through these seven Oneness Statements together this morning

Paul Begins By saying “there is one Body”

One Body

The body of Christ includes all believers, from Pentecost in the Book of Acts to the future Rapture.

The moment we accept Jesus as Savior, we become part of this united body.

In 1 Corinthians 12:12-20, Paul explains how, just like a physical body, the church has many parts, and each one is essential.

Can you Imagine if your foot suddenly decided it didn’t want to support you anymore because it wasn’t the head! (act it out)

Or if your eyes were jealous of your mouth and told your hand to put the food in them instead of your mouth. That makes no sense does it?

Without each part doing its job, the body falls apart—

Paul’s point is this: every part has a purpose, and when each part works together, the body functions as it should.

God has given each of us unique gifts and talents to use for the good of the body.

And when we work together—each part doing what it was created to do—we accomplish God’s purposes in unity and harmony.

Friends There’s no such thing as “spiritual retirement” or unnecessary body parts in Christ’s church.

We’re all essential, and together we make up one unified body, working together for One Mission

We maintain unity by recognizing that we are one body, each contributing to the greater mission of Christ.

Paul goes on and says there is….

One Spirit

The Holy Spirit who lives in me is the very same Spirit who lives in you. He isn’t just a distant presence; He’s our guide, our comforter, and our source of strength every day.

It’s this Spirit that brings us together in a way that nothing else can.

He works within each of us, transforming our hearts and aligning our lives with God’s purpose.

It’s through His power that we’re equipped to serve, to love, and to reach others with the gospel.

So, when we come together as the body of Christ, it’s not just our own efforts that unify us—it’s the Holy Spirit God Himself moving through each of us, knitting us together as one.

He’s the energy and strength behind our unity, empowering us as one Church to do far more together than we ever could alone

Ephesians 4:4 (ESV)

4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—

One Hope

We share the same hope—the “blessed hope” of the glorious return of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Church This isn’t just a fleeting hope; it’s the promise of eternal life in Him.

it’s This hope that keeps us looking forward together, reminding us that what binds us in Christ is far greater than anything that could ever separate us here on this earth..

In verse 5 Paul says we serve One LORD

One Lord

Jesus is our Lord, the ultimate authority and ruler over our lives.

No one else deserves our deepest allegiance, and nothing else should ever come between us and our commitment to Him.

He is the one we follow,

He is the example we seek to imitate,

and He is the one whose commands we strive to obey.

When we all submit to Christ as Lord, our differences fade in light of His greatness, and we find true unity under His lordship.

We have One Lord, We have….

One Faith

Our faith is the foundation that connects us to God and to each other.

It’s the belief in the same gospel, the same truths about Christ’s death and resurrection, and the same hope of salvation by grace through faith.

We stand together on these shared, unchanging doctrines that define us as followers of Jesus.

We have One Lord One faith and ONE BAPTISM.

One Baptism – We’ve all been baptized into Christ, identifying as part of His body.

Committing our lives to the glory of the Same God-

This shared experience unites us as His church, reminding us of our commitment to follow Him with all our lives..

Finally, we are united as children of the same Father, the Creator of all and the one who calls each of us His own

One God and Father

As His children, we’re not just part of a church; we’re part of a family, brothers and sisters bound together by the love of our Father.

He has adopted us into His family, calling us to live for His glory, His mission, and His purpose.

This isn’t about our individual desires but about His kingdom, His will, and His plans.

Friends Because we are loved by God, we are also called to love one another with that same love, living out our purpose as a unified family committed to glorifying our Father together.

WRAP UP ON THIS POINT

These seven “ones” lay a powerful foundation for our unity. They remind us that, no matter how different we are, we are bound together by the same Spirit, hope, faith, and purpose.

Each “one” anchors us in Christ, drawing us closer to each other and equipping us to fulfill His mission.

This unity isn’t about simply getting along—it’s about being deeply connected by a common faith, a shared purpose, and the same God and Father who calls us His own.

And that brings us to the purpose of this unity.

Look with me briefly at veres 15- 16 Where Paul tells us why Unity matters in the church,

Ephesians 4:15–16 (ESV)

15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Point III: The Purpose of Unity – Growing Together in Christ

unity is not just about getting along; it’s about becoming the mature, complete body of Christ.

When we’re united, Paul says, we “grow in every respect” into Christ.

That means we’re growing in faith, in love, and in purpose, moving together toward a greater impact.

How many of you have seen little Jeb and Noah, two of our youngest church attenders, just learning to walk, They are wobbling all over the place, Its so precious!!! And what are the adults doing - We are watchng oveer them making sure they dont bonk their heads or fall down the stairs, We are training them up!

Learning to walk doesn't happen over night it takes a lot of time and a lot of support and encouragement from their moms and dads. It takes mautre people coming aling side the immature in unity.

In the same way, as the church, we need time, support, and connection to grow into the full maturity God desires for us.

It’s our unity that holds us together and keeps us moving forward, step by step.

Two things stand out in these verses:

Unity Leads to Maturity:

Paul compares the church to a body, with each part held together and supported by the others.

Just like Jeb and Noah need every part of their body working together to stay upright and moving, we need each part of our church body supporting and strengthening one another.

Unity allows us to grow strong and function as we should, but maturity doesn’t happen instantly. It’s something we pursue as we serve together, each part doing its role.

Unity Prepares Us for Greater Things:

Unity is what equips us to reach more people and make a lasting impact.

When we’re united and growing in maturity, we’re able to handle the challenges that come with growth.

We’re ready to disciple more, reach more, and fulfill the mission God has given us with confidence and strength.

BRING IT HOME

Church We are called to something far greater.

Our mission is not about our preferences; it’s about making and equipping more disciples.

This move into a new facility isn’t just about having more space; it’s about having more opportunities to reach more people with the love of Christ.

And that can only happen if we’re united as one body, empowered by one Spirit, sharing one hope, serving one Lord, proclaiming one faith, joined by one baptism, and grounded in the love of one God and Father of all.

(This is our call to action: )

let’s commit today to guard our unity. Let’s purpose in our hearts that we will put aside anything that could distract us or divide us.

Let’s choose humility, gentleness, patience, and love.

Let’s focus on what truly matters: growing in Christ, reaching our community, and equipping each other for the work of the ministry.

Imagine what God can do through a church that is fully united and wholly committed to His mission.

Imagine the impact we can have when every person here finds their role and serves with their whole heart.

Imagine the lives that will be changed, the families that will be strengthened, and the souls that will be saved When we are the church that God intended His church to Be!

Church, greater things are ahead for us, but they will only come if we commit to walking in unity.

Pray