Christian Commonality

Proverbs 6:6–8 “6 Go to the ant, you slacker! Observe its ways and become wise. 7 Without leader, administrator, or ruler, 8 it prepares its provisions in summer; it gathers its food during harvest.”

Throughout history and across the nations, Christians have shared a profound commonality that unites their minds, materials, and mission.

1. Brothers and sisters in Christ your hearts and minds must be united. 

United in your self

Deuteronomy 6:4–7 “4 “Listen, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. 7 Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

Romans 12:2 “2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.”

1 Corinthians 2:14 “14 But the person without the Spirit does not receive what comes from God’s Spirit, because it is foolishness to him; he is not able to understand it since it is evaluated spiritually.”

United in the church

1 Corinthians 1:10 “10 Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, that there be no divisions among you, and that you be united with the same understanding and the same conviction.”

Ephesians 4:1–6 “1 Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope at 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 all.”

1 Peter 3:8 “8 Finally, all of you be like-minded and sympathetic, love one another, and be compassionate and humble,”  

Philippians 2:2–3 “2 make my joy complete by thinking the same way, having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves.”

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 4

v.33 and great grace was on all of them

It was God Grace on them that gave them to courage to be united.

Courage in the proclamation

Courage in the Public witness

Courage in the Position

Courage in Prayer

Courage with the Provisions

2. Brothers and sisters in Christ your material possessions can be used for an eternal purpose. 

The Christians view of possessions must not be based on ownership but stewardship, not on greed but need, not fashion but family, not selfish but self less.

Proverbs 19:17 “17 Kindness to the poor is a loan to the Lord, and he will give a reward to the lender.”

Proverbs 21:13 “13 The one who shuts his ears to the cry of the poor will himself also call out and not be answered.”

Proverbs 21:17 “17 The one who loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and oil will not get rich.”

Proverbs 22:2 “2 Rich and poor have this in common: the Lord makes them all.”

Proverbs 22:9 “9 A generous person will be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.”

Proverbs 23:4–5 “4 Don’t wear yourself out to get rich; because you know better, stop! 5 As soon as your eyes fly to it, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky.”

2 Corinthians 8:7–15 “7 Now as you excel in everything—in faith, speech, knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love for us—excel also in this act of grace. 8 I am not saying this as a command. Rather, by means of the diligence of others, I am testing the genuineness of your love. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: Though he was rich, for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. 10 And in this matter I am giving advice because it is profitable for you, who began last year not only to do something but also to want to do it. 11 Now also finish the task, so that just as there was an eager desire, there may also be a completion, according to what you have. 12 For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. 13 It is not that there should be relief for others and hardship for you, but it is a question of equality. 14 At the present time your surplus is available for their need, so…”

Matthew 19:21–30 “21 “If you want to be perfect,” Jesus said to him, “go, sell your belongings and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard that, he went away grieving, because he had many possessions. 23 Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were utterly astonished and asked, “Then who can be saved?” 26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” 27 Then Peter responded to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you. So what will there be for us?” 28 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging…”

1 John 3:17 “17 If anyone has this world’s goods and sees a fellow believer in need but withholds compassion from him—how does God’s love reside in him?”

Proverbs 21:3 “3 Doing what is righteous and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.”

John 13:35 “35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.””

3. Brothers and sisters in Christ your mission is to advance the Kingdom of God through word and deed.