Be One

Good Morning Family, I’m Ps. Andrew one of the pastors here at Hope Valley Church and today we are continuing our sermon series on the “Vibrant Christian Life”.

The first part was the Vibrant Christian Life FOLLOWING JESUS and part two will be the Vibrant Christian Life WITH HIS PEOPLE.

So today our passage of scripture that we will study together will come from Ephesians 4:1-6. Now our scripture reader Wayne will set the pace by reading versus 1-3 and we will all read versus 4,5, and 6 together, because PARTICIPATION IS BETTER THAN OBSERVATION.

If you have ever seen the movie Mean Girls there are countless hilarious scenes in it, but in the beginning of the movie, there is a montage of all the different cliques in the school cafeteria.

And as the camera and narrator pan from table to table, group to group, the central character in the movie is faced with a decision of where should she sit.

Wondering which group does she belong to? OR Where does she want to belong?

This makes us ponder the questions. What extent are we willing to go through to belong? Why do I do the things i do to belong? Where can I feel safe?

This is a question that many people in our society are asking.

Scientists have seen in numerous studies that INDICATE there is a deep desire for belonging and interconnectedness at play with humans.

In addition, scientists have found that there are tremendous benefits when humans feel connected and really negative impacts when we are separated.

To expound on this even more at a time where we are probably connected to the world more than ever through the internet, cell phones, and social media, Society as a whole we feel very alone.

According to the data, Denver is in the top 30 places in America for the loneliest.

On top of that, Colorado is ranked 7th in the nation for suicide and get this, Denver is NUMBER 1 in worst places to raise a child.

Well how could that be there are so many things to do. I mean Colorado is where you go to live your best life: mountains, sunday mimosas, and more money so i can do more activities.

Plus its so accepting of almost anything. BUT clearly something is missing.

The truth is you can do alot of activities and still be depressed.

You can be around alot of people and still be

lonely.

You can agree with alot of things and still not be

encouraging.

What are we missing? What does this have to do with my vibrant Christian Life?

Well, It's inevitable that after you give your life to Christ; get baptized; set on fire for God.

After people start to notice a change in you AND you read your Bible more than once a year

That at some point the honeymoon phase of becoming a Christian goes away and you say there's got to be more.

And where I would say that Jesus and Jesus alone is all that you need he has given us more to sustain us until he returns.

So to explore this thought I have titled this message B1. and of course i got 3 points. B1 of the called. B1 of the maintainers. B1 body (points for me only matter to help you remember)

So 1st point B1 of the Called.

The word for call or a form of it is used in our passaged 4 times in 6 verses. Anytime you see something repeated that’s important.

What are we called to? What does it mean?

Called means to identify and reach out to. Back in the old days before cell phones you would have to call 411 to get someones number and reach out to them.

But God knows exactly who he wants and thats us.

And he has been diligent and meticulous with how he has interacted AND called his creation throughout history.

Now the Bible speaks calling to salvation through Jesus AND special gifts.

BUT the CALLING we will focus on today is God calls us together, collectively.

In the Old Testament, God calls the entire nation of Israel to be priests (Exodus 19:6) and similarly in the new testament, the church under Jesus is called to be a kingdom and priest (1 Peter 2:9, Revelation 5:10 )

In fact, the Greek word for “church” translated in the New Testament means “a Called-Out assembly.” The Ecclesia.

The ecclesia is filled with saints. AND the saints are you.

NOW If you got a Catholic background saints were reserved for special people

But in the traditional since saints were referred to believers of Jesus who are now set apart and called upon to live holy lives worthy of their calling to salvation.

When we say saint, there not another group of more perfect people who are going to appear for us.

NO, the saints are us sinners whom Christ redeemed by his own work, that are now called to enact the mission of God in the world as our response.

AND This collective call of ALL of God's people

Across ALL nations UNIFIED

Under God is the mystery of His manifold wisdom.

Do you realize how hard that is to accomplish? To get that many people to be on one accord?

Let alone to be Holy and set apart to show our God's grace AND mercy in how we treat each other.

My two sons don't even agree on anything and they are blood related.

But there in lies a problem. If we are called together that means I got to deal with other people. (Introverts sink down in your chairs).

This is probably why some people have settled for an individualistic Christianity.

Now we say we want community but we also avoid it at the same time.

Why? Because its messy. ESPECIALLY in a multi-BLANK church.

Because there’s cultural differences, ethnic differences, economical differences, generational differences

Not to mention attitudes, time commitment. Aint no body got time for that.

Plus its hard because I’m a sinner and you are too.

Now where there is difficulty we cant deny there is something uniquely special about the multi-faceted (or manifold) way of God love expressed in the church.

I have probably had some version of this conversation with many of you at some point and time.

You say, Wow this church is so diverse in leadership and in people, its so welcoming and everyone is so caring and gets along.

We also gets its not stock photos on your website

Then you say, BUT I been hurt before by churches AND this seems too good to be true, so when is the bottom going to fall out.

People have UNFORTUNATELY not committed to the body of Christ, because of past hurt, past experiences where the church has let them down.

And honestly I don't blame them. Those people need real time to heal from the hurt that have come from leaders and churches.

If thats you, please reach out to someone on our connect team or any of our leaders.

We have some real tangible healthy resources that we can connect you with and get you back on track to be whole again.

BUT it is so sad that God’s people have been beaten, fooled, tricked so many times that they are now battered Christians.

These people flinch every time you mention the word “church.”

I remember when we first got to colorado we hit the ground running. That was September 2019….

Anyway my wife and i were meeting people and one couple we that we found out were Christian, we invited them to come to dinner and bible study with us

And before I could finished my ask and the first words out of there mouth was “we are happy at our church”.

I was like woah i didn't even ask you about the church i just wanted to know if you would like to get together and study God's word. See what I mean battered Christian’s.

But anyway back to Hope Valley people, after people tell what they like about the church, they say I have seen this before and it always goes bad.

How do you make sure that doesn't happen here?

Well family I got good new and more good news. The good news is its not a me or PD or Ps. Megan requirement, its you and us requirement.

We maintain the unity.

To live a vibrant Christian Life with God’s people means we do our part to maintain this community of people.

God did the act of creating one family in Christ, but he invites His children to live in a manner that honors his work.

BUT.. trying to maintain the unity is like herding cats.

So many personalities, so many preferences, so many I know the right way to go and doesn't even include the multi-ethnic multi-generational challenge.

Which brings us to our next point B1 of the Maintainers.

A maintainer is someone who maintains something already established.

As we see in verse 3 of our text we don't create the unity BUT we have to make every effort to maintain it.

Somebody say that sounds like work.

Making every effort to maintain unity signifies that Unity is active, not passive (it doesn't just happen).

You got to work at it AND your vibrant Christian life with God’s people depends on it.

I think most people would agree its so much easier to do the Christian life without everybody else. (Especially my fellow introverts in the room.) Amen.

But a vibrant Christian Life is not fulfilled or even seen in solitude.

NO, the vibrant Christian life is unlocked when you do life and are unified with the Christian body.

Now if your saying to yourself, what is this community that you speak of?

Its any body in this church. If you don't have relationship with anyone in this church beyond a hi and bye on Sunday.

Find someone in this room right now and make a commitment to build relationship with them over time.

If you struggle to develop relationships because your an introvert like me. JOIN a Mid-group on our connect card it does most of the work for you.

BUT its something about gathering of the saints the gathering of God’s people that brings a whole new level of belonging out. Of safety out.

For those of you who were at the ENC conference a couple weeks ago, the experience of being with others who didn't LOOK like you

SOUND like you

BUT believed the same God as you,

WORSHIPPING him with you, and seeing miracles unfold together was probably a moment you will never forget.

I myself have experienced similar moments AND even for someone like me it lifts my soul and spirit,

Because it feels like this is what a church that looks like heaven must be like.

And when we experience these things we feel like we belong.

But Isn't that what we all want. A place I am seen, heard, understood EVEN IF I’m different.

BUT these moments would never be felt, IF there was not unity. (If we didn’t love each other in spite of our differences.)

This unity was so important Paul almost put some form of maintaining unity in all of the letters:

Romans 12:16

1 Corinthians 1:10

2 Corinthians 13:11

Galatians 5:13-15

Ephesians 4

Philippians 2:2

But why is maintaining unity so important?

I once heard Ps. Kevin York talk about the power of the unified church and I wont dare try and summarize it because I wont do it justice.

It was one of those things you just had to be there for, BUT one of the things I remember about it, is the enemy loves to keep the church scattered (even though the church still thrives when scattered - cuz God cant be stopped)

BUT He loves to keep the church scattered, because the enemy is afraid of what the unified body will do. What it accomplishes for the kingdom of God when they are ALL one accord.

This is why Unity is under constant threat.

The world preaches separation, love yourself, treat yourself, do whatever makes you happy and this gives you freedom. It may also leave you alone, because you only care about yourself and no one else.

Its different in the kingdom of God where a sense of self IS NOT neglected BUT highlighted and expressed uniquely in the collective people of God.

This type of Christian love is only seen when it is practiced as a reflection of God’s love in its varied dimensions.

Paul tries to highlight some of these in verse 2 when he talks about having attitudes of humility, gentleness, and patience to maintain unity.

But this alone, won't produce much without something outside of our sinful selves to hold it all together.

Which is why a unity that reflects God’s manifold wisdom is ONLY accomplished by the Holy Spirit’s bond.

This is why if we are going to be humble, gentle, show patience, bearing with one another we need to allow the Holy Spirit to guide us our thoughts and actions.

Because the Holy Spirit is peace. And helps us lovingly understand and tolerate one another EVEN WHEN we have differences.

So 1st pray for the Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts and actions as we conduct ourselves in the body of Christ.

Then practice Humility.

Humility means being willing to accept God as the authority over your life rather than insisting on being your own supreme authority.

It means you are willing to order your life in such a way to serve God by serving others. #joinaserviceteam.

In Greek culture though, humility was thought of as a vice, to be practiced only by slaves.

In fact, Christians were ridiculed for humility. Pride was actually more highly valued.

And I think our culture today still thinks this way, “Exalt yourself,” “Pamper yourself,” “Think about yourself first.”

Nothing wrong with taking care of yourself BUT when you ONLY think about yourself at the expense of Chritsian unity.

That is a problem! Pride means being filled with self. BUT Conversely, humility is being filled with God.

That means the church life does not exist for you, it exist for God.

Then we must practice Gentleness. Gentleness or meekness literally means “power under control.”

This is the opposite of self-assertion, rudeness, and harshness. It suggests having one’s emotions under control.

My wife loving jokes that she won’t kill me when I get on her last nerves because she got Jesus. (Latina Puerto Rican)

Gentleness is NOT exerting power even though you could to preserve something.

Depending on how gentle we are with each other we will either will encourage the body of Christ OR tear it apart.

Then we need patience.

Patience is believing God’s timetable is good, no matter what it is.

Whether quicker than you thought OR longer than you thought.

For those who know about my trip, back home over the holidays it was challenging to say the least.

Anyway on the last day, as we are trying to make our way to our family back in Virginia driving across the country my youngest begins to lose his patience.

And you all know the infamous line when kids are in a car, “are we there yet” was rolling every 30 minutes.

In his defense, it was a long trip, but he had gotten to the point where if he did not see his grandparents in the next 10 minutes (even though we were hours away) he made up the worst scenario that he was never going to see them again. He had lost his patience, his hope and he began to panic.

Now (long story short) we eventually got to see the family but it took some time.

Family if we are going to have patient love, we MUST endure annoyances and challenges over a period of time that is often not our time.

And finally we need to bear with one another in love.

This is not the same thing as keeping the peace, which too often implies unhealthy compromises.

Sometimes we need to say hard things. Sometimes we need to speak truth to lies that are holding some of us bond.

But we do it in way that is relational and caring.

AND when we receive things that are hard, we DONT set the house on fire (and say forget you guys I’m going home,)

But we assume the best in people first.

To bear with one another we must with patiently endure what may seem take what may seem like an eternity as the Holy Spirit brings sinful personalities together by Christ for Christ.

We practice all of these attitudes to fulfill the new commandment given to us by Jesus in John 13:34-35 that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

And by doing that and being one we ultimately bring glory to God.

Which brings us to our last point. B1 body (under One God).

Paul uses this word “one” (which means single unit in its context) 8 times in the 6 verses we read earlier. If you see a word repeated in scripture its important.

BUT why is “one” important here.

Well, in John 17:21-23 Jesus prays for his disciples as he gets ready to face the cross and bear the sins of the world for the world.

And its interesting that out of all the things he could pray for, he prays that they will be one.

Especially since in one chapter before he accurately predicts that they will desert him AND each other in fear.

Isn't that like us. That when things we get hard in our life or life doesn’t go our way, we run away from community and away from Jesus.

But here we see this should not be, as Jesus prays for the opposite. (Jesus doesn't pray)

Not that they will become rich or wealthy.

Not that they will never suffer, get sick, or die.

Not that they will be super skilled or do everything perfectly .

But that they will be one.

Similarly, Jesus after his resurrection and he gathered his his scattered disciples he commands his disciples to not depart from Jerusalem, BUT to wait patiently for power to go out and be witnesses.

Jesus again emphasizes being together, being one TO accomplish what HE commanded.

And this act also is a reference to a rhythm Ps. Megan talked about last week of coming to God and going out.

The body of Christ has a rhythm too, we come to church and we go out to our jobs.

We come into mid week groups and we go out into the community.

We come into prayer and worship nights and we go out into the world.

And if we look at this we can see the oneness of the trinity being expressed in the mission of God. God the Father sending the Son,

Father and the Son sending the Spirit,

AND the Father, Son, and Spirit sending the church into the world.

Us the church AND how we love each other, IS for the sake of the world AS A WITNESS to God’s Love

AND when WE ALSO share the gospel we tell others that this manifold love of God that they see in us, is also for them.

Our nation desperately needs to see God’s love and unity, because they are intent on ripping themselves apart in the name of their forced unity

For the body of Christ, IS NOT unity at any costs, BUT its Unity in Christ because he paid the cost.

Honestly, Christian Churches can be its own worst enemy with infighting, divisions, and scandals. This should not be.

If Christ is the uniting force in the universe, reconciling us to Himself and each other.

The body of Christ should ALWAYS manifest peace and not strife.

Safety and not fear. Because where the spirit of the lord is there is liberty, freedom, joy, peace, love. (thats what we have to offer)

I once heard Ps. Dihan Lee say it like this, the people of God should feel safer than any of the groups out in the world.

Where people could come and not where a mask, share their life story AND I will add be met with the beautiful truth of the gospel.

Ask yourself these questions this week family:

Are you creating an environment where others can share their story?

Do you try and remember people's names?

Do you try and let people see you and know you?

Alright I got to land this thing or they won’t let me preach again. (Worship team come on up)

Hope Valley we might just be an anomaly in the city of Denver for right now.

BUT as we grow, as we impact this city with the TRUTH of the gospel,

ITS GOING TO GET HARDER to maintain the UNITY in spite of age, color, ethnicity, life experiences, AND political preference

BUT we CHOOSE to do so because of Christ's love for us.

It is a choice to be unified. Its a choice to connect with this group of people (who DON’T look, sound, agree)

NOT by force, but by submission for God’s greater purpose in the earth.

AND as we practice Unity, we get a grace from within by the Holy Spirit.

Family, we don't just come to church on Sunday to check a box of holiness.

We have purpose in coming together, in being unified, in being One.

That benefits NOT just your vibrant life but also the lives of EVERYONE we’re trying to reach.

Let’s be a force of Love that the gates of hell cannot prevail against.

I'm tired of Denver being ranked as one of the loneliest places to live,

for being the highest suicide rates in the country.

For people aimlessly searching for groups to accept them

I want the people of God TO reflect the father’s image in such a way

THAT the people out there, WILL SEE the longing to be apart of something is found ONLY in Jesus.

THAT God so loved the world he ALREADY Gave his son (Jesus), BUT he has also given us a people and HIS Holy Spirit to wait for his triumphant return.

To support us in our hardest times,

to encourage us when we want to give up,

to affirm us as a child of God before we are affirmed as anything else.

Family in order to live our best vibrant life, we must do it the way the creator designed it, by following him first and being one with his people.

Lets pray.