A Christ-Centered Community

Text References: John 17:20-21; John 10:16; Colossians 3:11; Galatians 3:28; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17; Romans 12:5; 2 Corinthians 13:11; 1 Corinthians 1:10

Good morning church! Good morning to those of you joining us on the LIVE stream. We are glad to have the technology that enables those who can’t get out or those who live far away to worship with us.

Thank you music team for leading us into this time of worship. Now they just got us started, Worship is not over yet! I want to remind you that we are gathered here this morning in the strong name of our Savior and LORD Jesus Christ. If that is not cause for worship and celebration I don’t know what is!

We are in the midst of a series we started several weeks ago now that we are simply calling, “Community”, in which we are exploring what it would look like for us to follow the Spirit.… extend grace ...and demonstrate the love of Christ in the church. What would THAT community of believers look like, and how might we impact the world around us if we actually lived those things out?

So far in this series we have looked at what a “Peculiar” Community we are. Not peculiar in the way we conduct ourselves, though to the world around us we can certainly seem that way. But we saw that word peculiar more specifically means that we are a special people chosen by God Himself. That is, we are God’s own people, chosen by Him through Jesus Christ thereby challenging the narrative that we are just like everyone else in the world. We are not. we are not better THAN anyone else, but we certainly are better of because of who we are in Christ.

We also considered that we are a “Hopeful” Community and that the promises of God to us not only for our daily kingdom living, but also for eternal life in Christ, give us a hope that those outside of Christ simply do not have. In that message if you recall, we tore down the false narrative that only a select few among us can share their faith with others with the true narrative, that ALL Christians do indeed share their faith. If not with words, certainly by the way we live and the hope we have.

And two weeks ago, we talked about being a “serving” community where we busted the false narrative that says our own needs are most important with the true Biblical narrative that says we are to put the needs of others ahead of our own.

This morning, I want to invite you to consider with me, that we are a “Christ-Centered” Community, and as such we are to be a unified community.

Unfortunately, there is a narrative at work in our world today that has crept into the Church—quietly, yet destructively. This narrative says: “If we disagree, then we must divide.” Have you noticed how pronounced this narrative has become in our world? Disagree on one point, and we cannot have any kind of relationship. Disagree on one point and we must become adversaries.

This is certainly true in the world of politics, but it seems it has crept into every area of life. And as I said, even in to the church. This belief, often shows up dressed in the clothes of self-protection, tribal loyalty, and even sometimes. masquerades as “sound doctrine” that is more legalistic than sound. It has been the fodder for more church splits than we can count. And this belief, that if we disagree, we must divide, stands in direct opposition to the heart of the gospel.

And tragically, we see its fruit every Sunday in churches all across America. Closer to my heart, I saw it’s destructive, divisive and hurtful nature up close just this past Sunday, when Donna and I visited the church we served in Canada for many years. I won’t go into the details but suffice it to say that the unity of that church and the heart of one of it’s members was broken, because somebody of influence bought into the lie that only a sinless and righteous person can attend their church service and the result was the heart of one of it’s most faithful members was deeply wounded.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. famously lamented that Sunday morning is the most segregated time of the week. It still often is—not just racially, but socioeconomically, politically, culturally and yes doctrinally. We divide over worship styles, we divide over theological nuances, we divide over racial backgrounds, and we divide over personal preferences. It can even get to the point where those of us IN the church decide that no one can come and worship with us until they get the sin out of their lives! Take a wild guess how many would be in THAT crowd. ZERO! And the ones who come up with such nonsense are the very ones who are in danger of hearing Jesus say to THEM one day, “I don’t know you”

So what’s underneath this impulse to divide? I would say primarily it’s fear. Fear that we may lose our identity. Fear that we might be misunderstood or found to be wrong. We all want to be right don’t we? Fear that someone who is different might somehow threaten what we hold dear. But fear is never the foundation for Christian community. Love is. Some say the opposite of Love is hate. I submit to you this morning that the opposite of love is fear.

So if the narrative that tells us that “if we disagree we must divide” is false, what is the true narrative that we need to combat this lie?

The True Narrative: Unity in Christ

Against the false narrative of division, Jesus offers us a deeper, richer, truer story. Turn with me if you will to John the 17th chapter.

In John 17:20–21, Jesus prays, “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”

Man, I don’t know about you, but I can feel the weight of that passage. It seems to me that Jesus is saying that the unity we have, or don’t have, will have a direct impact on whether or not the world around us will believe that he was sent by the Father. That’s heavy to me.

Unity in the church is not just a nice idea—it is the very prayer of Jesus. It is mission-critical. Our oneness is evidence to the world that Jesus is who He says He is.

Back in John 10:16, Jesus said, “And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.” Jesus came to gather a diverse people into one family.

Look around you church. See anybody in the room that is just like you? Besides being white, because we are pretty white here. But there is diversity in this church. In a crowd of 150 folks or so, guaranteed there is diversity in the way we look, Our personal preferences, the way we dress, our favorite hobbies, what we like to read, what we like to listen to, out hertage and backgrounds and the list goes on. And yet Jesus prayer is that we all be One IN Him. That He be the unifying agent in the church. That His Gospel overrides ALL of our differences.

Look at the person next to you and say, you and I are different. Now look at that same person and say, “But in Christ we are one!”

The Apostle Paul echoes this when he writes to the Colossians, “Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all” (Colossians 3:11). And again in Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Our Call to Be of One Mind

Beloved, unity in the Church is not just a general ideal—it is a clear command in Scripture. Over and over, the New Testament writers urge believers to pursue a oneness of mind, heart, and purpose.

In 2 Corinthians 13:11, Paul writes,

"Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you."

This is a vision of a reconciled people—a church where peace, restoration, and mutual comfort are not occasional goals, but everyday realities.

And again, in 1 Corinthians 1:10, Paul appeals with urgency:

"I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought."

The phrase “perfectly united in mind and thought” is not a call to robotic uniformity. Paul is not asking every believer to have the same opinions or cultural expressions. What he’s calling for is alignment—a unity of purpose and mission rooted in Jesus Christ.

We say we are a church that aims to engage in the Disciple-making process and that we intend to do this by winning people to the Lord, By equipping them with the tools and knowledge they need to grow in their faith, by building a community of likeminded apprentices of Jesus and multiplying that community by staying engaged in the disciple making process. Rinse and repeat as they say.

To do that means it is necessary that WE each commit to being sold out disciples of Jesus. Our mission is discipleship! Have you heard that around here? And discipleship cannot occur outside of community and it will not happen if that community is divided.

In fact, a divided community is an anomaly.

The very definitiojn of community is oneness. Commonality. Fellowship as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests and goals.

This call to be of one mind doesn’t mean we’ll agree on every issue. But it means that our center—our foundation—is Christ. And from that shared center flows a shared life.

Augustine’s Wisdom: “In Essentials, Unity; In Non-Essentials, Liberty; In All Things, Charity”

The early church father Augustine gave the Church a framework that has stood the test of time. He said:

“In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.”

Let’s unpack that a bit:

1. In Essentials, Unity

There are core, foundational truths that define the Christian faith—truths around which all believers must unite. These include:

The divinity and humanity of Christ

The death and resurrection of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins

Salvation by grace through faith

The authority of Scripture

The Triune nature of God

These are the essentials—the gospel truths that are non-negotiable. On these, unity is not optional. To deny these truths is to step outside the boundaries of biblical Christianity.

When the essentials are preserved, we can stand together with confidence, knowing we are building on the same foundation: Jesus Christ, the cornerstone.

2. In Non-Essentials, Liberty

There are many secondary issues—important, but not essential to salvation. These include:

Views on end times

Worship style

Political views

Cultural expressions

Church governance structures, something we are looking very closely at around here.

On these non-essentials, there should be freedom. Christians may come to different convictions, but those convictions should never be the cause for division in the body of Christ.

The danger comes when we elevate non-essentials to the level of essentials. That leads to division and disunity over things God never meant to divide us.

Unity does not mean uniformity. We can have different convictions and still walk in mutual respect and fellowship.

3. In All Things, Charity

Whether we are dealing with core doctrines or minor issues, we are always to operate in charity—in love.

1 Corinthians 13 reminds us that even if we have all knowledge but do not have love, we are nothing. Love is what makes Christian unity not just possible, but beautiful. Love listens. Love is patient. Love is kind. Love refuses to be arrogant, rude, or self-seeking. Love assumes the best. Love forgives.

Love is the environment in which unity can flourish.

Being of One Mind in a Divided World

In our polarized world, being of one mind as believers is one of the most radical and compelling witnesses to the power of the gospel. In the early church, Jews and Gentiles, men and women, slaves and masters, rich and poor—all came to the same table. And they didn’t erase their differences or pretend those differences didn’t exist. They submitted their differences to something greater—to Someone greater.

This is what being of one mind means: not that we eliminate differences, but that we prioritize Christ above everything else. Our unity is not based on ethnicity, background, class, or personal preference. It is based on our shared faith in the risen Lord.

Being of one mind means:

We major on the majors.

We give grace on the minors.

We love, always.

A Christ-Centered Mindset

In Philippians 2:2, Paul pleads with the church:

"Make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind."

But what does that look like in practice?

The very next verses give us the answer:

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves... In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus." (Philippians 2:3,5)

Being of one mind starts with humility—seeing others as more important than ourselves. It’s choosing the path of service, the posture of the cross.

Unity doesn’t mean we become the same. It means we become one in Christ.

So let’s remember Augustine’s wisdom. Let it guide us. Let it challenge us. Let it humble us.

In the essentials, let’s stand firm together.

In the non-essentials, let’s show grace and patience.

And in all things, let’s overflow with love.

This is what it means to be a Christ-centered community—a people of one heart, one mind, and one Lord.

Having said all this, there are indeed things that challenge the kind of unity we are talking about here. Things that will get in the way of us being a Christ-Centered, unified community.

The Challenges to Unity

Unity really sounds beautiful in theory. It’s something every believer says they desire. But we have to be realistic here. Unity is not easy. That’s why we have over 33,000 protestant denominations!

Unity is costly. It requires humility. It requires patience. And it requires forgiveness. In a little while we are going to partake in the Lord’s Supper and Paul tells us that we should not do that in an unworthy manner. That means we need to enter into that ordinance with hearts that are united, not divided. That we don’t participate with unforgiveness in our hearts.

Sometimes, unity means sitting in discomfort. It means choosing to stay at the table when it would be easier to walk away. It means listening before speaking, seeking understanding before being understood.

The truth is, unity in the body of Christ faces real and complex challenges—challenges that are both personal and structural, and historical and present. So let’s be honest: unity is hard. But beloved, listen to me...It is precisely because unity is hard that it becomes such a powerful testimony to the world when it is lived out in Christ and in the church. Amen?

When the world around us, especially in the day and age in which you and live, sees us cooperating in ubity with each other and loving each other, they will notice. And they will begin to scratch their head and wonder, what in the world is going on with THOSE people.

Folks that hard truth is that we live in a time where church splits, division, fallen leadership in the church is expected and is no longer a big shock to anyone. That is a sad indictment on the church that our Lord and Savior died to establish. I don’t want any part of that.

So I want to take a few minutes and explore some of the most pressing challenges we face in the church when it comes to the preservation of unity. The first and perhaps the greatest threat to unity is:

1. Pride and the Need to Be Right

Pride tells us that our interpretation, our tradition, our cultural experience, or our way of doing church is superior. Pride resists correction. Pride refuses to listen. Pride assumes the worst in others who think or act differently.

In 1 Corinthians 8:1, Paul warns that “knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.” Pride builds walls. Love builds bridges. The next threat to our unity is...

2. The Idol of Personal Preference

In our consumer-driven culture, we’ve learned to believe that everything should cater to our tastes. Unfortunately, we often carry that mindset into the church. We choose churches based on music style, preaching style, convenience, or the demographic that "feels like us."

While preferences are natural, making them ultimate is destructive. If unity is only possible when everyone agrees with our preferences, then we are worshipping comfort, not Christ. Next.

3. Cultural and Ethnic Divisions

Racial and cultural divisions still haunt the church. The gospel demands reconciliation, but many Christians avoid hard conversations about race, justice, and history. We often prefer silence to discomfort, but silence perpetuates division.

Paul’s vision in Galatians 3:28 “28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” isn’t colorblindness—it’s Christ-centeredness. We don’t erase cultural identity; we bring it into submission to Christ, where every culture is both challenged and affirmed.

Unity demands we listen to stories different from our own, lament past and present injustices, and intentionally build diverse relationships in the body of Christ.

Next.

4. Unresolved Conflict and Unforgiveness

Nothing poisons unity like bitterness. In every church, conflict is inevitable. But when offenses go unaddressed and forgiveness is withheld, the body suffers.

Did you know that Jesus taught in that reconciliation is more urgent than worship?

Matthew 5:23–24 (ESV)

23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Paul commands in Ephesians 4:32, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

Reconciliation is not optional—it is central to the gospel we proclaim.

Here is the one that riles me up.

5. Political Polarization

In our hyper-politicized age, believers often allow their political ideologies to shape their theology, rather than allowing Scripture to shape their politics. The Church has become fractured not over core doctrine, but over party lines and opinions.

Listen carefully to me on this. When political loyalty outweighs kingdom allegiance, the result is tribalism, suspicion, and division.

Our identity must be in Christ first. Jesus didn’t come to take sides—He came to take over. Never forget that your favorite politician bends his knee to the ONLY true King

Next.

6. The Fear of Losing Control or Identity

As I said a while ago, many divisions in the church are born from fear—fear of losing tradition, fear of losing status, fear of losing influence, or fear of losing identity. Change can feel threatening. When new voices are welcomed or long-held practices are questioned, some respond with resistance, interpreting unity as compromise.

But unity does not require us to abandon our distinctives—it calls us to submit them to Christ and to each others in love.

One more...threat to our unity

7. The Absence of Deep Discipleship

Unity is threatened when churches fail to form mature disciples. (Remember our mission?) Shallow teaching, celebrity Christianity, and performance-based gatherings may produce crowds, but not cross-bearing Christians.

Discipleship teaches humility, patience, listening, self-denial—all things necessary for real unity. Without a deep life in Christ, believers remain immature, reacting in the flesh rather than walking by the Spirit.

An immature church is destined to be a failed church. And Spiritual maturity does not come form time served, it comes from a deep commitment to being and living as an apprentice of Jesus Christ and helping others to do the same. Amen?

Communion

We are going to take communion together this morning. As we do this, I want to invite you to imagine what observing this church ordinance would have felt like for those early believers?

Imagine being a Jewish man in Colossae, raised with centuries of tradition, taught from your youth that Gentiles are unclean. Now picture sitting next to a Greek believer, bowing your head in prayer, sharing the bread and the cup.

Imagine being a wealthy landowner, a member of the elite class, reaching out during communion and handing the bread—the body of Christ—to a slave you legally own. The gospel doesn’t just ask for polite tolerance. It demands radical, countercultural unity rooted in Christ.

The Communion Table: A Place of Unity

Paul helps us see this in 1 Corinthians 10:16–17: “The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.”

Communion is not merely a personal act of remembrance—it is a communal act of unity. It reminds us that we are not individuals eating alone, but a body joined together. Romans 12:5 echoes this: “So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.”

We belong to each other beloved.

So this morning as we partake of the Lord’s Supper together, let’s be mindful that none of us stands alone, that we are in this together. That as we remember what Christ accomplished for us on the cross, remember also that the very prayer of His heart to the Father, that we would be one, is calling us to unity.

So if you have your elements let’s do this together. Again, Paul reminds us...The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.”

1 Corinthians 11:23–24 - 23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

Pause

“The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ?

1 Corinthians 11:25 “25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.””

1 Corinthians 11:26 “26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

Unity Is a Discipline, Not Just a Feeling

It’s important to remember: unity is not something that happens automatically or easily. It’s something we practice. It’s something we fight for. It’s something we preserve.

As Paul exhorted the Ephesians, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3). It requires effort. It means sometimes we stay in conversations when we want to walk away. It means we submit to one another out of reverence for Christ (Ephesians 5:21).

And make no mistake about it. Unity is spiritual warfare. Our commitment to unity in this church, threatens the enemy’s plan to isolate, discourage, and divide. When the church is truly united across race, class, culture, and politics—centered on Christ—the world catches a glimpse of the Kingdom of God.

So beloved, let’s not shy away from the challenge. Let’s press in. Let’s live the prayer of Jesus: “That they may all be one...so that the world may believe that You have sent me” (John 17:21).

Conclusion

Brothers and sisters, we are called to be a Christ-centered community—marked not by our sameness, but by our shared Savior. The world says, “If we disagree, we must divide.” But Jesus says, “You are one.” Let’s live in such a way that the world sees Him in our unity and is drawn to the love that makes us one.

Let’s stay at the table together. For there, in the breaking of bread, Christ is revealed. AMEN?

Let’s pray.

Father, we come before You, once again I am humbled and challenged by Your Word. Forgive us for the ways we have divided when we should have united. Forgive us when we allow fear, or pride, or personal preferences to drive wedges between us.

Jesus, thank You for praying for our unity. Thank You for laying down Your life not just to reconcile us to the Father, but to each other as well. Teach us to see each other as You see us—beloved, chosen, one.

Holy Spirit, work in each of us to make us one. Bind us together with cords that cannot be broken. Help us to love beyond boundaries, to forgive beyond reason, and to serve beyond comfort.

May this church reflect the beauty of heaven—a community of every tribe, tongue, and nation, worshipping the Lamb who was slain.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.