The Church: One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism

The Redwood Trees of California

How was your summer now that it is over? Weird to say when it is still in the 100’s!

Did you do anything exciting? I know for many summer means a time to get away. Church camps, vacations, or even a weekend camping getaway.

I love going to the National Parks. As a matter of fact, I use to go for a living!

As the Marketing Director for an outdoor Resort Company, I got to experience many of our Nations great National Parks. One project I had when I started was taking a photographer and film crew with me to different parks to create new media content for the company.

Picture 1 - Me posing at the Grand Canyon on Opening Day at the North Rim

Picture 2 - Me with my British film crew shooting at Lake Powell

Picture 3 - Driving Through Yellowstone

Picture 4 - One of the Videographers not enjoying the hot springs in Yellowstone

Picture 5 - My Favorite Moment: A calm moment together whitewater rafting in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

We are looking at the many Bald Eagles in the air.

We had just went through some large rapids, and we were all enjoying the peaceful moment together.

THE BEST PART, I DID NOT DO IT ALONE. beauty that brought us closer, an event we all talk about still today as friends.

SHARE OPENING STORY

those towering giants that can stretch over 300 feet into the sky. If you’ve ever stood among them, you know the feeling: your neck cranes back, your jaw drops, and you wonder, How can anything on earth grow so tall?

But here’s the part that amazed me: for all their height, redwood trees have surprisingly shallow roots—sometimes only 5 or 6 feet deep. You would think such shallow roots would make them vulnerable to every strong wind and storm. And yet, these trees have stood for centuries—some for over 2,000 years—through earthquakes, wildfires, and fierce coastal winds.

The secret is underground. Redwood roots don’t grow down as much as they grow out—sometimes extending 100 feet from the trunk. And as they grow outward, they intertwine and interlock with the roots of other redwoods. They literally hold one another up. When one tree sways in a storm, it’s not standing alone—its neighbors are holding it firm.

The truth is, a single redwood cannot survive on its own. It would fall. It is the network—the community—that makes them strong and able to reach such heights.

And isn’t that a picture of the church? We are not meant to stand tall for Christ in isolation. Our faith roots are meant to intertwine—with prayer, encouragement, accountability, and love—so that when life’s storms come, we don’t topple over. Through Christ, we, as the church, are strong, for the roots we have in Christ will never break down.

Let’s Pray.

Today we are going to take a moment to dive into the Book of Ephesians.

Ephesians helps us to see and remember who we are in Christ, what he has done for us, how we live in this union with God, and with each other.

First three Chapters: Theological explanation of who we are in Christ, and what he has done for us - We are saved by Grace, he made us alive together through Christ. 

Ephesians 2:8-9 - “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

The last three chapters talk about how we live in Christ, or what we do as believers, and members of the body of Christ.

Today we will focus on Ephesians 4:1-6.

Ephesians 4:1–6 ESV

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

In Ephesians 4:1 it says “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called”

Paul wants to think about the way we walk our Christian faith. 

Connect who we are, with how we live.

Are we walking in UNITY with God, and with one another?

Paul gives examples of how we do this in verses 2 and 3, “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

Does this mean that we must all walk the same, think the same, be the same? NO!

It means that we bear with one another in unity. Our unity is greater than our differences. This includes our cultures, our status, our political beliefs, and anything else that separates people in the world.

Paul says that we do this In one Lord, one faith, one Baptism

It is more critical that our unity in theological truth and preferences takes precedence over our personal preferences.

The truth is, one of these preferences shapes the way we live.

May we strive for the unity of the church, for the unity of the Gospel.

How do we do this in our lives?

We start by asking ourselves:

- Is the goal or belief I live out feeding God’s preference or mine?

      - Is what I do fulfill God’s way or mine?

      - Is what I say speak God’s way or mine?

We worship, we learn, we reaffirm, and encourage as one body, through one Spirit (the Holy Spirit) in the hope that only comes through Jesus Christ. 

ONE LORD, ONE FAITH, ONE BAPTISM

One Lord – We Grow Closer Through Shared Surrender

“One Lord...” (Eph. 4:5)

Jesus is Lord, and we grow closer when we all submit to him, not personal agendas.

—when Jesus is Lord of heart, He becomes the unifying Lord of church.Unity starts with surrender

In worship, in prayer, in obedience—we rally around , not just leadership personalities.His leadership

How do we do this? Regular worship together —coming on Sunday mornings to worship Him who is worthy of all our worship and praise, and celebrating what He has done for us and what He will continue to do. This will serve as a constant reminder that we all follow one Lord.

One Faith – We Grow Closer Through Shared Belief

“One faith...” (Eph. 4:5)

This doesn't mean we all agree on every minor issue, but we in Christ’s gospel.share the same core belief

we align our minds and hearts around God’s truth.study Scripture together

Faith grows through where we apply God’s Word together.discipleship, small groups, and conversations

How do we do this?  By Joining a Bible study or LifeGroup helps us sharpen each other and deepen unity in belief 

Proverbs 27:17 says, “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.”

One Baptism – We Grow Closer Through Shared Identity

“One baptism...” (Eph. 4:5)

Baptism represents our unity in Christ.shared spiritual birth and identity

It’s a sign that we’ve died to ourselves and been raised to new life—.together

Remembering our baptism unites us as a family—we’ve all entered the Kingdom .the same way: by grace

Growth Practice: Reaffirm your identity in Christ and encourage others in theirs—everyone in the church has equal footing at the cross.

We Grow spiritually mature together (Ephesians 4:11-16)

We hold each other accountable and encourage one another (Hebrews 10:24-25

We learn RELATIONAL RIGHTEOUSNESS through holiness living in the church (Titus 2:1-8)

You are not just invited to be a part of the church; your faith, your walk, and your presence are needed to help grow in our faith together, as we grow the church.

“What you give, you receive” - LUKE 6:38

Luke 6:38 ESV

give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

REFLECTION:

This morning let us reflect on how we as God’s children, his disciples, can be a part of building the Kingdom. We all have a role to play. We all can learn and grow in the knowledge of God’s Word, and in loving relationship with one another.

Discipleship Courses

LifeGroups: Focused Studies, Bible Studies, Prayer

I know life is busy,

I know life can sometimes be difficult

BUT, you don’t have to do it alone.

Let us learn, grow, teach, pray, reaffirm and keep each one accountable and full of the love of God through our dedication to joining a group today. There is something for everyone.

Like those Redwood trees, let us intertwine each other in faith, to hold each other up, making us stronger.

One Faith, One Lord, One Baptism.

Let’s Pray.