Love That Builds Unity

Introduction

One of Satan’s effective weapons is division, to create division within the church, the body of believers. He knows that a divided church loses its effectiveness, weakens its testimony, and hinders its mission. All throughout scripture God emphasizes unity among His people because unity reflects His character and strengthens His work.

The series verse is Colossians 3:14 “Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.”

The unity that God desires is not produced through a systematic or organized structure. Or even a mere agreement on every issue. Biblical unity is produced and maintained through Christ like love which is the perfect bond of unity, it is the love that builds unity.

Our big idea today that hopefully I will be able to convey is: Love holds the church together by prioritizing unity over division, humility over pride, and peace over personal preferences.

I love what it says in Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 “Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.”

Hold on let me give a quick illustration - stick, sticks, one easily broken, three not so much, look at

Ecclesiastes 4:11–12 “Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.”

The question for today is How does love build and preserve unity within the church, the body of believers?

Unity Begins With Humility

Every church conflict, and yes there are church conflicts for all churches are made up of imperfect people, begins with one key, or common ingredient SELF. Yet, unity begins when believers choose humility over self-interest. Pride says “my way.” Love says “How can I serve.” Can you see the difference?

Turn and look at Ephesians 4:1–4 “Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling;”

Humility Recognizes That Christ Comes First

The church exists for Christ, not for our own personal agendas.

Let nothing be done out of vain glory (ref: Philippians 2:3–4 )“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”

We can be asking ourselves, what honors Christ? What benefits the body of Christ? What promotes peace?

Humility Values Others

Love causes us to see fellow believers as family rather than servants or competitors.

Consider Romans 12:10 “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;”

Healthy churches are filled with members who seek to lift others up rather than elevate themselves

Humility Produces Gentleness

Paul pairs humility with meekness, which means power under control, or strength under control.

Jesus described Himself as “meek and lowly in Heart” (Mt11:29).

For love softens our responses even when disagreements arise.

Ask yourself: Do I genuinely value the opinions and needs of others?

Love Bears, Forgives, and Forgets (Eph4:2)

Look at our passage again, but focus on (v.2)

Ephesians 4:1–4 “Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling;”

No church will ever be united without forgiveness, why? Because we are full of imperfect people as mentioned before. The question is not whether someone at sometime will disappoint us. The question is what we will do, how will we react when it happens.

Love bears with imperfections consider Romans 15:1 “Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves.”

Forbearing means to patiently endure. Love understands that spiritual growth is a process.

Not every weakness requires criticism, sometimes it requires compassion

Sometimes it is the mature believer who is the one in need.

Love freely forgives

Paul points to Christs example look at Colossians 3:13 “bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.”

Unforgiving hurts the church and the individual carrying it.

Love refuses to keep score

True love does not maintain a record of wrongs, consider 1 Corinthians 13:5 “does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,”

Love does not repeatedly reopen wounds that God has already healed. Hold on, let that set for a moment (SAY IT AGAIN)

Forgiveness may not erase the memory, but it refuses to continually relive the offense.

Love Protects the Fellowship

Now in looking at our passage again focus on (v.3)

Ephesians 4:1–4 “Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling;”

Unity must be guarded, it must be protected. In some versions it says endeavor to keep the unity, or make every effort to preserve it.

Love chooses peace over preference

Every congregation, every church family is made up of people with different backgrounds, personalities, opinions, and preferences, and the truth is not every preference is worth fighting over.

Consider Romans 14:19 “So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.”

For love asks what matters most? The mission, the message is always greater than our preferences.

Love refuses gossip and division

Few things destroy unity faster than careless words. Look at what it says in Proverbs 16:28 “A perverse man spreads strife, And a slanderer separates intimate friends.”

That may be why Paul wrote in this very chapter Ephesians 4:29 “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.”

Love protects both relationships and reputations. When problems arise, loving believers seek solutions rather than spreading conflict.

Love promotes reconciliation

Jesus teaches believers to pursue, seek restoration. Remember what He wrote Matthew 5:23–24 ““Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.”

Love does not ignore problems, it addresses them with grace and a desire for reconciliation.

A unified church is not one without conflict. It is one that handles conflict God’s way.

(Illustration) A stone was is strong because each stone supports the others. Remove enough stones and the wall will eventually collapse. Likewise, when believers attack, criticize, and divide, the wall weakens. When they support and encourage one another, the church stands strong!

Conclusion

The world’s approach to unity is often built upon agreement, convenience, or common interests. God’s approach is different.

Biblical Unity is built upon Christlike Love

Love produces Humility

Love practices forgiveness

Love protects fellowship

Love binds God’s people together in a way that honors Christ and strengthens His church

Like mortar holding bricks together, love binds believers together into one body.

Without love, unity crumbles, with love, unity flourish.

With Jesus heaven is made possible, without Jesus heaven is impossible and it is hell, like it or not.