Part 2: Attitudes (In Unity)
Notes
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Introduction:
Fellowsville AG
May 27, 2018
AM Service
Unity Sermon Series
Scripture: (i.e., 2);
Introduction:
Unity is a challenging subject. Growing up, I thought unity was just one thing but looking in Scripture we learn there are two kinds of unity: unity in the Spirit ( in verse 1) and unity in the Faith (in verse 3).
Anytime God’s people come together there is a form of unity that takes place but can also be better/perfected.
Jesus understood unity in the Spirit and in the faith. Understanding Jesus by His prayer life. is Jesus’ prayer for the believers
20 “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.
21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.
22 “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one.
23 I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.
is Jesus’ prayer for the believers
Unity existed
Unity existed
Experience perfect unity/be perfected or complete in unity
the glory shared is the cross
Body:
Read
1 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.
2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.
3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.
says to be diligent or be eager or make every effort = take this seriously; watch this closely
3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.
V3 says to be diligent or be eager or make every effort = take this seriously; watch this closely
to be diligent or be eager or make every effort = take this seriously; watch this closely
How do we preserve unity in the Spirit is found in verse 2 primarily
2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.
Now look at verse 1:
1 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.
V1 says to walk in the manner you have been called (walking worthy in verse 1 is what is practiced in verse 2)
says to walk in the manner you have been called (walking worthy in verse 1 is what is practiced in verse 2)
Being diligent in the Spirit verse 3 is living verse 2
I always believed unity in the body of Christ is primarily based on doctrine/what we believe. While that is true, Paul focuses on how we live (attitude) first then on what we believe.
Why start with attitude?
Dedicated to the correct doctrine/teaching can also mean someone can be arrogant/unkind and not show patience, tolerance, love and humility. Attitudes are very important! God gives grace to the HUMBLE!
Doctrine is mentioned later in the chapter in
5 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all.
Ephesians 4:5
Words to focus on re: attitude in verse 2:
Humility
Humility
humility (all)/lowliness
Made of two words:
First means low to the ground
Second means mind; your mind
-it’s not something you do but believe inside about yourself (sometimes translated humility of mind)
Used 7 times in scripture:
18 When they arrived he declared, “You know that from the day I set foot in the province of Asia until now
19 I have done the Lord’s work humbly and with many tears. I have endured the trials that came to me from the plots of the Jews.
20 I never shrank back from telling you what you needed to hear, either publicly or in your homes.
21 I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike—the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus.
22 “And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me,
23 except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead.
24 But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.
25 “And now I know that none of you to whom I have preached the Kingdom will ever see me again.
26 I declare today that I have been faithful. If anyone suffers eternal death, it’s not my fault,
27 for I didn’t shrink from declaring all that God wants you to know.
28 “So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as leaders.
29 I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock.
30 Even some men from your own group will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a following.
31 Watch out! Remember the three years I was with you—my constant watch and care over you night and day, and my many tears for you.
32 “And now I entrust you to God and the message of his grace that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those he has set apart for himself.
33 “I have never coveted anyone’s silver or gold or fine clothes.
34 You know that these hands of mine have worked to supply my own needs and even the needs of those who were with me.
35 And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
18 When they arrived he declared, “You know that from the day I set foot in the province of Asia until now
tells the Ephesian leaders what Christ said in verse 35 (give)
tells the Ephesian leaders what Christ said in verse 35 (give)
wasn’t afraid to cry or being embarrassed because I wasn’t thinking about me
I did not shrink (vv 20, 27)
3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.
18 Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial or the worship of angels, saying they have had visions about these things. Their sinful minds have made them proud,
, ; : certain characteristics can be taken too far and become sinful
23 These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.
Colossians 2:23; 3:12: certain characteristics can be taken too far and become sinful
12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
: certain characteristics can be taken too far and become sinful
certain characteristics can be taken too far and become sinful; warning against too much humility:
, warning against too much humility
18 Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial or the worship of angels, saying they have had visions about these things. Their sinful minds have made them proud,
23 These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self-denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.
Colossians 2:23 warning against too much humility
5 In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
Be humble but don’t go too far
Be humble but don’t go too far
Gentleness
Gentleness
gentleness/meekness/humility
21 So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.
;
13 If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.
;
to receive the Word in gentleness
to receive the Word in gentleness
instead of saying “that sermon was perfect for someone who isn’t here or for someone else”
it is for me and not you. Look at
13 If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.
Look at
who is wise and understanding among you? Someone answer. We should be answering with someone else rather than saying ourselves.
Look at
: who is wise and understanding among you? Someone answer. We should be answering with someone else rather than saying ourselves.
show your deeds: in their wisdom were they kind? Mean? Harsh? Beating you down? True wisdom is packaged in kindness.
15 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.
Patience
Patience
patience/longsuffering
First part of word means long or big
Second part means anger
Anger is the destination but it takes a long time to get there.
Moms can go hours and hours until they get angry. Think of anger as a destination rather than a reaction.
Showing tolerance
Showing tolerance
Showing tolerance/forebearing/ accepting/making allowance for
Our culture has stolen this word and redefined it.
Culture says that you need to agree with me when actually tolerance means you disagree.
14 At the foot of the mountain, a large crowd was waiting for them. A man came and knelt before Jesus and said,
15 “Lord, have mercy on my son. He has seizures and suffers terribly. He often falls into the fire or into the water.
16 So I brought him to your disciples, but they couldn’t heal him.”
17 Jesus said, “You faithless and corrupt people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.”
Jesus goes up the mountain and is transfigured
Jesus goes up the mountain and is transfigured
He comes down from the mountain and meets a man with a troubled son. The disciples couldn’t help the man.
Verse 17 if Jesus saying how long do I have to tolerate you? Jesus doesn’t give up but forbear with others a little longer
we are to tolerate others in the Body forever
putting up with people and getting frustrated when it may be justified or not
14 But just as Paul started to make his defense, Gallio turned to Paul’s accusers and said, “Listen, you Jews, if this were a case involving some wrongdoing or a serious crime, I would have a reason to accept your case.
1 I hope you will put up with a little more of my foolishness. Please bear with me.
, , ,
4 You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed.
2 Corinthians11: 4, 19, 20
19 After all, you think you are so wise, but you enjoy putting up with fools!
20 You put up with it when someone enslaves you, takes everything you have, takes advantage of you, takes control of everything, and slaps you in the face.
2 Corinthians 11:19, 20
verse 4 is a rebuke about tolerating other teachings that contradicts the truth and doesn’t make sense.
, , ,
verse 4 is a rebuke about tolerating other teachings that contradicts the truth and doesn’t make sense.
verse 19 people willingly put themselves in a situation where they are controlled (cult-like) and put into place
we have to tolerate the people God has put into the Body. Why and how? Love.
Love
Love
Love
If you have been gentle, tolerant, patient with someone else and was successful, wasn’t it because you loved them? It was done in love.
Conclusion:
Illustration:
Just as the animals in the ark lived in peace together and the enemies got along, the church is the same way!
1 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.
2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.
12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.
15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.