Love, Peace & Unity as our Strenght

Opening

Servanthood is our Attitude | Commitment vs. Comfort | Prayer as our Source | Worship as our Motivation | People as our Reward | Excellence as our Impact | Growth as our TargetI’ll focus on the topic of “Unity”

When we are around people, do we focus on what we have in common, or we distance ourselves based on differences?

God intentionally created everyone to be unique

Nobody looks exactly like you

You’re not one in a million / 8 Billion

1 Corinthians 15:38–39 ESV

38 But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body. 39 For not all flesh is the same, but there is one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish.

Descendants of Adam & Eve.

Sin fractured our unity

Hurts, Habits and Hang-ups affecting relationships

Part of the journey to wholeness is making amends

Recovery is an issue of showing love to everyone

READ TEXT:

Colossians 3:14–15 NIV

14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

How to love people that are different from you?

Release that cruise control

STOP! LOOK & LISTEN!

Listen to them

James 1:19 The Living Bible

19 Dear brothers, don’t ever forget that it is best to listen much, speak little, and not become angry;

Look at them

Acts 16:14 ESV

14 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.

Learn from them

Proverbs 1:5 GW

5 a wise person will listen and continue to learn, and an understanding person will gain direction—

Illustration: Bundle of Sticks or People in a Circle

When Jesus prayed for all believers…

"In essentials, unity; in differences, liberty; in all things, charity [love].”

We have to make every effort to keep the unity