This Is Us: Unity

This is Us

On September 20, 2016 NBC aired a popular comedy-drama television series entitled, “This Is Us”. The series follows the lives of siblings Kevin, Kate, and Randall (known as the "Big Three"), and their parents Jack and Rebecca Pearson. It takes place in the present and uses flashbacks to show the family during various moments in the past. Kevin and Kate are the two surviving members of a triplet pregnancy, born six weeks premature on Jack's 36th birthday in 1980; their brother is stillborn. Believing they were meant to have three children, Jack and Rebecca, who are white, decide to adopt Randall, an African American child born the same day and brought to the same hospital after his biological father abandoned him at a fire station. Jack dies when his children are 17.

The show is about everyday human struggles and the sibling's support of each other as they go through the good times and the bad. They are all very different and very proud to be who they are together as a family, hence the name of the show, “This Is Us”.

What is unique about the show is that their lives are built upon a culture the parents created. The parents created a beautiful culture of love, diversity, togetherness, uniqueness within the home. And they are proud of their family’s uniquenessess. They are proud of their loving diverse family, hence the name of the TV series, “This Is Us!”

The Bible tells the church how to create a beautiful culture of love, diversity, unity, and uniqueness. It’s time that we embrace who God has called us to be as a church, and say, “This Is Us!”

PP-This is the name of the new series I’ll be teaching on over the next 6 weeks, “This Is Us”

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be teaching on the type of culture the Bible has instructed the church to develop, embrace, and foster as a church. I’m always proud when people come to me and give compliments about our culture. , and I say, “Thank you.” This is Us! So when people are around us, they’ll see the biblical culture we’ve created, and say, “This Is Us”. This is who we are, this is what we’re about.

The first element of our culture we are to embrace and increase, is UNITY!

(NIV)

1How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!

2It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe.

3It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.

Unity and Uniformity

We must distinguish between unity and uniformity. The former is voluntary; the latter is compelled. The former is an inner condition; the latter is outward form. Unity must be the condition created in us by the Holy Spirit as we follow him in a common goal and purpose—to make effective God’s redeeming work in Christ to the ends of the earth and until he comes again.

This scripture explains two biblical results of unity in the church:

1. Unity spawns an anointed flow. Vs. 2

Illustration: of the Priest in consecrated garments, with the ephod.

When we strive for unity, Heaven gives it’s approval. The oil that is drenching the person here is a picture of the ancient priest confirmation ceremony. This pouring of oil on the head of the priest represents God’s approval, selection, appointment to an office or task, the endowment of authority and power, to be set apart or made holy.

Oil was a sign of God’s provision for his people, oil was associated with prosperity and gladness, and was a mark of spiritual blessing.

Unity starts with Godly physical structure: The Head (leader), beard (Eldership/governance), Collar/neck & shoulders (Support auxiliaries)

What is implied is that the oil continues down the robe.

Find example of a priest or person getting anointed

(NIV)

You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.

In the home or on the team at work, disunity affects the flow. That’s why when you identify discordant persons, they have to be removed from the office, the soccer club, the management team, the neighborhood association, and yes, the CHURCH!

They break up the harmony. People or things or activities that aren’t with your flow has to be removed. Once you remove the dissonance, you’ll find that the flow is much easier.

Because harmony is the key in anything that has an assignment!

Because harmony is the key in anything that has an assignment!

(NIV)

33For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.

2. Unity is refreshing and invigorating Vs. 3 Just as vegetation is refreshed and invigorated with water or dew, people are refreshed and invigorated when they enter the presence of unity.

(NIV)

3Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

(NIV)

11Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

(NIV)

For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.

3. Unity is unstoppable

The dew from Mt. Hermon is unstoppable. You can’t stop dew from forming. When the atmosphere is right, it comes and there is nothing you can do about it.

(NIV)

that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

The Spirit spoke to me and said, start right where your, with the resorces you have, and start to build bridges between people.

just look at what’s happening around us that’s affecting our community, State, Country, and the Globe as it relates to human to human relationships.

There is an obvious surge in the fostering of hate between people, division, racism, and misunderstandings. With the political climate doesn’t help, and increasing sentiment towards segregationalism, hate speech,

(NIV)

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

The new part isn’t, “Love one another”. The new part is, “Love one another, just as or in the same fashion that Christ has loved us!”

I want to talk about the vision and culture God has commanded that we embrace as His followers. The Bible is clear about what a church should look like and act like.

The Dad, Jack was a very fun loving husband, a dedicated family man, a hard worker, but his vice is alcohol. The mother is a strong woman who is committed to raising her children and making sure that they have morals and good ethics that will carry them through life. But she struggles with identity at times, wondering if she is a good enough mom. You have Kevin, who is an actor but struggles with doing the right things at times and with wanting to be accepted. Kate, is a loving sister who cares for her brothers, but she struggles with her weight and in on a journey of trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Then you have the African-American child, Randall, who loved his adopted parents and the life lessons taught to him. He grows up to be a successful business man with a wonderful wife and two girls. He struggled with why his father left him as an infant on the steps of a fire station.

The show is appealing because it mirrors the real everyday of people. Yes, they have struggles but, they come together in unity, to support one another because of their love fore one another.

No they do not always see eye to eye on every situation, but they somehow figure out how to work in unity!

A lot of Christians are trying to love the lost, but first you have to love the found!

It reminds me of New Birth. We are made up of different people, from different backgrounds, different races, ethnicities, male and female who are linked together with a common purpose which is to be a diverse community who serves as Christ’s hands and heart on earth.

Dan Fogelman intentionally recruited behind-the-scenes talent that would reflect the diversity of his cast, with the goal of bringing greater authenticity to the dialog and storylines. These include black directors Regina King and George Tillman Jr. and black female writers Kay Oyegun and Jas Waters (part of a 30% black core writing staff that far outpaces the industry standard of 5%).[13][14] In addition, Fogelman's sister Deborah, whose struggles with weight were one of the initial inspirations for the show, serves as a consultant.

“Be Kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” Plato

(NIV)

Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Church, Unity

For safety reasons, mountain climbers rope themselves together when climbing a mountain. That way, if one climber should slip and fall, he would not fall to his death. He would be held by the others until he could regain his footing.

The church ought to be like that. When one member slips and falls, the others should hold him up until he regains his footing. We are all roped together by the Holy Spirit.

Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

My Favorite Illustrations Unity and Uniformity

Unity and Uniformity

We must distinguish between unity and uniformity. The former is voluntary; the latter is compelled. The former is an inner condition; the latter is outward form. Unity must be the condition created in us by the Holy Spirit as we follow him in a common goal and purpose—to make effective God’s redeeming work in Christ to the ends of the earth and until he comes again.

(NIV)

I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.

We must distinguish between unity and uniformity. The former is voluntary; the latter is compelled. The former is an inner condition; the latter is outward form. Unity must be the condition created in us by the Holy Spirit as we follow him in a common goal and purpose—to make effective God’s redeeming work in Christ to the ends of the earth and until he comes again.

Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Church, Unity

For safety reasons, mountain climbers rope themselves together when climbing a mountain. That way, if one climber should slip and fall, he would not fall to his death. He would be held by the others until he could regain his footing.

The church ought to be like that. When one member slips and falls, the others should hold him up until he regains his footing. We are all roped together by the Holy Spirit.