Common + Union

Introduction

John 17:20–24 KJV 1900

Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

Four ways in which Christ has united us:

United with the Father

John 17:21 KJV 1900

That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

jn 17 21

1001 Illustrations that Connect Illustration 182: He Who Knows My Name

Jonathan, four, was trying to learn the Lord’s Prayer. He learned by listening at church each Sunday.

One Sunday as we were praying the Lord’s Prayer, he could be heard above all the others, praying, “Our Father who art in heaven, I know you know my name.”

—Jeff Newton, Lowell, Indiana

1 John 1:1–7 KJV 1900

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Four ways in which Christ has united us:

United with the Fellowship

“all may be one” “that they may be made perfect in one”

We Need Christian Relationships

10,000 Sermon Illustrations Does Anybody Ask About My Arthritis?

Does Anybody Ask About My Arthritis?

Mamie made frequent trips to the branch post office. One day she confronted a long line of people who were waiting for service from the postal clerks. Mamie only needed stamps, so a helpful observer asked, “Why don’t you use the stamp machine? You can get all the stamps you need and you won’t have to stand in line.” Mamie said, “I know, but the machine can’t ask me about my arthritis.” People still need human contact.

Source unknown

John 13:35 KJV 1900

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Romans 12:10 KJV 1900

Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

Hebrews 10:24 KJV 1900

And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

We Need Each Other’s Support

ILLUSTRATION: Support

10,000 Sermon Illustrations You Got to be Together

You Got to be Together

The Atlantic Monthly (11/94) told about superstar tenors Jose Carreras, Placido Domingo, and Luciano Pavarotti performing together in Los Angeles. A reporter tried to press the issue of competitiveness between the three men.

“You have to put all of your concentration into opening your heart to the music,” Domingo said. “You can’t be rivals when you’re together making music.”

That’s also true in the church.

Leadership, p. 68

When James Calvert went out as a missionary to the cannibals of the Fiji Islands, the ship captain tried to turn him back, saying, “You will lose your life and the lives of those with you if you go among such savages.” To that, Calvert replied, “We died before we came here.”

In the Cambridge, Minn., Star:

“Isanti County Commissioner Tom Pagel has 100-percent support from his family, not 10 percent, as was stated in last week’s article on Pagel’s announcement to seek re-election.”

Source: The Mission-Minded Family, Ann Dunagan

Source: The Mission-Minded Family, Ann Dunagan

ILLUSTRATION: Support

Reader’s Digest

Galaxie Software. (2002). 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press.

United for the Faith

In the Cambridge, Minn., Star:

“Isanti County Commissioner Tom Pagel has 100-percent support from his family, not 10 percent, as was stated in last week’s article on Pagel’s announcement to seek re-election.”

Reader’s Digest

Galaxie Software. (2002). 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press.United for the Faith

“that the world may believe” “that the world may know”

Mark 16:15 KJV 1900

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

10,000 Sermon Illustrations You Got to be Together

You Got to be Together

The Atlantic Monthly (11/94) told about superstar tenors Jose Carreras, Placido Domingo, and Luciano Pavarotti performing together in Los Angeles. A reporter tried to press the issue of competitiveness between the three men.

“You have to put all of your concentration into opening your heart to the music,” Domingo said. “You can’t be rivals when you’re together making music.”

That’s also true in the church.

Leadership, p. 68

2 Corinthians 5:14–15 KJV 1900

For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

1 Corinthians 2:1–2 KJV 1900

And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

1 cir 2 1-2

ILLUSTRATION: We Died Before We Came Here

When James Calvert went out as a missionary to the cannibals of the Fiji Islands, the ship captain tried to turn him back, saying, “You will lose your life and the lives of those with you if you go among such savages.” To that, Calvert replied, “We died before we came here.”

Source: The Mission-Minded Family, Ann Dunagan

Are you consumed with this purpose, willing to play any part, take any role, do any task to see people reached with the Gospel?

ILLUSTRATION: Synonymous with Heroism

On January 21, 1930, the name of Harold Vidian became synonymous with heroism. On that day, England’s King George V was scheduled to give the opening address at the London Arms Conference. The king’s message was to be sent by radio all around the world.

Donald McCullough, in his book The Trivialization of God (NavPress, 1995), tells us that a few minutes before the king was to speak, a member of the CBS staff tripped over an electrical wire and broke it, cutting off the whole American audience. With no hesitation, chief control operator Harold Vidian grasped one end of the broken wire in his right hand and the other in his left, thus restoring the circuit. Electricity surged through his body. Ignoring the pain, Vidian held on until the king had finished his address.

I see in this a challenge for Christians. The message of the King of kings must go to the whole world. But only as we allow God’s power to pass through us can the Lord’s saving gospel be transmitted. Paul wrote, “How shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?” (). If we are willing to serve as conduits, regardless of the cost to us, the good news will be proclaimed around the world.

Will you be a conduit for the King’s message? -VCG

Our Daily Bread, Sept.-Nov., 1997, page for November 21

Galaxie Software. (2002). 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press.

United Forever

John 17:24 KJV 1900

Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

Because of Christ we have heaven to look forward to

1001 Illustrations that Connect Illustration 288: Getting to Heaven

A Sunday school teacher wanted to explain to the six-year-olds in his class what someone had to do to go to heaven. To find out what kids believed about the subject, he asked a few questions. “If I sold my house and my car, had a big garage sale, and gave all my money to the church, would that get me to heaven?” he asked.

“No!” the children answered. The teacher was encouraged.

“If I cleaned the church every day, mowed the yard, and kept everything neat and tidy, would that get me to heaven?”

Again the answer was, “No!”

“If I was kind to animals and gave candy to all the children and loved my wife, would that get me into heaven?”

Again they all shouted, “No!”

“Well then, how can I get to heaven?”

A boy in the back row stood up and shouted, “You gotta be dead!”

Jesus’ death and resurrection secured heaven for us, and we look forward to being united forever.

2 Peter 3:13 KJV 1900

Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

10,000 Sermon Illustrations Three Wonders in Heaven

Three Wonders in Heaven

John Newton said that when we get to heaven, there will be three wonders:

1. Who is there

2. Who is not there, and

3. The fact that I’m there!

Conclusion

COMMUNION

10,000 Sermon Illustrations Quote

Quote

• I want the whole Christ for my Savior, the whole Bible for my book, the whole Church for my fellowship, and the whole world for my mission field. - John Wesley

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 KJV 1900

For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.