Sermon Tone Analysis

*February 12, 2006—Evening Worship*

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*“The Glorious Grace of God” Series – Part 9*

*United We Stand*

*The Details of Unity in Christ*

*Ephesians 4:1-6*

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*Intro:*  Ephesians 4:1-6 will be the focus of our attention tonight, as we investigate the details of unity in Christ.

The old saying is true, “United we stand, divided we fall.”

But our text, tonight, holds so much more meaning concerning the unity of the faith, so let’s read it & hear from the Lord on this subject of unity.

*Ephesians 4* */1/*/ I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling w~/which you were called, *2* w~/all lowliness & gentleness, w~/longsuffering, bearing w~/1 another in love, *3* endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

*4* There is 1 body & 1 Spirit, just as you were called in 1 hope of your calling; *5* 1 Lord, 1 faith, 1 baptism; *6* 1 God & Father of all, who is above all, & through all, & in you all./

I don’t know the political persuasions & beliefs of every American concerning the Presidency.

I don’t really know how you felt about Richard Nixon’s involvement in Watergate, or Bill Clinton’s involvement w~/Monica Lewinsky.

I don’t know what you think about the political fallout over President Bush authorizing the NSA wire taps.

But I do know that every American believes that the President of the United States ought to conduct himself in a manner worthy of his office.

I didn’t say that the man ought to be worthy of the office.

I said that the man ought to conduct himself in a manner worthy of the office.

IOW, the office of President of the United States – ought to cause those who occupy that position, to feel a deep sense of duty & respect for that position – that would keep them from doing anything that would bring dishonor or disgrace to the office of the President of the United States.

I believe that the leadership in the Church ought to feel the same deep sense of duty & respect – that would keep them from doing anything to bring dishonor or disgrace to the Lord, the Church or the position of leadership in the Church.

& I believe the Bible teaches us that every Christian ought to feel that same sense of duty & respect for the privilege & joy of being called a Christian!

When I 1st told my parents that God had called me to preach, my dad said, “You’ll find out that everything that happens in church is not spiritual.”

& unfortunately that’s true.

It seems as if we hear every week about preachers who fall morally or church members who disgrace the Lord & His work by the ungodly way they live.

We’ve all heard stories of churches that argue & how business meetings get turned into knock down drag outs.

We know of churches that split over trivial matters.

Granted, sometimes those who are the worst offenders are unconverted church members, but much too often, it is true believers that disrupt the unity of the church by their selfish actions.

- Paul tells us in v. 1 of our text that…

*1.

There is a Conduct that encourages unity.

*(v. 1)

- & that conduct would not be one that brings disgrace to the Lord, but it would be conduct that lets your light shine so that the world may glorify God!

- Notice that…

*    A.

God’s Purpose demands your consistency.*

(v.