Being United
Notes
Transcript
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
The first church was united in DEVOTION
The first church was united in DEVOTION
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
The first church was united in CONCERN for one another
The first church was united in CONCERN for one another
44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.
The first church was united in FAITH
The first church was united in FAITH
46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,
46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,
46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
The first church saw what CHRIST had done for them and lived in UNITY with one another
The first church saw what CHRIST had done for them and lived in UNITY with one another
We don’t have to work for DIVISION, we have to work for UNITY
We don’t have to work for DIVISION, we have to work for UNITY
There is an ENEMY of unity that dwells within every single one of us, PRIDE
There is an ENEMY of unity that dwells within every single one of us, PRIDE
When we start to look away from the GREAT COMMANDMENT and look to OURSELVES, DIVISION occurs
When we start to look away from the GREAT COMMANDMENT and look to OURSELVES, DIVISION occurs
37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.
1 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?
The church will fall apart when it turns from focusing on CHRIST to focusing on SELF
The church will fall apart when it turns from focusing on CHRIST to focusing on SELF
1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.
20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.
It’s only through the CROSS that we can be united in the way that Jesus prays in John 17:20-23
It’s only through the CROSS that we can be united in the way that Jesus prays in John 17:20-23
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
1 Behold, how good and pleasant it is
when brothers dwell in unity!
The way that we unite is that we LOWER ourselves and UPLIFT others
The way that we unite is that we LOWER ourselves and UPLIFT others
35 And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”
37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
We struggle with running things through our filter of PERSONAL DESIRES, not what is GLORIFYING to God
We struggle with running things through our filter of PERSONAL DESIRES, not what is GLORIFYING to God
2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.