Church Unity
Fail Forward: Pursuing Spiritual Disciplines • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 40:10
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God’s Purpose
God’s Purpose
Everything in life has a “Purpose” now we may not like the “Purpose” however our like or dislike does not come into play;
You have a”Purpose” in life, how do you know this - let’s look at Ephesians 2:10
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Your “Purpose” comes through “His workmanship” - “for good works”;
The question is how is this working out for you;
So here Paul is telling the church of Ephesus to live out their Christian life because of God’s reconciliation;
He tells them to “walk worthy” meaning to honor God with our lives;
To “walk’ in this context means to be aware of how we conduct ourselves with fellow Christians and in the world;
Why is this important - one because this what God has called us to do and two when we do this individually it carries over into the church;
Now the question is what are we called to - holiness, service and sonship;
Do you have two personalities - one church and one world - if so what does that say about Jesus’ sacrifice?
Basic Qualities
Basic Qualities
There are times in life that you just need to get back to the basics of life -including our spiritual walk;
So here in verse 2 Paul points out five spiritual qualities that will help us with our walk with Christ;
Lowliness (humility)
Meekness (gentleness)
Long-suffering (slow to anger)
Bearing/Forbearing (allowing for fault)
Love (family affection/no grudge)
How are you doing with these “Basic Qualities”?
Actions Speak
Actions Speak
Have you ever heard it said “actions speak louder than words” (Melancholy State of Province, 1736) or maybe “people don’t care how much know until the know how much you care” (Theodore Roosevelt);
Paul is calling the church of Ephesus to work towards unity of heart and relationship;
Why would he be so concerned about this - because Ephesus was the coming together of Jewish believers and Gentile believers, two groups that did not necessarily get along with each other;
Philippians 2:1-4 “1 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”
How can people do this - through the Holy Spirit;
People within the church need to strive for unity by letting our “Actions Speak” as we remember the “Basic Qualities” of are our walk and seeking “God’s Purpose”;
How are you doing at this individually and us as a church;
If you don’t remember anything else remember these two things;
Failure does not define the Christian and Failure does not define the church!
So what defines us - The Cross
The Cross
The Cross