Ephesians: Unity
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
General: We’ve just finished one of the most divisive political campaigns in our nation’s history, and the church has one of the greatest opportunities in our nation’s history right now: Unity.
Personal: Aside from political differences, there are many subtle ways that differences create an “us vs. them” mentality and disunity sneaks into a church.
Worship preferences: Music style, song selection, Communion preferences…
Spiritual disciplines: Bible study, prayer, fasting… “My way is more spiritual.”
Parenting and family life: Education (public, private, homeschooling), discipline, managing screen time, extracurricular activities…
Lifestyle choices: Differences in diet, health and wellness, entertainment, social media use…
Personality and communication styles: Extroverts vs. introverts, Enneagram type 2 vs. type 5, direct vs. indirect communicators, internal processors vs. external processors…
Life stages and socioeconomics: singles, young families, empty nesters, blue collar, white collar, Lexus vs. Ford
Biblical: In light of all our differences, how can we have unity? That’s one of the topics Paul addresses in the letter of Ephesians. Paul calls both Jews and Gentiles to have unity in Christ. He does not call them to be the same but to be united despite their differences. This is Christian unity.
Subject: How can we have Christian unity? How can we have unity > differences?
Read Ephesians 4:1-6…
1 people + 1 God + 1 hope = unity > differences
Body
Body
We have Christian unity when we are united as one people. We have unity > differences when we identify with God’s family.
Exposition: Eph 4:4… “one body”
One body, one group, one family, one community, one tribe, one people. Not through ethnicity, nationality, political affiliation, or socioeconomic status. What people? God’s people.
It sounds nice, but it’s not easy, see Eph 4:2-3… Summarized by the word “loyalty.”
Illustration: No creature on earth embodies loyalty better than a dog.
Application: Who are your people?
We have Christian unity when we are united under one God. We have unity > differences when we follow God’s will.
Exposition: Eph 4:4-6… “one Spirit… one Lord… one God and Father”
Father, Lord/Son, Spirit = Trinity
One faith = one ultimate trust. We trust God above all others.
One baptism = one fundamental identity. We are defined by God above all else. All the other elements of our identity are important but they are not most important.
Illustration: The most important thing about Tigger is he’s the only one. The most important thing about me is I’m a Christian.
Application: Is your relationship with God the most important thing about you?
We have Christian unity when we are united in one hope. We have unity > differences when we live for God’s glory.
Exposition: Eph 4:4… (one hope)
Hope here does not mean wishful thinking, as in, “I sure hope this works out.”
What he’s talking about is this: What is the hope of your life? What are you looking for in life? What are you living for in life? What is your life about?
Our hope is Jesus… making much of Jesus. It’s only ever always all about Jesus. Not wealth or power, success or fame, happiness or individual fulfillment.
How do we do that? See Eph 4:1,4… To say our hope is Jesus doesn’t mean sitting passively, doing nothing, an hoping that God does something. It means actively go out and be the something God does.
Illustration: Be the hope / humility / gentleness / love / peace / unity our society needs right now.
Application: Ask God: Show me one person I can be hope to this week.
Conclusion
Conclusion
1 people + 1 God + 1 hope = unity > differences… and that’s the kind of unity that changes the world.
Communion is a symbol of Christian unity throughout the ages.
