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A Different Unity

Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all. However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. EPHESIANS 4:1-7 NLT

Christian Unity does not mean that:

Christian unity is different because it is voluntary

Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. EPHESIANS 4:1 NLT

How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! PSALMS 133:1 NIV

Christian unity is different because it requires a high level of individual humility

Always be humble and gentle. EPHESIANS 4:2a NLT

Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor. PROVERBS 29:23 ESV

In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 1 PETER 5:5 ESV

And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth. 2 TIMOTHY 2:24-25 ESV

Christian unity is different because it creates unique relational challenges

Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. EPHESIANS 4:2b NLT

As a Christian, I must choose to assume the best in people.
As a Christian, I must wait to pass judgment until I have all the facts.

Three questions to ask myself when I am upset with someone:

So don’t get ahead of the Master and jump to conclusions with your judgments before all the evidence is in. 1 CORINTHIANS 4:5 MSG

As a Christian, I must learn to love people even if they are wrong.

making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. EPHESIANS 4:2b NLT

Christian unity is different because it calls for more than a casual level of commitment

Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God […] Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. EPHESIANS 4:1, 3 NLT

As a Christian, God has called me to himself.
As a Christian, God has called me to his Church.

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, EPHESIANS 5:25 ESV

My Notes

Personal Reflection Guide

Take a few minutes to slow down, laying any burdens from the day at the feet of Jesus. Invite Jesus into this time, asking Him to help you be real with yourself and God during this process. As you consider your experience of unity, what role does personal humility play in your ability to offer grace and gentleness to others? Ask God to show you where he might be growing your humility in this season of life. Next, ask God to show you where your growth in these areas can impact others, inviting them into the different life that Jesus offers. How can you foster a greater commitment to living out this kind of life? Ask God to reveal anything you might need to do—or any tools you might need—in order to carry this out. Close your time by thanking God for His gentleness and commitment to you, writing down your reflections in the space below and sharing with your group if you feel comfortable.

Discussion Questions

  1. PERSONAL REFLECTION: Begin group time by completing the Personal Reflection Guide, (link found on the top of sermon notes). Use this time to examine the role of humility as you seek to live a life of unity. (Tip: playing some soft background music is helpful here!)
  2. REAL WITH SELF: Unity is fostered when we choose to assume the best in people. Compare a time when someone assumed the worst about you, versus a time when someone assumed the best. How did their differing approaches affect you?
  3. REAL WITH SELF: Jesus called His disciples to be different—specifically by the way we show love for one another. How can our commitment to unity serve as a way to introduce people to Jesus?
  4. REAL WITH GOD: Success breeds pride. Pride destroys the work of the Spirit in your life. Where might God be challenging you to grow in humility right now? How has that opened you up to the work of the Holy Spirit in your life?
  5. REAL WITH OTHERS: In difficult situations, before I pass judgment, I need to learn to ask the following three questions: What are my feelings? What are the facts? What does my faith say? Which of these questions presents the biggest challenge for you? How could things be different if you made a commitment to ask all three of these questions before you respond?
  6. TAKE ACTION: Christian unity is different because it calls for more than a casual level of commitment. How could your life be different if you were more committed to your relationships, to your job, to your marriage, and to your church? What steps can you take this week to move in this direction?