Focused Unity
Unity does not mean that we all agree on everything. It does mean that we get along regardless of our differences.
Unity Defined
The Quality or State of Not Being Multiple - John 17:22-23, “I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one - I in them and you in me - so that they may be brought to COMPLETE UNITY. Then the World will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have love me.”
The Quality or State of Being Made One - Genesis 2:24, “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is UNITED to his wife, and they become ONE flesh.” Romans 6:5, “For if we have been UNITED with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be UNITED with him in a resurrection like his.”
A Totality of Related Parts - Romans 12:4-5, “For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” I Corinthians 12:12-14, “Just as a body though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body - whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free - and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many”
Continuity Without Deviation of Change - Psalm 133, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in UNIITY!…For there the Lord commanded a blessing, even life forevermore.”
What Does a United Church Look Like?
Unity does not mean that we all agree on everything. It does mean that we get along regardless of our differences.
Remember that God’s Commanded blessings rests on a united church.
Six Characteristics of a United Church
A united church is a functioning church.
A united church is a growing church.
A united church is a forgiving church.
A united church is an equipping church.
A united church is a caring church.
A united church is a focused church.
10 Principles of Focused Unity
The church is a body with many parts.
Each part is equally valuable.
A healthy body with a broken leg is still crippled.
Comparison will kill the body’s potential.
Unforgiveness is a poison that will kill the body the quickest.
Quick forgiveness produces lasting unity.
Prayer is the glue that holds us together.
The body must keep moving in order to function properly.
An inward-focused body seems to be sick all the time.
God commands a blessing on a body that is unified.
Books for Unity
I Am a Church Member - Thom Rainer
The Bait of Satan - John Bevere
Under Cover - John Bevere
The Old Man’s Dream & the Young Man’s Vision - B.J. Smith
A Tale of Three Kings - Gene Edwards
The Church of Irresistible Influence - Robert Lewis
Staying Power - Ken Roberts
Transforming Church in Rural America - Shannon O’Dell
The Externally Focused Church - Rick Rusaw
Online Resources
https://www.cornerstonesf.org/how-to-encourage-unity-in-the-church/
https://pastors.com/5-ways-to-maintain-unity-in-your-church/
https://research.lifeway.com/2020/10/19/5-traits-every-church-musthave-to-maintain-unity/
United in Vision
Create a clear vision statement
Quote it often. Post it everywhere
Incorporate it into sermons
United in Purpose
Know your purpose
Quote it often. Post it everywhere
Live it out together
Live to U.N.I.T.E
Unite through fellowship
Nourish through care
Instruct through teaching
Train through discipleship
Evangelize through Outreach
Most people have a hard time sharing their personal story with others. “This Is My Story” is designed to help your congregation develop and share their personal testimony with others. “This Is My Story” is a series of 2-3 minute videos that we show on Sunday mornings. In the video, someone from the congregation shares their personal story.
They share how they came to know Jesus along with other testimonies of how God has shown His faithfulness to them. These videos are then uploaded to social media for the individual to share with their friends and family.
The goal is to not only help individuals develop and share their story, but we also hope that others will be motivated to share their story as well. We start each video with, “Hello, my name is ____ and this is my story.” We end each video with, “This is my story. What’s yours?”