Preached by Joel Parlour, Cornell Buckner and Jay Shelbrack, 1/3/2010

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Jerry Campbell (2nd from left) Gets Baptized!

Unity – Outline

As a church, as a movement, if we want God to do great things through us this year, we will have to be unified. Unified in lifestyle, in doctrine, in love, etc. This sermon addresses 3 areas where we need to get unified: in our families, in the church, and with God.

1. Unity in the Family: (Joel Parlour)
Time with family is a time we are supposed to grow close, but that is not what often happens

Genesis 2:4, 7, 18-24 – God created people to be unified
- Worldly idea of unity is that two people share goals and interests
- God’s meaning is that 2 people literally become one
- A family is a unit
- Use our understanding of family relationships in kingdom relationships
- God has given us family to teach us about unity

1 Timothy 5:1-2 – if disciples learn how to be godly in family relationships, they will be in kingdom relationships too
- Give to your family as if they were disciples
- Treat them like you’d treat Jesus

2. Unity in the Church: (Cornell Buckner)

John 17:20-23 – we need a unified vision because the world is at stake
- Have to strive for unity, it doesn’t just happen

1 Corinthians 1:10 – this kind of unity seems impossible, but nothing is impossible for God
- We have to get to know one another deeply, like brothers and sisters, in order to be unified
- Church can become like an un-unified basketball team, not working together, but everyone out for their own glory

1 Corinthians 3:1-3 – We need to be mature.
- Jealousy and quarreling are childish
- We call ourselves grown adults, but how grown are we in Christ?
- Jealousy and quarreling mean we aren’t willing to crucify ourselves

2 Corinthians 13:5-10 – Is there anything you are afraid of ?
- There is a time for everything, but there is no time to fear

Acts 2:42-47 – God blesses unity
- we can think, “I’m pretty awesome, I led this person to Christ.”
- However, this scripture shows that they were fruitful because they were unified
- God’s plan is for us to be devoted to one another
- Unity is a devotion to one another
- Ask yourself: How devoted am I?

3. Unity with God: (Jay Shelbrack)
On a scale of 1-10, how unified are you with God? What do you base your answer on?

Matthew 7:21-23 – if we aren’t unified with God, unity in our families and in the church won’t happen
- God is love, if we aren’t unified with him, it’s not his fault
- We have different ideas about how unified we are with God

2 Corinthians 13:5 – we need to examine ourselves. Are we unified with God? What would he say?
- Bottomline: it comes down to what God says, not what we think
- People want relationship with God on their terms: warm-fuzzy God, or convenient God, or a checklist faith, etc.
- But how would you feel if someone treated you that way?

What does God say it takes to be unified with him?

Luke 14:25-33 – People want relationship with God on their terms, but here Jesus is laying out his terms.
- (v.26) Anyone: these terms apply to everybody
- Jesus must be #1. What if you were getting married and said, “Honey, I love you, but I love my mom more.”?
- Carry cross = die to sin. Kill it, bury it, it doesn’t come back.
- Follow me = go together. Are you following Jesus or are trying to have Jesus follow you?
- Tower thing = it is not an just an emotional decision to follow Jesus. Must count the cost.
- King thing = we are the king of our own life, but as such are opposing God. Jesus needs to be our Lord (king), but saying Jesus is Lord means nothing (Matthew 7:21) doing it is the challenge.
- Surrender everything = everything means everything! What are you putting before God? Also, it doesn’t say you must be willing to give up everything… it says you must do it.

Philippians 3:4-11 – This is the heart behind the goal of knowing God more.
- No greater Compliment than wanting to know and imitate someone.

How unified are you with God?

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