Culture andCulture and

(Unite and Conquer)(Unite and Conquer)

ChristChrist

A co-worker has been telling A co-worker has been telling your wife that it's not cheatingyour wife that it's not cheating

If she's out of townIf she's out of town

He's been telling your husbandHe's been telling your husbandHow great it is to be singleHow great it is to be single

Your kid loved the sandboxYour kid loved the sandboxUntil someone mentionedUntil someone mentioned

The different skin colorsThe different skin colors

They talked stuff about youThey talked stuff about youAnd you lost your best friend…And you lost your best friend…

People listened to the gossipPeople listened to the gossipAnd it dividedAnd it divided

Christ's ChurchChrist's Church

How does GodHow does GodFeel about that?Feel about that?

Mysteries are OKMysteries are OKIf there's lots of blowing stuff upIf there's lots of blowing stuff up

Mysteries are OKMysteries are OKIf there's lots of blowing stuff upIf there's lots of blowing stuff up

The The MysteryMystery of God's Plan of God's Plan

““Eye has not seen, nor ear Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heard, nor have entered into the

heart of man the things which heart of man the things which God has prepared for those God has prepared for those

who love Him”who love Him”

"But God "But God has revealed has revealed them to them to us through His Spirit"us through His Spirit"- 1 Cor. 2:9-10- 1 Cor. 2:9-10

God has told usGod has told usA secretA secret

……the the mysterymystery hidden for ages hidden for ages and generations but and generations but now now revealedrevealed to his saints... to his saints...

……which is Christ in which is Christ in you,you,the hope of glorythe hope of glory

- Col. 1:26-27- Col. 1:26-27

PluralPlural

…which is Christ in …which is Christ in you,you,the hope of glorythe hope of glory

- Col. 1:26-27- Col. 1:26-27

God bringing God bringing us us togethertogetherSo that So that wewe experience experience

His gloryHis glory

Glory=Glory= Doxa: Doxa: Takes your breath awayTakes your breath away

The mysteryThe mystery

…which is Christ in …which is Christ in you,you,the hope of glorythe hope of glory

- Col. 1:26-27- Col. 1:26-27

There is neither Jew nor Greek, There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and free, there is no male and female, for female, for you are all oneyou are all one in in Christ Jesus Christ Jesus - Gal. 3:28- Gal. 3:28

Ceases to MatterCeases to Matter(For those who love Jesus)(For those who love Jesus)

RaceRaceSocio-economicsSocio-economicsMale/FemaleMale/Female

This is partThis is partof the Mystery of God's Planof the Mystery of God's Plan

The secret The secret We've been let in on…We've been let in on…

...making known...making known to us to us the the mysterymystery of his will, according to of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time…fullness of time…

……to unite all thingsto unite all things in him, in him, things in heaven and things in heaven and

things on earththings on earth- Eph. 1:9-10- Eph. 1:9-10

In Christ, we are OneIn Christ, we are One

UnifiedUnifiedEgo ceasesEgo ceasesPride is murderedPride is murderedSelf-esteem is ripped a new oneSelf-esteem is ripped a new oneLooking for reasons to divide is overLooking for reasons to divide is over

Restoration!Restoration!

Creation-Creation- In the beginning, God In the beginning, God created…created…

Creation-Creation- In the beginning, God In the beginning, God created…created…

Fall-Fall- Then the eyes of both were Then the eyes of both were opened…opened…

Redemption-Redemption- canceling the canceling the record of debt that stood record of debt that stood against us with its legal against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. nailing it to the cross.

Restoration-Restoration- The blind receive The blind receive sight, the lame walk…and the sight, the lame walk…and the good news is proclaimed to the good news is proclaimed to the poor.poor.

Restoration=Restoration= Reverse the Curse Reverse the Curse

Goal:Goal: Unity in Christ Unity in Christ

The Mystery, the SecretThe Mystery, the SecretOf God's ultimate willOf God's ultimate will

Is Unity in ChristIs Unity in Christ

““My prayer is not for them My prayer is not for them alone. alone. I pray also I pray also for those for those who will believe in me who will believe in me through their message…through their message…

… …that all of them may be that all of them may be one, one, Father, just as you are in me and Father, just as you are in me and

I am in you. May they also be I am in you. May they also be (one) in us (one) in us so that the world may so that the world may

believebelieve that you have sent me… that you have sent me…

I have given I have given themthem the the gloryglory that that you gave me, that they may be you gave me, that they may be one as we are one- I in them and one as we are one- I in them and you in me- so that they may be you in me- so that they may be brought to complete brought to complete unity.unity.

……brought to complete brought to complete unity.unity."Grow"Grow complete into one" complete into one"

……brought to complete brought to complete unity.unity."Grow"Grow complete into one" complete into one"

A measure of growthA measure of growthIs humbly preferring othersIs humbly preferring othersUnity-orientedUnity-oriented

Then the world will knowThen the world will know that that you sent me and have loved you sent me and have loved them even as you have them even as you have loved meloved me- Jesus, John 17:20-23- Jesus, John 17:20-23

How does the world know?How does the world know?

The Mystery is RevealedThe Mystery is RevealedIn God's peopleIn God's peopleAs they walk in humble unityAs they walk in humble unity

What tells the worldWhat tells the worldJesus is a Fraud?Jesus is a Fraud?

God's people dividing, fightingGod's people dividing, fightingGossiping, hating each otherGossiping, hating each other

Unity:Unity:

God's people uniting for God's God's people uniting for God's purposes while respecting each purposes while respecting each other's differences, yet still other's differences, yet still speaking the truth in lovespeaking the truth in love

Unity:Unity:

- Not unanimity- Not unanimity- Not pressure to conform- Not pressure to conform- Not the same personality- Not the same personality- Not the same gifting- Not the same gifting

So if there is any So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any encouragement in Christ, any

comfort from love, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any participation in the Spirit, any

affection and sympathy…affection and sympathy…

……complete my joy by being of complete my joy by being of the the same mind, same mind, having the having the same same love,love, being in being in full accord full accord and and of one mind.of one mind.

Do nothing from selfish Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in ambition or conceit, but in

humility count others more humility count others more significant than yourselves.significant than yourselves.

"I'm not what's important-"I'm not what's important-You are"You are"

"I'm not what's important-"I'm not what's important-You are"You are"

Practical FootwashingPractical Footwashing

Let each of you look not only to Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.the interests of others.

Have this mind among Have this mind among yourselves, yourselves, which is yours which is yours in Christ Jesus…in Christ Jesus…

The Spirit in youThe Spirit in youWill produce this in your lifeWill produce this in your life

If you are walking with GodIf you are walking with GodSubmitting to Jesus as LordSubmitting to Jesus as Lord

……who, though he was in the who, though he was in the formform of God, did not count of God, did not count equality with God a thing equality with God a thing

to be grasped, but to be grasped, but emptiedemptied himself… himself…

Ego= MurderedEgo= MurderedSelf-preference= GoneSelf-preference= Gone

Sacrifice for Undeserving= GivenSacrifice for Undeserving= Given

……by taking the by taking the formform of a of a servant, being born in the servant, being born in the likeness of men. likeness of men.

And being found in human And being found in human form, he humbled himself by form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point becoming obedient to the point of death, of death, eveneven death on a cross. death on a cross.

Therefore God has highly Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on exalted him and bestowed on

him the name that is above him the name that is above every name…every name…

……so that at the name of Jesus so that at the name of Jesus every kneeevery knee should bow, in should bow, in heaven and on earth and under heaven and on earth and under the earth, and the earth, and every tongueevery tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the gloryto the glory of God the Father… of God the Father…

The Mystery, the SecretThe Mystery, the Secret

All things unified under JesusAll things unified under JesusSome willingly, some by virtue Some willingly, some by virtue of recognition…to God's gloryof recognition…to God's glory

The Mystery revealed to us:The Mystery revealed to us:

WeWe get to experience get to experienceA taste of that A taste of that gloryglory now now

The Mystery revealed in us:The Mystery revealed in us:

TheyThey get to see it get to see itWhen we humbly submitWhen we humbly submitTo Jesus and one anotherTo Jesus and one another

Do all things without grumbling Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be or disputing, that you may be

blameless and innocent…blameless and innocent…

……children of God without children of God without blemish in the midst of a blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights among whom you shine as lights

in the worldin the world- Phil. 2:1-11, 14-15- Phil. 2:1-11, 14-15

We are called toWe are called to "make every "make every effort to keep the unity of the effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond Spirit through the bond of peace"of peace"- Eph. 4:3- Eph. 4:3

I appeal to you, brothers, to I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out watch out for those who cause for those who cause divisions…avoid themdivisions…avoid them- Romans 16:17- Romans 16:17

Warn a divisive person once, Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second and then warn them a second

time. After that, have nothing to time. After that, have nothing to do with themdo with them

- Titus 3:10- Titus 3:10

There are six things that the There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him:abomination to him:…one who sows discord…one who sows discord among brothersamong brothers- Prov. 6:16-19- Prov. 6:16-19

It is It is impossibleimpossible to be focused on Jesusto be focused on JesusAnd take much notice of:And take much notice of:

- External Differences- External Differences- How rich or poor- How rich or poor- What political stripe- What political stripe

Church:Church:

- Ultimate Authority= - Ultimate Authority= WordWord- Essentials- - Essentials- AgreeAgree- Non-Essentials- - Non-Essentials- ConvictionConviction- Love- - Love- AlwaysAlways

It is It is impossibleimpossible to be to beLiving for Jesus and spending timeLiving for Jesus and spending time

Trying to divide:Trying to divide:- Marriages- Marriages- Friends- Friends- Churches- Churches

Unity Mindset:Unity Mindset:

Looking for reasons to get alongLooking for reasons to get alongNot reasons to divideNot reasons to divide

Unity Mindset:Unity Mindset:

- Grace and forgiveness- Grace and forgiveness

Unity Mindset:Unity Mindset:

- Humility- let it roll off- Humility- let it roll off

Good sense makes one slow to Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is a man's glory to anger, and it is a man's glory to overlook an offenseoverlook an offense- Proverbs 19:11- Proverbs 19:11

Unity Mindset:Unity Mindset:

- Big Picture (what's important - Big Picture (what's important and what's not)and what's not)

Unity Mindset:Unity Mindset:

- Heart of Jesus- see beyond- Heart of Jesus- see beyond

Unity Mindset:Unity Mindset:

- Gentleness/Truth - Gentleness/Truth in Lovein Love

Jesus is Jesus is for for your marriageyour marriage

Jesus is Jesus is forfor your relationships your relationships

Jesus is Jesus is forfor a loving and a loving andUnified churchUnified church

God forbid:God forbid:

- That we would listen to voices- That we would listen to voicesLooking to divideLooking to divide

- That we would be those voices- That we would be those voices

Starts with Right RelationshipStarts with Right RelationshipWith JesusWith Jesus

Open RebellionOpen RebellionProduces DesireProduces Desire

To Hurt and DivideTo Hurt and DivideTo Insist on My DesiresTo Insist on My Desires

Pray…Pray…

Communion= Communion=

Celebration of unity with ChristCelebration of unity with ChristIn Christ with One AnotherIn Christ with One Another