Unity

1. UNITY OR DISUNITY?

A. God wants us to have unity:

Psalm 133:1   How good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity

1 Corinthians 1:10   I beseech you … that there be no divisions among you, but … be perfectly joined together in the same mind

2 Corinthians 13:11   Be ye of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you

Philippians 1:27   Stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together

B. What He thinks of disunity:

Proverbs 6:16,19   These … doth the Lord hate: [they] are an abomination unto him: he that soweth discord among brethren

James 3:14–15   But if ye have … strife in your hearts, glory not … this descendeth not from above, but is devilish

2. HOW TO WORK AT KEEPING UNITED:

Ephesians 4:3   Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit

A. Have the Word as a unifying standard:

1 Corinthians 14:37   Let him acknowledge that the things I write are the commandments of the Lord

Philippians 3:16   Let us walk by the same rule … mind the same thing

1 Thessalonians 2:13–14   Ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye … became followers

B. Be agreeable and likeminded:

Romans 12:16   Be of the same mind one toward another …   condescend to men of low estate

Romans 15:5–6   God … grant you to be likeminded one toward another … that ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God

1 Corinthians 1:10   I beseech you … that ye all speak the same thing

Philippians 2:2   Be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind

  (See also Acts 2:46; Philippians 4:2.)

C. Be at peace with fellow-workers:

Romans 14:19   Let us follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another

Colossians 3:15   Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which ye are called in one body

1 Thessalonians 5:13  Be at peace among yourselves

D. Have love and concern for one another:

Proverbs 10:12   Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins

Romans 12:10   Be kindly affectioned with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another (See also 1 Thessalonians 2:7–8.)

1 Corinthians 12:25–26   There should be no schism in the body; but the members should have the same care one for another

Ephesians 4:16   The whole body fitly joined together … maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love

E. Be kind, gentle, and courteous to one another:

1 Corinthians 11:33   When ye come together to eat, tarry one for another

Ephesians 4:32   Be ye kind … tenderhearted, forgiving one another

2 Timothy 2:24   Not strive … be gentle unto all men, patient

1 Peter 3:8   Be ye all of one mind, having compassion … love as brethren, be pitiful [sympathetic], be courteous

  (See also Proverbs 18:24.)

F. Take people where they’re at:

Romans 14:1   Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations

  (See also Romans 14:2–21.)

G. Avoid offending people:

Proverbs 18:19   Brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city

1 Corinthians 10:32–33   Give none offence, neither … to the church of God … I please all men in all things

H. Be careful what you say:

Proverbs 17:9   He that repeateth a matter separateth very friends

2 Timothy 2:23   Foolish questions avoid … they do gender strifes

Titus 3:2   Speak evil of no man … gentle … meekness unto all men

  (See also James 3:16–17; Ecclesiastes 5:2.)

I. Control your temper; be slow to speak:

Proverbs 14:29   He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding

Proverbs 15:1   A soft answer turneth away wrath

Proverbs 15:18   He that is slow to anger appeaseth strife

Proverbs 25:8   Go not forth hastily to strive [with thy neighbour]

Philippians 2:3   Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory

James 1:19   Let every man be … slow to speak, slow to wrath

  (See also Proverbs 3:30; 26:17.)

J. Humbly discuss disagreements with elders:

1 Timothy 5:1   Rebuke not an elder, but entreat him as a father

K. Sort out frictions before doing anything else:

Matthew 5:23–24   First be reconciled to thy brother, then … offer gift

Mark 11:25   When … praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any

James 5:9   Grudge not one against another, lest ye be condemned

L. Avoid being partial or playing favourites:

1 Timothy 5:21   [Not] preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality (See also James 3:7.)

James 2:1   Have not the faith of Jesus … with respect of persons

M. Value peace above selfish interests:

Romans 12:18   As much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men

Romans 14:19–21   Let us follow after the things which make for peace

  (See also 1 Corinthians 6:7; Philippians 2:4.)

N. Share unselfishly with others:

Acts 4:32   And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul … they had all things common

  (See also 1 Corinthians 10:33; 2 Corinthians 8:9.)

O. Return good for evil:

Matthew 5:44   Love your enemies, bless them that curse you

Romans 12:21   Overcome evil with good

1 Thessalonians 5:15   See that none render evil for evil … among yourselves

P. Retaliation forbidden:

(See Leviticus 19:18; Proverbs 20:22; 24:29; Romans 12:17,19; 1 Peter 3:9.)

3. THE FRUITS OF UNITY:

A. Working together for a common goal:

2 Kings 10:15   Is thine heart right, as my heart is with thine heart? If it be, give me thine hand

Amos 3:3   Can two walk [or work] together, except they be agreed?

Matthew 18:19–20   Where two or three are gathered in my [Jesus’] name, there am I in the midst of them

Acts 2:14   Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice

Philippians 1:27   With one mind, striving together for … the gospel

B. There is strength in unity:

Judges 20:11   The men [army] were gathered against the city, knit together as one man

1 Samuel 14:6–7   Jonathan said, Let us go over. His armourbearer said, Behold I am with thee according to thy heart

Ecclesiastes 4:9–10   Two are better than one … for if they fall, the one will  lift up his fellow

Ecclesiastes 4:12   If one [a foe] prevail against him, two shall withstand [the foe], and a three-fold cord is not … broken

  (See also Nehemiah 4:16–17.)

C. Good fruit of united outreach:

Acts 2:1–2,41   [Believers] all with one accord in one place [were filled with the spirit, witnessed, and 3,000 souls were saved]

4. UNITY OF BELIEVERS IN JESUS:

A. Jesus’ prayer that we be united as one:

John 17:11,21–23   That they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us … that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one

B. We should be one body, working together unitedly:

Romans 12:5   We, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another

1 Corinthians 12:12–13  All the members of one body, being many, are one body (See also 1 Corinthians 10:17.)

1 Corinthians 12:27   Ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular

Ephesians 2:22   Ye are builded together … through the Spirit (See also

Ephesians 1:10; 2:19–21; 4:11–12; 1 Corinthians 12:4–16.)

Colossians 1:17–18   [Jesus] is head of our body (See also Ephesians 4:15–16.)

  (See also 1 Corinthians 3:9; 2 Corinthians 6:1.)

C. Jesus’ Spirit gives us peace with one another:

1 Corinthians 14:33   God is the author … of peace, as in all the churches

2 Corinthians 13:11   Brethren … live in peace; God of peace shall be with you

Galatians 5:22   The fruit of the Spirit is … peace

Ephesians 2:14   He is our peace … hath broken down the wall between

Colossians 2:2   Your hearts comforted, being knit together in love

D. There should be no divisions because of race or sex:

1 Corinthians 12:13   Whether Jews or Gentiles, [we] have been all made … one

Galatians 3:26,28   Neither Jew nor Greek … male or female: for ye are all one in Jesus

E. Or social or financial statuses:

1 Corinthians 12:13   Whether … bond or free, [we] have been all made … one

Galatians 3:28   Neither bond nor free … for ye are all one in Jesus

5. CAUSES OF DISUNITY:

A. Pride and lust:

Proverbs 13:10   Only by pride cometh contention

Proverbs 28:25   He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife

James 4:1–3   Whence come fightings among you? From your lusts

B. Not walking in the Spirit:

1 Corinthians 3:3   Ye are carnal: there is among you strife and divisions

Galatians 5:19–21   Works of the flesh: hatred, wrath, strifes

C. Ill feelings and hatred:

Proverbs 10:12   Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins

Proverbs 16:28   A froward man soweth strife, and a whisperer separateth

Proverbs 26:24   He that hateth dissembleth with his lips

D. Envy and jealousy:

Romans 13:13   Let us walk honestly … not in … strife and envying

1 Corinthians 13:4   Love … envieth not; love vaunteth not itself

Galatians 5:26   Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another

James 3:14–16   If ye have bitter envying … in your hearts, glory not. For where envying … is, there is … every evil work

  (See also Proverbs 14:30; 27:4; Galatians 5:19–21; Titus 3:3.)

E. Favouritism and partiality:

Acts 6:1  There arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected

F. Self-exaltation and desire for leadership:

Numbers 12:1–15   [Miriam and Aaron rebel against Moses, desiring power]

Numbers 16:1–35   [Korah rebels against Moses, desiring leadership]

Luke 22:24   There was a strife among them, [who] should be greatest

Acts 20:30   Of your own selves shall men arise … to draw away disciples after them

Galatians 5:26   Let us not desire vain glory, provoking … one another

3 John 1:9–11   Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them receiveth us not

G. Arguing over minor doctrines and theorizing:

1 Timothy 6:3–5   Knowing nothing, doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh … strife

H. Bitterness:

Hebrews 12:15   Lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled

I. Anger and a quick temper:

Proverbs 15:18   A wrathful man stirreth up strife

Proverbs 29:22   An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man

J. Repeating things we know we shouldn’t:

Proverbs 17:9   He that repeateth a matter separateth very friends

Proverbs 26:20   Where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth

  (See also James 1:26.)

K. Inability to stop arguing:

Proverbs 17:14   The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water … leave off contention

Proverbs 20:3   It is an honour to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling

6. RESULTS OF DISUNITY:

A. Not being able to work together:

Amos 3:3   Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

Acts 15:36–40   Contention so sharp [between Paul and Barnabus] that they departed asunder [and went separate ways]

B. It destroys God’s work:

Matthew 12:25   Every house divided against itself … shall not stand

Mark 3:24   If kingdom be divided against itself … cannot stand

  (See also Numbers 32:1–7.)

C. Longstanding divisions:

Proverbs 18:19   A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city

D. Creates sectarian divisions and man-worship:

1 Corinthians 3:3–4   There [are] divisions … For one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos

  (See also 1 Corinthians 3:21–23; 11:18.)

E. Backbiting and rumours:

Proverbs 16:28   A whisperer separateth chief friends

2 Corinthians 12:20   I fear … lest there be backbitings, whisperings

F. Opens the door to every kind of evil:

James 3:16   For where … strife [is], there is confusion and every evil work

7. HOW TO DEAL WITH DISUNITY:

1 Thessalonians 5:14  Warn them that are unruly

A. When it’s just between us and a fellow worker:

Proverbs 25:9   Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another

Matthew 18:15   Tell him his fault between thee and him alone

Luke 17:4   If he trespass seven times in a day, and seven times a day turn again, saying, I repent … forgive

1 Peter 4:8   Charity [love] shall cover the multitude of sins

  (See also Matthew 18:21–22.)

B. When there is a division in the work, let the pastors and elders settle the disputes:

Acts 15:2   When [they] had no small dissension, they determined [to] go to the elders about this question

Acts 15:7,12   When there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and [spoke]. Then all the multitude kept silence

Galatians 6:1   If a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one

C. Let it pass if it’s not an important disagreement:

Romans 14:2   One believeth that he may eat all things: another … eateth [only] herbs

Romans 14:5–6   One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike

8. DISASSOCIATING FROM THOSE WHO CAUSE DIVISION:

Proverbs 22:10   Cast out the scorner, and … strife shall cease

Matthew 18:15–17   If he neglected to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen

Romans 16:17   Mark them which cause divisions and offences … and avoid

1 Corinthians 5:11–13  With such an one no, not to eat … put away wicked

2 Thessalonians 3:6   We command you … that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly

2 Thessalonians 3:14–15   If any obey not … have no company with him … yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish as a brother

1 Timothy 6:3,5   If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to … the doctrine … from such withdraw thyself

Titus 3:10   An heretick after first and second admonition, reject

2 John 1:10–11   If any … bring not this doctrine, receive him not

  (See also 1 Timothy 6:3–5; Jude 1:12.)

9. RESTORATION TO FELLOWSHIP:

Galatians 6:1   If a man be overtaken in a fault … restore [him]

2 Timothy 2:25–26   In meekness instructing those … that they may recover

James 5:19–20   If any of you err from the truth … convert him

  (See also Luke 15:11–24, on the return of the Prodigal Son.)

10. WHEN CONTENTIONS AND DISPUTES ARE NECESSARY:

To refute false doctrine or serious wrong behaviour:

John 7:43   There was a division among people because of [Jesus]

Acts 15:1–2   “Except ye be circumcised, ye cannot be saved.” Paul … had no small dissension and disputation with them

Galatians 2:11–14   When Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face … I [rebuked] Peter before them all

1 Timothy 5:20   Them that sin, rebuke before all that others may fear

Jude 1:3   Ye should earnestly contend for the faith

Special chapters about unity: Psalm 133; John 17; 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4; Romans 12