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