The Kind of Unity Hell Cannot Shake

2001030

Topic # 0627

Introduction:

A. If you were to take a sliding scale and rate the level of unity between one & ten – what would it be?

1. How close are we as a family? The Brownsburg family?

2. Exciting to see the good attitudes & brotherly love in action.

3. As Paul told the Thessalonians – so we need to increase in this area.

a) Always room for improvement.

b) 1 Thess. 4:1, 9-12

B. Someone says – well, we’ve got a good thing going – how can we improve on it? Tonight’s lesson will look at the NT church – its unity & how we must draw off of it as an example to go by!

C. The type of local church that hell, with all its power & pressure, might & muscle, strength & stamina cannot shake, is one described by the Holy Spirit as “together.”

1. When God does something, He does it perfectly.

2. when the church is really “one” and “together” it maintains a unity where

a) Friction & fraction are unknown!

b) This is the kind of unity we must strive to have!

D. Let’s look at the example of the NT church for a few moments:

E. I believe in looking at this example, we see THE example of what we SHOULD be!

I. The marks of oneness:

A. The first century church was together. For example:

1. 1 Cor. 1:10 – perfected; united; or made complete together.

2. 1 Cor. 12:24-25 – tempered or composed together

3. Eph. 2:21- fitly framed; fitted together

4. Eph. 2:22 – Built together

5. Eph. 4:16 – knit; fitted & held together

6. Col. 2:19 – supplied & knit together

7. Phil. 1:27 – striving together.

a) Literally to wrestle in company with. To seek jointly. To labor together. Tag team?

b) Working w/each other’s & God’s best interest in mind.

B. Show me a church w/the characteristics just mentioned – and I will exhibit before the world one the devil, in all his deceitful, crafty, and cunning ways

1. Cannot tear apart, splinter, and divide from the love of God & the power of His word.

2. We must be vigilant; on guard – b/c the devil constantly looks for ways to rip God’s people apart.

a) Eph. 6:10-13

3. Brethren: our dying need is to conform to the writings of the apostle Paul in Eph. 4:14-16:

4. No unimportant member.

a) Teach edify: young/old; new Christians/mature Christians.

b) WORK to build up spiritual family!

II. The New Testament Picture of Baptized Believers:

A. Let the picture painted for us in the NT be the guideline for the kind of unity the world needs to see.

B. Here are just a few thoughts the Holy Spirit has given on the subject:

1. Acts 2:42 – all that believed were together.

2. Acts 2:46 – Continuing steadfastly with one accord.

3. Acts 4:32 – were of one heart & one soul.

4. Rom. 14:13 – no stumbling block in a brother’s way.

5. Rom. 14:19 – pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.

6. 1 Cor. 1:10 – speak the same thing, be of the same mind, in the same judgment and have no divisions.

7. 2 Cor. 13:11 – be perfected, be of the same mind, live in peace.

8. Eph. 4:3 – give diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

9. Eph. 4:16 – every joint is to supply.

10. Phil. 1:27 – stand fast in one spirit with one soul.

11. Phil. 2:2 – be of the same mind; having the same love; being of one accord, of one mind.

12. Phil. 2:3 – each in lowliness of mind, counting others better than self.

13. Phil. 2:4 – Look each of you to the things of others.

14. Phil. 2:14 – do all things w/o murmuring and questioning.

15. Js. 4:11 – speak not against one another, brethren.

C. Here are 15 of the many passages in the NT that describe the kind of unity that hell cannot shake!

III. The results of this kind of unity:

A. This is why they turned the world upside down – Acts 17:6

1. Working together in unison for the same cause – although small; great minority – made a HUGE impact!

2. Col. 1:6; 23 – proclaimed gospel to entire world – w/in 30 yrs of great commission!

c) Some think on this scale: we can’t do what they did b/c there was a lot of them and there’s not that many of us!

d) Proportionally – the percentages aren’t that much different today – ratio of saved/unsaved just as great – we CAN overcome w/the help of God.

e) Together, we can get the gospel out to Brownsburg; Hendricks County; and…the world!

f) Together, we can make a difference.

g) Together, by inviting people – we can expose around hundreds of people each month to this church.

3. Let’s get out & make a difference! Good things are happening b/c of our work. Let’s keep on keeping on!

B. It was the reason they were able to go from house to house (Acts 20:20) and publicly & privately (Acts 5:42) declare the whole counsel of God. (Acts 20:26-27.

C. It was the source of their persecution (1 Cor. 4:10-14)

1. Yet, their rejoicing (Acts 5:41).

Conclusion:

A. Acts 2:41-47 - When the church started on Pentecost – they continued steadfastly in:

1) Doctrine. Purity of doctrine is a must.

2) fellowship

3) breaking of bread

4) prayer

B. Brethren – we must not underestimate any one of these things, and hope to have unity!

C. Let us work together to make sure we are striving to be as unified as we possibly can.

1. Doing this will allow us to be extremely successful w/the help of God.

2. Let’s get busy in the Lord’s work!

D. I N V I T A T I O N



The Kind of Unity Hell Cannot Shake 2001030 Topic # 0627 Introduction: A. If you were to take a sliding scale and rate the level of unity between one & ten – what would it be? 1. How close are we as a family? The Brownsburg family? 2. Exciting to see the good attitudes & brotherly love in action. 3. As Paul told the Thessalonians – so we need to increase in this area. a) Always room for improvement. b) 1 Thess. 4:1, 9-12 B. Someone says – well, we’ve got a good thing going – how can we improve on it? Tonight’s lesson will look at the NT church – its unity & how we must draw off of it as an example to go by! C. The type of local church that hell, with all its power & pressure, might & muscle, strength & stamina cannot shake, is one described by the Holy Spirit as “together.” 1. When God does something, He does it perfectly. 2. when the church is really “one” and “together” it maintains a unity where a) Friction & fraction are unknown! b) This is the kind of unity we must strive to have! D. Let’s look at the example of the NT church for a few moments: E. I believe in looking at this example, we see THE example of what we SHOULD be! I. The marks of oneness: A. The first century church was together. For example: 1. 1 Cor. 1:10 – perfected; united; or made complete together. 2. 1 Cor. 12:24-25 – tempered or composed together 3. Eph. 2:21- fitly framed; fitted together 4. Eph. 2:22 – Built together 5. Eph. 4:16 – knit; fitted & held together 6. Col. 2:19 – supplied & knit together 7. Phil. 1:27 – striving together. a) Literally to wrestle in company with. To seek jointly. To labor together. Tag team? b) Working w/each other’s & God’s best interest in mind. B. Show me a church w/the characteristics just mentioned – and I will exhibit before the world one the devil, in all his deceitful, crafty, and cunning ways 1. Cannot tear apart, splinter, and divide from the love of God & the power of His word. 2. We must be vigilant; on guard – b/c the devil constantly looks for ways to rip God’s people apart. a) Eph. 6:10-13 3. Brethren: our dying need is to conform to the writings of the apostle Paul in Eph. 4:14-16: 4. No unimportant member. a) Teach edify: young/old; new Christians/mature Christians. b) WORK to build up spiritual family! II. The New Testament Picture of Baptized Believers: A. Let the picture painted for us in the NT be the guideline for the kind of unity the world needs to see. B. Here are just a few thoughts the Holy Spirit has given on the subject: 1. Acts 2:42 – all that believed were together. 2. Acts 2:46 – Continuing steadfastly with one accord. 3. Acts 4:32 – were of one heart & one soul. 4. Rom. 14:13 – no stumbling block in a brother’s way. 5. Rom. 14:19 – pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another. 6. 1 Cor. 1:10 – speak the same thing, be of the same mind, in the same judgment and have no divisions. 7. 2 Cor. 13:11 – be perfected, be of the same mind, live in peace. 8. Eph. 4:3 – give diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 9. Eph. 4:16 – every joint is to supply. 10. Phil. 1:27 – stand fast in one spirit with one soul. 11. Phil. 2:2 – be of the same mind; having the same love; being of one accord, of one mind. 12. Phil. 2:3 – each in lowliness of mind, counting others better than self. 13. Phil. 2:4 – Look each of you to the things of others. 14. Phil. 2:14 – do all things w/o murmuring and questioning. 15. Js. 4:11 – speak not against one another, brethren. C. Here are 15 of the many passages in the NT that describe the kind of unity that hell cannot shake! III. The results of this kind of unity: A. This is why they turned the world upside down – Acts 17:6 1. Working together in unison for the same cause – although small; great minority – made a HUGE impact! 2. Col. 1:6; 23 – proclaimed gospel to entire world – w/in 30 yrs of great commission! c) Some think on this scale: we can’t do what they did b/c there was a lot of them and there’s not that many of us! d) Proportionally – the percentages aren’t that much different today – ratio of saved/unsaved just as great – we CAN overcome w/the help of God. e) Together, we can get the gospel out to Brownsburg; Hendricks County; and…the world! f) Together, we can make a difference. g) Together, by inviting people – we can expose around hundreds of people each month to this church. 3. Let’s get out & make a difference! Good things are happening b/c of our work. Let’s keep on keeping on! B. It was the reason they were able to go from house to house (Acts 20:20) and publicly & privately (Acts 5:42) declare the whole counsel of God. (Acts 20:26-27. C. It was the source of their persecution (1 Cor. 4:10-14) 1. Yet, their rejoicing (Acts 5:41). Conclusion: A. Acts 2:41-47 - When the church started on Pentecost – they continued steadfastly in: 1) Doctrine. Purity of doctrine is a must. 2) fellowship 3) breaking of bread 4) prayer B. Brethren – we must not underestimate any one of these things, and hope to have unity! C. Let us work together to make sure we are striving to be as unified as we possibly can. 1. Doing this will allow us to be extremely successful w/the help of God. 2. Let’s get busy in the Lord’s work! D. I N V I T A T I O N