MAINTAINING UNITY Endeavoring to keep the unity in the bond of peace. Eph. 4:3

MAINTAINING UNITY The Church of Ephesus during the time of Paul was comprised of both rich and poor, Jews and Gentiles, men and women, masters and slaves. And where there are differences, there are at times friction.

MAINTAINING UNITY How can we keep unity in the Body of Christ?

MAINTAINING UNITY How can you keep on caring about a person who doesn't like you? Or a person who likes music you don't like? Or a person who opposes you and wants to frustrate your dreams? How do you maintain the unity of the Spirit with them instead of becoming hostile and cold?

MAINTAINING UNITY In Ephesians 4:3-Paul was not telling the church in Ephesus to be “eager to produce or to organize unity” He told them to endeavor(make a very serious/strong effort) to keep the unity in the bond of peace. Unity is not optional

MAINTAINING UNITY Walk worthy of our calling. We are called to peace in the one body of Christ: "Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, (Colossians 3:12- 15). Our walk, our way of life, must be worthy of this call to peace in Christ.

MAINTAINING UNITY Living fully in Christ’s power and peace is a matter of “growing up,” What are some habits or patterns of communication that we as growing Christians could let go of or “grow out of” for the sake of a greater witness?

MAINTAINING UNITY If anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body" (Colossians 3:12-15).

MAINTAINING UNITY Unity already exist among believers because we share one body, one spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all. (Eph. 4:4-6) It takes work to maintain it.

MAINTAINING UNITY Divided. Conflicted. At odds. Taking sides and then changing them. Playing one against the other. Shifting. This is not the expected behavior of Christians. However, adults sometimes DO act like this. Yes, Christians sometimes act like this. When they do so, they are not acting in the character and Spirit they have been given in Christ

MAINTAINING UNITY When you have differences of opinions don’t let it impact the love you have for one another. Share you point in lowliness, gentleness and love towards those we may not agree with. Agree to disagree but never lose the respect for each other because of differences.

MAINTAINING UNITY 2with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, 3being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling;… Eph. 4:

MAINTAINING UNITY Until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Eph 4:13

MAINTAINING UNITY And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Col 3:14 12For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.… I Corin. 12:

MAINTAINING UNITY As it is, there are many parts, but one body. I Corin. 12:20 1 Corinthians 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 1 Corinthians 12:27

MAINTAINING UNITY Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Rom 12:16 Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, Rom. 15:5

MAINTAINING UNITY Love one another, and cease either to despise or judge each other; but think as well and as highly of them that differ from them, as of themselves, and of those of their own sentiments, without preferring in affection one to another; but studying and devising to promote and maintain, "an equality" among them;.

MAINTAINING UNITY Showing the same equal affection and respect to one as to the other, and to one another; the Jew to the Gentile, and the Gentile to the Jew; the strong to the weak, and the weak to the strong. This is what is greatly desirable

MAINTAINING UNITY I beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Eph. 4:2

MAINTAINING UNITY Unity is based on love Love is the "bond of perfection," the "the bond of peace," the glue that binds the members of the body together in Christ. We love one another as Jesus has loved us. A bucket full of chicken feathers may appear united, but try throwing them in the air. Love bears fruit: tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, lowliness, gentleness, longsuffering, bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, as Christ forgives us. These are ingredients in the recipe for unit y.

MAINTAINING UNITY Unity must be maintained. We must "keep the unity of the Spirit." Christian unity is not man's invention. It is not created by the formation of central authorities or by the publication of human creeds. These are actually departures from unity in Christ.

MAINTAINING UNITY There is one Lord; there is one God and Father of all. "For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live" (1 Corinthians 8:5, 6). "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all" (1 Timothy 2:5, 6).

MAINTAINING UNITY Resources How Can We Maintain The Unity of the Spirit-Roy Davison