1. The Unity of the Church Part 1
Ecclesiology
The Unity of the Church
Part 1

2. The only way that churches and denominations can amalgamate is that each ______________ their distinctives. Finding the lowest common denominator necessitates the ________________ of conviction and doctrine. The broader the union, the greater the compromise! The purpose for such an amalgamation cannot ultimately be for spiritual purpose because there cannot be a consensus of ________. Instead the ecumenical meeting must minimize faith and usually opts for a political agenda.
Unity among believers is clearly the _______ and plan of God. This evidenced by the high-priestly prayer of our Lord the impact of which was stated to extend beyond the scope of early disciples. (John 17:11; 20-23) There is a Biblical unity that truly does characterize believers ____________ and the sum of Bible-believing churches. There were no denominations in the first century, only individual churches which found a unity of spirit in those things which they held in ________.
Biblical unity is accomplished on the local level in measure as believers recognize the unity of the _______ of Christ. That unity is defined in Scripture in terms of doctrine, devotion, disposition, and direction. Without unity in these critical areas it is ______________ to maintain unity within the local church.

3. Doctrine
The foundation of scriptural unity is of necessity doctrinal in character. We _______ believe the same things about who God is, about our common salvation, about the Scriptures themselves, about return of Christ, etc. This bond of belief is at the heart of every other _________ of our unity. (Eph. 4:12-16)
The sad reality is that divisions are more often than not a __________ on the part of the local church to adequately school church members in the _____________ of doctrine. Proper methods of Bible study produce ____________ of faith. (2 Tim. 2:14-18)
Doctrine is foundational to ______ of ministry. (Tit. 1:9; 2:1,7,8; 1 Tim. 1:10,11; 4:6,13-16) The source and basis for all doctrine is the __________ study of the Word of God itself. (2 Tim. 3:15,16; 4:2)

4. Doctrine either unites or it divides. It never leaves _____________
Doctrine either unites or it divides. It never leaves _____________ . (Rom. 16:17-20 : 1 Tim. 6:3-5