Glynlea Grace United Methodist Chruch

Scripture

   Core Idea, Challenge & Summary

Core Idea: In order to accomplish its mission of making disciples of Jesus, the church must be unified in love under the Lordship of Jesus.   

Challenge: To challenge Christians to become more unified by humbly submitting to each other.

Summary: When non-Christians visit a church function, they often ask, “Is this Jesus for real?” They wonder, “Is Jesus really God in the flesh as they claim? Does he really love me as they claim?” If they experience a church event that demonstrates loving unity, they may think, “This Jesus might be for real” If, however, they witness disunity and strife, they’ll think, “They’re just like everyone else. I don’t think this Jesus is for real.”

Jesus prayed to His Father for the church to become one as He and the Father are one. He stated, “I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” There is no greater unity of love than this.

Take note as to why Jesus prayed this prayer. He prayed it so that non-Christians would believe what the church had to say about Him. The church can’t effectively accomplish its mission of making disciples of Jesus unless it is unified in love. On the local congregational level, Christians must submit to each other in order to create unity. On the church level, denominations must work together and show the world there is only one Jesus Christ who is Lord.  

The Sermon

I. Introduction:

• A cluster of 2LTs + a common task = disunity
• While attending Officer Basic Course (OBC), my class of 2LTs was given the task of erecting a GP Medium tent (Big Army tent like you see on the t.v. show M.A.S.H.)
• Most of us had no idea how to erect it. There were a few prior enlisted LTs who had experience erecting the tents.
• As young officers, we all wanted to show our instructors that we could take charge. So, instead of listening to the few prior enlisted LTs, we all gave each other orders and attempted to take charge. Chaos ensued.
• What should have taken 15-20 minutes took 1-3 hours.
• The church can not function like a bunch of Army 2LTs with a common task.

• Various types of instruments (string, wood wind, brass & percussion) submitting to each other under the direction of the conductor.
• The string instruments don’t try to upstage the wind & brass instruments and the percussions don’t play so loudly that they drown out the other instruments. They all play when they’re supposed to, at the right key, under the direction of the conductor.
• When we listen to a symphony orchestra, we hear harmony. A high class symphony orchestra creates harmony.
• Likewise, the church should create harmony.

II. Church harmony

     A. Like a symphony orchestra:

• All the individuals and ministries submit to each other under the direction of the conductor, Jesus Christ.
• The individuals and various ministries support each other. There’s no competition.

     B. Remember….

• Church is not a building or an organization. It’s not a denomination.
• Church is all the people who have repented of their sins and acknowledge Jesus as Savior and Lord. IT’S THE PEOPLE!!!!!!!
• Purpose of the church: Make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world – spreading the good news of Jesus
• The church must be in harmony, like an orchestra, in order to fulfill its purpose

III. Without church harmony (unity) the church can’t fulfill its purpose of making disciples

• If they experience a church event that demonstrates loving unity, they may think, “This Jesus might be for real”
• If, however, they witness disunity and strife, they’ll think, “They’re just like everyone else. I don’t think this Jesus is for real.”

• “I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” (John 17:20-21)
• There’s no higher form of loving unity than this and this is what Jesus wants for us as a church.

     C. Notice why Jesus prayed for church unity

• “…so that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.”
• People will not believe what we have to say about Jesus, unless we demonstrate harmony with unified in love.

     A. Relationship with Jesus is the key: Think of a circle

• Place Jesus at the center of the circle. Place the individual Christians and ministries of a local church on the outer edge of the circle.
• As each individual Christian and ministry draws closer to Christ, they also draw closer to each other. Thus, harmony is created as people and ministries draw closer to Jesus.

V. Church harmony at the denominational level

• There’s more similarities than differences between the denominations.
• All denominations agree on the basics of Christianity as declared in the Apostle’s and Nicene Creeds.

• John Wesley organized the people called Methodist into small groups called classes and bands.
• Many denominations today use small groups as a primary means of discipleship.