John 17:20-26, Sermon given on June 2, 2019 - "Unity"

This past Sunday's sermon verses were those found in; John 17:20-26.  Here I choose to preach over the 'witness of unity'.  Sad to say we are all very much hypocrites, which as I mention in the sermon is one of if not the chief accusation that is made to us by non-believers.  Christ calls us here in John's writings to witness through our unity and our love with and for each other. Here, in this call to unity... is certainly, one of the primary ways the Church has failed...

In the past I have quoted a story from my mentor Bob Molby, the story is about the two main reasons Bob has seen churches split, number one was the music, and number two was the color of the new carpet.  I mention in the sermon about hearing of a church that even split over what to name the church's potluck dinner! Is it any wonder that we are accused of being hypocrites?

Let us redouble our efforts and strive to witness to the outside world (and our own members as well) by the display of our ability to be united in spite of holding diverse beliefs and theologies.  The ability to disagree without being disagreeable is a witness that the world sorely needs these days.

Be a blessing to someone today!!

In His Grace,
Roy

John 17:20-26 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
20 “I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us,[a] so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24 Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
25 “Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

Footnotes:
John 17:21 Other ancient authorities read be one in us


Ephesians 4:1-6 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Unity in the Body of Christ
4 I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.

Philippians 1:27 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
27 Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel,


Philippians 2:1-4 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Imitating Christ’s Humility
2 If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, 2 make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.

Philippians 4:1 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
4 1 Therefore, my brothers and sisters,[a] whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.

1 Corinthians 4:1 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
The Ministry of the Apostles
4 Think of us in this way, as servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries.

Philippians 2:10-11 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
10 so that at the name of Jesus
    every knee should bend,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue should confess
    that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.

Psalm 133:1 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
The Blessedness of Unity - (A Song of Ascents)
1 How very good and pleasant it is
    when kindred live together in unity!

Philippians 2:1-13, Thursday Night Worship Sermon, April 11, 2019

Last Thursday night we were once again in the book (letter) called Philippians, in Chapter 2 and verses 1 through 13 to be exact.  Philippians is often called Paul's 'letter of joy'.

Paul here lays out four things which we need to strive for in order to be of the 'same mind' as Christ.
1. Willing to Sacrifice
2. Willing to Serve
3. Willing to Submit
4. Willing to Suffer

All four of these blend together, of course, but Paul lays these out in verses six through eight.  Today in our self-centered world of Instagram and Twitter, each of us feels that we are the most important thing in God's Creation.  Or... have we evolved to this state because we're convinced that we simply don't matter and thus are trying desperately to over-compensate?  I don't explore that avenue but it's one worth considering... perhaps another sermon on another day.

Paul implores us to be united and of the same mind as Christ.  It saddens me to think what Paul (and Christ of course) would think of the broken and shattered mess we've made of the body of Christ.  We can do better... sad to say though that it is, in my opinion, those who profess to be striving for unity that are busy breaking the Body and subverting the will of God... but, that too is another sermon for another day...

Be a blessing to someone today!

In Christ,
Roy

Philippians 2:1-13 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Imitating Christ’s Humility
2 If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, 2 make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. 5 Let the same mind be in you that was[a] in Christ Jesus,

6 who, though he was in the form of God,
    did not regard equality with God
    as something to be exploited,
7 but emptied himself,
    taking the form of a slave,
    being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
8     he humbled himself
    and became obedient to the point of death—
    even death on a cross.

9 Therefore God also highly exalted him
    and gave him the name
    that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus
    every knee should bend,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue should confess
    that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.

Shining as Lights in the World
12 Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Footnotes:

a) Philippians 2:5 Or that you have