Well, what do you say to that?
Wow.
What an amazing opportunity it is to come into God's house, to worship with God's people,
! and to lift up the person of Christ through the songs into the songs,
to be encouraged and challenged through the ministry of the Word that is coming through
in each of the songs that we sing.
Exalting Him, exalting God, and being challenged through the instrument of music
to be drawn into affection for Jesus Christ.
Well, it's been several weeks that we have been away as a family.
I think I remember Pastor Kenoyer talking about how full his heart was when he came from vacation.
And so, to be gone for three weeks and to be back with you, I guess I'm going to do a preemptive,
please forgive me if I get a little excited this morning.
So, I know I've been encouraged to dial it back a little bit, and so I'm going to try to do that.
But if I don't, you'll understand that it's just the nature of encouragement of being with God's people
and being back with you.
What a joy.
Open with me, if you would, to John chapter 17, verses 20 to 26.
I appreciate the fact that John read this already, so you have already a sense of the context.
You kind of know that the theme of the music this morning,
and even the special music that was given to us today,
thank you, Amy, what a blessing that was,
all kind of come together and help to reinforce this message of the significance of the unity of the church.
United by the Father.
That's what we're going to see this morning as we look into the Scripture.
Over the past couple of weeks, we've been studying through this high priestly prayer.
This is going to be the third of three messages in this chapter.
And although we're moving through this chapter in quick succession,
I don't want you to misunderstand the significance of this high priestly prayer.
Just because we're going through it in three segments
does not mean that this is not a mountain peak in the Gospel of John.
This is significant.
This is our Lord and Savior who is not only modeling prayer,
but praying for the church and praying for His disciples.
The real reason why we've chosen to do this in three segments
is to help reinforce the themes that Jesus is praying for in this chapter.
So that we don't miss the themes that Jesus wants to reinforce
by digging into the details.
And as that is important, in this particular venue,
we want to just emphasize the basic structures of this prayer
and how they relate to us as believers.
As we looked at John chapter 17 verses 1 to 5,
we saw that Jesus was exalting the glory of the Father.
He has preeminently on His mind the significance of the glory of the Father.
So whether it be in offering salvation,
or whether it be in coming to earth as a man,
or whether it be following through in terms of obedience,
or whether it be communicating the message of the Father
through the words that He communicated,
or whether it be the miracles that He performed
in showing compassion to the multitudes,
in every situation, in every case,
Jesus had preeminently on His mind
the significance of the glory of the Father.
His heart's desire was to glorify Him.
And in glorifying the Father,
He knew that there would be residual
and companion glory for Himself
as He was faithful to uphold His Father's will.
In verses 6 to 19,
we see that Jesus here is praying for His disciples.
He understands that they've been given to Him by the Father.
He has expressed an interest in teaching them
throughout His ministry,
and He's praying that that ministry of teaching
would be reinforced.
He wants them to be kept and guarded
by the Father and by the Son
in the midst of a hostile world.
And He understands that they will be sent into the world,
and He prays for their effectiveness in that venture.
And in this final section,
in verses 20 to 26,
Jesus prays for you.
He prays for you.
He knows you by name.
And 2,000 years ago,
as Jesus perhaps is even walking by the temple at this point
with His disciples on the way to the Mount of Olives,
on the way to the Garden of Gethsemane,
Jesus may have even paused at the temple mount
before exiting the city of Jerusalem,
and there He prays for you.
What is on Jesus' mind?
What is of utmost significance to Jesus
as He makes this personal appeal?
He has, as a concern,
your unity.
The oneness
that you have
with the rest of the body.
That is what is on His mind,
and that's what He prays for.
That is what is significant,
and that's what we'll look at this morning.
Well, as you know,
our family had an opportunity
over the past three weeks
to get away,
and as with every vacation,
there are those planned things
and those unplanned things.
The planned things come
as a result of preparation,
and I have my wife to thank
for hours of preparation.
That is not my skill set.
So she is faithful
in making sure
we get to the ultimate destination.
Otherwise, we'll eventually get there,
but how we get there
will be a mystery
if it was up to me.
So there are these planned things,
and she was careful
to plan and prepare,
but then the unplanned things,
that's my department.
And one of the unplanned things
was a hundred hours in the car,
and with a family of eight,
that can be a challenge,
but by God's grace,
it ended up being a blessing.
The planned things
of seeing certain places
of the country
and just enjoying the scenery
of God's grandeur,
whether it be
in the Sequoia National Park
or whether it be
the coastline
of the Pacific Ocean
or whether it be
in the Grand Canyon.
Wherever God showed up,
it was spectacular
to see His handiwork.
But one of the things
that I didn't expect,
one of the things
that was a little bit
of a surprise to me
and a blessing,
as I reflect,
probably one of the highlights
of the trip
is understanding
and appreciating
the significance
of this aspect
of unity.
That wherever we went
across the country,
whoever's house
in which we stayed,
there was a companionship,
there was a unity
in the gospel.
There was harmony
and unity between us.
I want to show you
a couple of pictures here
just to kind of
paint the scene.
And unfortunately,
it's a little dark,
but you can see,
there we are
in our tree house.
This is the tree house
that my family built,
my kids and I built,
and we knocked on the door
of neighbors,
or the owners
that we had never met
who bought our house
and we said,
hey, can we get
into the backyard
and take a picture?
They're like,
who are these people?
Sure, I mean,
what else do we say?
So there we are,
we're taking a picture
with some neighbors
that we had built into,
relationships
that we had established,
and there we are
standing in just
remembering the good times
there in Aurora, Illinois.
Here we are in Culver's
after the morning service
where not just one church
met with us,
but a couple,
two or three different
groups of individuals
from various churches
and ministries
that we had been a part of
gathered together at Culver's.
We packed the place out,
and there was this
beautiful arrangement
of harmony
as we fellowshiped
with God's people
because of the common
connection in Jesus Christ.
Next picture.
Here we're moving
across the country,
and in the bottom
you see we're in
Salt Lake City,
and there on the
right-hand side
you see we're with
some distant family members
that most of us
have never met.
But for the fact
that we share
a common connection
in Jesus,
there was this
beautiful spirit
spirit of,
we've been friends
all the time.
Next picture.
Here we are now
making our way
into California,
and this particular
family actually
stayed with us.
They're from New Zealand,
and he was going
to the Master's Seminary.
They didn't have a place
to stay,
so they stayed
in our 1,200-foot house.
They were in the front
part of the house
sharing with their
four children,
and we were in the
back part of the house
staying with our four kids,
and the connection,
the relationship
has continued
through the years.
Next picture.
Here we are with
family at the
Sequoia National Park.
What a great time
of enjoyment
and encouragement
and mutual connections.
Next picture.
Now we're beginning
to make our way
back home,
and there are
friends from college,
and there are friends
from a ministry
in Southern California,
and there are friends
that housed Sarah
when she was a student
at the Master's College.
All connections
that were made
decades ago,
and yet the friendship
that was kindled
at that point
continue to be nurtured,
continue to be encouraged.
Through this experience,
I was reminded
of the significance
of the unity
of the body of Christ.
I was encouraged
and challenged
at the significance
of maintaining
and pursuing peace
within the body
of Christ.
I was challenged
and encouraged
with the significance
of being able
to go to new places
or old places
and being able
to not avoid people.
But because of
pursuing peace,
we can pick up
where we left off.
We can overlook
some of those
old difficulties.
We can continue
to enjoy
sweet fellowship.
That was unexpected.
That was a blessing.
It reinforces
this message
this morning,
the significance
of the unity
of the body
of Christ
and what that unity
does for the sake
of the gospel.
It's not a coincidence
that we come
to this passage
here at this moment
in the calendar year
where we are finishing
the small group series
on the art of neighboring
and we are beginning
this summer series
on relationships,
a mess worth making.
we see in this passage
the integration
of these two concepts
and the significance
of loving those
who are outside the church
while reinforcing
the connection
that we have
with one another
within the church.
These beautiful portraits
of harmony
that give testimony
to the greatness
of our God.
It is our unity
that speaks
to the wonder
of our God.
Here Jesus
in his prayer
before he is
to be betrayed
and handed over
and crucified
prays for you
this morning
prays for you
that you would be
a person
who understands
and embraces
the significance
of unity
within the body
of Christ.
It is so important
in fact
that the impact
of the entire
earthly ministry
of Jesus
rests on your
willingness
to do
what Jesus
prays here
in this passage.
Rests on the
Father's ability
to work that through
in your life
and we'll look at that
this morning.
As we talk about
the significance
of unity
why is it
important
and how does it
show up
in our midst?
I want to try
to answer
three questions
related to unity
and break that
out for us
in the time
that we have
left this morning.
The first question
I want to address
is what does
our unity
say
to the world?
What does
our unity
say to the world?
We find the answer
of that
in verse 21
and verse 23.
Look at that
with me
in John chapter 17.
If you're a guest
with us today
and don't have
a Bible
feel free
to use the one
in front of you
it's on page
903.
John chapter 17
I'm going to read
verses 20
21
and 23.
Jesus says this
I do not ask
for these only
but also for those
who will believe
in me
through their word
that they may be
one
just as you
Father
are in me
and I in you
that they also
may be in us
so that the world
may believe
that you have
sent me.
Now drop down
to verse 23.
I in them
and you in me
that they may
become perfectly
one
so that the world
may know
that you sent me
and love them
even as you
loved me.
I want to
concentrate on
this key phrase
the key phrase
that you'll see
in both
of these verses
so that
or in order
that
indicating
that
what Jesus
is hoping
to establish
is
in order for
his ministry
to be confirmed
through his people
there needs
to be
authenticating
work in their
life
and that
authenticating
work in their
life is the
work of unity
the work
of harmony
the spirit
creating a
sense of
being joined
together
Jesus is
indicating that
the confirming
witness
to his
life changing
message
of the gospel
is the unity
of God's people
in that
without unity
the gospel
will be rendered
ineffective
let me say
that again
without unity
the gospel
may be
rendered
ineffective
how can I say
that so
emphatically
notice that
Jesus prays
this same
thing for
his disciples
if you back
up to verse
11 you see
that Jesus
prays the same
thing for
them
he says
that they
may be
one
even
as we
are one
and the
result of
that we
find in
verse 20
is he's
not only
praying
for his
disciples
but then
he can
pray for
those who
will follow
in the
succession
those who
are impacted
by the
power of
the gospel
those who
are
impacted
by the
testimony
of the
disciples
unity
and those
who
believe
through
their
word
will also
emulate
the same
kind
of character
the same
kind
of spirit
it will
flow
through
their
lives
why
will they
believe
well
certainly
because of
the power
of the
word
Paul
says that
in Romans
chapter 1
he says
I'm not ashamed
of the
gospel
of Christ
for it
is the
power
of God
to salvation
to everyone
who believes
we believe
in the
power
of the
gospel
it's
power
to do
its
work
but we
also
understand
that there
is an
accompanying
power
that helps
to reinforce
and to
demonstrate
to illustrate
that the
gospel
does
truly
have
power
to change
power
to transform
power
to make
new
we see
in Jesus
ministry
that he
did not
just come
with words
but that
Jesus came
with confirming
wonders
he came
with the
wonders
of miracles
the wonders
of healing
the wonders
of casting
out demons
his authority
in speaking
his ability
to influence
nature
the wind
and the
waves
were at
his command
Jesus
attested
himself
to the
people
that he
was
ministering
to
through
the works
that he
did
Jesus
said as
much
moments
before
if you
turn over
to John
chapter 14
you can
see that
Jesus
draws
attention
to this
very fact
to his
disciples
just a
few moments
earlier
John
chapter 14
verses 10
and 11
says this
do you
not believe
that I
am in the
father
and the
father
is in
me
the
words
that I
say
to you
I
do
not
speak
on my
own
authority
but the
father
who
dwells
in me
does
his
works
believe
in me
that I
am in
the
father
and the
father
is
in
me
or
else
believe
on the
account
of the
works
themselves
the
works
that I
do
give
testimony
to the
authority
of God
in my
life
I would
like to
suggest
this
morning
that we
have
a
similar
strategy
in our
gospel
endeavors
there
is
an
accompanying
work
that
God
calls
us
to be
a part
of
now
it's
not
the
work
of
miracles
or the
work
of
healing
that
Jesus
was
a
part
of
but
it
is
the
work
of
the
spirit
in
your
life
to
create
a
harmonious
and
unified
group
of
faith
filled
people
Jesus
has
given us
this
affirming
work
the
work
of
unity
within
our
church
to
help
give
testimony
to
the
power
of
the
gospel
if
you
look
at
John
chapter
13
again
on
the
same
night
that
Jesus
is
praying
this
prayer
and
giving
this
message
to
his
disciples
reinforces
this
statement
in
John
13
34
to
35
when
he
says
this
a
new
commandment
I
give
to
you
that
you
love
one
another
just
as
I
have
loved
you
also
are
to
love
one
another
by
this
will
all
people
know
that
you
are
my
disciples
if
you
have
love
one
for
another
if
there
is
no
love
there
is
no
power
but
the
spirit
has
come
into
your
life
to
change
you
radically
with
the
love
of
God
so
that
you
can
communicate
that
love
to
one
another
and
be
joined
together
as
a
testimony
as
a
work
as
a
confirmation
to
the
world
that
the
gospel
is
real
the
gospel
is
potent
the
gospel
is
capable
to
change
to
deliver
to
save
and
that's
what
Jesus
is
praying
he's
praying
for
his
people
that
the
testimony
of
unity
would
be
true
in
their
lives
to
confirm
the
reality
of
the
gospel
the
power
of
the
gospel
question
number
two
but
what
does
our
unity
say
about
our
God
okay
we
understand
why
it's
significant
in
the
world
maybe
we
come
to
grips
with
the
fact
that
unity
is
important
in
reinforcing
the
gospel
but
what
does
our
unity
say
about
our
God
now
there
are
several
things
and we
don't have
time
to
really
delve
into
the
details
but I
want to
just
draw
them
to
your
attention
and let
you see
that our
unity
actually
fills
out
the
gospel
it's
through
our
unity
that
people
get
this
beautiful
portrait
of
our
Savior
in
all
of
these
ways
people
can
connect
to
God
because
of
the
way
that
one
the
first
question
the
first
evidence
of
God
that
our
unity
demonstrates
is
that
our
God
is
one
our
God
is
one
shows
the
unity
of
the
Godhead
representing
Father
Son
and Holy
Spirit
can
any
of
us
explain
the
mystery
of
the
Trinity
one
God
and yet
three
persons
Jesus
throughout
his
ministry
demonstrates
the
incredible
harmony
of
his
ministry
with
the
Father
speaking
the
Father's
words
doing
the
Father's
works
being
guided
by
the
Father's
direction
so
that
in
John
chapter
12
just
turn
the
page
over
to
John
chapter
12
verses
49
and
50
Jesus
says
this
I've
not
spoken
on
my
own
authority
but
the
Father
who
has
sent
me
has
given
me
a
command
what
to
say
and
what
to
speak
I
don't
know
what
his
command
is
eternal
life
what
I
say
therefore
I
say
as
the
Father
has
told
me
so
unified
was
Jesus
his
ministry
with
the
Father
so
harmonious
that
in
this
last
night
with
his
disciples
when
the
question
comes
up
Jesus
says
I'm
going
to
the
Father
and
remember
Thomas
says
where
are
you
going
and
Philip
responds
Lord
show
us
the
Father
and
it
is
enough
in
John
chapter
14
verse
8
Lord
show
us
the
Father
and
it's
enough
for
us
he
says
in
John
14
9
Jesus
responds
have
I
been
with
you
so
long
and
you
still
do
not
know
me
Philip
whoever
has
seen
me
has
seen
the
Father
how
can
you
say
show
us
the
Father
Jesus
is a
little
exasperated
with
Philip
at this
point
and the
rest of the
disciples
for that
matter
how can
I
have a
ministry
with you
for so
many years
and you
still
don't
get it
but
we
can
identify
can't
we
can
understand
the
wonder
of
the
deepness
of
having
been
taught
so
many
things
in
your
past
and
Jesus
shattered
their
concept
of
God
is
one
but
God
is
existing
in
three
persons
Father
Son
and
Holy
Spirit
but
surprisingly
and
beautifully
Jesus
communicates
that the
ministry
or the
mystery
of the
Trinity
although
mind
boggling
begins
to find
some
clarity
in the
way
that we
deal
with
each
other
the
unity
of the
church
actually
serves
to clarify
this
great
mystery
so
that the
world
can
get a
glimpse
of the
oneness
of God
through
the
oneness
of
his
church
wow
is that
awesome
amazing
one of
the
greatest
deepest
richest
doctrines
in the
Bible
can be
illustrated
through
your
unity
my
unity
with
one
another
in the
church
amazing
that God
gives us
the privilege
of illustrating
him
in that
degree
second
question
also
in
verse
21
notice
it says
John
17
21
towards
the
end
that
they
also
may
be
in
us
so
that
the
world
may
believe
that
you
have
sent
me
that
you
have
sent
me
number
two
our
God
is
real
our
God
is
real
we
hear
all the
time
Jesus
is
just
a
fairy
!
tale
or
we
hear
that
Jesus
was
a
historical
figure
he
did
maybe
some
great
things
he
certainly
was
a
prophet
maybe
a
good
example
he
may
have
even
been
commissioned
by
God
to do
these
things
but
in
terms
of
Jesus
being
divinity
of
course
not
it's
just
a
figment
of
the
disciples
imagination
listen
Jesus
prays
for
you
that
you
be
united
in
love
with
the
family
of
God
why
because
Jesus
knows
that
the
unity
of
the
church
will
provide
undeniable
evidence
to the
power
of the
gospel
and
the
reality
of
Jesus
listen
we
live
in
a
world
that
is
polarized
opinions
and
perspectives
and
people's
convictions
that
are
so
skewed
and
so
discombobulated
you
can't
even
seem
to
have
a
civil
conversation
anymore
these
days
because
of
how
polarized
our
culture
is
what
an
opportunity
for
the
church
to
shine
the
light
of
the
gospel
through
the
transforming
work
of
the
spirit
in
helping
to
create
a
unified
people
to
illustrate
that
Jesus
is
real
but
it
only
comes
that
way
one
look
at
this
world
demonstrates
the
utter
futility
of
unity
apart
from
Christ
and
yet
through
faith
and
through
the
power
of
the
spirit
the
gospel
can
explode
with
power
should
be no
surprise
that the
early
church
experienced
the
power
of
God
because
of
their
unified
approach
to
one
another
verse
22
gives
us
the
answer
to
our
third
question
it
says
this
the
glory
that
you
have
given
me
I
have
given
to
them
that
they
may
be
one
even
as
we
are
one
third
is
God
is
glorious
God
is
glorious
this
truth
should
take
your
breath
away
the
omnipotent
omnipresent
omniscient
holy
all
wise
supreme
and
sovereign
God
imparts
his
glory
to
you
think
of
it
the
thought
of
God's
glory
captures
John's
attention
beginning
with
the
first
chapter
he
says
in
the
beginning
was
the
word
the
word
was
with
God
and
the
word
was
God
he
says
and
the
word
became
flesh
and
dwelt
among
us
and
we
beheld
his
glory
the
glory
of the
only
begotten
of the
father
full
of
grace
and
truth
and
as
God's
people
are
unified
and
illustrate
the
grace
and
truth
of
their
savior
they
illustrate
and
show
the
glory
of
God
and
they
are
able
to
share
in
some
way
with
him
in
that
glory
Paul
describes
this
in
2nd
Corinthians
he
says
but
we
all
with
unveiled
face
beholding
as in
a mirror
the glory
of the
Lord
are being
transformed
into the
same image
from glory
to glory
just as
by the
spirit
of the
Lord
the
more
you
know
God
the
more
you
love
God
the
more
you
pursue
God
the
more
you
obey
God
the
more
you
seek
to
know
God
the
more
you
look
like
God
and
the
more
glorious
God
becomes
in
this
world
because
of
your
witness
but
it
doesn't
happen
individually
it
doesn't
happen
for you
individually
it
happens
for
us
as we
demonstrate
the
unified
work
of the
spirit
in
becoming
a
people
who
are
connected
the
glory
of
Christ
shows
up
collectively
through
the
unified
commitment
of
the
body
of
Christ
to
one
another
verse
23
we
find
our
God
is
love
our
God
is
love
I
in
them
and
you
in
me
that
they
may
become
perfectly
one
so
that
the
world
may
know
that
you
have
sent
me
and
love
them
even
as
you
loved
me
Jesus
is
emphatic
about
this
first
part
he
has
already
made
a
similar
statement
in
verse
21
but
and
he
reinforces
it
here
in
verse
23
the
world
will
know
that
I'm
real
because
of
their
unity
but
he
builds
on
that
and
says
in
continuation
the
world
will
also
know
that
you
have
sent
me
and
love
them
even
as
you
love
me
what
does
our
unity
produce
it
says
that
God
is
real
but
it
also
says
that
our
God
is
a
God
of
interested
and
passionate
and
zealous
and
initiating
love
our
fellowship
with
one
another
illustrates
and
confirms
that
we
can
also
have
fellowship
with
God
which
would
have
blown
the
people
of the
first
century
away
for
them
God
was
distant
only
accessible
through
ritual
and
through
ceremony
and
through
law
and
through
priests
and
through
an
intermediary
but
Jesus
obliterated
all of
those
obstacles
through
his
death
on the
cross
and
it
says
we
who
once
were
aliens
and
strangers
have
been
brought
near
by
the
blood
of
Christ
God
is
love
the
gospel
is
accessible
and
as
the
people
of
God
demonstrate
a
connection
with
one
another
they
demonstrate
that
God
desires
fellowship
with
them
too
with
the
world
verse
24
God
is
savior
God
is
savior
father
he
says
I
desire
that
they
also
whom
you
have
given
me
may
be
with
me
where
I
am
to
see
my
glory
that
you
have
given
me
because
you
loved
me
before
the
foundation
of
the
world
what
Satan
sought
to
disrupt
in
the
garden
what
Satan
sought
to
destroy
was
creation
giving
glory
to
God
he
thought
he
won
when
he
got
Adam
and
Eve
to
sin
but
Jesus
as
savior
elected
before
the
foundation
of
the
world
to
come
and
to
deliver
his
people
from
sin
states
categorically
I
am
victorious
over
sin
and
death
I
have
conquered
once
for
all
the
darkness
blindness
and
spiritual
death
was
overcome
in
him
he
obliterated
conquered
the
enemies
of us
that
separated
us
from
the
father
the
plan
of
the
ages
was
now
intact
with
the
coming
of
Christ
and
now
we
anticipate
the
final
consummation
of
that
in
salvation
in
his
second
return
when
he
comes
our
God
is
savior
and
one
day
those
who
are
in
Christ
who
have
accepted
him
by
faith
will
be
able
to
behold
him
as
Jesus
communicates
we
will
see
him
in
all
of
his
glory
we
will
marvel
we
will
worship
verse
25
answers
the
question
our
God
is
righteous
our
God
is
righteous
verse
25
Jesus
is
praying
oh
righteous
father
even
though
the
world
does
not
know
you
I
know
you
and
these
know
that
you
have
sent
me
let's
not
assume
that
the
worldly
way
of
unity
is
God's
way
of
unity
let's
not
assume
that
unity
comes
at
the
expense
of
truth
let's
not
assume
that
we
play
fast
and
loose
about
the
standards
that
God
has
for
our
lives
let's
not
assume
that
as
lights
of the
world
we are
not
commanded
to
show
forth
that
light
Jesus
says
in the
sermon
on the
mount
you
are
the
light
of
the
world
a
city
set
on
a
hill
that
cannot
be
hidden
and
Paul
says
you
were
once
darkness
but
now
you
are
light
in
the
Lord
walk
as
children
of
the
light
and
have
no
fellowship
with
the
unfruitful
works
of
darkness
but
rather
expose
them
those
who
are
committed
to
one
another
in
loving
affection
and
a
zeal
for
God's
holiness
and
truth
will
be
those
who
manifest
the
character
of
Christ
in
being
people
of
truth
and
grace
confrontation
robed
in
tenderness
and
gentleness
with
the
end
goal
of
restoration
desire
to
preserve
them
from
the
consequences
of
sin
a
desire
to
rescue
them
from
the
hardship
that
they'll
face
because
of
walking
away
from
God's
perfect
standard
Paul
says
he says
love
does not
rejoice
in
iniquity
but
love
rejoices
in
the
truth
are you
a person
who
loves
are you
a person
who is
working
towards
real
and authentic
unity
with the
people
that
God
has put
you
in
relationship
with
and
finally
verse 26
our
God
is
present
I
made
known
to
them
your
name
I
will
continue
to
make
it
known
that
the
love
with
which
you
have
loved
me
may
be
in
them
and
I
in
them
God
is
present
and
he
is
present
through
his
people
when
people
see
the
character
of
Christ
showing
up
in
the
people
of
Christ
they
say
there's
a
person
who
shows
me
that
God
is
present
and
that's
when
the
power
of
the
gospel
begins
to
have
its
effect
finally
and
quickly
what
does
our
unity
say
to
the
saints
what
does
this
mean
in
terms
of
our
relationship
with
one
another
and
there
are
so
many
places
where
I
can
go
but
I
want
to
just
point
out
a
couple
of
contrasts
I
want
to
communicate
what
would
willful
division
look like
and what
might
be
some
examples
of
passive
division
if
Jesus
is
interested
in
our
unity
!
Our
unity
is
significant
to
reinforce
the
gospel
we
can
understand
that
having
unity
is
important
for
us
as
a
church
so
what
gets
in
the
way
what
are
some
ways
that
we
disrupt
the
unity
that
God
desires
for
his
people
well
I
think
there
are
some
active
ways
we
do
this
and
some
passive
ways
here
are
some
active
examples
we
get
involved
in
petty
squabbles
we
allow
there
to
be
unresolved
conflict
we
are
unwilling
to
forgive
or
let
go
of
hurt
maybe
we
refuse
to
lay
down
our
personal
preferences
for the
sake
of the
body
perhaps
it's
because
we
will
not
affirm
the
value
of
the
others
who
are
in
our
midst
we
want
to
be
preeminent
we
don't
want
to
reinforce
the
giftedness
of
other
people
we
want
to
have
that
job
we
want
to
do
that
thing
maybe
we
refuse
to
address
sin
with
grace
and
gentleness
either
we
ignore
it
on
the
one
hand
and
just
let
it
go
or
on
the
other
hand
we
are
so
firm
and
so
harsh
that
there
is
no
spirit
of
gentleness
or
desire
the
body
there's
no
forgiveness
maybe
there's
an
unwillingness
for
you
to
confess
sin
you
can
justify
it
you
can
defend
it
but
you're
certainly
not
going
to
confess
it
maybe
this
morning
you're
holding
on
to
bitterness
those
are
some
active
ways
that
we
get
in
the
way
of
unity
but
there
are
some
passive
ways
that
we
do
this
too
perhaps
you're
here
this
morning
and
you
are
just
a
Sunday
morning
and
be
encouraged
through
the
song
time
and
be
ministered
to
in
various
ways
but
as it
relates
to
you
serving
it's
just
not
for
you
don't
have
the
time
for
that
it's
just
not
comfortable
it
leads
to
disruption
within
the
body
how
about
being
one
who
listens
to
complaints
you
may
not
participate
in
spreading
them
around
but
you're
a
good
sounding
board
for
them
you're
passively
involved
in
division
perhaps
you're
comfortable
in
your
current
relationships
without
a desire
or interest
to
look
around
and
to
see
who
are
some
people
some
faces
that
I
haven't
recognized
before
some
names
of
individuals
I
don't
know
they've
even
been
coming
here
for
several
years
but
I
haven't
gone
out
of
my
way
to
make
a
connection
with
them
that's
a
passive
way
of
adding
to
division
maybe
fellowship
with
the
saints
is
not
a
priority
for
you
other
things
get
in
the
way
maybe
you're
indifferent
to
the
needs
of
others
you're
disinterested
you're
apathetic
you just
don't
care
perhaps
there's
prayerlessness
in you
or a
lack
of
loyalty
whatever
it might
be
this
morning
that
is
creating
a
spirit
of
disruption
and
disunity
within
the
church
if
we
want
to
be
potent
witnesses
of
the
gospel
we've
got
to
ask
for
the
father's
help
in
identifying
those
issues
in
our
lives
and
being
humble
enough
to
hear
what
he
says
so
that
we
can
be
powerful
in
our
witness
for
Jesus
let's
pray
!
it's
our
desire
Lord
this
morning
to
behold
the
example
of
your
son
Jesus
who
prayed
for
us
specifically
that
we
would
be
people
who
are
so
unified
together
that
it
gives
testimony
powerful
witness
to
the
transforming
strength
of
God's
work
in
our
life
God
may
we
do
that
faithfully
may
we
do
that
eagerly
and
may
that
be
the
expression
of
our
constant
desire
we
pray
in
Jesus
name
Amen