Striving for Unity in the Broader Church

1. GRACE… Not ‘hardening of the oughteries!’

2. The Broader Church ‘So they signalled their partners in the other boat to come and help them and they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink.’ [Luke 5:7] -------------------- ‘How good and how pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life for evermore.’ [Ps. 133: 1 & 3]

3. A Quick Reminder: The Church is…. • A ‘Congregation;’ a gathering; an ‘Ekklesia’ (Hebrews 10:25) • A gathering of ‘believers’ • The ‘pure word of God’ is preached (Titus 1:9) • Sacraments of Communion and Baptism practiced • Discipline! (Heb.12:10; Acts 5 and 1 Cor. 5)

4. What Makes For a Broader, United Church? ‘To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ – their Lord and ours.’ [1 Cor. 1:2]

5. Unity ‘I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions amongst you but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.’ [1 Cor.1:10] ‘His appeal was for harmony, not the elimination of all diversity. He desired a unity of all the parts, like a quilt of various colours and patterns blended together in a harmonious whole.’ [David Lowery – The Bible Knowledge Commentary]

6. Unity ‘Make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.’ [Phil.2:2-4]

7. The United Early Church • Paul’s appointment of elders and deacons • The Jerusalem Sick and Poor Fund • Phil.4:15 – ‘You sent me aid again and again when I was in need.’ • The Council of Jerusalem: Acts 15

8. Our Journey…..’Where Brothers Live Together in Unity.’ At Leadership Level ‘But our view of gospel work must be global as well as local: the goal isn’t church growth (in the sense of our local church expanding in numbers, budget, church-plants and reputation) but gospel growth.’ [‘The Trellis and the Vine’- Colin Marshall] Please pray: • For more churches to join in • Against any lingering territorial attitudes

9. Our Journey…..’Where Brothers Live Together in Unity.’ Christians out of Church Please pray for: • a drawing together of hearts and minds • For the Lord to put it into our unchurched brothers and sisters’ hearts and minds to get into church • For the Lord to lead them to the church which is right for them • For wisdom to sort out any residual problems

10. Our Journey…..’Where Brothers Live Together in Unity.’ Ourselves Give thanks for our unity! Please pray for: • A further deepening of our relationships • Grace to perceive problems arising before they get out of hand • Courage to deal with them, ‘speaking the truth in love.’

11. The Broader Church ‘So they signalled their partners in the other boat to come and help them and they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink.’ [Luke 5:7] -------------------- ‘How good and how pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life for evermore.’ [Ps. 133: 1 & 3]