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This study emphasizes the importance of unity and gives practical ways of promoting it.
1. The Power of unity
Genesis 11:1-7
1 Now the whole world had one language and a common speech.
2 As men moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there.
3 They said to each other, "Come, let's make bricks and bake them thoroughly." They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar.
4 Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth."
5 But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower that the men were building.
6 The LORD said, "If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.
7 Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other."
They could do great things through their unity. Why?
- They had a common language (v1).
- They had a common purpose (v4).
2. Pray for unity
Romans 15:5-6
5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus,
6 so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We need to pray for unity, really desiring it. Pray for unity in your Bible Talk, House Church, etc...
3. Make every effort to preserve unity
Ephesians 4:1-3
1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Are you making every effort to be unified?
4. Be united in thought and purpose
1 Corinthians 1:10
I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.
Be united even in your thoughts. No quiet reservations even.
5. Do not quarrel or be jealous
1 Corinthians 3:1-3
1 Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly--mere infants in Christ.
2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.
3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men?
Quarrelling and competitiveness are worldly.
6. Be sympathetic to each other's problems
1 Peter 3:8
Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.
Care enough to listen to people.
7. Love is the key to unity
Colossians 3:12-14
12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Love makes the difference. Be willing to forgive, be compassionate, humble, kind, patient.
8. Unity proves we are Christians
John 17:20-23
20 "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,
21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one:
23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
Jesus knew that a unified church would be a great light.
Practical Suggestions
1. Tell each member your Bible Talk something you appreciate about them.
2. Pray for each member of your Bible Talk daily. Pray for other Bible Talks.
3. Talk face-to-face with anyone with whom you have had attitudes or quiet reservations.
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