Psalms 133:1 Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!
Unity in theology – Eph. 4:4
- “Jesus plus anything ruins everything.” Driscoll
Biblical receptivity takes place better when there is unity.
- That’s why it takes time to go where there are no Christians or churches to spread the gospel.
- Discipline takes place more naturally and more effectively in community.
What hurts church unity?
1. Pride can cause problems with unity.
- Prov. 11:2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.
- Prov. 29:23 One’s pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.
- People with influence don’t have as much as a church grows
- People with positions train a monkey
2. Distrust destroys unity
- People who don’t trust their leaders will always be trying to undermine them. They will not submit to them as the Bible says and they will often think that their understanding of the Bible is more accurate than the pastor.
- People who have never lead a church will no how to lead a church better than the pastor. People who have never lead someone to the Lord and discipled them will suddenly know more how to go about it than the one who has done it. It’s like people without kids giving advice about parenting to their friends with kids.
- Distrust destroys anything kind of relationship
3. Legalism destroys unity
- Focusing on things that are not in the Bible as if they are. Or putting non-biblical things on the same level as the Bible. Legalist always want to go make some more rules and rules about rules.
- Legalist might put rules in their church covenant that would prevent Jesus from being a member.
4. Tradition destroys unity
- Anything done more than 3 times
- “Any church that does not change is more like a museum than a people on mission.” Driscoll
- Would you be excited if God did amazing things in this town, but he didn’t do it with this church?
- Would you be excited if God did amazing things in this church, but he didn’t do it the way you wanted him to?
- Sometimes God does move because we’ve told him we’re only going to do what are traditions allow.
- Would you be excited if God did amazing things in this church, but didn’t do it with the programs you think he ought to use?
5. Lack of vision destroys unity
- when there is no vision you find people going in different direction doing a lot of nothing.
