SERMON NOTES :: Sunday, May 17, 2015 - Unity Through Agreement - Part IV

MESSAGE |

Unity through Agreement - Part IV

SERIES |

Why Church?

SCRIPTURE |

Ephesians 4:11-16;  John 13:35

SPEAKER |

Pastor Joseph Ardayfio

KEY THEME |

I.   In this series, we are examining God’s design for the church and the powerful impact that the church can make in this world.

II. There are three essential areas of agreement in the church.

      1. Agreement with God
      2. Agreement with Delegated Leadership
      3. Agreement with One Another

    III.  The 3rd Level of Prioritized Agreement In The Church: Agreement with One Another

      1. God has equipped us with the grace and strength to do the hard work of building unity through agreement with one another in the body of Christ. We shouldn’t stray away from the church because broken relationships or hurt may be possible. Instead, we should demonstrate through reconciled relationships, the power of God to triumph over every situation/circumstance.

    IV.  We have to make these confessions of faith in order for the body to be in agreement.

      1. God has gifted ME with a responsibility in the body of Christ that others need
      2. God has gifted OTHERS in the body of Christ with things that I need.
      3. God brings these giftings together to make the church healthy, growing and full of love.

    V.  There are 10 one-anothers that we should practice on a daily basis.

    VI.  1 - Accept one another | Romans 15:5-7

      1. Accepting one another means that we welcome one another in the body of Christ no matter what stage that they are at in their walk with Christ. As we welcome one another, we also encourage each other to live upright, Godly lives in this present age by the strengthening power of the Holy Spirit

    VII.  2 - Be Devoted to one another, honor one another | Romans 12:3-10

      1. Being devoted to one another means that we commit to love, support and rely on one another. We honor one another’s role in the body of Christ by acknowledging the gifting that is in each one of us.

    VIII.  3 - Serve one another | Galatians 5:13-15 / 1 Peter 4:10-11

      1. An essential part of agreement in the body of Christ is practicing the counter-cultural practice of serving one another.

    IX.  4 – Pray for One Another | James 5:16

      1. 16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. 17 Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! 18 Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops.” James 5:16-18
      2. Jesus called the church to be a “house of prayer” in which all types of prayers would be offered up: supplication, thanksgiving, worship, dedication, agreement, and faith. Many Christians limit their prayers to their own immediate needs, but the Word instructs us that prayer and intercession for one another is of primary importance.
      3. To be a church that earnestly prays for one another requires that each of us develop a heart of concern for one another. 1 Corinthians 12:25 reminds us that all the parts of the body (the church) should have equal concern for each other. This leads us to rejoice with those who rejoice and to mourn with those who mourn (12:15)
      4. The Apostle James also reminds us that every person in the body of Christ has GREAT power to PRODUCE wonderful results through EARNEST prayer. Elijah was a prayer warrior that each of us should strive to be like.

    X.  5 - Encourage one another / build each other up | Romans 10:14-19 / 1 Thessalonians 5:11

      1. “I know and am convinced on the authority of the Lord Jesus that no food, in and of itself, is wrong to eat. But if someone believes it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong. 15 And if another believer is distressed by what you eat, you are not acting in love if you eat it. Don’t let your eating ruin someone for whom Christ died. 16 Then you will not be criticized for doing something you believe is good. 17 For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. 19 So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.” Romans 10:14-19
      2. So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11
      3. In order for the body of Christ to be healthy, maturing, and full of love, we have to encourage one another and build each other up towards that goal. We are called to encourage rather than putting a stumbling block in another’s way. Romans says that if food because a stumbling block for another, it is better to build your fellow man up rather than to enjoy choice food.
      4. Building each other up is a daily responsibility (Hebrews 3:12). It is difficult to encourage others or be encouraged if we are absent from the body. Hebrews 10:25 instructs us to not give up meeting together, but to let us encourage one another as we gather.

    XI.  6 – Bear with and spur one another on towards good deeds | Ephesians 4:2 / Hebrews 10:24

      1. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” Ephesians 4:2
      2. “24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.” Hebrews 10:24
      3. Jesus knew that every relationship in the body of Christ would not be an easy task. It is easy to write off those who don’t grow as fast as we would like or who remain immature. However, Ephesians instructs us to be humble, gentle, and patient with one another. As we practice these virtures, it allows us to spur others who might be stuck in their relationship with God.
      4. The church is called to be proactive in our love, care and concern for one another.

    XII.  7 - Offer hospitality to one another | 1 Peter 4:8-9

      1. “Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.1 Peter 4:8-9
      2. The NIV renders verse 9 as “offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.”
      3. The Greek word for hospitality, philozenia, is actually a combination of two words – philos, meaning "affection" and zenos, meaning "stranger." This concept signifies affection toward strangers.
      4. The Message paraphrase says, “Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless – cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you."
      5. Being hospitable is being willing to share that which God has given us

    XIII.  8 – Submit to one another | Ephesians 5:21

      1. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Ephesians 5:21
      2. Accountability means that we hold one another to the standard of Christian ethics that we are called to live by. We give others permission to be involved in our lives.
      3. Part of submitting to one another is valuing the relationship enough to admit when we are wrong.

    XIV.  9 - Forgive each other | Ephesians 4:32

      1. “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32 
      2. The church models forgiveness because we have the closest encounter with it. Just as Christ forgave us – we strive to forgive one another on a daily basis. We take time to not hold grudges or offense but to endeavor to live peaceably with all men.

    XV.  10 - Love one another | 1 Peter 4:8a

      1. “Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other.” 1 Peter 4:8a
      2. At the end of the day, God expects us to love each another deeply. Our standard of care is not whether we have to or are obligated to but rather does it exemplify God’s love.

    Sermon: Unity through Agreemeent, Part IV