Unity of Expectation (2 of 5)
Series: The Crossing
Steve Jones
Joshua 3
INTRODUCTION: On September 4, 2015, Donald Trump signed a pledge that he would not run against the Republicans if he were not the GOP candidate for the president. Why was that important? Because the Republicans know, as do the Democrats, that uniting the party behind their candidate is essential to victory.
Just as unity is important to the victory of a political party or a political campaign, unity is important to the victory of a church.
It is sometimes challenging to maintain unity in the church. Someone has said where two or three are gathered in Jesus' name you have four or more opinions about how to do things. That's a joke but church division is no laughing matter as many, if not most, of you know. It takes effort to keep the church united. ''Steve, why would you say a thing like that?'' I would say a thing like that because Paul said a thing like that.
Ephesians 4:3 ''Make every effort to keep yourselves united in Spirit, binding yourselves with peace.''
But it's worth the effort. When the church is united there is no end to what it can accomplish.
Last week we began to look at the crossing of the Jordan River by Joshua and the Israelites recorded in Joshua chapter 3. I suggested that this river crossing was a catalyst to unify the Israelites behind the leadership of Joshua. We talked about the Ark of the Covenant that went ahead of the Israelites and unified them by providing their direction - geographical direction to be sure but also a moral direction because the Ark of the Covenant contained the Ten Commandments. So the Israelites had a moral compass to guide them. The moral compass for the church is the New Testament - the Word of God. To the degree that we, as a church, follow the New Testament to that degree we will remain united. If you stay for the Discover luncheon today the first thing you will hear me talk about is our unity in this church. Our unity ...
Series: The Crossing
Steve Jones
Joshua 3
INTRODUCTION: On September 4, 2015, Donald Trump signed a pledge that he would not run against the Republicans if he were not the GOP candidate for the president. Why was that important? Because the Republicans know, as do the Democrats, that uniting the party behind their candidate is essential to victory.
Just as unity is important to the victory of a political party or a political campaign, unity is important to the victory of a church.
It is sometimes challenging to maintain unity in the church. Someone has said where two or three are gathered in Jesus' name you have four or more opinions about how to do things. That's a joke but church division is no laughing matter as many, if not most, of you know. It takes effort to keep the church united. ''Steve, why would you say a thing like that?'' I would say a thing like that because Paul said a thing like that.
Ephesians 4:3 ''Make every effort to keep yourselves united in Spirit, binding yourselves with peace.''
But it's worth the effort. When the church is united there is no end to what it can accomplish.
Last week we began to look at the crossing of the Jordan River by Joshua and the Israelites recorded in Joshua chapter 3. I suggested that this river crossing was a catalyst to unify the Israelites behind the leadership of Joshua. We talked about the Ark of the Covenant that went ahead of the Israelites and unified them by providing their direction - geographical direction to be sure but also a moral direction because the Ark of the Covenant contained the Ten Commandments. So the Israelites had a moral compass to guide them. The moral compass for the church is the New Testament - the Word of God. To the degree that we, as a church, follow the New Testament to that degree we will remain united. If you stay for the Discover luncheon today the first thing you will hear me talk about is our unity in this church. Our unity ...
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