How can our lives communicate to the world who Jesus really is? It's not scripture memory or church attendance, or even a good testimony. It is through unity.
The Church is not a building. It is you and it is me. What did God create the Church to be? What is God calling Rockhills to be as a faith community located in San Antonio, Texas? Our Mission statement is "Love God, love others. Helping people find and follow Jesus." How are we doing? The "we" is made up of individual members. How are YOU doing living out unity with Jesus and with others?
As we will see in this week's study, it never takes long when a group of individuals are together for there to be differences of opinion. That is inevitable. How do you handle differences? How do you show love, honor, humility, and peace and continue to live in harmony and let go of "paybacks" as you rub shoulders with other people who see things/believe things differently than you do?
INVITATION: Unity points people to the gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ. When there is NOT unity, it is basically a license for the unbelieving world to dismiss what we say and do. How might you leave others to God this week and trust Him more? Pastor Adam mentioned six specific take-aways. What would it look like this week to focus on one per day.....with the help of the Holy Spirit? 1) love; 2) honor; 3) humility; 4) peace; 5) harmony: 6) leaving paybacks to God. Which one of these areas is a particular challenge in your life?
MONDAY: John 17:14-23: Jesus is continually interceding on our behalf. This is a beautiful prayer Jesus prayed for believers while he was living as a human on earth. Notice how often you see the theme of oneness and unity in this prayer. How might you pray today as you begin a new week? Where could you practice unity in your home? At work? In other relationships? Even as you drive?
TUESDAY: Acts 2:42 & Acts 6:1: These verses record for us the beautiful start to the Church in Jerusalem after Christ's ascension into heaven. But it didn't take long for disagreements to arise. There were many cultural difference, privilege comparisons, and offenses taken. What is your attitude within your faith community regarding these things? Who/what has offended you recently? How did you respond? What would it look like to make it a spiritual practice to refuse to be offended moving forward? What about just for today? There WILL be people who rub you the wrong way. What if that's part of God's plan for you within your faith community? What if it's for your own good and growth?
WEDNESDAY: Romans 12:9-21: These verses are replete with great instructions for moving forward in unity and in your faith community. These verses contain Pastor Adam's six take-aways mentioned in the opening paragraphs. We will revisit them the remainder of this week.
LOVE: Read I Corinthians 13. When differences come up this week, how can you still love others? What does real love look like in your life as opposed to fake or shallow love? How might you pray this week for GOD to love through you? Perhaps it will be helpful to admit you are incapable of this type of love on your own and tap into the power that we are promised as believers and "image bearers" of Jesus Christ.
HONOR: Read Romans 12:12 and I Peter 2:17. How can you show hospitality and honor today to others today? Have you ever considered hospitality to include opening your heart to others? It isn't limited to just your home. Do you have a closed heart toward people you disagree with? Pastor Adam used a good word for honor. Do you PREFER others in your day in day out life? What about during a disagreement? Have you ever thought how you might prefer/honor them in that situation? Some people consider it a spiritual practice to give up the need to be right. What would that look like in your daily life?
THURSDAY: Phil. 2:1-4 & Romans 14:19: HARMONY. One translation of the bible uses the phrase being "deep spirited friends" for the word harmony. Musically a harmony involves all different notes, but they complement each other and together make a chord. Would others consider you a "deep spirited friend?" How can you participate in "mutual edification" today in your relationships?
FRIDAY: Ephesians 4:2: HUMILITY: We all go through life with a bent toward either humility or pride. Do you try to love and serve others in your daily life? This verse mentions humble & gentle. Another verse mentions that a "quiet, gentle spirit is pleasing to the Lord." (I Peter 3:4). How do you respond to these verses? How might you take that to the Lord in prayer?
PEACE: Matthew 5:9. You cannot make someone else have peace. But you can be a person of peace. Sometimes that is by what you say. Sometimes it is by what you DON'T say. You are invited to seek out ways to be a person of peace today - - even as you are around difficult people. How might that look? How might it sound?
SATURDAY: I Thes. 5:15: LEAVE PAYBACK TO GOD. This verse says to ALWAYS try to be kind. How might you handle situations in the future where you feel payback is justified? If this is something you know you battle with, are you willing to pray about it in your life?