Friday, September 29, 2006

unwritten clip #5 - UNITY

Who has the power to CREATE unity?
(I've gone through the New Testement and looked up all the scriptures that contains the word, unity.)

John 17:20-26
Jesus Prays for All Believers

"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 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. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 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. "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. "Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."

Romans 15: 1-13 (vs. 5)
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 4: 1-16
Unity in the Body of Christ

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men."(What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Colossians 3:1-17 (vs 12-14)
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

QUESTIONS:

  • Before reading these scriptures, who did you think had the power to create unity?
  • Does unity have to be created or has it already been created?
  • Who is considered as part of God's definition of unity?
  • What is our only ability when it comes to unity?
  • What is the purpose of unity?
  • Does these scriptures make you feel more connected with others that you haven't met?

Express your thoughts and feedback within the comment section.
{Just click on the comment link below this paragraph.}

2 comments:

Garry Brantley said...

Great questions accompanying extraordinary scriptures. May we continually open ourselves to God's Spirit and enter the very unity experienced by the triune God! Thanks for the interrogative reminders of our role in unity.

Anonymous said...

Regarding the first question, I believe we(congregation) tend to accuse or blame leadership for a lack of unity. But the scriptures clearly state that it is the individual members who create or destroy unity through their personal connection to God. I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR UNITY!