A Blueprint for Spiritual Unity

Sep. 07, 2025

Background:

It's important to have a blueprint or design to see how things are supposed to be
To build unity, individuals must embrace our identity as Children of God
We must know who we belong to
It ought not to bother us when people call us out of our name once we know who we are
What people say ought not to bother us
We shouldn't get upset when we should have embraced our identity
We belong to the Savior and He belongs to us
We must adhere to the Scriptures and make an effort to embrace the teaching of His Word
We must open and study the Word of God
We must make a conscious effort to live like Christ
We ought to foster Christ-likeness of peace and kindness working together with one common goal
When we foster the lifestyle of peace and kindness, we begin to work together
We ought to imitate Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1)
Because there are different opinions and dislikes and back biting and backstabbing, it's hard to bring about unity
Unity is spiritual oneness amongst believers rooted in Christ
It involves aligning hearts & our minds around Biblical truths
The only thing that will make us right is God's Word...it's only what God says that matters
We must embrace unity and forgiveness
The common goal is to glorify God in all aspects of life by being transformed into the likeness of Jesus

Key Sermon Points:

1. Having the right motives for spiritual unity

We must have the right motives
We ought not to look around at others when we have our own issues for which we need healing
Paul wrote the letter thinking about the conduct of other believers
Unity will bless the Church
IF is always conditional when used with a verb
What we say or do ought to line up with the Word (Philippians 1:27)
Christians ought to be a Christ-like citizen of Heaven where what we do outside ought to reflect what we do on the inside
Our position in Christ ought to be able to stand behind what we say and do (we ought not to speak negatively about the church or others)
When we think of consolation and encouragement, we think about coming along side
Who wouldn't want Christ's comfort of love and words of gentle cheer to comfort the believer when we are going through?
The fellowship references the partnership of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit
God has extended his deep compassion to every believer and we should show it to others
We ought to show others mercy
We are quick to want mercy, but not to give it
God has been merciful to us...each and every day
When God has been good to us, all we can do is cry out
To make the joy complete is a goal of a faithful Christian
We ought to give respect where it is due (1 Thessalonian 5:12-13; Hebrew 13-17)

2. The right making of spiritual unity

We have to have the right ingredients
Spiritual blessings:
- We must be of the same mind in Christ Jesus...thinking right is a major theme
- Believers must not walk according to the flesh...we must walk in the Spirit
- It is important for us to do the things of the Spirit
- We must have the same love (to love others equally)...it is only possible through Jesus
We can't love others in our flesh, but only through Jesus
Love for other believers characterizes a genuine believer
We have to have patience because God has patience with us
We must love each other in deeds and truth (1 John 3:14)

3. The right means for spiritual unity