The Beauty of Unity: Part 3

REFLECTION QUOTES

“Truth is under attack…. Rare is the person who believes that there are facts that correspond with reality (truths) and…are true for all people in all places and at all times…. [T]his will ultimately lead us to nihilism wherein all ideas lose their value. Ultimately, the only thing that will matter is who has sufficient power to exercise his or her will.”

“As followers of Christ, our greatest delight will always be found in our obedience to His Word.”

~Voddie Baucham, Dean of Theology at African Christian University (Zambia)

“…I know a place/Ain’t nobody cryin’/Ain’t nobody worried/Ain’t no smilin’ faces/Mmm, no no/Lyin’ to the races”

~“I’ll Take You There” (1972) by The Staples Singers

“You have to be a bit of a dreamer to imagine a world where love trumps hate—but I don’t think being a dreamer is all that bad. Joel prophesied that God would ‘pour out [His] Spirit on all people. Your…old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.’”

“We live out our call most fully when we are a community of faith with arms wrapped about a community of pain.”

~John M. Perkins, Christian minister and civil rights activist

“If someone had told me in 1963 that one day I would be in Congress, I would have said, ‘You’re crazy. You don’t know what you’re talking about.’”

“When people tell me nothing has changed, I say come walk in my shoes and I will show you change.”

~John Lewis (1940-2020), legendary civil rights leader and politician

“The cross reconciles men to God and men to each other.”

~Thabiti Anyabwile, pastor and writer

“The operation of the Church is entirely set up for the sinner; which creates much misunderstanding among the smug.”

~Flannery O’Connor (1925-1964), novelist and essayist

SERMON PASSAGE

Psalm 133, selections from Ephesians 4 & 5 (NASB)

Psalm 133

1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brothers to dwell together in unity!
2 It is like the precious oil upon the head,
Coming down upon the beard,
Even Aaron’s beard,
Coming down upon the edge of his robes.
3 It is like the dew of Hermon
Coming down upon the mountains of Zion;
For there the LORD commanded the blessing—life forever.

Ephesians 4

1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, 3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace…

25 Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another…

29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. 30 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

Ephesians 5

1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; 2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.