Unity In The Body Of Christ

Sermon Topic 6/2/13 Elder Adam Porter
After the hymns, Pastor Adam pointed out that we are in choir practice here … someday we will be joining the angels in singing praises to God. And don’t worry about your voice or singing ability … it’s not the sound of the voice so much as what’s in our heart.
Unity In The Body Of Christ
We do all kinds of things to prepare for Reunion, but the important thing is that the Holy Spirit prevails.
The Body of Christ is an object of God’s design, to operate within His principles; and it is also a delicate creation in Jesus The Christ. We can’t push or orchestrate His body … it’s God’s doing.
Eph 4:11-14 … The callings and offices in the Church, and their purpose – the edifying (building up) of the saints, til we all come in the unity of the faith. Adam referenced Alma 1 which we had discussed in Sunday School, about the arrival of Nehor and his attempt to destroy the unity of the Church thru his preaching.
1 Corinthians 12:27 … We are the body of Christ, and members in particular; it is an intricate and delicate thing.
Genesis 11:1-7 … the post-flood people were unified, but their purpose was corrupt so God stopped them. Israel was also unified under God’s laws of worship, His power, direction, and community; yet when their purpose in worship became corrupted they too were scattered – first the Northern Kingdom by Assyria, then the Southern Kingdom by Babylon, then finally by the Romans in the first century, worldwide.
Isaiah 1:2-11 … My children don’t know me … in the Prophecy of Zenos, the decayed branches were cut off and cast away. The people had polluted their sacrifices and worship (verse 13, vain oblations msl) … contrast that to Paul’s admonition in Colossians 3:23 – whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; ….
All that we have is God’s, not ours. Drought can occur in any area, anytime … such as a plant closing.
Lehi and his family suffered great disarray and rebellion … such as when they tied up Nephi while on the ship, and the boat was no longer on course.
Psalm 133:1 … Dwell together in unity.
Mosiah 9:54 … knit together in unity (Alma Sr.’s command). We have God’s commandment to love our neighbors as ourselves; how much more our brothers and sisters in Christ. We should treat our family as friends, and our friends as family.
Back to Ephesians 4:1-4 … unity of the Spirit … the body of Christ must be unified thru His Gospel, love, and peace.
1 Corinthians 14:33 … God IS NOT the author of confusion!! (guess who is … msl) … He desires simplicity (verse 40, let all things be done decently and in order).
1 Corinthians 12:24-27 God tempers the body together, that there be NO SCHISM … Strong’s G4978, schisma, division or tear; Webster’s “separation into factions, formal divisions within a Christian church,, the offense of attempting to produce a schism, a body or sect that participates in a schism. The body of Christ does not work according to worldly designs. What is important is PEOPLE. The Holy Spirit drawing us all here, is a miracle.
1 Corinthians 11:17-20 … There are divisions among you (Paul to the church in Corinth) Sacrament service is communing in the spirit and remembering His sacrifice, not party time.
4 Nephi 26-31 … the people had multiplied and spread, and were rich and prosperous, and once again there were classes and PRIDE among the people, and multiple churches; some preaching false doctrine and one actually persecuting the saints of the Lord. (see also Ephesians 4:14, led about by every wind of doctrine).
3 Nephi 12:10-14 … deal justly with one another (also Micah 6:8 msl)
4 Nephi 1-3 … the children of Christ living in unity … thru humility
The church is united under one common goal – eternal salvation through Jesus the Christ.
3 Nephi 12:20-23 … the church MUST be built upon His Gospel. We would that all in the church would jell together … yet if something that isn’t right is left untended, or just smoothed over, the body has a hard time growing.
Both men and women are guilty of gossip.
Ephesians 5:1 … be followers of God, as dear children.
Romans 12:9-10 … love without dissimulation (Strong’s G505, anupokritos; from the word for the mask worn by a theatrical performer). Cleave (stick like glue) to that which is good (His Gospel), and prefer one another in honor.
1 Peter 5:1-4 … the ministry is to feed the flock – WILLINGLY. Our goal is to perpetuate a fulness of joy thru Christ.
James 1:17 … Every good and perfect gift is from the Father. We are to be swift to hear, and slow to speak, and slow to wrath. We should be always looking for the evidences of unity in our midst. Live in humbleness, faith, joy, love, peace, and blessings.