(Clip) Unity in the Body of Christ in the Last Days
Chip Brogden emphasizes that true unity in the body of Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit, is essential for believers to effectively witness and stand strong in the last days despite differences.
This sermon emphasizes the importance of unity in the body of Christ, highlighting that true unity is not about agreeing on every detail but being baptized into one Lord, one faith, and one spirit. It discusses how the Holy Spirit binds believers together despite differences in beliefs, practices, or worship, emphasizing the love that unites them. The message calls for a focus on what unites rather than divides, empowering believers to be witnesses and ambassadors for Christ in unity.
Full Transcript
As one body in Christ, one body in Christ, and the surest sign that we are walking in the flesh and that we are carnal is the fact that we're not in unity. And by unity I don't mean like-mindedness in that we all agree on the same Bible translation, we all agree on the same doctrine, we all agree around the same teaching, but like-mindedness in the sense that we are all baptized into one Lord, one faith, one spirit. First Corinthians 12 13 says, by one spirit we were all baptized into one body.
By one spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and have all been made to drink into one spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many. So we are many members and many different members, many different opinions, and yet one body in Christ, and that's what we have to focus on.
We have to focus on things that bind us together in Christ, and only the Holy Spirit can empower us to do that. Have you ever been in a group or with other believers and there was a difference in belief, a difference in practice, a difference in worship, and so you sensed a clash there, but at the same time you sense that the Holy Spirit was there binding you together and there was a love that you had, a love that was more important than what you were in disagreement about, a love that bound you together in a way that overshadowed whatever differences that you might have had. That's the power of the Holy Spirit, working together to bind us together into one body in Christ, and it's so critical in these last days.
We've got to stop dividing the body of Christ based on stupid things and begin to focus on the things that we are in agreement on so that the Holy Spirit can empower us and give us strength to be witnesses and ambassadors for Him in these last days, and we can't do that if we're fighting with one another.
Sermon Outline
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I
- Unity is essential for the body of Christ
- Lack of unity shows carnality and fleshly living
- Unity is not uniformity but being baptized into one Spirit
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II
- The body of Christ has many members with different opinions
- Focus on what binds us together rather than what divides
- The Holy Spirit empowers and binds believers in love
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III
- Differences in belief and practice can cause clashes
- The Holy Spirit’s love can overshadow disagreements
- Love is more important than doctrinal differences
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IV
- In the last days, unity is critical for effective witness
- Stop dividing over trivial issues
- Focus on shared faith to be strong ambassadors for Christ
Key Quotes
“The surest sign that we are walking in the flesh and that we are carnal is the fact that we're not in unity.” — Chip Brogden
“By one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free.” — Chip Brogden
“We have to stop dividing the body of Christ based on stupid things and begin to focus on the things that we are in agreement on.” — Chip Brogden
Application Points
- Seek to cultivate love and unity with other believers despite differences in opinion or practice.
- Rely on the Holy Spirit to empower and bind the church together as one body.
- Focus on shared faith and avoid divisions over minor doctrinal or worship disagreements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does unity in the body of Christ mean according to Chip Brogden?
Unity means being baptized into one Lord, one faith, one Spirit, not necessarily agreeing on every doctrine or practice.
Why is unity important in the last days?
Unity empowers believers to be effective witnesses and ambassadors for Christ amidst challenges and divisions.
How does the Holy Spirit contribute to unity?
The Holy Spirit binds believers together in love, overshadowing differences and empowering them to work as one body.
Does unity require agreement on every issue?
No, unity focuses on shared faith and spiritual bond rather than uniformity in all beliefs or practices.
What should believers do to maintain unity?
Believers should focus on common faith, avoid divisions over minor issues, and rely on the Holy Spirit’s power.