Vital signs- Saturday, October 8th, 2022

Unity in Community

To build unity in our relationships, we must have grace for those around us. We must help each other build up our faith. We need to walk in patience and encouragement to build up a healthy united community of believers. 

So, what do you need to do? Get committed to your community. You can’t build unity without a community, so be committed to a community of believers. Don’t be a floating Christian that chooses a new church every Sunday. You're not building the kingdom of God that way. You're just feeding off every single place you go to and not contributing anywhere. Get committed to a community and get plugged in. I know this is tough to hear, but you need to get connected.

Why is community so important? Why is it intensely mandated to stand united as His people?

It’s because when we come together, we are more powerful. Matthew 18:19 says, “Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.”

The enemy doesn’t like when believers are unified. That is why he fights so hard to divide us and to separate us from each other. 

Unity is the breading ground of revival. It allows for the refreshing of the spirit. 

To become engaged in your community, you must recognize your place in God’s household. 

Ephesians 2:19 says, "We are all no longer aliens or strangers, but we are members of God's household." One version says, "active members." God doesn’t want us sitting on the sidelines. He doesn’t want us to be the spectators. He wants us to actively engage with a community. 

Once you have found a community, stay committed to keeping the unity within that community. Be a peacemaker. Mathew 5:9 says, “Blessed are the peacemakers for they will inherit the kingdom of God.” Let’s be strife stoppers, peacemakers, bridge builders.

Decide, "You know what? I'm going to contend for unity in this community; I'm going to shut down strife. I am going to stop stupid rumors. I'm going to stop gossip. I'm going to look for ways to build unity.”

What does unity look like? 

Unity is selfless. It's thinking of others before thinking of yourself. Unity is going out of your way. Instead of waiting for someone else to come and invite you into his or her community, you are initiating the invitation. 

Don’t wait. Initiate. 

The world doesn’t want to be around people that just look mad, angry, and super serious all the time. The world is looking for a church that has unusual camaraderie, unusual laughter, and unusual joy.