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lesson 4

 

GOD’S SPIRIT PRODUCES UNITY

 

 

I. TEXTUAL THOUGHTS

1. Eph 4:3 - Unity is of the Spirit.

2. Eph 4:4-6 - God has given oneness in a complete way.

3. John 17:11 - Unity depends on God’s power.

4. John 17:22-23 - God’s glory leads to unity.

 

II. THEME: God’s Spirit and glory working in us produces unity in the church. Unity comes from God, not as a result of our own works. We have responsibility to let the will of God motivate our lives so that unity results.

 

1. Unity is of the Spirit (Eph 4:3).

        a. Unity is the desire of God (John 17:11).

        b. Unity is the purpose of God (John 17:22-23).

c. When we are led by the Spirit, we will have unity and peace (Eph 4:1-3).

 

2. God’s unity is complete in seven ones (Eph 4:4-6).

                                a. There is one body (1 Cor 12:13).

                                b. There is one Spirit (Gen 1:2, John 14:26, 1 Pet 1:19-21).

                                c. There is one hope (1 Cor 15:54-58).

                                d. There is one Lord (Mat 28:18, 1 Cor 8:6).

                                e. There is one faith, faith in Jesus (Jn 1:12, 20:29-31). There is one doctrine, the gospel                                      

(Jude 1:3, Gal 1:6-9, Acts 2:42, 1 Cor 11:2, 2 Thes 2:13-15).

                                f. There is one baptism, baptism by the authority of Jesus (Acts 19:1-5, 1 Cor 12:13,

                                                Acts 2:38, John 3:5-6).

                                g. There is one God and Father of all (Rev chapters 4 and 5, Jn 17:1-5).

 

3. God’s glory leads to unity (Jn. 17:22-23):

        a. through the glorious gospel (John 1:12, Rom 6:5, 1 Cor 12:13);

        b. by the power of the resurrection (Phil 3:9, Rom 8:11);

        c. by the power to endure suffering (1 Pet 4:12-19, Rom 8:17-18);

        d. by the power of Christ in us (John 1:12, Col 1:24-27).

 

III. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

·         Unity is not the result of the work of men, but the work of God through faith. We must have the mind of serving each other and encouraging each other if we are to live peacefully in the church (2 Cor 13:11, Gal 5:22-23, Phil 2:1-4).

·         Unity is not the result of the preacher making everyone conform to his opinions. Unity results from all following Jesus, not from following the preacher (1 Cor 1:10-13, 1 Cor 3:1-9, 21-23).

·         What is the one body (Rom 12:4-5, 1 Cor 12:12-13, Eph 2:4-22)?

·         Describe the one faith (Romans 10:8-11, 16:25-27, Gal 3:22-27, Phil 1:27, Col 1:23, Heb 13:7-8, 2 Pet 1:1-4, 20-21, Jude 1:3).

·         Explain how there is one baptism (Acts 19:1-5, 1 Cor 12:13, Acts 2:38, John 3:5-6).

 

IV. MEMORY VERSE: Eph 4:2-3 - “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”

 

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