THE ONE BODY I. TEXTUAL THOUGHTS 1. Ephesians 2:11-22- We are
reconciled in one body by the cross. 2. 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, By
one spirit we are baptized into one body. 3. John 17:20-23- Jesus prayed
for unity of His disciples. 4. Galatians 3:27-29- All are
one in Christ Jesus. 5. Ephesians 4:1-6- We are to
keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. II. MAIN THEME: God planned to bring all people together in one body through the
death of Jesus. By the power of the
resurrection and the Spirit of God in us we must keep the unity of the Spirit
in the bond of peace. Unity among Christians glorifies God. 1. The body belongs to Christ,
the head. a. Because of
what God worked in Christ, Ephesians 1:20-23. b. Because all
things consist in Him, Colossians 1:17-18. 2. God's eternal plan was for
a unified body. a. He planned
to bring Jew and gentile together in Jesus, Ephesians 2:11-3:13. B. Jesus
prayed that believers might be one, John 17;20-21. C. Believers become
heirs to God's promises in Jesus, Galatians 3:27-29. 3. The body is not to be
divided. a. God wants
His church to be united, 1 Corinthians 1:10-13. b. Christians
are encouraged to keep the unity of the Spirit, Ephesians 4:1-3. 4. The body is made up of
members with different functions. a. God gave
different roles to members of the body, Eph 4:11-16, Rom 12;1-8. b. Members are
to understand the need to work
together, 1 Cor 12:12-31. 5. The church is to glorify
God through unity. a. By being
rooted and grounded in love, Ephesians 3:9-21. b. That the
world may believe in Jesus, John 17:21. III. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS 1. The body can be united
while each member has different functions; everyone does not have the same role in the church, Romans 12:1-8, 1
Cor 12:12-31. 2. The body can be united
though there are different opinions, Rom 14, Gal 5:13-15. 3. Unity results from
following Jesus and trying to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, by being kind to each other, Ephesians
4:1-6. 4. When we look at Jesus and
try to follow Him, unity results, Philippians 2:3-8. 5. Dividing the body is
evidence of worldly attitudes, 1 Corinthians 3:1-4. 6. We should speak the same
things, by being joined together by our common faith in Jesus, 1 Corinthians 1:4-13, 1 Peter 4:11. IV.
MEMORY VERSE- EPHESIANS 4:3
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