Sunday 28th Sep 2008 Allan Blyth
Scripture 1 Cor 12:14-16: 27 Ps 133 “Body Life”
Please turn your Bibles to Ps 133
How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! Ps 133:1 NIV and in another version -
How wonderful it is, how pleasant, for God’s people to live together in harmony.
Today I’m sharing 3 principles for harmonious “body life”.
Churches of Christ, our church family, began principally as a unity movement - Christians who saw the prayer of Jesus for us to be one as a high priority .
Thank you for your welcome back and your prayers while we were away at the World Convention of Churches of Christ. It was wonderful to join “Together in Christ” with Christians from many countries. Sharing communion in the Cane Ridge meeting house where our movement took off like wildfire in the early 1800’s, with folks of different traditions was a real experience of the unity of the body of Christ. Learning why it was called Cane Ridge (a bamboo like grass) was interesting—as was learning more about Barton Stone and the amazing spiritual “exercises” that led thousands into a deeper experience of the Spirit and a desire to fellowship and “sink into the wider body of Christ’ as outlined in Thomas Campbell’s “Declaration and Address”. Promoted by son Alexander from his home in Bethany WV, the largest indigenous North American Christian movement was born. Bethany College started by Alexander Campbell still operates today & Churches of Christ are now active in 180 countries around the world. The conference ended with Zimbabwe’s BJ Mpofu’s induction & the 2012 World Convention to be hosted by Brazil.
The call of Christ to unity among his followers has been a challenge down through the ages. Always a tension between the pursuit of unity and the pursuit of obedience according to different people’s ideas and interpretations. Even among Churches of Christ, focusing on unity there have been many divisions. Harmonious body life is a joy!
The prayer meeting for Scripture teachers on Monday was that!. 16 men & women from several churches and suburbs all with a passion for the good news of Jesus to go out in the schools of the Central Coast praying & praising God.
Today I want to share 3 Biblical principles for building unity.
The first comes from our Corinthians passage 1Cor 12:14,27
Principle 1 As one body we need each other.
During a hike in the bush, a group of boy scouts came across an abandoned section of railway track. Each boy in turn tried walking on the rails but eventually lost balance and tumbled off. After some whispering two boys suddenly offered to bet that they could both walk the entire length of the track without falling off. Challenged to make good their boast, the two boys jumped up on opposite rails, extended their hands to balance each other and walked the entire length of track with no difficulty whatever.
Each one should use their gifts to serve others 1 Pet4:10
Principle 2: To resolve, go privately, in person.
Clarification, forgiveness or apology may be required—by either party. The goal is to restore harmony.
As He trained his disciples Jesus taught in Mt 18:15-35
“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a gentile and a tax collector.”
Step 1. Go privately in person to the person who has offended you. This will almost always resolve the problem. E.g. clarification of misunderstanding.
If it doesn’t Step 2.
Take one or two witnesses with you to the person who will confirm the offence. Again, in person.
Peter raised an objection to this teaching, “But Lord how many times must I forgive my brother?”
Jesus answered “70 x7 times”. In other words no limit! Just as Jesus forgives us are we to forgive each other. Jesus taught in Mt 6:15 “If you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses NRSV “
Step 3 If still not convicted to repent or apologize, the next step is to take it to the church. The elders, minister and/or
Leaders who will announce to the whole church.
Principle 1 As one body we need each other.
Principle 2 To resolve, go privately, in person, ready to forgive or apologize and resolve.
Principle 3. Act at the earliest possible time.
Eph 4:25,26
“each must … speak truthfully to his neighbour, for we are all members of one body. … Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.
Prov3:27,28 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. Do not say to your neighbour “Go and come back, and tomorrow I will give it, when you have it with you.” NASB
So here we have 3 God given principles for living that will lead to unity and harmony, not only in the church, but also at home, in the work place or in our neighbourhood.
Example:
Family birthday gathering for Bob’s 40th. Mum usually made a chocolate cake. But this time Bob noticed the cake was bought. How come Mum makes everyone else a chocolate cake and I just get a bought plain cake? And Mum normally made her gifts. Bob really felt it when his gift from Mum was unwrapped— a pair of bought sox! And she didn’t hug me the same way as she hugged everyone else. During the evening Bob felt even more upset when he noticed his brother and sister having a great laugh with Mum. He felt really left out and was sure they were laughing something about him. Eventually he approached his mum; “Why didn’t you make me a chocolate cake?
“And how come you gave me bought sox?” Mum replied,
“Bob, your Nanna has been needing a lot more care lately and, I hadn’t told you, but, my arthritis is getting bad. ”
The scriptures abound with exhortations to unity, to living in harmony and peace with our neighbours.
We have the unity of the Godhead.
Creation brought calm, order and rest to the chaos. Jesus is the Prince of Peace come to make possible the reconciliation of the cosmos under His Kingship and through His saving work. In prayer he taught us to pray as a community “Our Father, Give us this day, Forgive us our sins, Lead us… and the coming Kingdom is described by the prophets OT and New as the Kingdom of Peace Isaiah & Rev.
Our movement began principally as a Unity Movement people united in surrender, obedience and service to the risen Jesus that His will be done and His Kingdom come.
Would you embrace these 3 God given principles for your life? I wonder if you can recall them:
Principle 1 As one body we need each other.
Principle 2 Go privately, in person, ready to forgive.
Principle 3. Act at the earliest possible time.
Reflection Time Eph 4:1-6 NLT
Song: “This is my desire”
Benediction Eph 4:32
