Unity in the Church Requires Personal Contentment
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TITLE: Unity in the Church Requires Personal Contentment
SUBJECT: Unity/Church
PROPOSITION: Unity in the church requires personal contentment toward self, others, and God.
OBJECTIVE: Personal contentment is key to having a united church.
INTRODUCTION:
1. Read: Ephesians 4:1-3
2. About the Text:
1) This chapter discusses unity in the church.
2) Unity begins with the individual and his/her attitudes.
3) If we are discontent, then unity in the church will be difficult at best.
4) Learning to be content, goes a long way toward preventing church problems.
3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.
DISCUSSION:
I. Â Â Being content toward self — “walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you were called.”
1. Contentment requires us to learn from our personal circumstances – Phil.4:11-13.
2. Contentment requires personal holiness – 1 Peter 1:13-16.
3. When one is not content toward self, disharmony among others will come quickly.
II. Â Being content toward our fellow man–“with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love.”
1. We must practice true love in our lives to be content with others – Romans 12:9-18.
2. Diotrophes was a man who was not content: 3 John 1:9-10 – Read.
3. When we are not content toward our fellow man, division will soon occur.
III. Being content toward God–“endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
1. Living within the authority of Christ – Col.3:17.
2. What happens when we are not content with God’s teaching? – 2 John 9
3. Those who are not content with God’s word will cause problems and bring division.
CONCLUSION:
1. Unity in the Church Requires Personal Contentment with
1) Self
2) Others
3) God
2. Invitation