Being a Unified People

Proverbs 6:16-19 and John 17

January 13, 2008

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Study Guide

A corporate experience of unity starts with a decision in each one of our hearts to be a person who is committed to contributing to unity in our choices of attitude and behavior. 

God loathes disunity and the behavior that breeds it (Proverbs 6:16-19).

You and I are to be the kind of people that hate the things God hates and value the things God values

Unity is so crucial that Jesus prays for it and Paul prioritizes it.

John 17 – Jesus prays for unity:

• The foundation of unity is the perfect unity that God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit enjoy within the trinity.
• Jesus identifies unity as a key trait that will actually prove to the World that Jesus is real.

Paul prioritizes unity:

Ephesians 4:1-7 – Unity is possible only when each of us practices humility, gentleness, patience and love with each other. 

Ephesians 4:11-13 - Unity is possible as each of us allow the Holy Spirit to transform our lives. (Consider also, Philippians 2:1-4 and Colossians 3:11-14)

Disunity is one of the enemy’s chief weapons because it impairs what the church is called to do.

Think for a moment with me about the wreckage of disunity:

Unity is one of God’s chief tools to advance the Church.


Think for a moment about all the benefits and blessing that unity can bring for a church:

Psalm 133 – “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!”

Practical reminders for being a unified people

1. Pray for unity within our church.
2. When you have a question or concern, don’t process with others. Go directly to the person who will be equipped to give you the correct information.
3. When you “hear something” from others realize that they might not have all the information. 
4. Be sensitive to what are your personal preferences verses what might be best for the whole of the church. 
5. Seek to trust and assume that best intentions rather than malicious ones.