Young Adults' Group

Keeping The Oneness Of The Church

by Pastor Mark
May 30, 2019

A wonderful end to the first half of the year

Last Saturday, we had a blessed combined fellowship groups meeting and Pastor Charles taught us about how we should understand the giftedness of the church and how we should maintain the oneness among the brethren. We were studying about the church of Corinth and how the Apostle Paul sought to address the danger of division in the church.

Appreciating a greatly gifted church

Paul thanked the Lord for blessing the Corinthian church with many spiritual blessings. They were enriched in everything. (1 Cor 1:5) They came short in no gift. (1 Cor 1:7) They were a very gifted church. There was not much that was lacking. They had many spiritual gifts and they were blessed with faithful servants of the Lord.

We thank God also that Bethany is a truly gifted church. God has blessed us significantly. We may not have fully realise how greatly blessed we are. The Lord has blessed with many gifted servants. We thank God for the many faithful servants of the Lord who serve diligently each week. Let us appreciate and be thankful for how spiritually gifted Bethany is.

A great appeal

As Paul dealt with the danger of division, he made a great appeal to the Corinthian brethren.

1. To be blameless (1 Cor 1:8)

The Greek word is “anegkletos” which means to be “irreproachable”. We should live our lives in such a way that there is nothing that anyone can reproach us about. Let us be challenged to be blameless.

2. To speak the same thing (1 Cor 1:10)

Paul gave the challenge for the brethren to speak the same thing. There is no difference in what they would speak of. Let us be challenged to have the same focus in what we say.

3. To be perfectly joined (1 Cor 1:10)

“but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”

The Greek word “katartizo” which means to be “mended, made complete”. The brethren are challenged to be perfectly mended or joined together. Nothing should affect the integrity of the oneness of the church. Let us be challenged to be perfectly joined together.

4. To have the same mind and same judgment (1 Cor 1:10)

Oneness can be kept as we learn to have the same thinking…to have the same mind. It is also to have the judgment…how things are judged. Let us heed this appeal to guard our oneness.

Focus on the Lord Jesus

As we take these practical steps in guarding our oneness, what should our focus be? It is should be fixed on the Lord Jesus Christ. He should be foremost on our minds and in our hearts. Paul’s focus was on the Lord Jesus and the cross…in the what he would preach. (1 Cor 1:17) It is the Lord that we should seek consistently in all things. We should see the power of God as He work through Christ. His power is evidenced through the many blessings that He has given to us and to Bethany. He has empowered us with many gifts. Let us truly never forget what we have been blessed over the years. Let us be challenged to keep the oneness of Bethany always.

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