Pastor Rich's Sermon, August 22, 2004

When you were growing up did you have assigned jobs to do around the house?

It was my job to make my bed in the morning, put my dirty clothes in the hamper, and put my dishes in the sink when I got away from the table. I also shared jobs with my brother. We had to take out the trash and prior to the dishwasher we took turns drying dishes. That job changed once we got a dishwasher. Then it was our job to unload the dishwasher. It was also our job to help Mom and Dad with other various household tasks.

I don’t how my list compares with yours. I am sure there are some of you who wish that was all you had to do. I know from hearing some of your life stories that several of you had to quit school and get a job to help with the family finances. Quite a few of you had the job of taking care of your younger brothers and sisters. More than a few had to help with the family farm or business. Bottom line is that we all had some kind of responsibilities to our family. We might not have liked it but we had to do our job for the sake of the family.

With regards to the church, the body of Christ the situation is no different. Each one of us has a job to do. Your job and my job is to be an answer to Jesus’ prayer.

“I’m praying not only for them, but also for those who will believe in Me because of them and their witness about Me. The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind – just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, so they might be one heart and mind with us. Then the world might believe that You, in fact, sent me.”

Your job and my job is to protect and promote the unity of the church.” It is the job of every member of every church to protect and promote the unity of the church. As Rick Warren states in the Purpose Driven Life, “Nothing on earth is more valuable to God than His church. It is sad that in God’s flock, the greatest wounds usually come from other sheep, not wolves.”

Let’s look at what Jesus is praying for you and me.

“I’m praying not only for them”,

that is the 12 disciples and believers who have flocked to Him right then and there.

“But also for those who will believe in Me”

that is for you and me that Jesus is praying. Why is He praying for us,

“because of them and their witness about Me.”

Jesus is concerned about our witness about him. What are other people going to think about Jesus because of me? Even more important what is the world, what are non-believers going to think about Jesus because of the church, the body of Christ?

If our witness is going to bring glory and honor to His name and if our witness is going to cause every knee in heaven and on earth to bow at the sound of his name then we must be united. Jesus prayed,

“The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind
just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You,
so they might be one heart and mind with us.”

Jesus’ desire for us is to not only be united heart and mind with each other but with God as well. Only when we are united in such a way can we fulfill Jesus’ prayer.

“Then the world might believe that You, in fact, sent me.”

Why hasn’t Jesus’ prayer been fulfilled? Only you and me, only the church can answer that question. We share so much in common. We share the same salvation. We share the same future. Yet since the beginning of the church, the church has become involved in conflict. Involved in conflict because our focus shifts to personalities, preferences, styles, and methods.

In the 14^thchapter of Romans Paul brings us God’s word about cultivating good relationship, cultivating unity. Time does not permit to read the entire 14th chapter but I challenge you to prayerful read it this week.

“Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don’t
see things the way you do. Don’t jump all over them
every time they do or say something you don’t agree with…What’s important in all this is that if you keep
a holy day, keep it for God’s sake…None of us are permitted to insist on our own way in these matters.
It’s God we are answerable to.

Paul said to the church of Ephesus,

“You are joined together with peace through the Spirit,
so make every effort to continue together in this way.”
Ephesians 4:3

Paul said to the church of Colosse,

“Most of all, let love guide your life,
for then the whole church will stay together
in perfect harmony.”
Colossians 3:14

Paul said to the church of Corinth,

“Let there be real harmony
so there won’t be divisions in the church.
I plead with you to be of one mind,
united in thought and purpose.”
1 Corinthians 1:10

The very word of God that Paul brought to these churches he brings to St. Paul’s and to every Christian church.

Are you willing to accept the responsibility to protect and promote the unity of St. Paul’s? Are you willing to be answerable to Jesus’ prayer?

“I’m praying not only for them,
but also for those who will believe in Me
because of them and their witness about Me.
The goal is for all of them is to become one heart and mind just as You, Father, are in Me and I in You,
so they might be one heart and mind with us.
Then the world might believe that You, in fact, sent me.”