As the representatives of God's Kingdom on Earth, it is important that the Church is one unified body expressing the same saving message, regardless of denomination or ethnic/cultural history and life experience. It's not that the Father sent Jesus so that those redeemed by His sacrifice could have a lack of individuality or independent thought, but that our independent thoughts would be guided by the Holy Spirit and the Scriptures of His inspiration, so that we would be of the same mind on the things of God's grand narrative. In this sermon, Pastor David explains that we might disagree on minor details, however, we must be solidly together on the indisputable facts of the Gospel.

God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Divisions in the Church

1 Corinthians 1:9-13

10I appeal to you, brothers,a by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 11For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 12What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” 13Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

Christ’s Example of Humility

Philippians 2:2-4

2complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

We were made to be in community, to do life together with fellow church members.So we have a responsibility to care for one another in the church. In fact, church membership is a commitment to care for one another. In the sermon Pastor David examines various New Testament commands about how we as a church must care for one another in thought, word and deed.

1 Corinthians 12:12–27 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. 27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

Romans 12:3–13 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. 9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Everything the church does in a worship service is intentional and that's because nothing we do in a worship service is neutral. Each element of worship either teaches about the God who is there or about a god of our own imagination. Therefore, we should seek to have each element of worship be as biblical as possible. We must worship by the Book. In this sermon Pastor David focuses in on what the Bible prescribes regarding the use of Scripture, Prayer and Singing.

Hebrews 12:28-29 Let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.

For further study: 1 Tim 4:13; Col 4:16; 1 Thess 2:13; 5:18, 27; Rev 1:3 Psalm 34; 2 Tim 3:16-17; Acts 20:27; Matt 6:9-13; 7:7; 9:38; Phil 4:6; Psalm 1