A Family in Unity

A Family in Unity

TOGETHER 

Living in Unity

Series Concept: When our world is divided, and people are hurting, what’s our responsibility as followers of Christ? Where do we even start? In this series, we’ll learn how to embrace the role God wants us to play in key areas and relationships that will bring unity and healing.

Series Theme Scripture: John 17:20-24

“And I ask not only for these disciples, but also for all those who will one day believe in me through their message. I pray for them all to be joined together as one even as you and I, Father, are joined together as one. I pray for them to become one with us so that the world will recognize that you sent me. For the very glory you have given to me I have given them so that they will be joined together as one and experience the same unity that we enjoy. You live fully in me and now I live fully in them so that they will experience perfect unity, and the world will be convinced that you have sent me, for they will see that you love each one of them with the same passionate love that you have for me. “Father, I ask that you allow everyone that you have given to me to be with me where I am! Then they will see my full glory— the very splendor you have placed upon me because you have loved me even before the beginning of time.

Week 2: Unity of Family

The unity of your family is directly related to the family being in unity with GOD.

WE ARE NOT JUST A CHRISTIAN HOME. WE ARE A CHRIST-CENTERED HOME. 

Psalm 63:1

You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. 


You God are our God, earnestly we seek you; we thirst for you, our whole family longs for you…  (edited toward the family)

HELP YOUR FAMILY SEE GOD AS LOVING, APPROACHABLE, AND INVOLVED.

THREE WAYS TO CREATE HUNGER FOR GOD 

1) INVOLVE GOD IN YOUR DAILY CONVERSATIONS. 

2) MAKE CHURCH NON-NEGOTIABLE.
3) SHOW HOW SEEKING AND SERVING GOD IS FUN. 

Joshua 24:15 

…then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve… But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. 

The Pressures of Family Disunity:

  1. The irreverence of the marriage covenant
  2. The desecration of the gift of life
  3. The disregard of our God-given characters

When the going gets tough… We give up on what matters the most. The world wants to make it tough so that we will give up on the most fundamental building block of unity – family.

Unity Starts At Home

IF YOU ARE A CHRIST-CENTERED FAMILY, YOU WILL FACE PERSECUTION

Matthew 5:10-12
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven…

YOUR FAMILIES UNITY WILL BE CHALLENGED

 1 Peter 4:12-13, 16 

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ… 16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.

TO ENDURE PERSECUTION – YOUR FAMILY NEEDS A MISSION

1 Corinthians 4:12 

…When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it. 

When family identity is strong, the pressure to break apart is weak.
When family identity is weak, the pressure to break apart is strong.

What is the purpose of your family? To worship God together.

PREPARING YOUR FAMILY FOR THE CHALLENGES OF THE WORLD (PERSECUTION). 

2 Timothy 3:12

In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted… 

John 15:18-20

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20 Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also…” 

THE PATH OF UNITY IS PURITY

Psalm 119:9-10 

How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. 10 I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. 

How can our family stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. 10 We will seek you with all of our hearts; do not let us stray from our commands. Psalm 119:9-10 (edited toward family)

CREATING A CULTURE OF PURITY  (No hypocrisy)

1) GET YOUR HEART RIGHT.
Proverbs 4:23 

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

2) RELATE FROM THE HEART
1 Samuel 16:7 

…The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. 

1) TELL THE TRUTH IN LOVE. 

Ephesians 4:15

Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ… 

2) APOLOGIZE WHEN YOU ARE WRONG. 

James 5:16 

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. 

3) FORGIVE AND LET GO. 

Colossians 3:13 

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 

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