Finding Unity in the Gospel

An abstract of Connor Kraus’ sermon on September 22, 2024 in the Galatians series. Watch the sermon video here.

Have you ever wondered why there are so many different churches? It can be confusing to see Christians disagreeing about things. But the truth is, even the earliest Christians had to work hard to stay united. Let's look at what we can learn from their example.

The Problem of Labels

Imagine getting a label maker for the first time. It's fun to label everything - your stapler, your pencils, even your dog's food bowl! But what if we start labeling people too? "Real Christian." "Not spiritual enough." "Wrong kind of worship." Pretty soon, we might find ourselves dividing people into groups that God never intended.

The early church faced a similar problem. Some people thought you had to follow all the old Jewish laws to be a "real" Christian. Others, like Paul, said that wasn't necessary. This disagreement threatened to split the young church in two.

Paul's Journey for Unity

Paul, one of the most important leaders in the early church, decided to take action. He traveled to Jerusalem to meet with other Christian leaders like Peter, John, and James. Paul wanted to make sure they were all on the same page about the most important things.

Here's what Paul discovered:

1. They all agreed on the core message of the Gospel: Jesus died for our sins and rose again. If we trust in Him, we're saved by God's grace, not by following rules.

2. They recognized that different people might need to hear the message in different ways. Paul was good at reaching non-Jewish people, while Peter was better at talking to Jewish people. They decided to focus on their strengths instead of competing.

3. Even though they had different methods, they were united in their main goal: telling everyone about Jesus.

4. They all agreed on the importance of helping the poor, no matter who they were reaching out to.

What This Means for Us Today

So how can we apply these lessons to our lives and churches now? Here are some important takeaways:

1. Focus on What Really Matters

The true Gospel message brings people together. When we argue about less important things (like what kind of music to use in church), we can lose sight of our main purpose. Ask yourself: "Does this issue really affect the core of what we believe about Jesus?"

2. Embrace Different Approaches

Just like Paul and Peter had different ways of sharing the Gospel, churches today might have different styles or methods. That's okay! What works in one neighborhood or culture might not work as well in another. The important thing is that the true message of Jesus is being shared.

3. Celebrate Other Christians' Successes

It's easy to feel jealous if another church is growing faster than yours. But remember, we're all on the same team! When any church helps people come to know Jesus, that's a win for everyone. Try praying for other churches in your area to be successful in sharing God's love.

4. Look for Common Ground

Even if churches do things differently, there should be some basic things they all care about. Helping the poor and spreading God's love are examples of things all Christians should agree on. When you meet Christians from other churches, try to focus on these shared values.

Putting It Into Practice

Here are some practical ways you can work towards unity:

• Pray for other churches: Instead of competing, pray that God would bless all the churches in your area that teach about Jesus.

• Learn about other Christians: Try to understand why other believers might do things differently than you're used to. You might learn something new!

• Focus on Jesus: When talking with other Christians, keep the conversation centered on Jesus and His love. It's harder to argue when we're all looking at Him.

• Serve together: Look for opportunities to work with other churches on community projects. Helping others side-by-side is a great way to build unity.

• Be humble: Remember that none of us have everything figured out perfectly. Be willing to listen and learn from others.

The Big Picture

Jesus prayed that all His followers would "be one" (John 17:21). When Christians fight and divide over small things, it can make it harder for people to believe in Jesus. But when we work together, focused on the true Gospel, we show the world what God's love really looks like.

Unity doesn't mean we all have to be exactly the same. It means we recognize that everyone who truly follows Jesus is part of God's family. We might worship in different buildings or have different traditions, but we're all working towards the same goal: sharing God's amazing love with the world.

So next time you're tempted to put a label on another Christian or church, pause and think. Are you focused on what really matters? Are you celebrating what God is doing through others? By following the example of the early church leaders, we can find unity in the most important thing: the good news of Jesus Christ.