Sermon Notes | Sunday, April 2nd, 2023
The Fruit of the Gospel: COMMUNITY Pt. 2 (Catch the Foxes!)
Pastor Chris Pletcher
"I quickly realized that I was experiencing something completely new to me... true brotherhood, true Christian fellowship, and the power of community. These guys had my back. And that year changed my life."
1 Chronicles 12:16-18
And some of the men of Benjamin and Judah came to the stronghold to David. David went out to meet them and said to them, “If you have come to me in friendship to help me, my heart will be joined to you; but if to betray me to my adversaries, although there is no wrong in my hands, then may the God of our fathers see and rebuke you.” Then the Spirit clothed Amasai, chief of the thirty, and he said, “We are yours, O David, and with you, O son of Jesse! Peace, peace to you, and peace to your helpers! For your God helps you.”
Most of the bible is not written to us as individuals... it is addressed to a community of people who are learning, living and fighting the good fight of faith together.
Why is UNITY important biblically?
1) UNITY is a conduit for God's AUTHORITY & ANOINTING to flow
Psalm 133
Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.
2) UNITY is specifically prayed for by Jesus
John 17:14-23
I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.
3) UNITY sets the stage for the Spirit's Arrival
Acts 2:1-4
When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
4) UNITY is the Growth Plan for God's Household
Ephesians 4:1-4
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call...
Ephesians 4:11-16
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
BECAUSE UNITY IS THE GROWTH PLAN FOR GOD'S HOUSE, SOME OF OUR ADVERSARY'S TOP SCHEMES ARE CRAFTED TO BRING DISUNITY INTO ANOINTED CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES.
Songs 2:15
Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that spoil the vineyards, for our vineyards are in blossom.
HOW do we contribute to the COMMON UNITY?
1) We FIND OUR PLACE in the body and seek to use our gifts fully.
We want to help you discover your gifting! See the full "Spiritual Gifts" sheet here.
Apostle - divine strength to pioneer new churches and ministries through planting, overseeing and training
Prophet - divine strength or ability to hear and communicate God's truth and heart in a way that calls people to a right relationship with God
Evangelist - divine strength or ability to share the Gospel and help non-Christians take the necessary steps to becoming a born-again Christian
Shepherd - divine strength or ability to care for others by nurturing and mending life issues
Teacher - divine strength or ability to study and learn from the Scriptures primarily to bring understanding and depth to other Christians
2) We FIGHT FOR EACH OTHER, not against each other.
3) We FORGIVE QUICKLY, uprooting all bitterness.
2 Corinthians 2:11
"that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs."
4) We FOLLOW GOD'S APPOINTED LEADERSHIP over the church.
Hebrews 13:17
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
WE "CATCH THE FOXES" BY NOT BEING IGNORANT OF THE ENEMY'S SCHEMES.