The Hurdle of Unity in Diversity
Sermon Title: The Hurdle of Unity in Diversity
Sermon Text: 1 Corinthians 12:12-30
Sermon Purpose: To call the hearer to aggressively preserve, respect, and enjoy the diversity of the body of Christ, while displaying the unity of the trinity.
Sermon Proposition: There are 4 principles of maintaining unity in diversity.
Introduction: In the present passage Paul explains and illustrates the nature and importance of the unity of the church itself, and then again the importance of diversity as a key factor in that unity. The diversity of the church is a God-ordained means of bringing the fellowship to oneness, but unless each diverse member recognizes and accepts his part in the whole body, diversity will divide rather than unite, destroy rather than build up, bring discord rather than harmony, and result in self-serving rather than self-giving.
I. The author of unity in diversity is Jesus Christ. V.12
John 15:5 "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
John 14:19 " A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also.
1 John 5:12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
1 Corinthians 6:17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.
II. The agent of unity in diversity is the Holy Spirit. V.13 (v.7)
III. The architect of unity in diversity is God. V.14-20 (vv. 4, 5, 6, 8, 9. 11)
IV. The artistry of unity in diversity is oneness. V.21-26
Psalm 133:1 A Song of Ascents. Of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! 2 It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments. 3 It is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the LORD commanded the blessing -- Life forevermore.
V. The arena of unity in diversity is the church. V.27
John 17:20 " I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 "that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 "And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 "I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.