Ever Been To A Family Reunion? Let's Talk About Unity

06/08/23 • 40 min

Established in The Truth

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Ever been to a family reunion?

One big family with a lot of weird cousins, a wise seminary professor said to us in my class.

Little C catholic, what does that mean?

Denominations are the best we can do with what we have.

Known Fully, But Fully Know?
So what do we do when others have such different interpretations?

3 Ways For Healthy, Biblical Unity That Doesn’t Compromise

1. Be healthily dogmatic regarding the essentials

Guard your doctrine closely
NOT PROUD

16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself11 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 1 Ti 4:16.

Be a student of the Word
Rightly diving the word of truth

“Make every effort to present yourself before God as a proven worker who does not need to be ashamed, teaching the message of truth accurately.”

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭2:15‬ ‭NET‬‬

15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.11 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Ti 2:15.

NET teaching the truth accurately

Not all are teachers as mentioned, a call to all believers to sound doctrine in study.
Seek to understand how other positions were formed.
Ask good questions.

2. Commit to sound interpretation of Scripture (will be learning process).

3. Embrace global unity, seek local fellowship in your camp

Phil. 2:

“Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort provided by love, any fellowship in the Spirit, any affection or mercy, complete my joy and be of the same mind, by having the same love, being united in spirit, and having one purpose. Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:1-3‬ ‭NET‬‬

John 17:21

Why is unity hard? The flesh.

We need to be 1 Corinthians 13 Christians

Corinth not the example, exhortation is.

How?

Acknowledge that we don’t know everything.
You may be wrong.
Call is to unite, not divide.
Don’t set your doctrines based upon division, but on Scripture.
Don’t divide over tradition.
1. Even tradition can be a poor indicator of doctrine. If others have different traditions, it doesn’t mean bad theology. It can, but Scripture and sound teaching will show that.
Pray for the church to return to the Word

Gospel centered preaching
Evangelism founded upon election

7. Determine to trust the Lord with disagreements and not take matters into our
own hands.
8. Seek peace and pursue it. (Psal

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Send us a text

Ever been to a family reunion?

One big family with a lot of weird cousins, a wise seminary professor said to us in my class.

Little C catholic, what does that mean?

Denominations are the best we can do with what we have.

Known Fully, But Fully Know?
So what do we do when others have such different interpretations?

3 Ways For Healthy, Biblical Unity That Doesn’t Compromise

1. Be healthily dogmatic regarding the essentials

Guard your doctrine closely
NOT PROUD

Be a student of the Word
Rightly diving the word of truth

“Make every effort to present yourself before God as a proven worker who does not need to be ashamed, teaching the message of truth accurately.”

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭2:15‬ ‭NET‬‬

NET teaching the truth accurately

Not all are teachers as mentioned, a call to all believers to sound doctrine in study.
Seek to understand how other positions were formed.
Ask good questions.

2. Commit to sound interpretation of Scripture (will be learning process).

3. Embrace global unity, seek local fellowship in your camp

Phil. 2:

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:1-3‬ ‭NET‬‬

John 17:21

Why is unity hard? The flesh.

We need to be 1 Corinthians 13 Christians

Corinth not the example, exhortation is.

How?

Acknowledge that we don’t know everything.
You may be wrong.
Call is to unite, not divide.
Don’t set your doctrines based upon division, but on Scripture.
Don’t divide over tradition.
1. Even tradition can be a poor indicator of doctrine. If others have different traditions, it doesn’t mean bad theology. It can, but Scripture and sound teaching will show that.
Pray for the church to return to the Word

Gospel centered preaching
Evangelism founded upon election

7. Determine to trust the Lord with disagreements and not take matters into our
own hands.
8. Seek peace and pursue it. (Psal

Previous Episode

3 Reasons You Need Christ's RESURRECTION as a CHRISTIAN

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The resurrection is not just a cause for Easter celebration, though it is an opportunity to truly celebrate our risen Savior. The resurrection is the very means by which God chose to grant us favor with God. If Christ was not raised, we of all people are to be pitied!

In this episode we seek to understand resurrection on a doctrinal level, while being equipped with empowering truths to encourage our walks with Christ.
The question we are answering today is what does the resurrection truly do for Christians?

Completes righteousness for our sake.
- We are made right with God because of the resurrection. Rom. 4:2
- Our faith isn't just dependent on Christ's finished work,His raising to life literally makes us right with God!
- His work on the cross bore the wrath of God for us, but God's favor was earned for us by Jesus raising from the dead!
Empowers your life as a Christian.
- God's work in you as a Christian
- Two implications here
  1. Victory over sin in this life, even though we will never be sinless on earth. (Rom. 6:4)
  2. Power to evangelize! (Acts 1:8)
Guarantees our resurrection.
- Christ didn't merely raise to life again, He CONQUERED sin and death through His resurrection. (Romans 6)
- We are promised resurrected bodies, a wonderful promise we have for eternity. (1 Cor 6:14)
False beliefs.
- Does not guarantee salvation
- It is about us
- Gives example for modern day physical resurrections

The focus of the resurrection is on the Deity of Christ, His victory over sin and death, and believing in Jesus so that we may eternal life in Him.

Next Episode

Embracing God's Will: 2 Truths to Trust, Delight in His Purposes for You

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Are you living God's will for your life? Are you confident in your understanding of what Scripture teaches about God's will? A touchy subject for some and downright confusing for others. Let's dive into what God's will is, and what Christians are called to in this episode!
Today we will discuss two very important truths, God's decreed will, and God's desired will, and how they direct, lead AND empower, our everyday lives.
8 Ball Decision Making
Why do we need to know God's will?
As:

Our Creator He has made us for a purpose, and His will directs that purpose.
Those who are made by Him and for Him need to understand this purpose to glorify Him with our lives.

I don't include this in the episode, but our need to know God's will is yes based in created purpose, but also to simply to be faithful to what He commands, and His commands we intended first and foremost for the people He created for Him to be in relationship with Him, to obey and love Him. This is the primary reason to understand God's will, and the second half of this blurb is covered in this episode.
The Goal: Help us better understand what God’s will is for our lives.

Understanding God’s Will.

Theologically speaking: quick disclaimer
From Wayne Grudem below: The necessity of Scripture may be defined as follows: The necessity of Scripture means that the Bible is necessary for knowing the gospel, for maintaining spiritual life, and for knowing God’s will...
God has two wills: God’s will of decree, and God’s will of desire.
- God's will of decree (Eph. 1:11, Acts 2:23)
- God's will of desire ( 1 Tim 2:4)
God's will worked out in our lives
- God's decreed will
  - God sanctifies us and shows us His favor (1 Thess. 4:3, 2 Cor. 3:18, Phil 2:12-3)
- God's desired will
  - Our primary purpose
  - The freedom of a Spirit empowered fellowship (Romans 12:1-2, Ecclesiastes 12:13)
- What do WE DO
  - Freedom in making decisions
  - We can't mess up His decreed will
  - God’s love overflows to us no matter what we do, yet He desires us to enjoy Him by glorifying Him with our lives.

God bless!
Resources from this episode:
John Piper on God's Will
https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/are-there-two-wills-in-godhttps://www.desiringgod.org/messages/the-hardening-of-pharaoh-and-the-hope-of-the-world#seeing-what-paul-saw-in-the-old-testament
R.C Sproul on God's will
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/comprehending-decretive-will-god
Kevin DeYoung on God's Will
https://www.christianbook.com/something-liberating-approach-finding-gods-will/kevin-deyoung/9780802411594/pd/411590?en=google&event=SHOP&kw=christian-living-0-20%7C411590&p=1179710&utm_source=google&dv=c&cb_src=google&cb_typ=shopping&cb_cmp=1065616555&cb_adg=51462729079&cb_kyw=&snav=667260&gclid=CjwKCAjw_aemBhBLEiwAT98FMrz4EcFu0lzOlPMydTbeCbfXYyNp5felvjdLHyA6OoNDZ11wmXEERBoCte0QAvD_BwE
https://www.amazon.com/Just-Do-Something-Liberating-Approach/dp/0802458386
Wayne Grudem on God's will
The necessity of Scripture may be defin