- Jesus clearly taught that the love of God would be made known by the unity and love within his church. We explore the how and why of this extraordinary statement.
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Sermon Outline - The Attractive One-ness of God and His Church
John 17
- 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.
Matthew 17
- Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James,
and led them up a high mountain by themselves.
- There he was transfigured before them.
His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.
Ephesians 5
- This mystery is profound,
and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.
Matthew 5
- You are the light of the world.
A city built on a hill cannot be hidden.
Other illustrations…
- You’re a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation (1 Peter 2)
- A living temple (1 Corinthians 3)
- Children of God (Romans 8)
- The Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12)
- God’s own treasured possession (Deuteronomy 7)
- Jesus’ own flock (John 10)
- God wants us to be confident in who we are—his glorious Church
John 17
- 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.
Genesis 1
- So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them
Genesis 3 - Broken unity
- The woman who you gave to be with me,
she gave me the fruit of the tree, and I ate.
- Your desire shall be contrary to your husband,
but he shall rule over you.
Acts 2
- And all who believed were together and had all things in common.
- And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.
- And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,
- praising God and having favour with all the people.
And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Revival in New England
“This work of God… soon made a glorious alteration in the town; so that in the spring and summer following 1735, the town seemed to be full of the presence of God—it never was so full of love, nor so full of joy… as it was then.
It was a time of joy in families on account of Salvation being brought unto them; parents rejoicing over their children as newborn, and husbands over their wives, and wives over their husbands.”
A Faithful Narrative of the Surprising Work of God, Jonathan Edwards, circa1740
Response
- Try harder??
- Spend time with Jesus!
“And we all, with unveiled face,
beholding the glory of the Lord,
are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.
For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”
(2 Corinthians 3:18)
Updated on 2021-06-17 by Gil Virgo
