Jesus unites us with God. Jesus unites heaven with earth. Jesus unites all parts of humanity together. It is God's will that Jesus would unite everything and everyone but it hasn't happened yet. This was Jesus's final prayer before his execution. The only thing standing in the way is us.
Everyone with faith in Jesus is called to be a part of His body. This means that we strive to act and live as Jesus did and we do it together. As a united group we represent Jesus to those who might someday believe in Him. Our division makes that testimony problematic.
As people devoted to God; our unity shows the world that God is beautiful and marvelous, division questions our faith as a joke. A united group reflects the vast power of God. Divisions betray that witness.
Unity is scary. It puts us in a vulnerable position where we must learn to trust each other. However unity is even more frightening to those outside the group.
When our lifestyle follows Jesus's pattern instead of the world we can seem strange and threatening to those that don't understand Jesus. When it's just a handful of wierdos following Jesus, that's no big deal. As scattered groups on the fringe of society we pose little threat and really have minimal power to influence our culture. But when we unite together the whole body becomes vastly more powerful than the sum of its parts.
Unity intensifies our power and influence, every military knows this. Power multiplies as mass increases. Together we have a greater ability to accomplish the will of God than we would separately. United obedience of God arouses persecution against the body of Christ. Ironically the effects of persecution are diminished by our united obedience to God.
The call to unity isn't just about bringing numbers of people together it's also about building trust within those gathered. Our faith in each other indicates our faith in God. We already have a difficult time trusting God and He's perfect, so how can we trust people that are flawed? It might help to point out that God knows that we are flawed and still He trusts us. Perhaps unity can be a response to God's faith in us.
John was a friend and disciple of Jesus. Late in his life John had a chance to witness the throne room of heaven. It was filled will all manner of glorious wonders beyond anything you'd expect. At one point John describes the high kings of earth seated before the thrown of God. They removed the crowns from their heads and surrendered them before the throne of God.
If the key concept of unity is learning to trust one another, the principal action step that makes unity a reality is learning to submit to one another.
Submission is a part of following Christ. We are required to submit to God first. But this list continues. We are to submit to the government, to other believers in Christ, to those whose faith is weaker than ours, to our employers and to leaders in our family including children to parents and wives to husbands.
But the government is doing bad things? Am I really expected to pay taxes and support a government that is doing evil? Whatever your justification for civil disobedience first consider that the Biblical instruction to Christians to submit to their government came at a time when their government actively sought to persecute all who followed Jesus.
Christians obeyed God by paying taxes knowing that their money was being used to pay for the extermination of fellow Christians.
Submission is not a response to the goodness of those in authority. Submission is required because it builds goodness into those with authority. Imagine a father who is a poor leader to his family - for some this may not take much imagination. How much more difficult will it be for Him to lead his family in a Godly way when he's fighting mutiny from within his family. Doesn't he have enough to fight within himself and against the world? Submission from his wife sets the pattern of respect for the children to follow. Her example to her husband is the model children have for learning to submit to God even when it doesn't make sense.
Submission is a voluntary act of support and allegiance. It isn't a thing to be demanded from anyone. Submission doesn't make you a door mat and it doesn't negate your wisdom. Instead your wisdom is a resource available for those in authority; it is up to them to decide how to utilize your support. Submission doesn't mean you are weak, nor inferior. Quite the opposite, restraint is a sign of great strength.
It is a fact of life that leaders make foolish decisions, but success and failure for everyone can often come down to the level of support they have when they choose the hard way.
Everybody likes to talk about unity but nobody wants to take off their crown. Remember the scene in throne room of God. We know very little about the high kings except that they are willing to take off their crowns. Authority is given to those willing to submit.
Jesus is a perfect example of how God wants us to use our authority and submit to authority. He never used his power for self-promotion no matter how hungry he was. He was always about doing the will of His Father.
When it came to his disciples Jesus expected great things from them but also empowered them and trained them for success.
Most corporations today organize themselves as a pyramid with the leaders at the top and each layer exists to lift the peak ever higher. Leaders take credit and use people to climb higher. The job of the grunts is to make their boss successful and so on. Ultimately the higher your position the greater the view, privilege and perks.
Jesus structures his Kingdom more like a growing plant. He says that He is a vine and the disciples are branches. So in place of a pyramid, picture a tree. Jesus is the trunk and those under his authority are the branches. The trunk of the tree supplies and supports the branches of the tree. Thicker branches lift up weaker branches helping them to rise up. The youngest and newest layer is also the highest layer. Each branch works for the success of the branch above it. Your job as a leader is the success of the people submitted to you.
Consider those two pictures a pyramid which is a model of death and the tree which is a model of life.
As Jesus unites all forms of humanity together there is no room for discrimination in His Kingdom. There's no division based on race, wealth, etc. Surprisingly, though, differences are part of God's design. In His Kingdom differences are appreciated and celebrated. This is in deep contrast to the world. God says, "Be together but different." The world says, "Be divided but the same." Divided people are easier to control and the world likes to control people. God doesn't need to control you, He's already sovereign. He wants to teach you how to use the power you have so He can give you more authority to lift up more people.
Read through the following verses on unity. Then discuss what it means to be united, to be submitted and to have authority. What are the challenges to unity? What do you need to do work towards unity as a team and unity with the full body of Christ?
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. John 15:4-9
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. John 17:20-23
And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, "Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you." And he answered them, "Who are my mother and my brothers?" And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! Mark 3:31-34
All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. Acts 4:32
For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Romans 12:4-5
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Romans 12:16
May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. Romans 15:5-7
I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. Romans 16:17-18
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- one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:2-6
Be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. Ephesians 5:18-21
I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. 1 Corinthians 1:10
But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. When you come together, it is not the Lord's supper that you eat. For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not. 1 Corinthians 11:17-22
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body-Jews or Greeks, slaves or free-and all were made to drink of one Spirit ... ... That there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 1 Corinthians 12:12-13,25-27
Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.. Colossians 3:12-15
Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 1 Peter 3:8
As Iron sharpens iron, one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him-a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2
Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:3
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25
But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned. Titus 3:9-11