Marks of the Church: One (2017-0910)
9-10
Sept 2017, Christ Mountain Top
Sept 2017, Christ Mountain Top
Call
to Worship, Psalm 133
to Worship, Psalm 133
Children,
Matthew 5.23-24
Matthew 5.23-24
Message,
John 17.1-26, Ephesians 4.1-7
John 17.1-26, Ephesians 4.1-7
Creed,
Nicene # 880
Nicene # 880
Mission
Moment: Hurricane relief
Moment: Hurricane relief
Children:
Practicing
reconciliation
reconciliation
Message:
Nicene
Creed
Creed
Share together
Childhood friendship
– refusing to share friendship
– refusing to share friendship
Define ourselves by the group we are in
Define our groups by their borders, not
their center
their center
Nicene
Creed
Creed
Marks of the church
Ephesians 4
Psalm 133
John
17:20-23 I ask not only on
behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through
their word, 21 that they may
all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us,
so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given
me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that
they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent
me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
17:20-23 I ask not only on
behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through
their word, 21 that they may
all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us,
so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given
me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that
they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent
me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
Unity in Burundi
Hutu vs Tutsi, civil war ended in 2006
New violence brewing – disappearances,
mass graves, 250K refugees
mass graves, 250K refugees
Church divided since 2005 – rival bishops,
different factions
different factions
Aug 29 resolution to reconcile
Oneness
is grounded in God’s oneness
is grounded in God’s oneness
God
Is One – Shema
Is One – Shema
Not
rooted in our compatibility or agreement, oneness of God
rooted in our compatibility or agreement, oneness of God
If
we are God’s people, then we are one.
we are God’s people, then we are one.
About
the “fellowship of Christ”, not the fellowship of the church … one is the basis
of the other. The fellowship of Christ is
the “fellowship of Christ”, not the fellowship of the church … one is the basis
of the other. The fellowship of Christ is
Fellowship with God
Fellowship with the oppressed
Time Travelers @ Historic
St. George’s – Oct 14
St. George’s – Oct 14
Oneness
is practiced by welcome and acceptance
is practiced by welcome and acceptance
Romans 15.7, accept one another, just as
Christ accepted you
Christ accepted you
Welcome one another
“Receive hospitably”, make someone at home
in my home
in my home
Mi casa es su casa
Oneness
is practiced by being REAL (our values)
is practiced by being REAL (our values)
Unity
in Freedom – Moltmann
in Freedom – Moltmann
“Freedom
can be destroyed through the mania for uniformity, just as it can be killed by
ruthless pluralism” (343, Moltmann)
can be destroyed through the mania for uniformity, just as it can be killed by
ruthless pluralism” (343, Moltmann)
Oneness
is practiced in reconciliation
is practiced in reconciliation
Have the difficult conversations, make
them a priority
them a priority
Dividing
lines in America today, and in the church:
lines in America today, and in the church:
Race, along with immigration
Politics
Human sexuality – potential of dividing
UMC
UMC
In
America, times that we recognize that what unites us is bigger than what
divides us – hurricanes, 9/11
America, times that we recognize that what unites us is bigger than what
divides us – hurricanes, 9/11
Scripture
is clear that the oneness of God is bigger than the dividing lines of our
conflicts.
is clear that the oneness of God is bigger than the dividing lines of our
conflicts.
Nevertheless,
as real and as important as these big picture divisive questions are, it is
always the particular and personal that is most difficult, not the universal issues:
as real and as important as these big picture divisive questions are, it is
always the particular and personal that is most difficult, not the universal issues:
Charles
Schultz, Linus, “I love mankind, it’s people I can’t stand”
Schultz, Linus, “I love mankind, it’s people I can’t stand”
Prayer
for Unity, Chinese, hymnal #564
for Unity, Chinese, hymnal #564
Help
each of us, gracious God,
each of us, gracious God,
To
live in such magnanimity and restraint
live in such magnanimity and restraint
That
the Head of the church may never have cause to say
the Head of the church may never have cause to say
to any one of us,
This
is my body, broken by you.
is my body, broken by you.
Resource:
Moltmann,
The Church in the Power of the Spirit
The Church in the Power of the Spirit