We are more divided as a country now than we ever have been in our lifetime. Between political and social unrest, it seems that division defines not only our country, but most of us. And sadly during this time, the church has not presented itself as the solution. Christians are just as contentious, angry, bitter, and divisive on social media as anybody else. But this was never God’s plan for the church. In fact, God’s plan for unity is our responsibility. It’s mine and it’s yours. So what needs to change?

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MESSAGE NOTES

Jesus said that people would know our faith was genuine by our fruit, our actions

  • The way we live our lives were to stand apart from the world
  • We are UNCOMMON: how we treat each other, how we view our possessions, how we think about ourselves, how we leverage our money, how we interact with strangers, how we deal with our past, how we use our time, etc.
  • What area of your life should NOT be different than the rest of the world???
  • Everything about us SHOULD BE Uncommon

Here’s a question for you…What if everyone was exactly like you? What if…

  • Everyone loved only like you love?
  • Everyone only gave like you give?
  • Everyone only served who you serve?
  • Our faith is not an app we download on our phone but the operating system on which all other apps operate

In our country, we are more divided, right now, than we have been in our lifetimes.

  • Sadly, the church hasn’t presented itself as the solution.
  • Our Facebook feeds are as contentious as anyone’s
  • Our comments on Instagram can become pretty caustic

[Ephesians 2:13-14]

“13 But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ. 14 For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us.”

 

The first thing Jesus reconciles is US to the Father.

The second thing Jesus reconciles is US to Others.

 

If God had written this to you, what comparison would he draw you toward?

  • Who do you see as irreconcilable?

[Ephesians 2:15-16]

“15 He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. 16 Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.”

 

[Galatians 3:26-29]

“26 For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. 28 There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you.”

What about those OUTSIDE of faith?

  • They aren’t the enemy, they’re the MISSION
  • If you struggle with this, try making a friend out of them
  • PROXIMITY creates Empathy
  • That’s why Jesus was a FRIEND of sinners, lepers, outcasts, dissidents, the poor
  • Who do you spend time with, that is nothing like you?

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Application Questions

1. What stood out to you from this message and why?

2. What is one thing God is telling you to START doing because of this message?

3. What is one thing God is telling you to STOP doing because of this message?

4. How will this message change how you act at home, work and in the your relationships?