The Unity of the Church

Rooted in Christ, Revealed in Love, Radiating God’s Glory

Outline:

The Basis of Our Unity
The Nature of Our Unity
The Purposes of Our Unity
The Glory of Our Unity
The Maintenance of Our Unity

Scripture List:

Worship Song List:

Jesus Messiah
Our God Has Made Us One
There Is One Gospel
The Bond of Love

United in Christ

True unity in the Church is not manmade but Christ-given. Rooted in the Triune God, this unity manifests in love, reflects God’s glory, and witnesses to a watching world that Jesus is Lord and Savior.

Heaven’s Vision of Unity

In John 17, we overhear Jesus’ high priestly prayer where He pleads not only for His disciples but also for all future believers to be united just as He and the Father are one. This is not superficial harmony, but supernatural unity rooted in the Trinity.

Christ: The Center and Source

Unity begins in Christ. It flows from our shared salvation, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism (Ephesians 4:4-6). The Church isn’t unified by culture or opinion, but by our oneness in Christ, purchased through His atoning work and sealed by the Spirit.

Glory on Display

Our unity isn’t simply a goal—it is a testimony. As Jesus prays in John 17:21, “so that the world may believe.” This unity makes visible the invisible work of God. When the Church walks in love, truth, and humility, the watching world sees something divine.

Living Out Our Unity

Maintaining unity takes effort. It requires humility (Philippians 2:3-5), patience (Ephesians 4:2), and a gospel-centered mindset. We are called to live lives “worthy of the calling” (Ephesians 4:1), striving side by side for the faith of the gospel (Philippians 1:27).

Key Verses and Commentary

John 17:21 (LSB) “that they all may be one... so that the world may believe” — Unity among believers is missional.
Ephesians 4:3 (LSB) “being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” — Unity must be guarded and preserved.
Philippians 2:2 (LSB) “make my joy complete... being of the same mind” — Unity flows from shared affection and purpose.
Psalm 133:1 (LSB) “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!” — Unity is a joyful and godly witness.

Key Words

Unity: Spiritual oneness grounded in Christ, not uniformity but harmony in diversity.
Glory: The visible majesty of God revealed through the Church’s faith and love.
Love: Agape, self-giving love flowing from God to us and through us to others.
Truth: The basis for genuine unity; unity without truth is false peace.
Witness: Our unity is evangelistic—it points the world to Jesus.

Key People

Jesus Christ: The interceding High Priest praying for our unity and glorification.
The Father: The source of divine unity; Jesus longs for us to see His glory from the Father.
The Disciples: Original hearers, called to model this unity in the early Church.
The Church: All believers across time and place, the answer to Jesus’ prayer.

From Heaven’s Prayer to Earthly Practice

Jesus’ prayer wasn’t merely for the apostles—it was for all who would believe. That includes us. His desire for a unified Church must shape how we live and love today. As we grasp this high calling, we must ask: how does this heavenly unity find expression in my local church and daily walk?

Message to Original Audience

Christ prayed for the unity of future believers.
The apostles were to model divine love and unity.
The unity of believers would serve as a witness to the world.
Unity was not optional—it was the will of God.

Applications for Believers Today

Pursue Humility: Lay aside selfish ambition to promote unity (Philippians 2:3).
Guard the Truth: Uphold sound doctrine, which protects true unity (2 John 9-11).
Show Love Actively: Let agape love define your interactions (1 John 4:11).
Live Worthy of Your Calling: Walk in step with the Spirit (Ephesians 4:1-3).
Display the Gospel: Let your unity shine as a witness to the lost (John 13:35).

One in Christ, for His Glory

Jesus prayed that we would be one. This unity is a gift of grace, a reflection of the Trinity, and a powerful testimony to the gospel. As we love one another in truth, we make Christ known and bring glory to God.

John 17:20-26 “The Unity of the Church"