Walking Together - Ephesians 2:1-21
Dr. Kevin D. Glenn – Lead Pastor

Jesus prayed in John 17, “Father may they be one even as we are one so that the world may believe.” The most powerful witness to the gospel is supposed to be the unity within the diversity of the church. But how’s that working? It often seems the church is just as polarized and divided as the rest of the culture.

Jesus taught that the church most resembles his image when we walk

as we’re walking with him. But how do we come together?

In our own power, the church has tried a couple of things:

: So open-minded that the distinctives of following Jesus are removed.
• “I am incurably convinced that the object of opening the mind, as of opening the mouth, is to shut it again on something solid.” – G.K. Chesterton
• Distinctives are important to identity. John 14:6

: So closed-minded that no diversity is tolerated.
• When uniformity is the focus, the goal is not to discover ways to live in harmony with one another.
• Diversity is a sign of maturity. 1 Corinthians 12:17-20

The goal is

.
• But what is the true point of unity? On what exactly do we stand as one?
• How do we understand, promote, and protect Christian unity?

Given the opportunities that lie ahead, how do we come together, walk together, and move forward together into the next chapter of God’s calling for us at Northside?

1. Avoid turning blessings into

. - Ephesians 2:1-10
• Too much of any good thing can become a bad thing.
• Spiritual Narcissism – When I ignore what God is doing in others around me. James 2:15-17
• Spiritual Abuse – When I use my personal relationship with God to justify the mistreatment of people. Matthew 22:36-40
• Jesus’ saving work is meant to reconcile us

Reveal Answer

to God

Reveal Answer

to each other.

2. Accept that unity requires

. – Ephesians 2:11-18, Matthew 5:23, 6:14, 1 John 4:20, Isaiah 58:6-9
• Walking with Jesus is done in harmony, not in discord with others. Harmony requires one to balance and blend their own voice in a way that moves with, accommodates, and supports the other voices, as each follows the direction of the conductor.

3. Acknowledge, embrace, and protect our

in Christ. – Ephesians 2:19-22
• Uniformity does not require grace, but unity does. Unity, not uniformity, is a mark of a church’s

Reveal Answer

.
• The very mission of the gospel hinges on our unity.

Questions to Ponder
• Why do you think the early church struggled with unity? How do you see that same struggle present today?
• Discuss spiritual narcissism and spiritual abuse. How have you experienced these?
• How do you respond to the way Scripture emphasizes the horizontal reality of reconciliation?
• Okay, gut-check time. What are the walls of division we justify, build, and defend?
o Are you willing to name them? Repent of them? Renounce them? Why or why not?
• What is the direct application the Lord is leading you to make?
• What’s your vision for Northside over the next 5 years? How will you be part of it?