Unity
Objectives:
1. To explain the Restoration principle.
2. To impress upon the new Christian the importance of unity and the sin of division.
A. John 17:20-26
1. Who is the focus of Jesus' prayer?
2. What kind of unity exists between God and Jesus that we should copy?
3. Do those who express belief in Jesus experience "complete unity" today?
4. Why do you think this is the case?
a. Ignorance (Acts 18:24-26)
b. Deceit/False Teaching (I Timothy 1:3-7, 4:1-5)
c. Pride/Selfishness (Acts 20:25-31)
d. Wrong authority (Mark 7:1-9)
B. I Corinthians 1:10-12
1. Paul urges the Corinthians to have "no division" and to be "perfectly united."
2. What was causing division at Corinth?
3. What is the difference between unity and uniformity?
C. The Restoration principle involves a desire to be the people of God. The Restoration principle implies that we accept the Bible as the only authoritative guide in religion.
1. II Timothy 3:16-17
2. II Peter 1:19-21
3. I Corinthians 4:6
4. II Timothy 1:13
The Restoration principle implies that we seek to restore the whole of New Testament Christianity as God would have it today... including spirit, practice and doctrine. We believe that this approach offers the only valid avenue for the unity of all believers as it is desired by the Lord. Unity should be sought on both a congregational and universal level.
Assignments:
1. Memory verse: I Corinthians 1:10
2. Suggested reading:
a. The Story of the Restoration by Bill Humble.
b. Discoverincf Our Roots: The Ancestry of Churches of Christ by C. L. Allen and R. T. Hughes (ACU Press, 1988).