Unity of the Church
Sermon Notes - March 20, 2022
Unity of the Church (1 Peter 3:8-12) - Megan Lemmons
1 Peter 3:8-12
Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing. For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.”
How are we able to be a community of Hope?
What is it that you think of when you hear the word “Unity”?
“Unity in the church”
Consonant: Agreement or harmony in sound.
Dissonance: Sounds that have tension or a combination of clashing sounds.
There is friction and there is tension in unity
1 Peter 3:8-9
Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing.
1 Peter 1:3
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation,
1 Peter 3:8-11
Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing. For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.
Sympathy
Love
Tenderheartedness
Humility
SEARCH for peace and WORK to maintain it.
“Not only does shalom express much more than "peace;' but the kind of peace shalom represents is active and engaged, going far beyond the mere absence of conflict. There is a wide array of words and theological examples of shalom that give depth and flavor to the simple English word "peace;" as it is used in the Scriptures. Examples of various aspects of shalom include, according to one concordance, completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety, soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, and the absence of agitation or discord. Another concordance lists the word origin of shalom from shalem, meaning completeness, soundness, welfare, and peace and repayment.” - Randy Woodley
“As a social construct, shalom is also dynamic. Shalom is not a utopian destination; it is a constant journey. One does not wait on shalom; one actually sets about the task of shalom. In other words, people need to be going about the business of making shalom and living out shalom. This active, persistent effort takes place at every level, from personal relationships to societal and structural transformation. "The doing of righteousness and justice results in the building of a viable community, that is, shalom, in which the oppressed and disenfranchised have dignity and power.” - Randy Woodley
Isaiah 2:4
The Lord will mediate between nations and will settle international disputes. They will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer fight against nation, nor train for war anymore.