Title: What Mindset Promotes Unity in the Local Church? Meta: A mindset of humility promotes unity in a local church. That is a mindset that is not always being opinionated, or thinking we always know what is right, or that we have to push our agenda on others. Must we take a stand where the Bible does and not compromise? Absolutely, but often good men differ over the smallest of the non-essentials of the faith. We need humility to be able to love others who differ from us and not rashly cut them off because of a minor difference. Tags: unity,love,Christ,Philippians 2:3-4 1 00:00:00,660 --> 00:00:02,910 What promotes unity? 2 00:00:02,910 --> 00:00:04,894 Verses 4 and 5. 3 00:00:06,464 --> 00:00:09,116 "Let each of you look out not for his own interests, 4 00:00:09,116 --> 00:00:11,277 but also for the interests of others. 5 00:00:11,277 --> 00:00:14,586 Let this mind be in you, 6 00:00:14,586 --> 00:00:16,108 which was also in Christ Jesus." 7 00:00:16,108 --> 00:00:17,457 What promotes unity? 8 00:00:17,457 --> 00:00:19,118 Humility. 9 00:00:20,028 --> 00:00:22,838 Christ had this mind in Himself. 10 00:00:22,838 --> 00:00:25,329 Lowliness of mind. 11 00:00:26,609 --> 00:00:27,559 Lowliness of heart. 12 00:00:27,559 --> 00:00:29,908 A servant's heart. 13 00:00:29,908 --> 00:00:32,059 Not being always opinionated. 14 00:00:32,059 --> 00:00:35,451 Not thinking we always are right. 15 00:00:35,451 --> 00:00:38,771 Or that we always know what's right. 16 00:00:38,771 --> 00:00:42,122 Not being a high-minded opinionated 17 00:00:42,122 --> 00:00:46,144 person that has to push our agenda on others. 18 00:00:47,694 --> 00:00:48,733 A servant's heart, 19 00:00:48,733 --> 00:00:49,654 a forgiving heart; 20 00:00:49,654 --> 00:00:51,174 motivated by the love of Christ, 21 00:00:51,174 --> 00:00:52,055 the love of the brethren, 22 00:00:52,055 --> 00:00:53,165 the love of the gospel, 23 00:00:53,165 --> 00:00:54,434 and mainly motivated 24 00:00:54,434 --> 00:00:55,445 in your church 25 00:00:55,445 --> 00:00:58,185 by the welfare of the whole church. 26 00:00:58,185 --> 00:01:00,139 That's a faithful church member. 27 00:01:00,139 --> 00:01:02,849 That's the best member of the body of Christ 28 00:01:02,849 --> 00:01:04,037 that God can have. 29 00:01:04,037 --> 00:01:05,958 Is one whose motivated 30 00:01:05,958 --> 00:01:09,186 for the welfare of their church. 31 00:01:09,186 --> 00:01:10,887 Not to get their own way 32 00:01:10,887 --> 00:01:14,239 but to promote the interest of Jesus Christ. 33 00:01:14,239 --> 00:01:17,214 Paul says, "Do everything within you 34 00:01:17,214 --> 00:01:20,650 to preserve and maintain loving unity." 35 00:01:20,650 --> 00:01:22,020 The enemy hates it 36 00:01:22,020 --> 00:01:24,310 and the Lord loves it. 37 00:01:24,310 --> 00:01:25,861 Now these realities of unity 38 00:01:25,861 --> 00:01:28,812 that he mentions 39 00:01:28,812 --> 00:01:31,050 in verse 2. 40 00:01:31,050 --> 00:01:34,734 Four things that make up unity in verse 2. 41 00:01:34,734 --> 00:01:36,033 Being like minded. 42 00:01:36,033 --> 00:01:37,124 What does this mean? 43 00:01:37,124 --> 00:01:41,205 It doesn't mean you agree on everything. 44 00:01:42,980 --> 00:01:47,140 There's always differences of opinion. 45 00:01:47,140 --> 00:01:50,080 There always are. 46 00:01:50,086 --> 00:01:52,868 It means to think in a certain way 47 00:01:52,868 --> 00:01:56,368 with a certain loving mature attitude 48 00:01:56,368 --> 00:02:00,393 so as to preserve the relationship. 49 00:02:00,393 --> 00:02:04,019 Is it better if you disagree and you are having an argument, 50 00:02:04,019 --> 00:02:05,300 to win the argument 51 00:02:05,300 --> 00:02:07,831 or maintain a right spirit? 52 00:02:07,840 --> 00:02:11,860 And be the loving one in the end. 53 00:02:11,880 --> 00:02:18,411 This idea of being like minded is a moral attitude 54 00:02:18,411 --> 00:02:21,564 where we're reconciliatory 55 00:02:21,564 --> 00:02:24,934 and we don't have a divisive spirit. 56 00:02:24,934 --> 00:02:27,236 "Having the same love, " he says, 57 00:02:27,236 --> 00:02:28,745 "this is what I want of you, 58 00:02:28,745 --> 00:02:30,707 having the same love." 59 00:02:30,707 --> 00:02:33,147 This means, "you Philippians 60 00:02:33,147 --> 00:02:34,925 the love that you've had for one another 61 00:02:34,925 --> 00:02:36,987 in the history of your church 62 00:02:36,987 --> 00:02:39,895 when God began to save the jailor 63 00:02:39,895 --> 00:02:41,118 and Lydia 64 00:02:41,118 --> 00:02:42,288 and others 65 00:02:42,288 --> 00:02:43,898 and a church was birthed 66 00:02:43,898 --> 00:02:45,898 and there was real love there 67 00:02:45,898 --> 00:02:47,407 and great joy there. 68 00:02:47,407 --> 00:02:49,898 This love - maintain it. 69 00:02:49,898 --> 00:02:51,169 The love you've had from the beginning. 70 00:02:51,169 --> 00:02:54,080 This is what you are to walk in and still have. 71 00:02:54,080 --> 00:02:57,480 Having the same love one for another." 72 00:02:57,520 --> 00:02:59,232 Being in one accord. 73 00:02:59,240 --> 00:03:03,780 Living in a harmonious relationship. 74 00:03:03,780 --> 00:03:06,200 Your own brethren 75 00:03:06,202 --> 00:03:07,642 in your church, 76 00:03:07,642 --> 00:03:10,544 is there disharmony between you and them 77 00:03:10,544 --> 00:03:12,602 or is there harmony? 78 00:03:12,602 --> 00:03:15,374 Being of one mind. 79 00:03:15,374 --> 00:03:20,111 It is not differing viewpoints that cause disunity 80 00:03:20,111 --> 00:03:22,825 but rather a wrong attitude toward others 81 00:03:22,825 --> 00:03:26,644 whose views differ from ours. 82 00:03:26,644 --> 00:03:28,577 Let me say that again. 83 00:03:28,577 --> 00:03:33,248 It is not differing viewpoints that cause disunity, 84 00:03:33,248 --> 00:03:37,167 but rather a wrong attitude toward others 85 00:03:37,167 --> 00:03:40,200 whose views differ from ours. 86 00:03:40,200 --> 00:03:45,151 Do you have less love for those who disagree with you? 87 00:03:45,151 --> 00:03:51,262 And more love toward those who always agree with everything you think is right?