Unity in Christ's Church
Unity in Christ's Church - Biblical Ecclesiology in Eight Sessions
Unity in the Church stands as one of Christ's deepest desires for His people, as evidenced by His passionate prayer in John 17. This unity isn't merely organizational or superficial; rather, it reflects the profound relationship within the Trinity itself. As we explore how the early Church maintained unity despite significant challenges, we can discover practical wisdom for fostering genuine Christian unity today. This lesson examines both Christ's vision for church unity and the early Church's practical methods for maintaining it, even in the face of serious doctrinal disagreements and cultural differences.
What kind of unity among His followers did Jesus pray for?
John 17:20-26
Guide participants in exploring the profound nature of Christian unity as described in Jesus' prayer. Consider drawing attention to how this prayer shows that Christian unity transcends denominational and cultural boundaries.
Unity is Godliness. As the prayer of Jesus Himself in John 17:21 shows, Christian unity is mysteriously enveloped within divinity. Here, Jesus’ words succinctly reveal several concepts. First, we see that His prayer is for “those who believe in me through their word” (17:20). The disciples were sent out to proclaim the Word, and it is through them that the whole world comes to the knowledge of the Gospel. From this first verse, we see that unity is a desire that Jesus has for the Universal Church. Second, notice how incomprehensibly deep this unity is: Jesus’ prayer for our unity is that it may be as thorough and deep as that within perichoresis — mutual indwelling — that He shares with the Father. Finally, Jesus also provides the end goal and purpose of this Christian unity: that we would be living proof of the divinity of Christ (17:21, 23), and that the world would know the fullness of God’s love, that is, that He loves the world just as He loves His own Son (17:23).
In this way, we find that Christian unity is not merely organizational alignment or superficial agreement. Rather, it's a profound way of life that Christians are called to that reflects the very nature of God: a proclamation of the Gospel in and of itself. This unity transcends human understanding, just as the oneness of God present in the relationship between Father and Son transcends our comprehension. Reflecting this divine mystery, Jesus' prayer reveals that Christian unity is comprehensive in scope, and not intended merely for local churches or subgroups of Christians.
How did the early Church handle significant doctrinal disagreements?
Acts 15:1-21
Walk through the specific principles employed in the Jerusalem council. Help participants identify the principles that could guide modern churches in addressing theological differences while maintaining unity.
How the apostolic Church responded to the culturally loaded question of the inclusion of Gentiles in the Church is perhaps the best, clearest example of resolving a difficult doctrinal disagreement given in the New Testament. The Jerusalem Council, which is recorded in Acts 15, provides our clearest example of how the early Church resolved significant theological disputes while maintaining unity. The issue presented — whether Gentile converts needed to be circumcised to be saved — threatened to fracture the young Church along cultural and theological lines. This wasn't merely an academic debate but one that touched on fundamental questions of salvation, cultural identity, and the interpretation of the ongoing revelation of God.
The conflict began when “men from Judea” came and taught that circumcision is necessary for salvation (15:1). While Paul and Barnabas knew better, and contested this point, the church at Antioch desired clarification on this matter from the church leaders in Jerusalem (15:2), as perhaps these men from Judea were representing the church in Jerusalem and the teachings of the apostles therein. This was no small trip, as Antioch was some 300 miles from Jerusalem. When the visitors arrived, they explained the issue (15:4-5), and the Jerusalem counsel began.
The process the apostles and elders followed reveals deep wisdom, doubtless guided by the Holy Spirit. They began by allowing full discussion, giving voice to both sides of the controversy (15:4-7). This willingness to openly address difficult questions rather than suppress them demonstrated both courage and trust in God's guidance. Peter's testimony about Cornelius's conversion (15:7-11) and Paul and Barnabas's accounts of God's work among the Gentiles (15:12) show how they weighted evidence of God's activity in discerning His will. James's appeal to Scripture (15:15-18) grounded their decision in divine revelation while demonstrating how Old Testament prophecy anticipated the inclusion of Gentiles.
This publicly debated, highly contentious issue required the overseers of the church (especially Peter and James) to give compelling, Biblically driven judgements on the matter, resulting in unity both in the local church (15:22) and in the church where the conflict had been initiated (15:30-31). This ultimately strengthened the Church and the continued procession of the Gospel during Paul’s second missionary journey.
What causes divisions in the Church and how should they be addressed?
1 Corinthians 1:10-17, 3:1-9, 4:6-7
Guide participants in examining Paul's diagnosis of church division and his prescription for unity. Help them reflect on how spiritual immaturity and pride contribute to division, drawing attention to Paul's emphasis on Christ's centrality as the antidote to factionalism. Consider discussing how these principles apply to contemporary church divisions.
Paul's extended treatment of unity in 1 Corinthians 1-4 reveals both the seriousness of division and its underlying causes. Writing to the whole church in Corinth – a major metropolitan center with hundreds of thousands of residents – Paul confronts the emergence of factions centered around different leaders. In spite of this immense population, Paul wrote to the whole church in Corinth as a singular entity, imploring them to not become tribally divided by following different ministers and thereby quarreling with one another. His response provides timeless insight into both the nature of division and how Christians must avoid it.
The root cause of division, Paul reveals, is spiritual immaturity manifesting as pride. When believers say "I follow Paul" or "I follow Apollos," they demonstrate a fleshly mindset that elevates human leaders above Christ (1:12-13). The humility of Paul is both astonishing and necessary in order to maintain the unity of the Church; notice how he does not elevate his apostolic position or service as superior to the positions and giftings of others who have ministered to the church in Corinth (3:5-9). This position is critical to maintaining unity, for as Paul points out, identification as a follower of a particular element of the body of Christ divides the body of Christ (1:12-13).
Paul's rhetorical questions – "Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul?" – expose the absurdity of such divisions. All Christian leaders are merely servants through whom God works (3:5), making competition between ministries nonsensical in the context of the body of Christ. While Paul addresses the local church of Corinth in this passage, the principles employed to promote unity suggest that the unity of the Church is to be extended among Christian in all places, aligning well with Jesus’ own teaching in John 17.
How did early churches demonstrate practical unity?
2 Corinthians 8:1-15, Philippians 4:14-16
Direct discussion toward understanding how early churches expressed unity through tangible actions. Help participants see how these tangible expressions reflect a uniquely Christian unity. Consider exploring modern applications of unity between churches.
The early churches' unity wasn't merely theoretical. Rather, there are several examples in the New Testament of how Christian unity leads to practical ministerial expressions. The Macedonian churches’ generous support of the Jerusalem church, despite their own poverty (2 Corinthians 8:1-5), demonstrates how Christian unity transcends economic circumstances and cultural boundaries. Paul presents their sacrificial giving not as mere charity but as a practical demonstration of Gospel transformation: they first gave themselves to the Lord (8:5), and their material giving naturally followed. It is worth considering just how unified the local churches in Macedonia must have been to agree to this generous offering — they were able to manage their means well enough to have an abundance to give to another local church about 1,000 miles away!
The Philippian church's ongoing support of Paul's ministry (Philippians 4:14-16) provides another model of practical unity. Their partnership in the gospel included not only financial support but also sharing in Paul's troubles (4:14), demonstrating how Christian unity encompasses both joys and hardships. Moreover, this relationship wasn't one-sided; Paul's letters show how churches maintained ongoing relationships, shared news, and supported one another's ministry efforts.
Beyond financial support, early churches demonstrated unity through mutual recognition and hospitality. Letter exchanging, the welcoming of traveling believers, and the sharing of resources for Gospel advancement all reflected a deep understanding that they were all part of one body serving one Lord. There is no more compelling testimony of Christ’s love than that displayed in practical unity within the Church. Indeed, Christ himself prophesied, “All will recognize My disciples by their love for one another” (John 13:35). Indeed, this love is a most powerful witness to the transforming power of the Gospel, showing how Christ's love transcends every conceivable point of division.
Conversation Starters:
Jesus prayed that our unity would reflect the unity between Himself and the Father. How might this profound standard challenge our current understanding and practice of Church unity? Is it even possible for this to be achieved?
Consider the Jerusalem Council's process for handling disagreement - full discussion, Scriptural grounding, and Spirit-led leadership. What can we learn from their example?
Paul confronted the Corinthians' tendency to form factions around different leaders. What similar patterns do you observe in contemporary Christianity, and how might Paul's teaching address these divisions?
The early churches demonstrated unity through practical support and shared ministry despite geographical and cultural differences. What opportunities do you see for churches today to express unity in similar ways?
Looking at Christ's prayer for unity and the early church's example, how might we better balance maintaining doctrinal truth while pursuing genuine unity with other believers who differ from us on secondary matters?
Resources
