A Familiar and Much Cherished Sentiment
It is one of the best known speeches in modern history…. A call to a nation in its darkest hour
Facing the prospect of Nazi invasion, Winston Churchill, on 4th June 1940 House of Commons..
“We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender…”
It inspired HOPE & same time was a call to UNITY by which alone the nation would be victorious
A song in 1970 by Brotherhood of Man captures the essence of this call..
“United we stand divided we fall and if our backs should ever be against the wall, We’ll be together, together, you and I.”
TODAY Facing COVID, world leaders have sought to harness UNITY saying:
“We are all in this together” as we too are assured ‘we will get through this”
The most famous leader of all who spoke about UNITY was Jesus
“If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.” (Mark 3:24–25, NIV84)
How important is Christian unity? ß What is a major turn off to non-Christians re Churches? Infighting
The Church TODAY still marches under the order to be LIGHT and SALT to a lost world
UNITY lies at the heart of the mission Christ has given us.
Today we seek to see again the SOURCE of this unity and its ultimate GOAL
- THE BEAUTY OF UNITY
- CHRIST’S EXAMPLE OF UNITY
- GLORIFYING GOD
Readings reproduced on this page:
The Holy Bible: New International Version. 1996, 1984. Grand Rapids: Zondervan
Readings
Psalm 133 (NIV84)
1How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!
2It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down upon the collar of his robes.
3It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.
Text
Romans 15:1–13 (NIV84)
1We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.
2Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.
3For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”
4For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
5May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus,
6so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.
8For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs
9so that the Gentiles may glorify God for his mercy, as it is written: “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing hymns to your name.”
10Again, it says, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.”
11And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and sing praises to him, all you peoples.”
12And again, Isaiah says, “The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will hope in him.”
13May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
