Are U-iN? Topics of Unity and Neighborly.

This article is one of five that explore the Biblical understanding of COMMUNITY. 

Who are we as a church? This message builds on the topic of the Church and its identity. 

Welcome – Ek-kla-sia! (Ek-kla’-see-a). Last week, we defined this Greek word, meaning "assembly" – the church. This term has roots in Hebrew, relating to the concept of Ecclesiastes, or assembly. It's a term unique to the New Testament, signifying a community bound together in faith.

Today, we'll expand our vocabularies with several new Greek terms, enhancing our comprehension of the church's role. I hope you’ll find ways to incorporate these words into your daily conversations, grasping the biblical expressions of community they represent.

Eucharist:

By the time you read this we will have shared in the Eucharist—communion in our local church. This sacred act embodies the most intimate relationship we can cultivate with Christ. 

Through this fellowship, we strengthen our bonds as a church family and with our Lord. This week, our focus is on UNITY and NEIGHBORLY interactions as part two of our five-part series.

Koinonia:

Today’s message delves deeper into the concept of Koinonia, which signifies fellowship. By enhancing our understanding of this biblical term associated with the early church, we can better grasp how our community should engage.

Last week, we uncovered the “one another” passages. Remember, there are over 100 passages that instruct us on how the church should operate. Ultimately, we are answering the question: Who are we?

This series includes four main parts and an additional mid-week session:

1. CO (Christ & Others) – completed on 9.7

2. M&M (Manna & Ministry) – completed on 9.14

3. U-iN? (You In?) – upcoming on 9.21

4. The IT Department (Intercession and Truth)

Bonus Session:  Yield Ahead (Led by the Holy Spirit) – a supplemental exploration to be discussed on a midweek Bible Study.

Article Themes:

1. ‘We’ are stronger than ‘I’ but not stronger than ‘the One’: 3 Strands are not easily broken.

   - Christ (Savior & Chief Cornerstone)

   - Others (one another)

2. “M&M Good”:

   - Manna 

   - Ministry (Communion/Koinonia)

3. U-N (Are you in?):

   - Unity (not uniformity) 

   - Neighborly (Love)

4. The IT Department:

   - Intercession (on behalf of others and for the gathering of information.)

   - Truth (Unchanging and understanding of what does not change.)

5. Mid-week lesson (Bible Study) #5: Yield Ahead: Submission to God’s Will.

   - Yielding (mutual submission to God’s Will…)

Community at LWC — What could God do in us and through us IF we let Him?

How can we maximize our community and the potential for what God has in store for us? It’s vital to explore our community's potential because, in God's Kingdom, He doesn’t settle for mediocrity but desires our utmost best—in our Faith, in our Witness, and in our understanding of The Word. How do we effectively apply the Truth of the Gospel as believers? What does God expect from us? These questions warrant in-depth discussion.

Who are we? This is the essential question we must engage with to discover what God desires for us, both individually and collectively as a community.

Let’s revisit the letters C and O, which contribute to a unique understanding of our community. They highlight two primary aspects:

- Christ – the chief cornerstone and head of the church.

- Others – referencing the "one another" passages in Scripture. 

We also looked at the second message on M&M. In the worship service I handed out small packages of M&M’s while also sharing the history of the M&M’s. 

These topics included: 

- Manna – as a provider; even outside His Will, He provides through our “good works.”

- Ministry – the empowerment through the Holy Spirit to utilize our gifts to witness and share God’s Love for His Glory.

Last week, we introduced two more letters to the word COMMUNITY. I hope you found it "MM Good!" Manna and Ministry teach us that community encompasses our individual "wanderings," similar to the Israelites over 40 years, and underscores how only God can transform those experiences for good, leading to a meaningful ministry for others. Like Job, who endured suffering, God redeemed his narrative, resulting in a powerful witness.

Koinonia serves as the thread uniting these messages. Community revolves around our needs and our ministry, caring for and uplifting one another. 

- Manna represents God's provision within Koinonia, meeting our needs even amid rebellion, meant for the next generation.

- Ministry involves performing good deeds in Christ's name, guiding people to a personal relationship with Him.

U - iN? This poses a question. To participate in something, an invitation is necessary. So, are you IN?

THIS IS A 5-PART SERIES … A theme verse in Romans 12:4-5.

Today, we will quickly explore Unity and Neighborliness.

Theme Verse:  

“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”  

– Romans 12:4-5 (NIV)

These sermons elucidate the role and responsibilities of living in community as the Body of Christ for the sake of His Kingdom. Each sermon stands alone but collectively enhances our understanding of Christian community.

To be effective, we must remain united as a community to be neighborly for Christ.

UNITY AND NEIGHBORLY: These components are vital for COMMUNITY to function. The Body of Christ must be healthy; any member's illness can spread and impact others, undermining our capacity to represent the LOVE of God to a world in need.

We will investigate unity within the Body of Christ, emphasizing that UNITY does not equate to UNIFORMITY. While we are one body, we each bring unique expressions of the Spirit to serve one another. 

We must first comprehend God’s expectations for us:

- It's not merely fellowship.

- It is about maintaining healthy relationships with each other.

- Unity is NOT everyone echoing the same sentiment; it’s about sharing testimonies of God’s working in our lives.

  

To reach our neighbors—family, friends, colleagues, and everyone we encounter—we MUST remain united on the essentials.

Eucharist represents our united fellowship with God and each other. It aligns us with foundational beliefs rather than imposing UNIFORMITY. If we truly embody ONENESS in Christ, people will notice and yearn for what we possess. Our neighbors include anyone we interact with as we point to Jesus.

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A Quick Survey of the Scriptures:

- Jeremiah 29:7: "...And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare."

   - Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us that God knows His plans for us—plans for good, not for disaster, to provide us with a future and hope. This was spoken to His people in exile.

   - We must acknowledge that the church stands in a form of exile today, constrained by laws and governance. Thus, we must seek the city's welfare—this goes beyond merely being neighborly; it requires unpacking the term Oikonomia—God's stewardship.

- Ecclesiastes 8:14: "And this is not all that is meaningless in our world. In this life, good people are often treated as though they are wicked, and wicked people as good. This is so meaningless."

   - Have you noticed our values often clash with worldly standards?

   - Understanding this clash is crucial. We will inevitably be MISunderstood; the nature of the KINGDOM—the Biblical worldview—contradicts societal norms.

   - Regardless of conflict or persecution, we must seek the welfare of others.

- Mark 12:28-34: This passage illustrates our behavior and purpose: “Jesus replied, ‘The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”

   - These commands are not suggestions; LOVE flows from one SOURCE—God, through Christ.

   - To love God fully empowers us to love our neighbors well.

- Ephesians 4:1-6: “Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, urge you to live a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle; be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all.”

This understanding culminates in COMMUNION—being united with Christ and in proper relationship with one another. It emphasizes ONENESS and love in Christ.

Community at LWC — A ministry of the Wesleyan Church with a HEART FOR COMMUNITY!

What could God do in us and through us IF we let Him? 

As we remain UNITED and NEIGHBORLY, we become effective witnesses for Christ, reaching out to others in love. 

Communion serves as a profound act of REMEMBRANCE, recognizing:

- What HE has done for us. 

- What HE is doing in us. 

- The UNITY of His Spirit and His body.

Communion unites our church; it is a sacred, personal, community-focused act.

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Preparing for Communion

The Wesleyan Church regards communion, also known as the Lord’s Supper, as a sacrament commanded by Christ, ordained as a means of grace when received with faith. It symbolizes God's gracious ministry, representing redemption through Christ’s death, the hope of His return, and the love Christians share for one another. 

The Lord’s Supper is a means through which God communicates grace to our hearts, provided we approach it humbly and in faith. According to church discipline, the Lord’s Supper is observed in each local Wesleyan church at least once every three months.

Invitation  

To those in fellowship with God, who love and are at harmony with your neighbors; to those who truly and earnestly repent of your sins and intend to lead a new life, following God’s commandments and His holy ways, draw near with faith and partake in this holy sacrament for your comfort. Meet here to humbly confess to Almighty God.

Consecration of Bread and Cup  

“Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who in mercy gave Your only Son, Jesus Christ, to suffer death upon the cross for our redemption: accept our praise, we beseech You. We thank You for Your love, for the gift of Your Son, for His sacrifice, for the forgiveness of our sins, and for the cleansing of our hearts."

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The Act of Communion.

If you are reading this and want to participate in communion, join us at Lancaster Wesleyan Church. Give me a call for schedule. We practice this as Sacrament quarterly and also in homes for those unable to attend in the church. This is a bit of what you can expect. 

The body of our Lord Jesus Christ, given for you, preserve your soul and body unto everlasting life. Take and eat this remembering that Christ died for you, and feed on Him in your heart, by faith, with thanksgiving.

The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, shed for you, preserve your soul and body unto everlasting life. Drink this remembering that Christ's blood was shed for you, and be thankful.

Typically this prayer is to be read as a community. It is the Lord’s Prayer.

“Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.”

Excerpt From:  

The Discipline of The Wesleyan Church 2022 (This material may be protected by copyright).

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