Sermon Tone Analysis

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Text:

Theme: Harmony in the church that glorifies God

Theme: Harmony in the church that glorifies God

Date: 07/09/17 File name: Romans46.wpd

ID Number:

Date: 07/09/17 File name: Romans46.wpd

ID Number:

The Apostle’s passionate desire for the Christian congregation in Rome is a spirit of harmony within the church that glorifies God.

“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude [harmony] of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” (, NIV)

The Apostle’s passionate desire for the Christian congregation in Rome is a spirit of harmony within the church that glorifies God.

“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude [harmony] of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” (, NIV)

Unfortunately, the natural inclination for people seems to be to divide, not unite.

We see it in every sector of society from churches, to politics, to marriage to the best rock bands.

And all splits have one thing in common: the primary focus becomes the differences rather than agreements.

ILLUS.

The small community of Centerville, Georgia has a population of just over 7,000 people.

But with a total of 48 Presbyterian Churches, they also hold the record for the most Presbyterian Churches per capita of any town in America.

The high number of churches has to do with multiple splits that have taken place over the years because of one issue or another.

Originally, in 1899, only one Presbyterian church existed, simply known as "Centerville Presbyterian Church."

With about 20 families, the church was, at that time, the largest in the Centerville area.

In 1911 a dispute arose within the congregation over whether-or-not the offering should be taken before or after the sermon.

Thus the first split took place, with the dissenting congregation forming "Centerville Reformed Presbyterian Church."

In 1915 a dispute arose amongst the members of Centerville Reformed Presbyterian Church over whether-or-not to have flowers in the sanctuary.

As a result the Centerville Reformed Presbyterian Church split and Trinity Reformed Presbyterian Church of Centerville was organized.

Several more splits took place over various issues between the years 1915 and 1929.

In 1931 a dispute arose amongst the members of the Seventh Presbyterian Reformed Covenantal Church of Centerville over an issue that no one can seem to remember.

The result was the formation of the Third Westminster Trinity Covenant Presbyterian Reformed Church of Centerville.

Again, more splits took place between 1931 and 1975 when a major split took place within the Presbyterian Church of the United States.

At that time Eleventh Westminster Covenant Presbyterian Church of Centerville voted to remain in the PCUS.

Fifteen members broke off and formed St. John's Presbyterian Church.

One week later, St. John's Presbyterian Church split over the name for the church.

Several members objected to using the word "Saint" in the name of a Reformed Church.

Since 1975 several more splits have happened with the most recent occurring in 2008, when a dispute arose amongst the members of Second Street First Ninth Westminster Covenant Reformed Presbyterian Church over the issue of the observance of the Lord's Day.

The issue in question was whether or not it was acceptable for someone to check their email on Sunday.

Those who objected split off and formed The Presbyterian Totally Reformed Covenantal Westminsterian Sabbatarian Regulative Credo-Communionist A Millennial Presuppositional Church of Centerville.

One member said: "I think we've finally got it right now."

The Presbyterians in Centerville, Georgia are the anthesis of Paul’s plea for harmony within the local church.

There are some things worth fighting over — especially the fundamental doctrines of the church.

But here are also some thing worth fighting for, and harmony within a local congregation that glorifies God is one of them.

I.

A CHRIST-CENTERED CHURCH WORKS TOWARD UNITY AMONG THE BRETHREN

I.

A CHRIST-CENTERED CHURCH WORKS TOWARD UNITY AMONG THE BRETHREN

"May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus," (, NIV)

yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus," (, NIV)

1. the apostle Paul writes this letter to the believers at Rome while working among the Christians at Corinth

Christians at Corinth

a. no wonder he speaks of unity to the Roman believers!

b. if there was one thing the believers at Corinth did not have it was a spirit of unity

2. in the midst of a polarized church, full of cantankerous and obstinate believers, Paul reminds the believers at Rome of the virtues of unity

reminds the believers at Rome of the virtues of unity

a. Paul's prayer-wish is that these believers at Rome live in harmony with each other

A. OUR UNITY WITH EACH OTHER IS BASED ON OUR FELLOWSHIP WITH CHRIST

A. OUR UNITY WITH EACH OTHER IS BASED ON OUR FELLOWSHIP WITH CHRIST

1. somehow we've gotten the idea that unity among the brethren in a local church means everybody has to think alike on all subjects

means everybody has to think alike on all subjects

a. not so

2. Christian unity among the early believers was not based on doctrinal conformity or worship-style patterns or mission-support philosophy

doctrinal conformity or worship-style patterns or mission-support philosophy

a. unity among those early Christians was based on a common experience with a risen Lord

risen Lord

"We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us.

And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ."

(, NIV)

1) notice that John does not say, “We proclaim to you that we believe in the inerrancy of the Scriptures, so that you also may have fellowship with us ..."

inerrancy of the Scriptures, so that you also may have fellowship with us ..."

2) notice that he does not say, “We believe in using worship choruses instead of the hymnal, so that you also may have fellowship with us ..."

the hymnal, so that you also may have fellowship with us ..."

3) notice that John does not insist, “We believe in the associational approach to missions support instead of the societal approach, so that you also may have fellowship with us..."

missions support instead of the societal approach, so that you also may have fellowship with us..."

3. all those things important to me

a. that's why I'm a Baptist and not a member of some independent, ecumenical congregation that doesn't know what it believes or stands for

congregation that doesn't know what it believes or stands for

4. but none of those things are the basis of our fellowship within this local church

B. THOSE THINGS WHICH DIVIDE US SHOULD NOT BE AS POWERFUL AS THAT WHICH UNITES US

B. THOSE THINGS WHICH DIVIDE US SHOULD NOT BE AS POWERFUL AS THAT

WHICH UNITES US

1. why is it so hard for us to get along?

ILLUS.

Some years ago I heard a preacher tell a story which illustrates the differences among denominations.

It seems six men were marooned on a desert island.

Two were Jewish, two were Catholic and two were Baptist.

The two Jews got together and founded "Temple Immanuel."

The two Catholics organized "The Church of the Sacred Heart."

The two Baptists also broke ground, and formed the "First Baptist Church", but within six months had split with one of them forming the"New Hope Baptist Church."

across the island.

The two Jews got together and founded "Temple Immanuel."

The two Catholics organized "The Church of the Sacred Heart."

The two Baptists also broke ground, and formed the "First Baptist Church", but within six months had split with one of them forming the"New Hope Baptist Church."

across the island.

2. if you read the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Christians in the church at Corinth you known that they had fallen into disunity over personalities and petty power struggles

known that they had fallen into disunity over personalities and petty power struggles

“I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.

11 My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you.

12 What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.”

13 Is Christ divided?

... ” (, NIV)