Sermon Tone Analysis

Living Together

In our series, Living Together, we have looked at a few concepts, that help us in living together as a forever family.

First, we are a fellowship in Christ, made a family

We are an intimate family

We have no life outside of the body; the body does the body good

We are a giving family

We looked at the fellowship of the supper, Song and prayer

Besides having an intimate relationship, fellowship within the forever family we need to be an accepting fellowship, or a fellowship without partiality as we can clearly see in the scripture.

Loving the family (fellowship) for the most part is easy, learning to love those who are different or who are not in the family yet may take some effort, but isn’t it worth it?

Eternally worth it?

Now I said in the family it is easy, but it is not always easy we all come from different places, social economics, professions, maturity in Christ, hobbies and the like, but in Christ we are more accepting of each other because we have unity in Christ.

(insert slide, differences does not equate to division)

(Insert illustration of differences and acceptance within the body of Christ.)

Tonight we will look at “without partiality” and the challenges we face as a forever family.

in looking at

Nature of our differences

God’s attitude towards impartiality (acceptance)

Application of accepting, being impartial

I. Nature of the differences

It is not hard to see differences within the family, may not have all these here at Lockett, but when you look at the fellowship, family as whole you can see

Differences in ethnicity and nationality

Differences in political ideologies and cultures

Differences in economic status as well as lifestyles

Differences in our interests, hobbies and the like

and yes, differences in spiritual maturity

Differences have potential for division

Prejudice, bigotry, being judgmental

Cliques can be very destructive

(insert illustration of division)

You may be wondering where is the scripture, long time with no scripture, well for us to understand God’s attitude toward acceptance and about being impartial we need the scripture.

So we will not have a lack from here out.

II.

God’s attitude toward impartiality

God has shown He is the God that shows no partiality (Deu10:17)

Paul told the importance of impartiality because of God’s impartial judgment to come (Rom2:9-11)

There was Peter who addressed God’s impartiality too (1Pt1:17-19)

The Lord wants “all” to come to repentance

Impartiality starts with us understanding God’s willingness to accept all

Look at Peter’s vision proving the point (Act10:34-35)

All this starts with looking, understanding God’s acceptance (Act10:34-35; Act15:7-9; 2Pt3:9)

Proven by the vision given to Peter (Act10:34-35)

Spoken of by Peter at Jerusalem conference(Act15:7-9)

Finally, God’s desire for “all” to come to repentance (2Pt3:9)

If God does not show partiality, if God makes no distinction and shows acceptance, shouldn’t we?

(Expand on the statement above, acceptance does not mean accepting sinful behavior)

God wants us to accept (be impartial) with one another (Rom15:5-7, Gal3:27-28)

Rom15:

Jesus accepted us for God’s glory; why because of love, He desires for us to be of the same mind, to be of one accord!

How do we do it, how do we receive God’s impartial love and bring glory to the Father?

By putting Christ on

We are all one in Christ Jesus.

When we understand God’s desires, God’s love, God’s acceptance regardless of who we were, but in who we are in Christ when we accept His love through Christ.

then we can be in a better position to accept others and have an “impartial fellowship (family)”

III.

Application of impartiality

First, start by not showing partiality (Jam2:1-9)

Jam2:

Have no personal favoritism (v.1)

Show no favoritism for rich or for poor

Be applying God’s command (v.8) - love

By not sinning by showing partiality (v.9)

Next application, put on the new man, or be renewed spiritually

No matter our differences we are to be like Christ (Col3:9-10)

When we do the former, then our differences lose significance (Col3:11)

Look at when we are renewed in Christ we then develop Christ like character (COl3:12-15)

putting on heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, bearing and forgiving one another.

Putting on love which is the perfect bond!

The results peace of Christ, as one body!

(unified by Christ and for Christ)

To summarize this section we will

have heart of compassion not of stone or of ice

we will be kind to one another, not cruel

We will be humble and not proud

Gentle and not harsh

Patient and not intolerant

Forgiving and not judgmental and finally

loving and not bigoted!

We will still have differences, but they lose their significance

In the case of 1st Century, the Jews was still a Jew, and the Gentile still a Gentile but when they came into Christ they were one, united by Christ.

The poor are still poor the rich still right, but one in Christ Jesus

The servant must still honor their master (employee, employer)

The responsibilities and authority in the body (male; female) have differences but we are one body serving Christ.

(If time permitting do the following; but look at the time first)

Now that last one in some parts can be divisive so let me give a few scriptures first to back up the honoring our responsibilities and authority (Col3:18; 1Tim2:11-12; 1Cor14:34-38)

Not that woman, wives are not able to, God’s plan from the beginning was for woman be be along side men, not behind, not before, but beside and the man is to lead the family and lead the forever family in the Lord.

(Gen2:18)

So now to conclude all this tonight about “not showing partiality may we continue to grow in Christ as it says (Col3:10)

May we receive, accept one another (Rom15:7)

all to the glory of God, when people walk through that door let us love on them and love them into the body of Christ so we may have them as a part of our forever family that is living together!

(lead to invitation)

(insert a fellowship slide)

(end recording)

(insert exit slide)