Paul’s Recipe for UNITY

Colossians 3:12–16 (NLT) - 12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. 16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.

5 Angles of Unity

1. ATTITUDE of Unity (5 Attitudes)

1. Mercy “I feel your pain”
2. Kindness “You get my smile”
3. Humility
   1. Pride - I am right, I am better, I am smarter, I am sufficient
   2. Self-seeking - I want for myself
   3. Philippians 2:3–5 (NLT) — 3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. 5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
4. Gentleness “I’m not ready for a fight, you can’t get me to fight”
5. Patience “I’m not giving up over something little, I’m here” 

2. ACTION of Unity (2 actions)

1. "Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others..."  
2. Extend grace to one another’s faults.
   1. Ephesians 4:2 (NLT) — 2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.
3. Forgiveness (Forgive ANYONE who offends you)

3. AFFECTION of Unity

1. "Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony..."
2. Agape is NOT self-interested
3. We are FAMILY
   1. Matthew 12:46–50 (NLT) — 46 As Jesus was speaking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. 47 Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, and they want to speak to you.” 48 Jesus asked, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” 49 Then he pointed to his disciples and said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers. 50 Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!”

4. ATMOSPHERE of Unity

1. "And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace..."
2. Jesus is the Prince of Shalom.
   1. He settles the storm
   2. He settles the war
   3. He settles the striving
   4. He settles the stress

5. AGREEMENT of Unity

1. "Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts..."
   1. Share His message with one another
   2. Sing songs about him together

Other Passages:

Philippians 2:1–4 (NLT) — 1 Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? 2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. 3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

Ephesians 4:2–6 (NLT) — 2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. 4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. 5 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all.

Galatians 6:2–3 (NLT) — 2 Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. 3 If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important. Romans 15:5–7 (NLT) — 5 May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. 6 Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory.