Life.Church with Craig Groeschel - God, Help Us Unite: Stop the Division

Starting point is 00:00:00 How many of you would agree that this has been one heck of a difficult year? All of our churches, you can just type in the chat. Yes, I agree. It's been a very, very difficult year. I want to take a moment and just recap the obvious. By early to mid-March of this year, most places in the world were closed, completely shut down for the COVID-19 global pandemic. You know that.

Starting point is 00:00:27 It's obvious. So many people lost so much. much. Some people lost loved ones, which is tragic beyond measure. Others lost jobs. Some people lost income. Some people lost their business. All of us lost a sense of normalcy. What's the world going to be like going forward? What's interesting is that many crises have a unifying effect. For example, if you take September 11, 2001, when terrorist planes fly into the Twin Towers, American patriotism serves. There was a unifying effect, like this is our country, our nation, we stand together.

Starting point is 00:01:11 Unfortunately, though, COVID-19 seemed to have the opposite effect. Instead of this uniting us as a nation, it seemed to be more divisive. Instead of standing together, apparently we're becoming more polarized. And it feels like we're divided between two different groups, between those who would say, yes, this is very serious, and we should be wise. But I wonder if shutting down the economy might end up having more painful impact than not. And then there's the other side that would say, no, no, no, no, no. It's completely irresponsible and reckless to reopen.

Starting point is 00:01:51 And don't be stupid. We got to keep the virus from spreading and so many people are completely divided. We felt this honestly just in the church world. We had people really upset whenever the church closed. They said like, where's your faith? Keep the church open to fight the government. And then when we opened back up,

Starting point is 00:02:11 some people said, what are you doing? You know, you're risking lives. And there's so much tension, so much discord, so much division. Then, when you think things couldn't get any worse, our nation experienced the tragic deaths of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and George Floyd. And this brought to the forefront of our attention the ongoing problem of racism. Unless you don't acknowledge that racism is an ongoing problem. And suddenly, there's more anger. more disagreement, more discord, and more division.

Starting point is 00:02:58 My guess is that the devil is laughing and rejoicing and celebrating at all the division. Because one of our spiritual enemies' greatest strategies is to divide, especially when it comes to the family of God. especially when it comes to the body of Christ. Because we as Christ followers, when we are united, when we stand together in unity of mission, we are unstoppable empowered by the spirit of God. But when we are divided, we quickly become weak and ineffective

Starting point is 00:03:43 and often even overlooked in this world. I, Craig Groshael, I don't have a lot. lot of power to change a lot of things in this world, but I do have some influence into our church family. So what I wanna do today is I wanna make the same passionate faith-filled appeal as the Apostle Paul made to the believers in Corinth. This is what he said, it's reported in 1 Corinthians

Starting point is 00:04:14 chapter 1, verse 10, he said, I appeal to you, or I beg you, I urge you, I plead with 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 may be, watch this, he said, there may be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.

Starting point is 00:04:40 I beg you, I'm pleading with you, I urge you, that there would be no divisions in the family of God, that we be united in mind and thought. Paul used a word that in the Greek, it's the word divisions. It's translated from the Greek word schisma. And it means a split, a division, a schism, a ripping or tearing apart.

Starting point is 00:05:08 In fact, just to kind of illustrate, I have what you might consider the classic picture of the blonde-haired blue-eye version of Jesus. I had this picture in my garage growing up. Why in my garage? I have no idea, but this picture was in my garage. And Paul says, I beg you, I plead with you that there would be no schismas, no division,

Starting point is 00:05:27 no tearing or ripping apart. When we as the body of Christ fight and argue, essentially what we're doing is we are dividing the body of Christ. We're ripping apart the unity that makes us strong. We're tearing apart our faith that unites us to be a light into a vision. very dark world. Whenever we fight, whenever we argue, when we ever, we let smaller issues divide us

Starting point is 00:05:57 from our primary mission, we're essentially tearing apart the body of Christ. I hope you don't run and call me a heretic for ripping up a picture of Jesus, but I want you to feel it. I want you to acknowledge what we're doing when we don't stand united, but instead we bicker, we fight, we argue, and we divide. Paul said, I beg you, I urge you, I plead with you, stand together as one. Don't let any divisions be among you. Now, if Paul's appeal isn't enough, I want to show you the prayer of Jesus. The cry of the heart of our Savior to his father in heaven is recorded in John 17, starting

Starting point is 00:06:39 in verse 20. When Jesus said this, he said, I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message that all of them may be one. Everybody in the family of God that we would be one. Why? So that they may be brought to complete unity. That we would be unified around the truth and the mission of Jesus. What will happen if we're unified?

Starting point is 00:07:08 Jesus said, then the world will know, God, that you sent me and have loved them, even as you have loved me. I pray, Jesus prayed to his father, that all the believers may be one, that they may be brought together in complete unity. In other words, instead of being divided and weak, if we stand united and strong, resisting the schemes and the attacks and the strategies of the evil one, we can help usher in God's will on earth as it is in heaven.

Starting point is 00:07:45 Paul prayed that we would be united. Jesus prayed that we would be one. What if we could be the generation that is the answer to their prayers? Help us God unite. Help us stand together around the truth and the message of Jesus. The question is how do we do it? How do we become one? What would it take for us to unite around the truth and the mission of Jesus?

Starting point is 00:08:16 What would unify the church? The answers, very simple. It would take one enemy and it would take one mission. Let's talk about it. What would unify the church? One enemy would help us unite. In fact, the Apostle Paul said this in Ephesians 612. He said, for our struggle is not against flesh and blood.

Starting point is 00:08:42 In other words, we have to recognize that our battle is not against other people. Our battle, Paul said, is against the rulers and against the authorities, and against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in heavenly realms. In other words, we have to understand that the church down the street, they're not our enemy. Those who use a different version of the Bible, they're not our enemy. Those who worship in a different expression of worship, they're not our enemy. The person who votes differently than we do, they're not our enemy. And yes, I'm meddling right now and getting up into your Facebook rumored business.

Starting point is 00:09:24 The person with a different skin color, they're not our enemy. Those with a different background or enjoy different music or they dress differently or they express themselves in different ways, they are not the enemy. We have one enemy. He is the devil. He is the prince of darkness, the father of lies, the great deceiver. Jesus called him the thief in John 1010. He said the thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. The devil, Lucifer, Satan wants to steal our unity, kill our churches,

Starting point is 00:09:59 and destroy our witness as a light into a very dark world. Why? Because if we stand united around the truth and mission of Jesus, we're unstoppable to show the love and the grace of our Savior into a broken and a hurting world. But when we're divided, we become weak and ineffective. What's one of the strongest unifying forces? A common enemy unites us. We have one enemy. It's a little bit like in my old college fraternity days.

Starting point is 00:10:41 There were kind of like two top fraternities at the school that I attended, or at least two competitors. And we disliked the other fraternity and they disliked us. And we hated each other until one day the baseball team egged both of our houses. Then what happened? Well, suddenly we were united against the baseball team because they were a common enemy. The only problem is the baseball team players were strong. and carried baseball bats, so we were in trouble.

Starting point is 00:11:08 But at least we now had a common enemy, and we were united. You know this is true in your family. You might have a brother or a sister or a sibling, and they drive you crazy. You pick on them, they annoy you, and you really can barely tolerate them until somebody else messes with your sibling.

Starting point is 00:11:25 And suddenly you realize, blood is always thicker. You can't mess with somebody that I love. I hope you'll understand that the devil is attacking the body of Christ. The devil is attacking our nation. And if we recognize we have a common enemy that will unite us. What will unite the body of Christ? What will help our churches to stand together strong in mission? One enemy. One enemy. I hope you'll recognize and just look and see, oh, I see what you're doing there, devil. I see what you're doing. We're not going to stand for it. We're not going to let you divide us.

Starting point is 00:12:06 unite us as followers of Christ, one enemy and also one mission. The mission unites us. What did Jesus say after he suffered brutally on a cross? Looked up to heaven and said, Father, into your hands, I commit my spirit, shed his blood, and gave his life. God raised him from the dead, and the last moment he's speaking to his disciples

Starting point is 00:12:34 and gives them, Here's your divine assignment, here's your calling, here's your reason, here's your mission. This is what Jesus said. He said, therefore go and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. That's what you do.

Starting point is 00:12:55 That's who you are. That's your mission. That's what you stand for. That's the calling of the church, the ecclesia, the called out ones. We don't go to the church building. were called into the world to fulfill the mission for which we were created. One mission.

Starting point is 00:13:11 One mission to help people know the life-giving love and grace of our Savior, Jesus. Sadly, what are we known for today? When you ask just kind of a regular person on the street, like, what do you think about the church? What is the church often known for? some people would say you know the traditions of the church other people might say the um architectural structure of the historic buildings that are so beautiful some people would talk about the style you know they're traditional they're contemporary they've got a really cool worship leader with skinny jeans and plus a hair product and tattoos you know whatever the thing would be so often you know what they'd say

Starting point is 00:14:01 is they know us for what we're against. Oh, they don't like this, and they don't believe in that, and they don't go there, and they don't associate with that type of person. Too often, when people think about the church, they tend to think about what we're against. What if, instead of being known for what we're against,

Starting point is 00:14:22 what if, as followers of Jesus, we were known for what we were for? For, love, and grace, and mercy and compassion and justice and generosity. You see, the Bible gives us one example and only one of how the world will know that we are followers of Jesus. The reason they will know is by the way we love one another.

Starting point is 00:14:55 Jesus said it this way in John 13, verses 34 and 35. He said, a new command I give you. love one another, as I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. Would it be amazing if people would talk about Christians and talk about churchgoers and talk about the body of Christ and say things like, did you see how that person forgave? Did you see the grace that they displayed?

Starting point is 00:15:27 It's like mind-blowing the way they treat one another in the way they take. care about one another. They're always full of grace and always full of compassion. Oh my gosh, those Christians, I may not completely agree with what they believe, but they always stand with the oppressed. And they always give to those that are hurting. And oh, the church down the street, they helped rebuild my house after the tornado or they visited me when I was in prison and now I'm different because of the love that they show. They help tutor my child. These Christians, my gosh, to the most compassionate, grace-filled, loving, and generous people that I've ever seen.

Starting point is 00:16:07 Wouldn't it be amazing if when the world thought about the church, they wouldn't think about what we're against, but they'd think about all the godly, spirit-filled values that we're for. Paul said this, and it's so important, in Romans chapter 15, verses 5, 6, and 7, He said, may the God who gives you endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other

Starting point is 00:16:40 that Christ Jesus had. So that, here it is again, with one mind and one voice, you may glorify God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. With one mind, with one voice. united in mission to share the love of Jesus. Now, how do we do that, like practically in everyday life? You go to work, you're on social media, you're dealing with very complicated people,

Starting point is 00:17:14 and so much pain and anger in the world. How do we unite in one voice? Paul went on to say this, he said, except one another, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. You want to glorify God? You accept one another. You love one another.

Starting point is 00:17:37 In fact, the Greek word for accept one another is a very long and picturesque word that has depth of meaning. Essentially, this word, it means to open your arms and take a person to yourself. It's to embrace someone, to accept someone, to say, I'm not even just gonna let you pass by,

Starting point is 00:18:04 but I'm gonna pull you toward myself. I want you to feel my love. I want you to know that you belong, that you matter, that I care about you, that God loves you, is to pull someone close. And then it's a picture of taking someone by the hand and walking together as companions. I accept you, and I want to do

Starting point is 00:18:29 life with you. I want to walk with you. Now, how do we do that? How do we accept people who are so different from us with totally different perspectives, totally different backgrounds? Here's how we do it. Paul said, we accept one another just as Christ accepted you. How did Jesus accept you. How did he accept me? Well, Scripture tells us that while we were still sinners, in other words, when we deserved nothing at all but judgment, Christ died for the unrighteous and the ungodly. He loved you that much. When you are not only imperfect, but you are unrighteous, you were sinning against a holy God. And God loved You. That's how we accept one another. The same way Christ accepted you. Where does unity start?

Starting point is 00:19:42 Unity starts with me and it starts with you. It starts with us. I need to do my part. Years ago, I did a wedding for dear friends and in my notes I misspelled the word united. There's a verse where you say, like, the two will be united to become one flesh. And unfortunately, I typed in untied, which is something you don't ever want to say at a wedding. What I noticed in reviewing the notes is that the eye was out of place. When the eye is in the proper place, it says united. Whenever the eye is in the wrong place, we're untied. Right now, we're a nation of people becoming untied, unraveled, divided, ripped apart. Why? Because so many of us are so arrogant thinking that our perspective is the only way. What I would like to say to you as Jesus is the only way and our perspectives of how we see the world

Starting point is 00:20:41 can vary greatly, but we can be unified around the truth that Jesus is the son of God and he changes lives. What do we need? We have one enemy and he's very real. He's attacking and he's attacking now. And we have one mission and is indescribably important. I believe with all my heart that the world is sick and tired of hearing Jesus talk. They don't want to hear us talk about him. They want to see him. So let's stop talking and start loving. Let's grow up. Come on, Life Church, grow up. Let's not enter into the social media battles and just kind of blow up. We don't change anything that way. We change with our love.

Starting point is 00:21:28 We have an enemy, Satan. His mission is to destroy. Our mission is to share the love of Jesus. We're in a war. We have to recognize it. It's a very real spiritual war. And besides, it's not the left versus the right. It's the kingdom of God versus the kingdom of darkness.

Starting point is 00:21:47 Together we unify around the truth and the power of Jesus. what does Jesus do? Well, racism is a problem. Yes, it's a problem. And the love of Jesus overcomes hatred, prejudice, and racism. But what about all the addictions? The power of Jesus breaks the chains of addiction. The grace of Jesus helps you forgive and heal broken relationships.

Starting point is 00:22:14 What can Jesus do? Jesus can help someone be released from the bondage of the, materialism and be set free from debt. Jesus can heal you from sicknesses. He can protect you from the attacks of the devil. He can free you from the prison of comparisons. He can calm your anxieties. He can relieve your stress.

Starting point is 00:22:38 He can give you the supernatural peace that goes beyond your human ability to understand. Who is Jesus? He is the son of God, who never sinned. who loved you so much that he gave his life on a cross for you. So you could be forgiven. So you could be healed. So you could be free.

Starting point is 00:23:05 He did it when we didn't deserve it. And we'd love others. Even though their behavior may not feel deserving, we love as he loved us. We are a part of the body of Christ, the family of God, the church. We don't go to church. We are the church.

Starting point is 00:23:24 And we believe the local church is the hope of the world, and we can do infinitely more together than we can apart. Who are we? We're followers of Jesus. They're not going to know us just by how we vote or by what we post or for what we're against what they're going to do is they're going to know us by how we love one another. I beg you, I plead with you, I urge you.

Starting point is 00:23:59 for the one who gave it all for us, can we get this right? Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your mind, all your soul, all your strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. That's our assignment. Go into the world and love. We have an enemy who hates God

Starting point is 00:24:25 and hates God's people and is trying to divide we have one enemy we have one mission and we recognize the enemy is attacking but greater is he who is in us than he who is in the world we can overcome with the same spirit that raised Christ from the dead that that spirit dwells within you so let's do it when they look at us when they talk about us I pray they talk about our love. They're overwhelmed by the grace, the compassion, the mercy. They will know that we're followers of Jesus by the way we love one another.

Starting point is 00:25:15 So Father, help us to show your love, to make you known. We pray this in Jesus' name. What an incredible message we just heard. And I know I'm inspired and challenged to love people just like God loves us. And so if that's you, if you want to commit to loving those around you, like how Christ loved us, then I'd love for you to raise your hand. Let us know in the chat right now. And let's pray together.

Starting point is 00:25:44 Dear Jesus, I thank you for this word that you've shared with us, Lord. Help us. Help our hearts to hurt like yours hurts, Lord. Help us to love people like you've loved us, Lord. And I pray that we would be the light you've called us to be. And like your word says, Lord, that by our love, towards each other that people will know that we are followers of Christ. As we continue in an attitude of prayer, I just can't ignore.

Starting point is 00:26:11 When I think about God's love, I can't ignore how he changed my life with his love. There may be some of you that feel like you don't deserve his love, that maybe you've got to clean up your life first before going to God, or when you look at your past, when you look at the things you've done, or the things you've said, or maybe even the people that you've heard, you might be thinking that there's no way God could love someone like me. I want to share some good news. The Bible says that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Starting point is 00:26:43 And so God didn't wait for us to clean up our act. He knew that the only way that he could help us return to a relationship with God was by him loving us first, even before we would love him. And so God sent his only son, Jesus, to die on a cross and pay the price for you and me. so that we could return to the love of the Father. And all we have to do to receive that love is just accept Jesus as our personal Savior.

Starting point is 00:27:12 I know that there are some of you listening to me right now. You know that in your heart, that's your next step. You've been fighting it for a while, but I can tell you from personal experience, there's nothing, nothing in this world that can take the place of God in our hearts. And so for those of you who are faced with that question, we're faced with that challenge, you can sense that tugging your heart.

Starting point is 00:27:33 I want you to make that decision right now. I want you to say yes to Jesus Christ being the Lord and Savior of your life. And if you're making that decision, I want you to let us know in the chat right now. And I'd love for you to pray this prayer with me. Say this, dear Jesus, I thank you for loving me. Even when I didn't deserve it, you gave your life for me. I pray that you would come into my heart, my life, make me brand new. In this moment, I surrender my life completely to you. And it's in your

Starting point is 00:28:09 name, I pray. Amen. I am so excited for every one of you that just gave your life to Christ. I'm telling you, this is the greatest decision that you will ever make. And like I mentioned before, as your church, we're here for you. I've got some simple next steps for you. All I need you to do is let us know that you made this decision, because we've got some resources that we've created specifically for you to help you as you start this journey with Christ. I also want you to take a note of this time and day. Come back next week because church is going to be happening here, same time, same place, and bring a friend with you because we know whoever finds God finds life.

Life.Church with Craig Groeschel - God, Help Us Unite: Stop the Division

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