Lesson 7 for August 17, 2013

UNITY

JESUS’ PRAYER

EXAMPLES OF UNITY

THE BODY

THE BUILDING

COMPONENTS OF UNITY

THE MISSION

THE MESSAGE

ORGANIZATIONREACHING UNITY

“20Hindi lamang sila ang idinadalanginko, kundi sila rin naman na mganagsisisampalataya sa akin sa pamamagitanng kanilang salita;21Upang silang lahat ay maging isa; na gayamo, Ama, sa akin, at ako'y sa iyo, na silanama'y suma atin: upang ang sanglibutan ay sumampalataya na ako'y sinugo mo.22At ang kaluwalhatiang sa aki'y ibinigay mo ay ibinigay ko sa kanila; upang sila'y magingisa, na gaya naman natin na iisa;23Ako'y sa kanila, at ikaw ay sa akin, upangsila'y malubos sa pagkakaisa; upang makilalang sanglibutan na ikaw ang sa akin ay nagsugo, at sila'y iyong inibig, na gaya ko nainibig mo.(John 17:20-23)

Why was so important for Jesus that we may be one, with hearts as one? Could

you relate that with revival?

“12 Sapagka't kung paanong ang katawan ay iisa, at mayroong maraming mga sangkap, at ang lahat ng mga sangkap ngkatawan, bagama't marami, ay iisangkatawan; gayon din naman si Cristo.2727 Kayo nga ang katawan ni Cristo, at bawa'tisa'y samasamang mga sangkap niya. ” (1 Corinthians 12:12, 27)

“The bonds of unity which unite

member with member of the church

are to be as firm and harmonious in

their operation as are the different

parts of the natural body. The

hands, head, and feet are so closely

united, and so mutually

dependent, that one member cannot

live and act independently of the other

members” E.G.W. (Manuscript Releases, t. 19, MR No. 1414, p. 370)

“20Na mga itinatayo sa ibabaw ng kinasasaligan ng mga apostol at ngmga propeta, na si Cristo Jesus din ang pangulong bato sa panulok;21Na sa kaniya'y ang buong gusali, na nakalapat na mabuti, ay lumalagoupang maging isang templong banal sa Panginoon; ” (Ephesians 2:20-21)

How can I be a “living stone”

(2P. 2:5) that helps in making my

church grow in unity?

Our Mission — The mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church is to proclaim to all peoples the everlasting gospel in the context of the Three Angels' messages of Revelation 14:6-12, leading them to accept Jesus as their personal Savior and to unite with His church, and nurturing them in preparation for His soon return.

(Official declaration of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church)

How can sharing one mission and one goal help in building our unity?

Although the mission of the Church has been the same since Jesus commissioned it, the specific message It should highlight has been changing over time, depending on the circumstances.

Peter talked about a “present truth” (2P. 1:12). For the Waldensians, that “present truth” was the study of the Bible and identifying the Catholic Church as Babylon. For Luther and the first Reformers, the highlighted truth was the justification by faith.

Which is the “present truth” for the Adventist Church in the End Time? How can that message lead us to

internal unity?

As a united Church, we must preach the message of:

The Heavenly Sanctuary

The Investigative Judgment

The message of the three angels

“5 Dahil dito'y iniwan kita sa Creta, upang husayin mo ang mga bagay na nagkukulang, at maghalal ng mga matanda sa bawa't bayan, na gaya ng ipinagbilin ko sa iyo; ” (Titus 1:5)

The unity of the Church depended on Its organization from Its very beginning.

1. The authority of the apostles was accepted (Acts 1:12-26)

2. The authority of the deacons was accepted (Acts 6:1-7)

3. When Jesus contacted Saul, He directed him to the organization of the Church (Acts 9:1-19, 26-31)

4. The Church accepted the decisions of the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15:1-31)

5. The elders were accepted as leaders in the local churches (Acts 20: 27-32)

Could we achieve unity if every believer acted independently?

“To provide for the support of the ministry, for carrying the

work in new fields, for protecting both the churches and the ministry

from unworthy members, for holding church property, for the

publication of the truth through the press, and for many other

objects, organization was indispensable…

We sought the Lord with earnest prayer that we might understand His

will, and light was given by His Spirit that there must be order and

thorough discipline in the church—that organization was essential.

System and order are manifest in all the works of God throughout the

universe. Order is the law of heaven, and it should be the law of God’s

people on the earth…

Let none entertain the thought that we can dispense with organization.

It has cost us much study and many prayers for wisdom, that we know

God has answered, to erect this structure. It has been built up by His

direction, through much sacrifice and conflict. Let none of our

brethren be so deceived as to attempt to tear it down, for you will thus

bring in a condition of things that you do not dream of. In the name of

the Lord I declare to you that it is to

stand, strengthened, established, and settled”E.G.W. (Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, cp. 1, pg. 26-27)

The mission, the message and

organization are indispensable for the

unity of the Church. Nevertheless, unity

could not be achieved without the

three elements we already studied.

1. Prayer2. Bible study3. Witnessing

Those are powerful elements that create, foster, and sustain the unity of the church.

AND HAPPAY SABBATH TO ALL