Love One Another: a sermon series for divisive times
Love One Another: Becoming the Church Jesus Longs For
A sermon series on Unity in the Church
In the midst of divisive times like these, it’s not unusual for the church to struggle with its identity. To whom do pastors turn for wisdom? Sometimes ones denomination is helpful. But even inside one’s theological home, there can be disagreement. So where or to whom do we turn?
Good readers, let us remind ourselves that this is not new territory for the church. From the earliest days of the Christian faith, people have struggled to be faithful to what Jesus longed to be true among us. Ethnic strife was common. Social elitism was too. Governance (how the church should be run) was a disagreeable topic. Generosity had to be taught. How to agree to disagree on non-essential matters was a leadership skill that had to be built.
We know these things to be so, because church leaders kept accounts of their times in their correspondences. In the Apostles letters we get to see the Gospel of Jesus Christ being introduced in new places. As the Gospel tooks root in different cultures we see that disagreements spring up. And we watch the church sort itself out. This record of the pioneering of church life is a gift for divisive times, like ours.
Every interim and transitional pastor needs to have at-ready the resources to craft a sermon series on how to love one another while disagreeing. Here’s an outline of a recent series I participated in.
May the Spirit bless and stir in you wisdom, energy, imagination, creativity, and love, to call the church to be what Jesus longed for us. This day. And every day. Amen.
Week One “Laying Down Our Lives for One Another”
We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us - and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. 1 John 3:16(NRSV)
Love, Unity, and the Pursuit of Truth, a sermon by elder Uli Chi
Week Two “Mutually Encouraging One Another”
First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed through the world. For God, whom I serve with my spirit by announcing the gospel of his Son, is my witness that without ceasing I remember you in my prayers, asking that by God’s will I may somehow at last succeed in coming to you. For I am longing to see you so that I may share with you some spiritual gift to strengthen you - or rather so that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. Romans 1:8-12 (NRSV) and 2 Corinthians 4:1-16.
Why We Need the Global Church and Why the Global Church Needs Us, a sermon by Marilyn Borst, Associate Director for Partnership Development of the Outreach Foundation, with focus on our Presbyterian family in Syria.
Week Three “Welcome One Another”
May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. Romans 15:5-7 (NRSV)
Welcome and Commend One Another, a sermon by Rev. Shari Monson
Week Four “Wait for One Another”
So then, my brothers and sisters, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. If you are hungry, eat at home, so that when you come together, it will not be for your condemnation. About the other things, I will give instructions when I come. 1 Corinthians 11:33-34 (NRSV)
Wait for One Another, a sermon by Rev. Jon Saur, see entire passage about honoring the Lord’s Supper as the body of Christ.
Week Five “Generous on Every Occasion”
The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work. As it is written,
“He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.”
He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us; for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God. Through the testing of this ministry you glorify God by your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ and by the generosity of your sharing with them and with all others, while they long for you and pray for you because of the surpassing grace of God that he has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
How to be Generous on Every Occasion, a sermon by Rev. Shari Monson on the topic of Christian stewardship of resources entrusted to our care.
Week Six “Awe Came Over Everyone” on the occasion of Pentecost
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each.
“You that are Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know— this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law. But God raised him up, having freed him from death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power.
Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.”
Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved. Acts 2:1-6, 22-24, 36-39, 43-47 (NRSV)
“Awe Came Over Everyone” a Pentecost sermon by Rev. Shari Monson on the intersection of hospitality, imagination, and repentance.
Week Seven “Stir One Another Up”
And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25 (NRSV)
“Stir One Another Up” by seminarian Rachel Morris, Director of Worship, Music, and the Arts.
See also: Love one another John 13:31-35; Console (comfort) one another 2 Corinthians 1:3-4; Serve one another Galatians 5:13-14; Be subject to one another Ephesians 5:21; Bear one another’s burdens Galatians 6:2; Forgive one another Colossians 3:12-13; Admonish one another Colossians 3:16; Encourage and build one another up 1 Thessalonians 5:11; Confess sin and pray for one another James 5:13-15.
Love One Another Becoming the Church Jesus Longs For, by Gerald L. Sittser, IVP Press, 2008, has been a key resource for this series on several occasions.
Video resources: The Bible Project New Testament Letters offers shareable resources on historical context, literary style, and more about the letters.
Ideas for this series come from various preaching contexts at Hamblen Park Presbyterian Church (2016), West Side Presbyterian Church (2018) and John Knox Presbyterian Church (2019).
How do you set a welcoming table in divisive times like these?
