Unity in the Church: A Reminder We ALL Need | Bible Class

2025-12-28 Bill Arndt Psalm 133:1

Series: Morning Messages

Unity in the church isn't optional—it's commanded by Scripture and prayed for by Christ himself. Drawing from Psalm 133, John 17, Acts 2 and 4, and the Corinthian letters, this Bible class challenges believers to pursue oneness by rejecting division, walking in love, and accepting only what the Bible actually teaches.

Detailed Summary

This Bible class opens with the powerful theme of unity in the church, anchored in Psalm 133:1 ("Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!") and reinforced by Jesus' prayer in John 17:21 that believers "may be one." The speaker makes clear that division persists because people insist on their own way instead of God's way, citing a striking 1922 quote from N.B. Hardeman who declared that dividing the church is worse than physically harming Christ.

From there, the lesson turns to positive examples of unity. Acts 2 and Acts 4 describe the early church as being "of one heart and soul," with believers sharing possessions freely and selling what they had to meet one another's needs. The teaching then contrasts what builds unity—love for the saints, shared faith, and a single mind—with what tears it down: contentions, envy, and lawsuits between brothers. The speaker draws cautionary examples from Corinth and Ephesus, where pride and self-interest fractured local congregations.

The message then lays out the requirements for genuine unity: agreement among believers, walking by the same rule, and teaching that leads to spiritual maturity rather than endless disputes. A weighty 1863 quote closes this section, asserting that true unity comes only when Christians accept what the Bible actually teaches and reject what it does not.

Finally, the speaker urges every believer to guard unity by not adding to or taking away from Scripture, referencing the warnings of Deuteronomy 4 and Revelation 22. Because faith comes by hearing God's Word—not human opinion—Christians must walk according to God's pattern with lowliness, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another in love. Each Christian, the speaker concludes, bears personal responsibility for the unity of the body.