This document discusses creating unity within Christian communities faced with increasing divisions in society. It quotes a pastor saying the church should lead on bringing people together to prevent conflict. It also quotes a passage saying love is the only force that can transform enemies into friends. The document advocates reframing discussions to focus on Christians' shared foundational beliefs and pursuing a God-honoring life through the church as the body of Christ defined by love.

1. Miroslav Wolf, Exclusion to Embrace (2002)
“How should we live as Christian communities today faced with
the ‘new tribalism’ that is fracturing our societies, separating
peoples and cultural groups, and fomenting vicious conflicts?”
“If we don’t figure this out, we’re going to war--a social war. And
we’re going to be killing a bunch of people along the way. But
the church ought to be leading the charge to talk.”
Pastor John Larson, Hope Church, commenting on Wolf’s question.
Jeff Chu, Does Jesus Really Love Me? (2013)
“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.”

2. Reframing the Discussion
From its inception, Christianity has been defined by those who choose to follow
Christ, clinging tightly to the foundational truths that Jesus both revealed and
exemplified, especially during times of great uncertainty, stress and disagreement.
SIN
We’re all in the
same sinking
boat but Jesus
proved he loves
us all
HOLINESS
Each Christian has
chosen to pursue a
God-honoring life, but
it’s far from simple or
without snags
CHURCH
A radically diverse
Body of grateful,
reconciled, mutually
submitting brothers
and sisters in Christ
LOVE
The No.1 distinctive
expected of every
Christ-follower; must
be unexpected and is
often uncomfortable
July 20th July 27th TODAY August 11th

3. Congregational Discernment Process
Why have we told ourselves that we don’t need to apply these
Christian truths to fellow believers who are lesbian, gay, bisexual,
or transgender?
What would life together in Christ look like if we did apply these and
how would we go about figuring that out together as the Body of Christ?
SIN
Because God
sees them as
much more
sinful than us?
HOLINESS
Because they aren’t as
committed to living
God-honoring lives as
we are?
CHURCH
Because being
LGBTQ disqualifies
them from being part
of Christ’s body?
LOVE
Because Jesus doesn’t
expect us to love
anyone who makes us
uncomfortable?

4. All Included in God’s
New Family
A Grateful and Mutually Submitting
F A I T H V I L L A G E

5. “The Household of God”EPH219-22 That’s plain enough, isn’t it?
You’re no longer wandering exiles. This
kingdom of faith is now your home country.
You’re no longer strangers or outsiders. You
belong here, with as much right to the name
Christian as anyone. God is building a
home. He’s using us all—irrespective of
how we got here—in what he is building. He
used the apostles and prophets for the
foundation. Now he’s using you, fitting you
in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Christ
Jesus as the cornerstone that holds all the
parts together. We see it taking shape day
after day—a holy temple built by God, all
of us built into it, a temple in which God
is quite at home. (MSG)

6. “The Household of God”
•The Foundation:
Saved by Grace
•The Core Nature:
Reconciliation, Unity & Peace
•The Function:
Healthy Practices & Ethics
welcome!
Faith Village
welcome!

7. Being a member of the
Household of God is
God’s gift to everyone
who believes in Jesus.
EPH28 For it is by grace you
have been saved, through faith—
and this is not from yourselves,
it is the gift of God— 9 not by
works, so that no one can boast.

8. Most golfers don’t have a prayer
of ever playing “Amen Corner.”

9. Where there were two, now there is one.
EPH213 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near
by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups
one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his
flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself
one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile
both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.
Where there was hatred, now there is peace.

10. GENTILESThe Jew had a low estimate of the Gentile's character.The most vile and unnatural
crimes were imputed to Gentiles.They considered it not safe to leave cattle in their
charge, to allow their women to nurse infants, or their physicians to attend the sick,
nor to walk in their company, without taking precautions against sudden attacks.
The Gentiles should, as far as possible, be altogether avoided, except in cases of
necessity or for the sake of business.They and theirs were defiled; their houses
unclean, as containing idols or things dedicated to idols.Their feasts and their joyous
occasions were polluted by idolatry.You could not leave the room if a Gentile was in
it because he might, carelessly or on purpose, defile the wine or food on the table, or
the oil and wheat in the cupboard.
Under such circumstances, everything must be regarded as unclean.
Household of God = United Diverse New Family Members

11. Very real differences remain, but
they NO LONGER PREVENT US
from being brothers and sisters in
the NEW FAMILY that Christ
created by dying on the cross for
all our sins.
UNCOMMON
U N I T Y

12. “The Household of God”
•The Foundation:
Saved by Grace
•The Core Nature:
Reconciliation, Unity & Peace
•The Function:
Healthy Practices & Ethics
welcome!
Faith Village
welcome!

13. This Is Really Possible!
EPH42 Christ-like CHARACTER (fruit of the Spirit)
EPH51-2 Watch what God does, and then you do it, like
children who learn proper behavior from their parents.
Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him
and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His
love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in
order to get something from us but to give everything of
himself to us. Love like that. (MSG)
EPH521 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

14. 1Cor134 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no
record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always
protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails.
Arises from hearts overflowing with gratitude.
What Does Mutual Submission Look Like?
Able to put the concerns of others before your own.
Unafraid to give away positional power.

15. “The Household of God”
Faith Village
welcome!
A Grateful
& Mutually
Submitting
Faith Village