Unity
Sermon notes from “Unity,” preached by J.C. Thompson at Brookwood Church, on walking in unity, watching over unity, and working together as the body of Christ.
Gathering in worship
Brookwood, let's lift our praises to our God who protects and provides, the only One worthy of our praise.
The opening worship celebrates Christ as our firm foundation: faithful through generations, present in chaos, and the One on whom we build our lives.
Only Jesus is worthy
Worship continues with praise to Jesus, the Lamb of God. He heals our brokenness and makes our hearts His dwelling place.
The congregation is invited to lift the name of our Lord and Savior above all else.
Prayer and praise
God, You are worthy of everything we could bring. Take these tithes and offerings to advance Your kingdom. May the good news of Christ go forward through our city, state, nation, and beyond.
Worship continues by speaking the name of Jesus over hearts and minds, addiction, fear, anxiety, and families, declaring His power, healing, life, hope, and freedom.
God, thank You for the power in the name of Jesus and for Your presence with us. Move and work through us. Amen.
Community and mission at Brookwood
People shape our lives. We need a community that builds us up spiritually, grieves with us in hard times, and celebrates with us in good times. Small groups help a big church feel small. Brookwood has around 141 groups, and those watching online are encouraged to explore a group and give it a chance.
Brookwood also supports local and global ministry partners. Explore those ministries and take time to pray for one of them. The story of Jesus is too good to keep to ourselves.
Andy and Pam Patterson: Called to serve
Andy and Pam began attending Brookwood in 1996. Their first mission trip was to the Dominican Republic in 2001, helping construct a medical clinic.
God began calling each of them toward missions before they shared it with one another. Both faced fear about going, especially about taking their three children. Through prayer, a trip to Honduras, and further visits to the Dominican Republic, they became convinced God was calling them to serve.
Andy recalls God making clear that this was not something they could take credit for. God would receive the glory.
A continuing relationship
After three years, the Pattersons returned home, but their relationship with the Dominican Republic continued. Leaving children they loved like family was painful, yet they have been able to return and see them grow.
Brookwood has helped build churches, schools, and learning centers, and has served through medical trips, sports camps, and summer camps for children.
Their testimony is that God provides, works through ordinary people even when they doubt, and continues to give them opportunities to serve. A mission trip can change your life.
Unity is not uniformity
I love this church more today than at any point in time I've loved this church.
Unity sounds easy until human beings get involved. When everyone thinks, votes, worships, and sees every issue the same way, that is similarity or uniformity.
Unity is where people who are genuinely different from one another are brought together by something greater than their differences. That is exactly what the gospel and Jesus Christ do.
From what Christ accomplished to how we live
In the first three chapters of Ephesians, Paul explains what Jesus accomplished: we were dead and have been made alive; we were far away and have been brought near. Jews and Gentiles are being reconciled into one new humanity.
Beginning in chapter 4, Paul teaches us to live as though those truths are true. Chapters 1 through 3 give us the why. Chapter 4 begins the how.
The church displays the gospel's power when people who otherwise would have no reason to belong to one another are transformed by Jesus and learn to live together.
Ephesians 1-3
1. Walk in unity
Unity is not something we drift toward. It involves heartfelt effort, slow listening, and all of us joining in the work.
When Paul speaks of walking, he means our overall way of life. Being a Christian is not only something we believe. It is something we live out daily.
Paul is not saying, “Live like this so God will call you.” He is saying, “Because God has called you, live in a way that honors that calling.”
2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
Unity takes relational character
- Humility: Proud people have difficulty with unity.
- Gentleness: Harsh people wound the body of Christ.
- Patience: Learning and growing as followers of Jesus takes time.
- Bearing with one another in love: We make room for God to do His transforming work in people.
Unity does not require perfect people or a perfect church. It requires people learning to walk with Jesus daily and making Him the hero of their story.
17 For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want.
The Spirit empowers us; we take the steps
We cannot produce this life through self-help, AI coaching, or willpower. It is accomplished through the Holy Spirit's work in us.
As the Spirit leads, we respond obediently:
- Repentance over pride.
- Patience over irritation.
- Gentleness over harshness.
- Love over selfishness.
As He transforms us individually into the likeness of Jesus, He also forms us collectively into one functioning body.
A slow, difficult process
Family life and even a Saturday of football in the South remind us that unity does not simply happen. We are passionate people, and conflict comes easily.
Our culture values what is efficient, easy, and simple. Unity can take so much effort and time that we wonder whether it is worth it.
But if we are going to be the people God has called us to be, we must learn to walk in unity. This church is committed to that work.
2. Watch over unity
Paul tells us to keep the unity of the Spirit. If we are to keep it, it already exists.
The Holy Spirit creates unity. Our responsibility is to guard, preserve, and maintain what He has given.
A family we are responsible to love
My sons sometimes find the expectations of the Thompson family difficult. But belonging to our family is not something they must earn. As parents, we still have work to do: loving, nurturing, instructing, and teaching them.
In the same way, God chose to give unity to the church, even though living it out is difficult. We do not manufacture Christian unity. We protect what the Spirit has created.
Christ has made us alive together, torn down the dividing wall, and made us fellow heirs and members of the same body.
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
More in common than what separates us
One body. One Spirit. One hope. One Lord. One faith. One baptism. One Father.
We share these realities with every believer, regardless of background, personality, generation, style, knowledge, or economic standing. Our unity is rooted in the saving work of Jesus Christ.
Guarding unity does not mean treating every issue as equally important. Who God is, who Jesus is, His death and resurrection, and salvation through Christ are central matters. Other disagreements must not become excuses to despise or condemn one another.
3 The one who eats everything must not belittle the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted him.
If God has accepted them
Paul's example concerns believers who disagree about what they may eat. Neither is to treat the other with contempt or judgment.
If God has accepted my brother or sister, what right do I have to treat them as though they do not belong?
Make every effort
The goal is not to demand our own way, make everyone agree with our opinion, or offer a solution we hope will be rejected.
We seek what leads to peace and builds one another up. We ask whether a resolution is good not only for me, but for us and for the church.
Not some effort. Not a one-time effort. Every effort.
Not every disagreement belongs in the same category
We need to distinguish among beliefs that define the Christian faith, beliefs that shape which church we belong to, and matters where Christians may disagree while remaining in close fellowship.
- Essential beliefs: Truths we must agree on to share the same faith in Jesus.
- Secondary beliefs: Matters such as baptism practices, church governance, spiritual gifts, and eternal security may shape where someone worships.
- Other differences: Matters such as the age of the earth, end-times views, and worship preferences need not prevent fellowship.
There are many good churches doing gospel work. If you do not belong at Brookwood, be part of a church. We need the church.
I can disagree and not be a jerk
We know we can love people who support a different sports team or prefer a different kind of barbecue. Yet emotionally charged issues can make disagreement feel like a judgment of our worth.
Sometimes our strongest opinions concern matters where disagreement is permissible. Begin with what matters most: what Jesus accomplished on the cross. Then take a breath and talk through the disagreement.
Watching over unity includes saying, “What you just said is not right. Can we talk about that?” We must learn, and teach younger people, how to discuss important things with care and understanding.
3. Work in unity
Jesus is the source of our gifts and talents, and the Spirit distributes those gifts throughout the body.
We do not all have the same gift, role, or assignment. Thank God He made us different. The church needs people who notice and serve in ways others do not.
8 This is why it says: “When He ascended on high, He led captives away, and gave gifts to men.”
9 What does “He ascended” mean, except that He also descended to the lower parts of the earth?
10 He who descended is the very One who ascended above all the heavens, in order to fill all things.
Different gifts, equal value
Your gift tells you how to serve the body. It does not tell you how much you matter to the body.
Different functions do not mean different levels of worth. Every part belongs, and the parts that may seem weaker are indispensable.
19 If they were all one part, where would the body be?
20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need you.” Nor can the head say to the feet, “I do not need you.”
22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,
Leaders equip; the whole church serves
God calls leaders. Leaders equip the body. God's people minister. The body grows.
Pastors and teachers are not given so that a few gifted people can do everything. They prepare the whole church to serve.
My responsibility as a pastor is to lead, teach, model, organize, and create environments where God's people can use what Christ has given them for the good of the church.
12 to equip the saints for works of ministry and to build up the body of Christ,
13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, as we mature to the full measure of the stature of Christ.
Every part doing its work
Some gifts are public. Others are behind the scenes. Some teach, encourage, serve, organize, sing, lead, give, pray, or show mercy.
All are equal in value. A healthy, mature church is not everybody doing the same thing or a few people doing everything. It is every part doing its own work for the good of the whole body.
15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head.
16 From Him the whole body, fitted and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love through the work of each individual part.
Discovering how you are gifted
Brookwood offers a spiritual gifts assessment. But the best way to discover how you are gifted is to get to work.
Try different ways of serving. Along the way, another member of the body may notice something you do well and help you recognize how God has gifted you.
The Moravians: Different assignments, same mission
In 1727, a small Moravian community in Germany experienced spiritual renewal and committed to continuous prayer. Members took different hours of the day and night. That prayer watch continued for roughly a century.
Beginning in 1732, they sent missionaries to the Caribbean and later across Europe, Africa, Asia, and the American colonies. They served both unreached people and communities in need of gospel renewal.
No one person prayed all day, went to every mission field, or carried the whole ministry. Each did a part. That is Paul's picture of the church: different gifts, responsibilities, and opportunities, with each part doing its work.
Humility makes room for one another
At its most basic, humility means recognizing that we are not God. He is the Creator; we are creatures.
We cannot optimize everything about our lives, and we cannot properly take our place in the church without humility.
Conflict is unavoidable when people work together. The question is how we respond to it.
2 Jesus invited a little child to stand among them.
3 “Truly I tell you,” He said, “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 And whoever welcomes a little child like this in My name welcomes Me.
6 But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.
7 Woe to the world for the causes of sin. These stumbling blocks must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!
8 If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than to have two hands and two feet and be thrown into the eternal fire.
9 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.
10 See that you do not look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of My Father in heaven.
12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost?
13 And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices more over that one sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.
14 In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.
15 If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.
16 But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’
17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, regard him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
18 Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
19 Again, I tell you truly that if two of you on the earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven.
20 For where two or three gather together in My name, there am I with them.”
21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy-seven times!
23 Because of this, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
24 As he began the settlements, a debtor was brought to him owing ten thousand talents.
25 Since the man was unable to pay, the master ordered that he be sold to pay his debt, along with his wife and children and everything he owned.
26 Then the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Have patience with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’
27 His master had compassion on him, forgave his debt, and released him.
28 But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe me!’
29 So his fellow servant fell down and begged him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you back.’
30 But he refused. Instead, he went and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay his debt.
31 When his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and recounted all of this to their master.
32 Then the master summoned him and declared, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave all your debt because you begged me.
33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had on you?’
34 In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should repay all that he owed.
35 That is how My heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”
Working toward restoration
Jesus emphasizes repentance and reconciliation in God's family. His process gives people time to respond, repent, and be restored in their relationship with God and with the church.
Brookwood has seen people leave and later return to worship or serve here. We call it the Brookwood Boomerang effect.
The church should be marked by working with one another in love, not finding ways to cut off relationships as quickly as possible. Restoration can hurt and take longer than we think it should. It requires truth and grace, and it shows the world a different way to handle conflict.
Questions to ask
- Am I walking in a way that protects the unity of this church?
- Am I guarding what the work of Christ has brought together?
- Am I faithfully doing the part Jesus gave me to do for the benefit of the church?
Walk. Watch. Work.
When a church walks together, guards its unity, and each part does its work, the body grows, becomes mature, and builds itself up in love.
Walk in unity. Watch over unity. Work in unity.
Let's become the body of Christ He has called us to be.
A shared ministry responsibility
Brookwood's proposed ministry plan for the 2026–2027 fiscal year is $9.58 million. Those who call Brookwood home are invited to stand in approval.
This is not our money or even Brookwood's money. It is God's money, for His kingdom. Thank you for your generosity. May every dollar be used to glorify and exalt Jesus.
A prayer for unity
The congregation joins hands as a sign of unity in God's family.
Lord Jesus, thank You for the men and women, boys and girls who make up Brookwood Church. Thank You for their love for You and their care.
Be with our families. Allow us to be the people You have called us to be. Make us one. Remind us of Your love for us. Keep us unified. In Christ's name, amen.
Connect with Brookwood
This message is part of the Citizens and Saints series. Those joining online are invited to connect through the Brookwood website or app, find a group, serve, give, or receive prayer.
Brookwood gathers on Sundays at 9 and 11 a.m. Visitors are welcome, and the church looks forward to continuing the series together.
