Turn on your cookies for the best browsing experience.

This site uses cookies to store information on your computer.

These cookies are essential to make our site work. We use cookies for a variety of reasons, including giving and content preferences.

Instructions to turn on your browser cookies:

https://www.whatismybrowser.com/guides/how-to-enable-cookies/auto

Sign In

Sign in for a personalized experience.

Connect
Grow
Serve
Care
Watch
Give
    I'm New Care Grow Serve Watch Give
  • Locations

    • USA
    • Anaheim, CA
    • Brea, CA
    • Eastvale, CA
    • En Español, CA
    • Irvine North, CA
    • Irvine South, CA
    • Laguna Woods, CA
    • Lake Forest, CA
    • Los Angeles, CA
    • Newport Mesa, CA
    • Rancho Capistrano, CA
    • San Clemente, CA
    • San Diego, CA
    • South Bay, CA
    •  
    • International
    • Berlin, Germany
    • Buenos Aires, Argentina
    • Hong Kong, China
    • Santa Rosa, Philippines
    •  
    • Venues
    • Irvine South Chinese Venue
    •  
    • Online
    • Community
    • Adult Service
    • Students Service
    • Kids Service
    • Get Directions
    Get Directions
  • About

    • Connect
    • New Start with God
    • About Jesus
    • Our Pastor
    • Our Church
    • Join Our Family
    • Home@Saddleback
    • Career Opportunities
    • Internships
    • Contact
  • Care

    • Explore
    • Counseling
    • Support Groups
    • Celebrate Recovery
    • PEACE Center
    • Hospital Visitation
    • Career Coaching
    • Mental Health
    • Personal Finances
    • Prayer
  • Events

    • All Events
    • Baptism
    • CLASS 101 - 401
    • Celebrate Recovery
    • Adult Trainings
    • Care & Support
    • Kids & Parents
    • National & Global
    • Local Community
    • Sports & Physical Health
    • Special Events
  • Watch

    • All Media
    • Adult Service
    • Students Service
    • Kids Service
    • Current Series
    • Small Group Studies
    • DriveTime Devotionals
    • The Well
    • Doable Discipleship
    • Campus Photos
    • Apps
  • Small Groups

    • Explore
    • Find a Group
    • Start a Group
    • Study Materials
    • Manage My Groups
  • Grow

    • Explore
    • CLASS
    • The Well
    • Doable Discipleship
    • Foundations
    • Message Resources
    • Retreat Ministry
    • Recommended Books
  • Serve

    • All Opportunities
    • Serve in the Church
    • Serve at an Event
    • Serve the Community
  • Ministries

    • All Ministries
    • Ministry Quiz
    • Men
    • Women
    • Singles
    • Marriages
    • Parents
    • College
    • High School
    • Jr. High
    • Children
    • Workplace
  • Mission

    • Explore
    • Get Inspired
    • Get Involved
    • Get Equipped
    • PEACE Center
    • Relief
    • Grocery Distribution
    • Food Pantry
  • Give

    • Tithe
    • Beyond the Tithe
    • 2021 Annual Review

My home campus

Select a Campus
View All Locations×
      • Home
      • >
      • Connect
      • >
      • Articles
      • >
      • Message Resources
      • >
      • Fulfilling Christ’s Vision

      Resource Details

      My Part In Fulfilling Christ’s Vision

      Rick Warren | January 31, 2021

      Unity is the soul of God's fellowship, the church. God doesn't want you to merely tolerate other Christians; he wants you to be united with them. In this message, Pastor Rick Warren continues our series on vision by providing four ways you can be an agent of unity in the church.

      Message Action Plan

      Message Action Plan

      Three Essential Questions

      After watching the message take some time reflect on the following three questions.  

      1. What did you hear? What point in this message was most impactful for you?
      2. What do you think? How did this message challenge, change, or affirm your thinking?
      3. What will you do? How will you put into practice what you've learned today?

      THE BIBLE: WHY UNITY IN CHRIST'S CHURCH IS SO IMPORTANT

        1. My unity with other believers is the proof that I'm saved.
        2. The Trinity is our model for unity.
        3. Jesus' last prayer was that members of his church would live in unity.
        4. God gives us his glory so we'll be united.
        5. Our unity is our greatest witness to unbelievers.
        6. Unity removes fear and creates boldness.
        7. When a church is truly unified, everybody's needs are met.
        8. Baptism and communion are visible signs of unity.
        9. Focusing on our common purpose creates unity.
        10. Unity begins when we realize we're incomplete without each other.
        11. Jesus died to unite us, not divide us.
        12. Jesus expects me to work hard at unifying Christians.

      HOW CAN I BE AN AGENT OF UNITY IN MY CHURCH?
       
      1.  FOCUS ON WHAT WE SHARE, NOT OUR DIFFERENCES

      "Let us concentrate on the things which create harmony and the growth of our fellowshiptogether." Rom. 14:19 (Ph)
       
      "There is only one Body and one Spirit, and we have been called to one hope. There is only one Lord,one faith, one baptism, and only one God, who is the Father of us all, who is over all, is through all and is in all." Eph. 4:4-6
       

      "Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don't see things the way you do. And don't jump all over them every time they do or say something you don't agree with . . .They have their own history to deal with. Treat them gently." Rom. 14:1 (MES) 
       
      "Let there be real harmony so there are no divisions in the church. I plead with you to be of one mind, UNITED in thought and purpose." 1 Cor. 1:10b (LB)
       
      Action Plan: With your family and/or friends, maybe during dinner, have each person share 1 thing they share (have in common) with someone else around the table.  Go around until everyone shares 3 things. 
       
      2. REALIZE I MUST CONTINUALLY WORK AT UNITY

      "MAKE EVERY EFFORT to keep the unity of the Spirit. Bind yourselves       together by living in peace with each other." Eph. 4:3

      • DON'T BRING WORLDLY VALUES INTO THE CHURCH

        "You're acting (in the church) the same way unbelievers act in the world!      The proof of your immaturity is your arguing and quarreling and the     divisions you've created. That proves you still belong to the world and are     living by worldly values! When one of you says, 'I support Paul,' and      another says, 'I support Apollos,' you're acting like unbelievers, not like     Christ. Is Apollos important? No! Is Paul important? No!" 1 Cor 3:3-5a  
         
      • DON'T GET SUCKED INTO THE WORLD'S FIGHTS

        "Jesus said, 'My kingdom is NOT of this world. If it were, my servants would fight . . .'"  John 18:36a (NIV) 

        "Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because      you know they produce quarrels. The Lord's servant must never quarrel;    instead, you must be kind to everyone, able to teach, and patient with     everyone. You must be humble, gently teaching those who oppose the     truth."   2 Tim 2:23-25 

      Action Plan:  Are you in conflict with someone? Take a moment and reflect on what the conflict is about, what are your personal issues.  Are your issues real or are you just finding how you are different?  Now write down how you are similar.  Speak with that person and focus on how are you are similar, not how you may be different.

      3.BE REALISTIC IN MY EXPECTATIONS 

      "Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love."   Eph 4:2b (NLT)
       
      "Most of all, let love guide your life, for THEN the whole church will stay together inperfect harmony."  Col. 3:14 (LB)
       
      "Love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything." 1 Peter 4:8 (MES) 
       

      4. OFFER ENCOURAGEMENT INSTEAD OF CRITICISM

      "Let's use ALL our energy in getting along with each other. Help each otherby using encouraging words; Don't drag others down by finding fault."  Rom. 14:19-20a (MES)  
       
      "A wise, mature person is known for his understanding. The more  pleasant his words, the more persuasive he is." Prov. 16:21 (TEV) 

      "You've been called to live in freedom — not freedom to indulge your selfish nature, but freedom to serve each other in love. God's entire law is summed up in 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' But you keep biting and devouring each other and tearing eachother apart, you will be destroyed by each other." Gal. 5:13-15
       
      Action Plan:  This week, reflect on a moment that you had an opportunity to offer encouragement but instead chose criticism.  Ask God to show you how you could have taken that moment and used encouraging words. If possible, you may want to speak with that person again and encourage them.
       

      Weekly Action Steps

      We recommit our lives to Jesus Christ. Text NEWSTART (1 word) to 99000 or email newstart@saddleback.com 

      We express our gratitude to God for his goodness by giving back to him. Your generosity online is feeding tens of thousands of out-of-work families and serving many other needs. Give at Saddleback.com/give

      We meet in small groups online to discuss what we've heard. To join a group, text SMALLGROUP to 99000 or email SMALLGROUP@saddleback.com.

      Listen to our new Doable Discipleship podcast season, "Politics and the Church" at Saddleback.com/learn

      More from this series

      More from this series

      The Awesome Power of Vision
      January 3 - March 14, 2021
      • What Seeds Will You Plant This Spring?
        March 14, 2021
      • Open For Business!
        March 7, 2021
      • The Road To R.E.C.O.V.E.R.Y.
        February 28, 2021
      • Finding God in the Desert of the Soul
        February 21, 2021
      • Freedom From Offense
        February 14, 2021
      • Maintaining Harmony In My Home, Small Group, And Church
        February 7, 2021
      • My Part In Fulfilling Christ’s Vision
        January 31, 2021
      • Christ’s Vision: A Unified Family
        January 24, 2021
      • When You Need A Fresh Start
        January 17, 2021
      • Seeing Your Future With Faith, Not Fear
        January 3, 2021
      Back To Top
      • sign in
      • contact us
      • privacy policy
      • career opportunities
      • internships
      • mobile app
      © 2022 Saddleback Valley Community Church