Stop the Division - God, Help Us Unite

One Enemy, One Mission

Scripture References

Primary Text

• 1 Corinthians 1:10
• John 17:20
• John 13:34-35

Other References

• Ephesians 6:12
• John 10:10
• Romans 15:5-7

Overview

2020 has exposed and widened cultural, racial, and even church-wide rifts. The message calls believers to refuse those divisions and stand shoulder-to-shoulder around Jesus. Paul begs the church to have “no schisms,” and Jesus prays that His followers would be “one.” Our unity becomes possible when we recognize a single enemy—Satan—and rally around a single mission—making disciples through Christ-like love.

Main Points

The Year of Deepening Divides

• COVID-19 shutdowns, economic loss, and politicized responses have pitted people against each other.
• High-profile deaths of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and George Floyd further exposed racial pain.
• Even within churches: “Keep the church open, where’s your faith!” vs. “Closing is reckless!”
• The devil rejoices when believers tear at each other.

Paul’s Plea: No Schism in the Body

• 1 Corinthians 1:10 – Paul “appeals” that believers agree and have “no divisions.”
• Greek word schisma: a split, tear, ripping apart.

• Illustration: Speaker physically rips a garage-sale style portrait of Jesus to picture what infighting does to Christ’s body.

Jesus’ Prayer for Oneness

• John 17:20 – Jesus asks the Father that future believers “may be one.”
• Purpose: unified disciples help the world see God’s love and believe the gospel.

One Enemy Unites Us

• Ephesians 6:12 – Our struggle is not against “flesh and blood.”
• The church down the street, the person with a different Bible version, skin color, or political view is not the enemy.
• John 10:10 – The thief (Satan) comes to steal unity, kill churches, and destroy witness.

• Story: Rival college fraternities instantly united when both were egged by the baseball team— a common enemy created solidarity.

One Mission Unites Us

• Jesus’ Great Commission (quoted verbally) frames our shared assignment: “Go and make disciples… baptizing them….”
• The church should be known for what it is for—love, grace, mercy, generosity—rather than what it is against.
• John 13:34-35 – The world will recognize Jesus’ followers by their love for one another.

Living the Unity: Accept One Another

• Romans 15:5-7 – With “one mind and one voice” we glorify God by accepting each other.
• Greek picture: open arms pulling someone close, taking them by the hand to walk together.
• We accept others “just as Christ accepted you” — He died for us “while we were still sinners.”

Where Unity Starts: Put the “I” in the Right Place

• A wedding typo turned “united” into “untied.”
• When the “I” (my preferences, my pride) is out of place, relationships unravel.
• Unity begins with personal humility: “I need to do my part.”

Key Truths

• Division in the church rips apart the very body meant to shine Christ’s light.
• Satan is the single enemy seeking to steal unity, kill churches, and destroy witness.
• The church’s single mission is to make disciples through the love and message of Jesus.
• The world will recognize true disciples not by doctrine debates or social media posts but by observable, sacrificial love.
• Accepting others as Christ accepted us requires open-armed, walk-together commitment, even amid deep differences.

Response

• Recognize spiritual warfare; refuse to treat people as the enemy.
• Guard conversations and posts from divisive, dismissive language.
• Prioritize the Great Commission above secondary preferences.
• Practice visible acts of love—serve, give, forgive, speak grace.
• Pull someone different from you “close” this week and walk with them as a companion.

Closing

Believers stand at a crossroads: remain splintered and ineffective, or become the generation that answers Jesus’ prayer for oneness. The Spirit who raised Christ lives in us, making unity—and world-changing love—possible.

“They will know that we’re followers of Jesus by the way we love one another.”

Prayer

Father, help us show Your love and make You known. Unite us by Your Spirit so the world sees Jesus in our compassion and grace. In His name, Amen.