Archive for July, 2015
Return to Unity
“How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony.” (Psalm 133:1, HCSB)
“Teamwork makes the dream work.” Have you ever heard that phrase? Sometimes it’s spoken in a sort of pseudo-seriousness when things go south or a bad team plays worse. Other times it’s an accurate description of unity.
Teamwork makes the dream work.
Renewal and Revival Lead to Unity
Few things are more frustrating in the Christian life than when believers in Jesus, especially those in the same church, are not living in unity. Christians out of unity are like constant fingernails on a blackboard. They are a hindrance to the body and a displeasure to the Lord.
One of the sure results of revival or renewal is unity. People who were at odds are repentant and reconciled. People who weren’t speaking cannot stop praying for and with each other.
Unity is Necessary to fulfill our Mission
Unity is necessary for a church to fulfill its mission. A yoke of oxen or team of horses pulling in different directions will make it impossible to complete the task at hand. There must be a common direction, common goal, common task, and usually a common leader. As I noted in Bible Studies for Life, “Walking with Christ brings us together in unity and purpose.”1 Followers of Jesus need to follow Jesus, and we need to follow Jesus together.
The early church was a people of unity. They had to be. Disunity had to be dealt with immediately, whether a doctrinal issue (like the Judaizers) or a practical issue (ministering to widows). Unity was essential for the mission.
Unity as a Natural Outflow
Unity in the early church went far beyond unity of behavior, or simply unity toward a goal. They were unified in their very lives. Unity was a natural outflow of their love for each other and for God. Scripture records, “For there was not a needy person among them, because all those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostle’s feet. This was then distributed for each person’s basic needs.”2
Among those early believers, unity extended far beyond what we normally consider “unity in the church.” They were unified in how they lived their lives to the point of sharing their possessions to meet each other’s physical needs.
Paul alluded to this kind of commitment in 1 Thessalonians 2:8: “We cared so much for you that we were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us” (HCSB). Paul’s strategy for spiritual growth included what we might call total life immersion. He didn’t do “hit-and-run” preaching. He shared his life with the Thessalonian believers alongside sharing the gospel. Being together clearly meant something to Paul.
Unity of life far surpasses unity that exists only to reach goals or ministry objectives. In fact, goals and ministry objectives themselves should flow out of relationships that are unified. When everyone is on the same page with Jesus, it is much easier to be on the same page with each other.
Now is the Time to Lead,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Senior Pastor, Cross Church
General Editor, Bible Studies for Life
President, Southern Baptist Convention
References
1– Bible Studies for Life, Awake, Ronnie Floyd
2– Acts 4:34-35 (HCSB)
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.
See You in St. Louis: Southern Baptist Convention, June 14-15, 2016 #SBC16
Coming off our largest convention meeting since 2012 in New Orleans, our Southern Baptist Family begins to dream and cast the vision for our next gathering in 2016 in St. Louis, Missouri. More importantly than the size of our gathering in Columbus, our great and mighty God met with us powerfully. We are building on what God started in Columbus, Ohio, last year as we continue to call daily and continually for the next Great Awakening in America.
Save the Date: June 14-15, 2016
Will I see you in St. Louis on June 14-15, 2016, for our Southern Baptist Convention? Please mark your calendar now for this upcoming and dynamic experience with our Southern Baptist Family.
Pastors and church leaders, set your calendars now for this gathering. Make these dates non-negotiable and decide now to be in St. Louis for our 2016 Southern Baptist Convention and bring people with you.
See the Vision: Get Metro St. Louis on Your Heart
Metropolitan St. Louis needs the saving message of Jesus Christ. Our nearly 2,000 Southern Baptist churches in Missouri need the encouragement of our greater Southern Baptist Family.
Why should we see the vision of metro St. Louis?
- 2.73 million people live in metro St. Louis
- 1 out of 7 Missourians live in metro St. Louis
- 50.9% of the population is unaffiliated with any religious body
- Only 17.9% of the population of metro St. Louis is affiliated with an evangelical church
- St. Louis is one of our SEND Cities. Watch this to learn more.
Southern Baptists, how do we not go and make a difference in metro St. Louis? You see, when we speak of metro St. Louis, we are also talking about East St. Louis, Illinois. Two states will be impacted by our gathering next year.
How can your church participate in Crossover St. Louis a few days ahead of our convention? They will be able to assist new church plants or help established churches. This all leads up to the major Crossover event on Saturday, June 11. Then, your church members can stay and attend our convention on June 14-15. Please strongly consider this.
Stand Together With Us to Reach the World
When you fly or drive into St. Louis, you will notice the Gateway Arch as you enter the city. It stands 630 feet wide and 630 feet tall. This remarkable structure has been known historically as America’s gateway to the West, with St. Louis the Gateway City.
In 2016, Southern Baptists need to converge on this city from all over the world and see it as our gateway to reach the world for Jesus Christ. Stand with us!
Seven Reasons to Come to St. Louis on June 14-15, 2016
- We need to be with our family, our Southern Baptist Family.
- We need to be inspired to believe again that God can give us the next Great Awakening so we can be the generation that reaches the world for Christ.
- We need to hear the Word of God proclaimed, pray and worship together by the thousands, and have our spiritual lives set on fire again.
- We need to hear the wonderful testimonies and reports about what God is doing across America and the world through our work together.
- We need to hear how our church’s financial investment in the Cooperative Program and Mission Offerings is being used to share the gospel.
- We need to be encouraged to know that when we are together and working together there is hope in America and this world.
- We need to join together by the thousands as we pray for our nation at this critical time, calling out to God to revive His church and bestow upon us the next Great Spiritual Awakening so we can reach the world for Christ.
Now is the time for Southern Baptists to lead. Let these words encourage your life today, as you lead others into the future:
“An awakening can bring about the evangelization of the world in our generation.” (Dr. Billy Graham)
“The one who mobilizes the Christian church to pray, will make the greatest contribution to world evangelization in history.” (Andrew Murray)
God is not finished with Southern Baptists, America, or the world.
See You in St. Louis!
Ronnie W. Floyd
Senior Pastor, Cross Church
President, Southern Baptist Convention
*******
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is currently serving as the President of the Southern Baptist Convention. The Southern Baptist Convention is America’s largest Protestant denomination with more than 15.7 million members in over 46,000 churches nationwide.
To request an interview with Dr. Ronnie Floyd
contact Gayla Oldham at (479) 751-4523 or email gaylao@crosschurch.com.
Visit our website at http://ronniefloyd.com
Follow Dr. Floyd on Twitter and Instagram @ronniefloyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.