Topical Sermons - Executable Outlines

INTRODUCTION
The Problem Of Religious Division
1. Every disciple who follows Jesus should be concerned with unity among believers...
a. In light of Jesus’ prayer for unity - Jn 17:20-23
b. In light of Paul’s condemnation of division - 1 Co 1:10-13
2. From Jesus and Paul we learn...
a. Unity can be a powerful witness to the world
b. Division is often a mark of carnality and spiritual immaturity - cf. 1 Co 3:3-4
3. Unfortunately, many who claim to follow Jesus...
a. Have not done a very good job in displaying unity
b. Have hindered the cause of Christ at different times and different places
[To illustrate what I mean, let’s take a brief look at...]
I. THE PROBLEM OF DIVISION
A. EXISTED IN THE DAYS OF THE EARLY CHURCH...
1. The church at Corinth - 1 Co 1:10-13; 3:3-4; 11:18
2. The conduct of Diotrephes - 3 Jn 9-10
-- Such turmoil was anticipated by The Parable Of The Tares - Mt 13:24-30,36-43
Mark A. Copeland
B. CONTINUED THROUGHOUT CHURCH HISTORY...
1. With the schisms between Roman and Orthodox churches
2. With the denominational divisions of the Protestant churches, despite statements as:
a. “I ask that men make no reference to my name, and call themselves not Lutherans, but
Christians. What is Luther? My doctrine, I am sure, is not mine, nor have I been
crucified for any one. St. Paul, in 1 Co. 3, would not allow Christians to call themselves
Pauline or Petrine, but Christian. How then should I, poor, foul carcass that I am, come
to have men give to the children of Christ a name derived from my worthless name?
No, no, my dear friends; let us abolish all party names, and call ourselves Christians
after Him Whose doctrine we have.” - Martin Luther
b. “Would to God that all party names, and unscriptural phrases and forms which have
divided the Christian world, were forgot and that the very name [Methodist] might never
be mentioned more, but be buried in eternal oblivion." - John Wesley
c. “I look forward with pleasure to the day when there will not be a Baptist living! I hope
that the Baptist name will soon perish, but let Christ's name last forever.” - Charles
Spurgeon
C. PRESENT IN THE RELIGIOUS WORLD TODAY...
1. As demonstrated by the literally thousands of denominations
2. Even among churches of Christ
a. Whose plea for unity as been a major theme in what makes them distinctive
b. Yet today there have been nearly twenty (20) identifiable divisions in the last 150 years
c. And there have been countless divisions in individual congregations over matters of
Topical Sermons 287