Scripture: 2 Samuel 20:1-22
SERMON SUMMARY
If you’re a Christian, your longing for belonging to a unified team is meant to be fulfilled in the church. We have a pure mission to be light in darkness and hope in despair with Jesus, like Jesus, and for Jesus. But desiring a pure thing with a pure goal is never easy. And so, here’s the scary question: Like a rogue player on a court or a stage, what are some of the biggest threats to a church’s unity?
Protecting the unity of God’s family is a bigger deal than most of us think. And here’s why this is such a huge deal. Yes, it’s what we were made for. But also, one of the last things Jesus prays before he’s arrested and goes to the cross is a prayer for our unity. He asks, “Father, may they be one as we are one. So that the world may know that you love them and that you sent me!” And so, we have to take seriously the things that jeopardize our togetherness as the church. Simply put,
What endangers the unity of the people of God?
In 2 Samuel 20, we have a negative snapshot of how to “destroy the heritage of the Lord” (20.19), and how to sow discord among God’s people. As the people of God, we are called to live in purposed unity, but the enemy would love to water it down and poke holes in it somehow. Therefore, we should recognize the things that might compromise the unity God wants for us. And in this odd story, we have three threats to unity.
- Fleeing Rebels (see Sheba in 20.1-2, etc)
- Fighting Rebels (see Joab in 20.7-22)
- Lazy Leaders (see Amasa, Abishai, and especially David)
Ultimately, how does the good news of Jesus apply here? How should it change the bad news of disunity? In what ways should we look to Jesus to bring unity, purpose, and victory for his people? How do the cross and resurrection change how we think about 2 Samuel 20?
*We are a church located in Greenville, South Carolina. Our vision is to see God transform us into a community of grace passionately pursuing life and mission with Jesus.