11.10.243 Sermon Notes Unity. Humility. Hope. *I need to begin with a disclaimer. I am not talking about Unity with hateful false prophets, those that take Jesus’ name in vain. Jesus says: Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?’ 23 Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.’ – Matthew 7:21-23 Jesus warns us of wolves in sheep’s clothing: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.”* – Matthew 7:15 There are hateful, hurtful things that have been said that must be called out as sin and require repentance. When I speak of unity, I am talking about unity with those of us here, that share the same values, and seek to walk in Christ-like love, or with our families, friends, and neighbors. We may vote different or disagree about policy, but we have much more in common than not. The poisonous seeds of division (whether from the world or false prophets) that have infected our culture have not spared faithful Christians in the Church. I speak of unity among those who share the common value of Jesus: to love our neighbors as ourselves. SERMON NOTES: A bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. - Isaiah 42:3 What Unites Us? I believe that serving unites us. I believe that worship unites us. Humility fuels our superpower – uniting us by shifting our perspective in life-changing ways. God’s kingdom does not come by fighting and winning. God’s kingdom comes by teaching and serving. There are two things we must lean into with one another to create unity and hope: Fears - Whether or not a person’s fears are objectively true. That person's feelings of fear are absolutely true. Values - When we talk about real people and specific issues, we often find that although we vote different and may disagree on policy, we may still share the same values. (And hopes and dreams for our world) Challenge for the Week: Is there someone you love and trust enough that you can have this kind of conversation? Talk and seek to truly understand and honor their feelings of fear. Not to change their mind, not to coerce, but to love. Some Steps to Guide Us: Listen to fears. Understand. Empathize. Validate. Listen to love and to understand, not to convince or change. Be Compassionately Curious: Find common ground and common values. Hold fast to humility. Reject the temptation to blame. Helpful Tools and Resources I have found several people and resources that are doing incredible work of trying to bridge the gap and help us find common ground (and understanding) across the divide. So much of our division comes because we can choose what information (‘news’) to receive and to ignore. I have found these people and their resources immensely helpful in checking my own bias and helping me listen beyond my bubble. Sharon McMahon https://sharonmcmahon.com Podcast Conversation with Carey Nieuwhof Jessica Yellen https://newsnotnoise.com Podcast Episode with Sharon McMahon Media Bias Chart https://adfontesmedia.com/interactive-media-bias-chart/