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The following are my Bible study notes based on my pastor's sermon on Unity.

Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. - Ephesians 4:1-6

What is "witnessing?"  Witnessing is sharing the gospel and the power of it and letting God do the rest.  

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity! - Psalm 33:1

Unity in the Body of Christ

 1.  Unity in the church is produced by the Spirit.

A.  Foundation of this unity:

A common family = one body.

A common fountain = one Spirit.

A common future = one hope.

Read Revelations 21 here. 

B.  Functioning of this unity:

A common Master = one Lord.

A common means = one faith.  We are saved by faith.  We are to live by faith.

A common mark = one spiritual baptism.

C.  The Father of this unity:

If we call ourselves Christians, there should be evidence in our lives.

Living the Christian life is not a checklist, but a way of life.

2.  Unity in the church is preserved by the saints.

We are to protect the body and unity of fellowship from harm.

A.  We must walk in honesty.  

Read John 17, the High Priestly Prayer of Jesus, here.

Jesus' prayer was for our unity.  Our calling is to walk in humility and maintain the unity of the body of Christ.

C.  We must walk in holiness.  We give him ashes and he gives us beauty.

My pastor recommends the book Resuscitate:  How to Breathe New Life into a Gasping Church by George A. Thomasson.

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