In Pastor Rick Lentz's sermon titled 'The Goal Is Unity,' the primary focus is on the importance of unity within the Christian community. He emphasizes that unity is a vital expression of our relationship with God, and it is achieved through love, as commanded in the Bible. Pastor Lentz discusses the active nature of faith and how it shapes our commitment to love what God loves and hate what He hates. He warns against sins like gossip and slander, which can sow discord and disrupt unity. The sermon highlights the significance of communication and choosing words wisely, as well as the need to avoid division and conflict. Pastor Lentz references various biblical passages, including Proverbs and 1 Corinthians, to underscore the call for Christians to love one another and work towards unity. He concludes by emphasizing the transformative power of faith and repentance, urging believers to strive for a life that honors God and fosters peace within the church community.

I pray that you will just honor both of these signs. That we would look to you the author and finisher of our faith in life. And that we could respond. We just thank you for this opportunity to hear your word, to be encouraged to listen to your soul, to grant this Lord attention to its necessary forgiveness, but also to be accused of the pestilence of the him. In Jesus' name we pray.

We're familiar with, obviously, the Bible, where God so loved the world that he was the only God in heaven. And who soever believed that the name would not perish, but that it would last for a lifetime. And as we conjure that, and as we sung that wonderful hymn that we just passed, singing the part of how marvelous is the love of God, all of us have to come to the place of recognizing all that sin that comes over the story of God. In the wages of that sin with death, you and I deserve death, but it sells the gift of lightness, the eternal lightness in Jesus Christ our Lord, because he died on a television cross to forgive us of our sins. He cleanses us from all our righteousness and to invite us to be children of the Lord.

And we respond to that word of God by faith. Faith is always active. Never passive. Faith isn't something that you die believing. We use that word pretty freely, but It's not just something that a man's direct thought, it's a relationship that we're establishing by faith and faith.

And as we establish that relationship and as we walk in that relationship, We recognize the reality that if you and I have been born again by the Spirit of God, there are some commitments that we make. There are some commandments, Lord, that you and I begin to apply to our hearts and lives so we can be changed and transformed. We're committed to love those things that God loves. We also have to be committed to hate or detest those things that God hates. And that's part of the equation.

So this morning as we look at God's work, we look from the perspective that the goal for God's people is unity. We're going to talk about some things that cause history to be as we will. But we need to lay the foundation from God's word that He desires for you and I to live out an expression of our relationship with Him, this unity. It says, A new commandment I give to you, that you will love one another as I have loved you. That you also love one another.

Interesting how he standards it, isn't it? He said, that you love one another as I have our few that used to love one another, understanding as we just say how marvelous is his love of God. I say in the names. But it's measured by his sacrificial death on Calvary's cross. And it goes on to say that by this all men will know that you're my disciples if you love one another.

This call, the man of dust, our love is expressed in how we relate, how we talk, how we communicate. It goes on and says, but whoever keeps his word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in him. He who says he abides in him, will have himself also to walk just as he walked. Our faith in Christ Jesus, our relationship to our Lord and Savior, is to be given an expression of how we live.

We should have grasped that by now, but sometimes that concept is trying to elude us as we go out and are influenced by the things in the world. God's word says, you who love the Lord hate evil. He preserves the souls of the saints. He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked. It goes on to say that the fear of the Lord is that hate evil, pride, arrogance, and the evil way, and a perverse mouth, I hate.

So God's explaining to us, first of all, you and I are the love of one another, he loved us, but then we are to recognize and hate evil. And we know, I mean if you're awake you understand the evil of this world. It's going to take a rocket science to realize that. But there's some things that are truly, truly abominable in God's eyes. He gives us a list.

He gives us a list in the book of Proverbs. He tells us this, these six things the Lord hates, ye seven are an abomination to him. A prog book, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are stripped and running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies and one who stows discord among the brethren. I want you to notice something in this list. Four out of those seven are things that you and I speak.

And if you really want to look at it out of the heart of what you and I thought, so there's really five out of seven that have to do with how you and I communicate. We read continually that he who orders his conversation of right will actual pour the salvation of God. And I know that conversation in the original language talks about our life, but our life includes how you and I communicate. And as we look at this list, we begin to see God's perspective on how he looks at things. I want to look at this morning just one one portion of that last verse.

He who sows discord among the drug. Proverbs 18.1 says the power of life and death is in the tongue. We should have looked at that when they'll ask Proverbs first about these things that he hates. So we should be choosing our words wisely. We should be thinking about how we talk and how we communicate because from God's Word in his heart it only speaks to unity, to repentance and restoration, never about division, discord, or redemption.

The retro-red Psalm 133 this morning talks about, Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. The end of that Psalm talks about the blessing of that unity is life forevermore. And if you look at that psalm and see what it's talking about, it's talking about the unity that God's people have in love for one another is a message of eternal life. It should be shared. 1st Corinthians talks of this way, he said, Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and the same judgment.

For it has been declared to me concerning you my brethren and those of holy household that there are contentions among you." I just think Paul's gotten the word back that there's some issues in the church in Corinth. And before he comes there, before he addresses them in person, he tells them, I want you to understand how important it is for this unity in the body to be given expression that you're gonna be living stones fit together doesn't say you and I are gonna agree on everything It doesn't say that you and I are going to agree on everything, but it says that we are going to get along, And that we are going to encourage it and then major on the things that you and I agree on. You see, we take in the name, voice of faith by nature. And if we take that seriously, then His Word has to have that rightful place in our hearts and lives. That you and I would be obedient to his calling purpose.

That you and I would follow the commands of Matthew 28, the disciple of the nation, to be the influence, not rather, to rather than be the influence. Paul tells us this in Romans chapter 12, I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God to present your bodies a living sacrifice, wholly acceptable to God which is your reasonable service. Not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God, not conform to this world. If I told you that I saw a lot of discord and contention in the world, would you agree with me? Yeah, That's the ways of the world.

Cause division, cause separation, cause conflict. Because if you can get two people to fight against one another, somebody's gonna have to quote win unquote. But folks, nobody wins in an argument. And nobody's ever argued they're somebody else in the kingdom of God. We have to begin to understand that there's a better way, there's a higher calling that arrives.

Second Peter tells us this, by which we've been given exceedingly great and precious promises that through these you may protect our capabilities of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through love. If you've experienced the love of God that we're saying about, if you've repented of your sins and been forgiven by the shed blood of Jesus Christ and have a relationship with him, then you and I have the power and ability to escape the corruption that's in the world through love. That's our... You and I have to begin to experience and live that. Christianity is relational.

It talks about a relationship to our Heavenly Father, the historic, the shed blood of Jesus Christ. It says in 1 John chapter 1, it says this, But as many as receive him, it will then be the right to become the children of God for those who believe in his name, who were born not of love, nor of flesh, nor of low man, but of God. Born of God by the Spirit of God brings us into a relationship. Christianity is that relationship. It's important that you and I build relationships, not historic relationships.

It's important that we understand the tools and how the enemy purposes to divide and conquer. And he does this by giving and receiving a bad report that caused indention, discord, disunity. Truth form, I want to talk about this one. I shouldn't give you an overhead on this, but I didn't. But the first one I want to talk about is gossip.

And here's the definition. If you're taking notes right this now, Because gossip is sharing information with people who are not part of the problem or part of the solution. It's an important understanding. Gossip, what you and I talk about to one another, is sharing information with people who are not part of the problem or the solution. Now obviously that's got a negative connotation.

I'm not talking about we're going to share a little information with you about our daughter Charlotte who has brain cancer. That's not passive. Passive is that negative information that you and I want to share with somebody. We're not part of the problem, part of the solution. Scripture calls it being a tail bearer.

Scripture talks about being a bad fighter. This is what it says about it. You shall not go about as a tail bearer among your people, nor shall you stand against the life of your neighbor. I am the Lord. In Leviticus.

In the book of Proverbs the words of a gale bearer are like tasty truffles they go down into the innermost innermost body. That's the New King James. I want you to see what the literal translation says. It says, the word of a gale bearer are a self-infected wound, and they have gone down to the inner parts of the heart. Where there is no wood, the fire goes out, and where there is no pale bearer, the strike ceases.

The literal translation once again reads, without wood is fire going out, and without a gale theater of intention, it's easy. We usually participate in gossip from the sin of pride. We wanna know. Oh, I wanna know what the inside stuff, right? And that's just our unconverted natural thought process.

And oftentimes, mistakenly, we think we can be that solution to resolve a problem. Folks, my experience teaches differently. It doesn't work, in a way. But how does it start? How do we get involved in this sin and gossip?

Robert says something very interesting because you and I should take note. It says, one who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless. Another translation just talks about a wise person sees the danger and ends up avoiding it. You and I should have our antennas up about gossip. You and I should have our antennas up to recognize and then respond rightly.

When somebody starts a conversation like this. Did that tell you what I heard about Jim? Sorry, Jim, I just picked that name. Did you hear? Well, our ears is, but we should really recognize this is going to be the beginning of something perhaps you and I are not part of the problem or solution.

And collectively, individually, collectively, the people must come to the commitments before the war, not the preface of it in such conversation. Are we avoided? Well, it's fairly easy. You can just reply, I'm committed to receive only a good report about my brother or sister. How many of you have ever been in a break room?

I'll use that terminology because most of us have been in a break room once a question or two. And there's all sorts of chatter off the walls. But if somebody interrupts that chatter by saying, hey, he's treated me really fairly along the way, then he's kind of going to take a different tone. I'm only committed to giving or receiving a good report about my brother or sister. I don't see you or me as part of the problem or the solution.

I don't know what we're talking about. You and I can end this conversation with this bastard. Our friend, Brian Fife, said what? Nibbitt and the Bugs. Don't get involved, people.

And The other tool that the enemy uses apart from the passive is a term the Bible calls slander. Another definition if you're taking notes I want you to write down. Slander is sharing truthful information with the intent to do harm to another's reputation. Sharing truthful information with the intent to build on through another's reputation. Let me give you a little example of this.

A number of years ago, my wife and I were taking dinner to another couple's house and I had ordered wings. Well, a place that we like to get wings from. It happens to be a tavern. And somebody saw Pastor Rick going into the tavern. Okay.

Truthful information with the intent to do harm. Do you understand what I'm saying? Proverbs says this, whoever hides hatred has lying lips and Whoever spreads slander is a fool. With transliteral translation again, who is covered in hatred with lying lips, and who so speaks against your brother, you slander. Who so is bringing out an evil report is a fool.

You sit and speak against your brother, you slander your own mother's son. Begin to understand how this soul's discord. Begin to understand how this soul's contention. How this separates brothers and sisters. Reputations become destroyed.

I know for myself, and I'm sure I speak for most of the congregation together, there's enough skeletons in my closet to expose them before conversion and after. We all have it. We don't need to share it with somebody else. Sanctification is not instantly. Do you hear me?

People are on a journey. I'm on a faith journey. You're on a faith journey. Some of us are here, Some of us are here, some of us are sanctified in this area of one's life, some of us are sanctified in that area of your life. It's different.

And it's not instant. And we need to give each other grace to be sanctified along the way. I want to read you a quote from a book that I brother gave me this week. Our friend Chapman. Mercy Chapman writes this, The ruin of a kingdom is a little thing in God's sight in comparison to the division among a handful of sinners redeemed by the blood of Christ.

I'm going to read that to you again. Because I believe R.C. Tepp has the heart of God in his quote. He's saying, A ruin of a kingdom is a little thing in God's eyes, in comparison with division among a handful of sinners redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ. God's perspective and even as they would have liked to retain task in their knowledge, God gave them over with the base money to do those things with their neck.

They filled with all unrighteousness, now here's a list, full of envy, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, full of envy, murders, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness, they're whisperers, back fighters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasted, invented for evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful, who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, and not only do the same, but approve of those who practice them." In the middle of this list that you and I would recognize of things that you and I, in this process of being sanctified, would never, quote unquote, commit, he puts whisperers, back fighters, holsters, inventors of the potential. That's how it starts. That's how serious he looks at the sin of gossip and slander. It goes on the same in second Corinthians, Paul is writing, he said, for I fear lest when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish. So he said, here's my concern.

I'm going to come to you and I'm going to see some things that I'm not happy with. And I'm going to respond and you're not going to be happy with me. Because I need to expose, Paula's saying this, this sin in your life. Lest there be contentions, jealousy, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambition, backbiting, whispering, conceits too long, lest when I come again my God will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many who have sinned before and have not repented on Venus." Pornication and rudeness would say Brampton's. Some one or one who so secretly slanders his neighbor him, I destroy.

But when with a haughty look and a proud heart, him I will not adore. He who blows about as an ale bearer, he who reveals secrets, therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips. Psalm 15 has an interesting perspective because it starts out by asking a question, who shall abide in that holy temple, in that holy tavern? And it goes on to say in verse 3, he who does not back fight with his tongue nor does evil to his neighbor nor does take up a reproach against his friend. God is serious people.

You and I have to be serious about what God is serious about. And as we look at the truth of God's word and as we begin to apply it to our hearts and lives, as we recognize the importance of seeking unity and becoming one as He is one, as so runs so red, you and I begin to understand our responsibility in this whole area of our conversation. The easiest solution to the problem is what? Don't begin. Habit 1 says this, if sinners entice the consent thou...

Translation we used to read with the children of the normal said, if you're tempted by sinners, Just say no. But it's such a simple solution. It's such a simple solution to recognize you and I have the grace given ability to just say no. It talks about the proper way. In Matthew chapter 18 it says, Moreover, if your brother sins against you, go tell him his fault, that when you have him alone.

If he hears you, you've gained a brother. It Doesn't say muster up some majority rule. Doesn't say see if your opinion of this guy is right or wrong. That says if you have ought against your brother, If your brother sins against you, repute him. If your repentance, forgive him.

If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day he returns to you saying, I repent, you shall forgive. Saying how you can, you shall forgive. How does that, Huh? You said you were sorry and then you did it again. No, you said you were sorry and I forgave you.

You did it again, you said you're sorry, I forgive you. Seven times in a day. And then tomorrow, When the same thing happens, you and I are tempted to say, you always know that's for that. If we forgive them, it's washed out of blood, it's for that. Jesus.

Now, it's funny, Bia says, Debate your cause with your neighbor. Do not disclose the secret. You've got another. Lest he who hears it expose to shame on your reputation is ruined. So we have God's word telling us how to avoid these sins of passive expending.

If you notice danger coming, beware. Don't be mean. Go to your brother alone. You see him seven times a day if necessary. Without judgment, without comment.

How many times have you and I asked God to forgive us of the same sin? Don't measure me. Forgive others just as Christ has forgiven you, he taught us the cycle of the drink. People ask what works. We serve a Redeemer.

We serve the one who died at Calvary's cross to forgive us of our sins. In that wonderful hymn of O Rock of Ages, it says be of sin the devil pure. Save from wrath. I forgot the words. And make me pure.

And make me pure. And make me pure. Thank you. Save from wrath, we've been forgiven but we have the power and the shed blood of Jesus Christ and his grace and mercy given to us by the Holy Spirit to be pure, to live a life that brings him honor and glory. You and I need to begin the process through repentance.

Repenting to the Lord for violating his principles and precepts and commands. Repenting to the ones who we either gossip against or receive the bad report about. The Holy Spirit is capable of bringing conviction. If you sincerely pray Psalm 139, searching the God. It's not our responsibility to tell others of their necessity.

It's our responsibility to hear from God and receive His forgiveness. If we can dust our sins in the first chance, chapter one, he is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all our rights. I encourage you. Commit before the Lord this morning to only give or receive what he pours, and to take responsibility for the gossip and slander that we've participated in. Paul writes of this way, I therefore, the person of the Lord, to seek you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, of all lowliness and gentleness, of all suffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit in the mind of peace.

Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, Whatever things are lovely, whatever things are a good report, if there's any virtue, if there's anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things. Let our meditations give our heart beyond these things, because every action begins with a thought. That thought you can form captive to the obedience of Christ. In Psalm 86 verse 11 reads this, it keeps me in your way, Lord, I will walk in the truth. Unite my heart with your your name.

Now let me pray this morning that our hearts would be open to your heart, that we could see and respond to your grace and conviction to become the people you called us to become. To see how important it is for brothers and sisters to recognize and embrace one another. To share this thought with one another. I stand amazed and impressed. Lord, how marvelous is your love towards us.

Through your steps, love, we will not only be given forgiveness of sin, but the power to live a resurrected life for me, your honor is Lord. Pray this morning that we will be permitted to love those things that you love and that we may be confirmed to be living with you and that we might keep testimony in our lives, or in that conversation around that we might show forth the praise of Him, call us out of our shoes, our Jewish life, and use this you