Unity with different parts

For Youth Group Friday night (6/8/07) we went over the first couple part of Ephesians 4.

First we did a couple games/activities. We played the human knot, which apparently, you need more than 7 people to make it a challenge. I thought it would be a little harder with 7 people, but we figured it out in a couple of minutes. Next we played a game where the group has to work together to create different shapes. We started off easy with a triangle, then went on to more complicated ones, including the shape of the U.S.A.! Hopefully, you see the idea of these games with the themes we studied in Ephesians 4.

Are there people that annoy that are perhaps different than you? We cannot let these things break us apart. A great movie scene that shows this theme is found in Remember the Titans. The Titans have already come back from camp and are about to play their first game. Coach Boone speaks about unity between all the players despite differences, particularly racial divides. He says, "Nothing. Nothing tears us apart." He got them to come together in part by having them spend time together and learn about teammates of another race. That is what we need to do. Pray for our enemies (or those that just annoy us) and make the effort to spend time with them.

The other major theme has to do with our different roles as the body of Christ. A more complete passage on this can be found in I Corinthians 12. There is no way we fulfill the Great Comission (found in Matthew 28:18-20) on our own. Going to all nation, preaching the gospel, making disciples, and discipling believers? No way! We might as well not even try as individuals. But as the body of Christ, we can do so much more and fulfill so many roles to express the fullness of Christ.

Haven't gotten along well with someone lately? See potential in a new friendship or collaboration? Give it up to God. Initiate. The results may surprise you (hopefully for the better!)