28 Days: Day 20

• John 17:20-23 (NLT) ²⁰  “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. ²¹  I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. ²²  “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. ²³  I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.

Protecting the Unity of the Fellowship

Here are some ways we can ensure that we protect our fellowship…Focus on what we have in common not our differences:  we share God’s love, salvation, heaven and the grace of God. These are the things we need to focus on.Be realistic in your expectations of your fellow brother or sister.  Dietrich Bonhoeffer says that the real beginning of community is when we realize that no church is perfect and that it is because all of us are imperfect and in need of grace.Choose to encourage rather than criticize each other.Refuse to listen to gossip.Practice God’s method of conflict resolution.  (see Matthew 18:15-17)Support and submit to your spiritual leaders. Today again, as you go to prayer, confess the areas where you have caused the fellowship to weaken and choose today to protect and deepen our fellowship.  Remember as you do this we come one step closer to being a Great Commission Movement.