Make Us One
The Power of Unity: When Jesus Becomes Higher Than Everything Else
In a world fractured by division, where hatred seems to simmer just beneath the surface of every conversation, there's a revolutionary truth that has the power to heal what's broken: the blood of Jesus is the only force strong enough to make enemies into family.
This isn't just theological theory. It's a historical reality that played out in one of the most remarkable communities the world has ever seen—the church at Antioch.
When Different Worlds Collided
Picture the first century. Jews and Gentiles couldn't have been more different. They ate differently, dressed differently, spoke differently, and worshiped differently. Most Jews considered Gentiles detestable—dirty, demonized, untouchable. The feeling was mutual. These weren't just cultural preferences; this was deep-seated hostility that had festered for generations.
Even after Jesus' resurrection, early Christians—most of whom were Jewish—only shared the gospel with other Jews. The divisions ran that deep. The prejudices were that ingrained.
But then something extraordinary happened in Antioch.
Some believers broke through the barriers. They preached Jesus to "the others"—the ones who were different, the ones who were considered undesirable. And when people from radically different backgrounds encountered the gospel, something miraculous occurred: they became one.
Acts 11:26 reveals something profound about this community. It was the first place believers were called "Christians." Not Jews. Not Gentiles. Not Hellenists. Every human identifier that had previously defined and divided them took a back seat to one overwhelming reality: they belonged to Jesus.
The Secret to Supernatural Unity
What was the key to this unprecedented unity? It wasn't a political platform. It wasn't a social program. It wasn't compromise or pretending differences didn't exist.
The answer was simple yet profound: Jesus was higher than everything else.
Every single person—whether Jew or Gentile, slave or free—had to come through the same door. They were all fallen people who needed the blood of Jesus. And when they entered through that door, the only thing that defined them on the other side was the cross.
This wasn't empty theology. The Apostle Paul, who would later write "there is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female—you are all one in Christ Jesus," launched his ministry to the Gentiles from this very church. He didn't just preach unity; he witnessed it with his own eyes in Antioch.
The Anointing That Flows From Unity
Here's where it gets even more powerful. Acts 13:1 tells us that in the church at Antioch, there were prophets and teachers. In the place where Jesus was exalted above everything else, where unity transcended human divisions, a prophetic anointing flowed.
Psalm 133 captures this beautifully: "How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head...For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore."
Unity releases anointing. When the church is one, the oil of God—the power of the Spirit—is poured out on His people.
Paul didn't see cities transformed because he campaigned for Roman Senate. He preached Jesus above all other things. That's what united the church. That's what brought an anointing to change the world.
The Crisis of Our Current Moment
Today, we face a crisis of division within the body of Christ. Everywhere we look, believers are splitting apart over politics, policies, and personal preferences. Social media has become a battleground where Christians demonize each other, saying hateful words, ready to part ways over issues that pale in comparison to the cross.
We've elevated human agendas over Jesus. We've put our hope in Washington instead of Calvary. We've surrendered the power of the kingdom to lesser men and laid the mission of the church on the false altar of political systems.
The result? Division is sharpening between us, and we're being drained of the anointing that comes from unity.
Here's a sobering truth: if you have more to say about your politics than about the cross, something is wrong. If you can't preach the gospel to someone you think is dirty and undesirable, you've missed the heart of Jesus.
The Only Solution
Government doesn't have the power to end racism. Political parties can't transform wicked hearts. No activist, no policy, no politician can make people who want to kill each other love one another.
Only Jesus can do that.
He's not defined by skin color or nationality. He was God in the flesh who broke every social and racial barrier. And He's still the only one who can take people who hate each other and make their bonds stronger than blood.
This doesn't mean staying silent about injustice. Jesus never did. But it means recognizing that lasting change comes through the gospel, not through human systems alone.
The Call to Repentance
What's needed now is what the Greek calls metanoia—a change of mind, a change of heart, a turning away from what's wrong toward God. We need to repent for exalting the agenda of men over the Great Commission. We need to repent for reducing the influence of the church and yielding it to world systems when we should have been one in the gospel.
We need to repent for the way we've talked to one another, for points we've made without love, for brothers and sisters we've damaged because we had something to prove.
Colossians 3 reminds us to clothe ourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. To make allowance for each other's faults. To forgive anyone who offends us. Above all, to clothe ourselves with love, which binds us together in perfect harmony.
The Path Forward
Our world is divided, angry, and hurting. But the church can still experience the unprecedented unity that marked Antioch. We can become the blueprint for healing in the world.
It starts with making Jesus higher than all other things. When our identity is planted in Christ, when the cross is the lens through which we see everything, we can walk in prophetic power.
Make every effort to be united in the Spirit. Don't just listen to this truth—engage with it. Allow the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal what needs to change.
The anointing for world-changing ministry is waiting on the other side of unity. Cities can be overturned for the gospel. Revival can sweep through communities. But it starts with the church being one.
Jesus prayed in John 17:21, "I pray that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me."
The mission is empowered from the place of unity. When we're one, the world will know that Jesus is the Savior.
The question is: are we willing to lay down our idols, our agendas, and our need to be right, so that Jesus can be exalted above everything else?
The answer to that question will determine whether we experience the anointing God wants to pour out on His church in these last days.
In a world fractured by division, where hatred seems to simmer just beneath the surface of every conversation, there's a revolutionary truth that has the power to heal what's broken: the blood of Jesus is the only force strong enough to make enemies into family.
This isn't just theological theory. It's a historical reality that played out in one of the most remarkable communities the world has ever seen—the church at Antioch.
When Different Worlds Collided
Picture the first century. Jews and Gentiles couldn't have been more different. They ate differently, dressed differently, spoke differently, and worshiped differently. Most Jews considered Gentiles detestable—dirty, demonized, untouchable. The feeling was mutual. These weren't just cultural preferences; this was deep-seated hostility that had festered for generations.
Even after Jesus' resurrection, early Christians—most of whom were Jewish—only shared the gospel with other Jews. The divisions ran that deep. The prejudices were that ingrained.
But then something extraordinary happened in Antioch.
Some believers broke through the barriers. They preached Jesus to "the others"—the ones who were different, the ones who were considered undesirable. And when people from radically different backgrounds encountered the gospel, something miraculous occurred: they became one.
Acts 11:26 reveals something profound about this community. It was the first place believers were called "Christians." Not Jews. Not Gentiles. Not Hellenists. Every human identifier that had previously defined and divided them took a back seat to one overwhelming reality: they belonged to Jesus.
The Secret to Supernatural Unity
What was the key to this unprecedented unity? It wasn't a political platform. It wasn't a social program. It wasn't compromise or pretending differences didn't exist.
The answer was simple yet profound: Jesus was higher than everything else.
Every single person—whether Jew or Gentile, slave or free—had to come through the same door. They were all fallen people who needed the blood of Jesus. And when they entered through that door, the only thing that defined them on the other side was the cross.
This wasn't empty theology. The Apostle Paul, who would later write "there is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female—you are all one in Christ Jesus," launched his ministry to the Gentiles from this very church. He didn't just preach unity; he witnessed it with his own eyes in Antioch.
The Anointing That Flows From Unity
Here's where it gets even more powerful. Acts 13:1 tells us that in the church at Antioch, there were prophets and teachers. In the place where Jesus was exalted above everything else, where unity transcended human divisions, a prophetic anointing flowed.
Psalm 133 captures this beautifully: "How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head...For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore."
Unity releases anointing. When the church is one, the oil of God—the power of the Spirit—is poured out on His people.
Paul didn't see cities transformed because he campaigned for Roman Senate. He preached Jesus above all other things. That's what united the church. That's what brought an anointing to change the world.
The Crisis of Our Current Moment
Today, we face a crisis of division within the body of Christ. Everywhere we look, believers are splitting apart over politics, policies, and personal preferences. Social media has become a battleground where Christians demonize each other, saying hateful words, ready to part ways over issues that pale in comparison to the cross.
We've elevated human agendas over Jesus. We've put our hope in Washington instead of Calvary. We've surrendered the power of the kingdom to lesser men and laid the mission of the church on the false altar of political systems.
The result? Division is sharpening between us, and we're being drained of the anointing that comes from unity.
Here's a sobering truth: if you have more to say about your politics than about the cross, something is wrong. If you can't preach the gospel to someone you think is dirty and undesirable, you've missed the heart of Jesus.
The Only Solution
Government doesn't have the power to end racism. Political parties can't transform wicked hearts. No activist, no policy, no politician can make people who want to kill each other love one another.
Only Jesus can do that.
He's not defined by skin color or nationality. He was God in the flesh who broke every social and racial barrier. And He's still the only one who can take people who hate each other and make their bonds stronger than blood.
This doesn't mean staying silent about injustice. Jesus never did. But it means recognizing that lasting change comes through the gospel, not through human systems alone.
The Call to Repentance
What's needed now is what the Greek calls metanoia—a change of mind, a change of heart, a turning away from what's wrong toward God. We need to repent for exalting the agenda of men over the Great Commission. We need to repent for reducing the influence of the church and yielding it to world systems when we should have been one in the gospel.
We need to repent for the way we've talked to one another, for points we've made without love, for brothers and sisters we've damaged because we had something to prove.
Colossians 3 reminds us to clothe ourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. To make allowance for each other's faults. To forgive anyone who offends us. Above all, to clothe ourselves with love, which binds us together in perfect harmony.
The Path Forward
Our world is divided, angry, and hurting. But the church can still experience the unprecedented unity that marked Antioch. We can become the blueprint for healing in the world.
It starts with making Jesus higher than all other things. When our identity is planted in Christ, when the cross is the lens through which we see everything, we can walk in prophetic power.
Make every effort to be united in the Spirit. Don't just listen to this truth—engage with it. Allow the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal what needs to change.
The anointing for world-changing ministry is waiting on the other side of unity. Cities can be overturned for the gospel. Revival can sweep through communities. But it starts with the church being one.
Jesus prayed in John 17:21, "I pray that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me."
The mission is empowered from the place of unity. When we're one, the world will know that Jesus is the Savior.
The question is: are we willing to lay down our idols, our agendas, and our need to be right, so that Jesus can be exalted above everything else?
The answer to that question will determine whether we experience the anointing God wants to pour out on His church in these last days.
Kids Dinner Conversation Starters for Parents
1. Jesus wants His church to be one big family.
- What are some ways we can show love to people who are very different from us?
2. The pastor said we should follow Jesus like when we “go to the left” or “go to the right.”
- What does it look like to follow Jesus at home or at school?
3. Sometimes people hurt each other or say mean things.
- What could we say or do to help bring peace when people are fighting?
4. The pastor talked about saying “I’m sorry” to God and to others.
- Is there anyone we need to forgive or say “I’m sorry” to this week?
5. Our most important name is “Christian”—belonging to Jesus.
- What is one thing we can do this week that shows we belong to Jesus’ family?
- What are some ways we can show love to people who are very different from us?
2. The pastor said we should follow Jesus like when we “go to the left” or “go to the right.”
- What does it look like to follow Jesus at home or at school?
3. Sometimes people hurt each other or say mean things.
- What could we say or do to help bring peace when people are fighting?
4. The pastor talked about saying “I’m sorry” to God and to others.
- Is there anyone we need to forgive or say “I’m sorry” to this week?
5. Our most important name is “Christian”—belonging to Jesus.
- What is one thing we can do this week that shows we belong to Jesus’ family?
LifeGroup Guide:
Opening Prayer: Jesus make us one in you, just like you prayed in John 17:21!
Icebreaker Question: Share about a time when you had to work together with someone very different from you. What made it challenging? What made it work?
Key Scripture References
Main Takeaways
1. Unity Requires Jesus Above All Else
The church at Antioch brought together Jews and Gentiles—people who previously hated each other—by making Jesus their primary identity, not their ethnic, cultural, or political backgrounds.
2. Unity Releases God's Anointing
When believers live in unity, God pours out His anointing and power (Psalm 133). The prophetic ministry flowed in Antioch because they were one in Christ.
3. Division Comes from Elevating Other Things Above Jesus
When we make our political preferences, personal agendas, or opinions more important than the gospel, we create division and forfeit the anointing.
4. Real Change Comes Through the Gospel, Not Systems
Government and human systems cannot transform hearts—only Jesus can. The church must lead the way in reconciliation through the power of the cross.
Discussion Questions
Understanding the Message
Practical Applications
This Week's Challenge: Choose One
Option 1: Reconciliation
Group Activity: Unity Prayer
Instructions:
Memory Verse
John 17:21 - "I pray that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me."
Closing Reflection
Read together: "The most diverse church in the world was born in the midst of loving the undesirable one, making Jesus and His gospel higher than anything else. And it made enemies family."
Final Question: What would it look like for our group, our church, and our community if we truly lived this out?
Next Steps
Closing Prayer
Pray together using the themes from the sermon:
Icebreaker Question: Share about a time when you had to work together with someone very different from you. What made it challenging? What made it work?
Key Scripture References
- John 17:21 - Jesus' prayer for unity
- Acts 11:19-26 - The church at Antioch
- Colossians 3:12-14 - Clothed in love
- Ephesians 4:3 - Make every effort for unity
Main Takeaways
1. Unity Requires Jesus Above All Else
The church at Antioch brought together Jews and Gentiles—people who previously hated each other—by making Jesus their primary identity, not their ethnic, cultural, or political backgrounds.
2. Unity Releases God's Anointing
When believers live in unity, God pours out His anointing and power (Psalm 133). The prophetic ministry flowed in Antioch because they were one in Christ.
3. Division Comes from Elevating Other Things Above Jesus
When we make our political preferences, personal agendas, or opinions more important than the gospel, we create division and forfeit the anointing.
4. Real Change Comes Through the Gospel, Not Systems
Government and human systems cannot transform hearts—only Jesus can. The church must lead the way in reconciliation through the power of the cross.
Discussion Questions
Understanding the Message
- What stood out to you most from this sermon? Why?
- The sermon emphasized that believers in Antioch were first called "Christians" (Acts 11:26). What does it mean for your identity to be rooted in Christ above all other identities?
- How did the church at Antioch break down barriers between Jews and Gentiles? What can we learn from their example?
- Be honest: Have you elevated political views, cultural preferences, or personal opinions above Jesus in recent months? How has this affected your relationships with other believers?
- The pastor said, "If you've got more to say about your politics than about the cross, something is wrong." How do you balance being informed about current events while keeping Jesus first?
- Read Colossians 3:12-14. What does it mean to "make allowance for each other's faults"? Is there someone you need to extend this grace to?
- The sermon states that "the anointing is in unity." Have you experienced or witnessed God's power flowing through unified believers? Share your story.
- How can we speak truth in love without compromising either truth or love? What does this look like practically?
- Paul opposed Peter to his face when Peter treated people differently based on ethnicity (Galatians 2). How do we address division and wrong attitudes in the church today while maintaining love?
- What specific step can you take this week to pursue unity with someone you disagree with or find difficult?
- Is there anyone you need to apologize to for harsh words, judgmental attitudes, or division you've caused? What will you do about it?
- How can our small group model the unity that Jesus prayed for? What practical commitments can we make together?
Practical Applications
This Week's Challenge: Choose One
Option 1: Reconciliation
- Reach out to a fellow believer you've had tension with. Apologize for any harsh words or attitudes. Seek reconciliation.
- Take a break from social media for one week. Use that time to pray for unity in the church and examine your heart.
- Intentionally reach out to someone different from you (different political views, background, etc.) and share the gospel or simply show Christ's love.
- Spend focused time in prayer, asking God to reveal where you've elevated other things above Jesus. Repent and recommit to making Him first.
Group Activity: Unity Prayer
Instructions:
- Break into pairs or groups of three
- Share one area where you struggle with unity (political differences, cultural tensions, personal preferences, etc.)
- Pray for each other, asking God to:
- Make Jesus higher than everything else
- Give you love for those you disagree with
- Pour out His anointing through unity
- Make your church a blueprint for healing in the world
Memory Verse
John 17:21 - "I pray that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me."
Closing Reflection
Read together: "The most diverse church in the world was born in the midst of loving the undesirable one, making Jesus and His gospel higher than anything else. And it made enemies family."
Final Question: What would it look like for our group, our church, and our community if we truly lived this out?
Next Steps
- Accountability Partner: Pair up with someone in the group to check in during the week about your commitment to unity.
- Prayer List: Write down names of people you need to reconcile with or show love to.
- Further Study: Read through the entire book of Colossians this week, focusing on how Paul addresses unity in diversity.
Closing Prayer
Pray together using the themes from the sermon:
- Repentance for division and elevating other things above Jesus
- Request for God to make us one
- Ask for the anointing that comes from unity
- Commitment to love one another and the "undesirable ones"
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