The Power Behind Unity

The message in 6 points

1. Peter's vision on the housetop

   Peter prays on a rooftop in Joppa and sees a sheet full of unclean animals while a voice tells him to kill and eat. God tells him not to call common what he has cleansed, and men from the Gentiles arrive at his door.

   2:43

2. The promise is for all

   The promise Peter preached in Acts 2, for all that are afar off, comes back to him at the house of Cornelius. The Holy Ghost falls on the Gentiles, they speak with tongues, and they are baptized in the name of the Lord. The church later confirms that God purifies hearts by faith, not by bloodline.

   6:46

3. Recognize our biases

   The first step toward unity is recognizing our biases and cultural differences. He jokes about ball teams, clothing, music styles and cars, warning that a culture of pride can make people look down on others and become an obstacle to unity.

   14:11

4. One body with every member needed

   The church holds people of every background, and all are members of one body. He says kindergarten teachers matter as much as adult teachers and the custodian's ministry gives guests their first impression. Anyone who tells of God's goodness helps the body.

   23:56

5. Prejudice is sin, the Holy Ghost is the remedy

   Prejudice is sin even when it is never spoken, and the answer is to repent and stop justifying it. In Christ we become new creatures, and the Spirit inside makes us merciful and loving. God is no respecter of persons and gives the same sign of tongues to every people, which he has witnessed in many nations.

   30:22

6. Unity brings revival

   God is bigger than any box we build for him. Jesus prayed that his people would be one so the world may believe. He tells how the Azusa Street revival spread when believers of different races refused to be divided, and leads a prayer for unity.

   38:49

In his words

Taken word for word from the video, with punctuation added.