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Sermon on Communication | Unity and Communication

Sermon on Communication

SUBJECT: Unity

TITLE: Unity and Communication

PROPOSITION: Unity within the body depends upon communication. In this sermon we will look at some Bible principles related to communication.

OBJECTIVES: Each listener should think about how they are communicating in respect to their relationship with their brethren within the body of Christ.

AIM: I want to point out the principles of communication that are contained within the scriptures.

INTRODUCTION:

1. Read: Ephesians 4:1-3 “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

2. About the Text:

1) The text says that we must “endeavor” to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

2) This word means to give diligence in the matter.

3) Perhaps one of our greatest failures as members of the church is our lack of communication skills.

4) The Bible actually contains the principles of communication that we need to communicate effectively with our fellow man and one another.

5) It is incumbent upon us to “give diligence” to make sure that we do communicate appropriately.

6) Our very unity as a church depends upon our effective communication one with another.

7) These principles also apply in the business world, at school, in our families, and anywhere we interact with other humans in our society.

3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

DISCUSSION: To communicate effectively one with another we must recognize . . .

I. The Need for Communication

1. For Bible Study.

1) Acts 17:2, 3 “And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, Opening and alleging (explaining and demonstrating NKJV; explaining and proving ESV), that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.”

2) Romans 10:10-17 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

2. To work together.

1) One can’t work with someone else without communicating with them even in the simplest of tasks.

2) God didn’t make us to be “mind readers.”

3) Notice how God communicated to Paul and his escort in Acts 16:6-10 “Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.”

a. God forbad them to go to Asia.

b. They wanted to go to Bithynia, but God told them no again.

c. Then God told them to go to Macedonia.

d. God communicated with them to get the work done.

4) Notice how the brethren communicated with each other in Acts 8:14 “Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:”

a. The apostles “heard that Samaria had received the word of God” — someone had to tell them.

b. They sent Peter and John–Peter and John had to be told to go.

c. They communicated with each other to get the work done.

3. To settle disagreements.

1) This is perhaps where communication is the most essential but the most neglected.

2) Notice Acts 15

a. There was a problem in the church.

b. Some of the Pharisees who became Christians thought that gentiles had to be circumcised.

c. Paul and Barnabas opposed this.

d. The church at Antioch thought that Paul and Barnabas should go to Jerusalem to talk with the apostles and elders about this matter.

e. So they did.

f. Notice verse 6 “And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.” Verse 7 says that there was much disputing.

g. Finally, Peter spoke and James spoke. In both instances, God was the one who decided the issue.

a) God decided the issue by showing to Peter that gentiles were to be saved.

b) God decided the issue through the inspired scriptures of the Old Testament.

h. Notice that it was concluded in verse 28 “For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;”

i. God’s word must be allowed to settle matters.

j. But even in so settling these matters, Paul still had many years of trouble from those who would not let go of the idea that one needed to be circumcised to be saved.

II. The Prerequisites to Communication

1. Proper attitude–love.

1) Notice 1 Corinthians 13:4-7–these are keys to communication. “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. When we communicate, do we practice these things?

2) Notice Romans 12:9-17 “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.”

2. Don’t make assumptions.

1) Do not make gossip the basis for your communication.

a. God commands that we should not be talebearers. Leviticus19:16 “Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people?.”

b. Proverbs 11:13 “A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.”

c. Romans1:30 “backbiters”

d. Who will dwell in God’s holy place? Psalm 15:3 “He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.”

2) Do not assume you know what the other is thinking.

a. Many times we think we know what the other is getting at, even in innocent conversation, and we end up being wrong.

b. How much more should we be willing to listen to others when it comes to important matters.

c. Proverbs 15:28 says, “The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.”

d. Proverbs 18:13 “He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.”

3. Stay pure in speech.

1) Ephesians 4:29 “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”

2) Colossians 3:8 “But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.”

4. Control the anger.

1) When disagreements occur, it is normal to get frustrated and angry.

2) As Christians, we must make sure that we control those emotions.

3) Notice what Paul says, “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:” (Ephesians4:26).

4) Notice Proverbs 29:22 “An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.”

5) Keep the arms down.

6) Keep the voice calm.

III. The Work of Communication

1. There is a right time and a wrong time to communicate. As Christians we must recognize that.

1) We must use wisdom in choosing the proper time to communicate with people.

2) Matthew 10:16 “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”

3) Luke 16:8 “For the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.

2. In communicating, we should be quick to hear.

1) James 1:19 “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:”

2) Proverbs 15:28 says, “The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.”

3. In communicating we should be slow to speak.

1) James 1:19

2) Proverbs 21:23 “Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.”

4. In communicating we should speak calmly.

1) Notice “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” Proverbs 15:1

2) Proverbs 25:15 “By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.”

5. In communicating we should speak appropriately without distortion of the truth.

1) Proverbs 15:2 “The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.”

2) Proverbs 25:11 “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.”

6. In communicating we should be patient.

1) Proverbs 25:15 “By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.”

2) Ephesians 4:2 “With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;”

CONCLUSION:

1. We all have a responsibility to communicate with each other to maintain unity within the body of Christ. We have seen . . .

1) The Need for Communication

2) The Prerequisites to Communication

3) The Work of Communication

2. Invitation

1) If you are a Christian but have fallen away

a. Our desire is to communicate with you regarding your need to repent.

b. Let us know you desire to do this by communicating to us.

2) If you are not a Christian . . .

a. We desire to communicate the plan of salvation to you!

b. Heed the plan that it has for man’s salvation today!

a) Hear the word; Romans 10:17 “Faith comes by hearing . . .”

b) Believe with all your heart; Hebrews 11:6 “For without faith it is impossible . . . .”

c) Repent of your sins (Acts 17:30).

d) Confess Jesus as the Son of God (Matthew16:16).

e) Be baptized for the remission of your sins (Mark 16:15,16).