Text: Philippians 4:21-23
Truth: There’s a strong spiritual bond that unites all true saints everywhere regardless of where they are.
Thrust: We must never allow any gap to remain between brothers and sisters in Christ.
Thesis: Since there’s a strong spiritual bond that unites all true saints everywhere regardless of where they are, we must never allow any gap to remain between brothers and sisters in Christ.
Turning Point: Distance of mind or body doesn’t mean distance of hearts.
Theme: Relationships among believers
Topic: What is the nature of our relationship with one another as Christians
Title: Long Distance
Tagline: Get close.
Thoughts:
- Separation is difficult for all kinds of close relationships.
- There are different kinds of separations. Some are more painful than the others.
- We are often bothered whenever we’re separated from people we care about.
- But not many Christians are not bothered when there are gaps in their relationships with other Christians.
- It seems that in the church today, many have accepted the reality of splits and divisions as something that is normal in the body of Christ.
- Paul would disagree. He sees a strong spiritual bond that unites all true saints everywhere, regardless of their distance from each other. (Phil 4:21-23)
- This distance can be physical or it can be theological or philosophical.
- Christians should not tolerate gaps unless it’s about the absolute truths of Scripture, which Christians everywhere have agreed upon by consensus. Everything else should be covered by love and acceptance.
- Since there’s a strong spiritual bond that unites all true saints everywhere regardless of where they are, we must never allow any gap to remain between brothers and sisters in Christ.
- Distance of mind or body doesn’t mean distance of hearts. Get close.