Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. - 1 Corinthians 1:10
Unity is being of the same mind, beliefs, and morals. As Christians and fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, we are commanded to be unified. The Bible says that we are one body in Christ with many members. One body cannot have different beliefs, values, or morals, all body parts work together to make the body productive and healthy. Each member has an important role in the body of Christ, we all have different skill sets, talents, and gifts that are to be used to glorify God, honor the Church, and encourage and admonish one another. When we work together and are in unity then the body does well and God is pleased. However, when we are split or in disunity then it gives the devil room to harm the body and for sin to creep in. There are many churches, they are earthly churches, but there is only one Church, and that is the body of Christ which is the unity of true believers.
The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. - 1 Peter 5:1-4
This does not mean we have to like the same things, have the same hobbies, or agree about which season is the best. It does mean, as Christians, we are to believe in one God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, believe in the whole Bible, that is the Word of God, believe that Jesus was born of a virgin as the Bible states, He was 100% man and 100% God, lived a perfect/sinless life, died on a cross as a full sacrifice for all mankind's sins, rose on the third day, and is sitting at the right hand of God until He calls us home. Being in unity does mean that we obey God's Word, we are to be of one mind!
Preach the Word
I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. - 2 Timothy 4:1-5
As the end of times are here, we see so many churches in distress, broken, split, not honoring or glorifying God, filled with wolves in sheep's clothing (Acts 20:28-31), or following after worldly or false teachings. It is extremely dangerous to be in any of these situations and for the leaders of these kinds of "churches" there will be judgement. This is what happens when the shepherd does not rightly lead, protect, guide, or teach the flock. When a little laziness, ungodliness, or falsehood is allowed in the church it opens the floodgates for the devil to attack from the inside out. Many preachers are also not truly called by God to preach, this is a very serious and dangerous sin. "My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment." (James 3:1). God loves His children, the flock. Those who are leading others astray, will not be left unpunished in the end. Those who knowingly allow these dangerous will also be guilty. (Read 2 Peter 2 - about False Doctrines and False Teachers).
Avoid Divisive Persons (Romans 16:17-20)
Immorality Defiles the Church (1 Corinthians 5:1-8) & Immorality Must Be Judged (1 Corinthians 5:9-13)
Do Not Sue the Brethren (1 Corinthians 6:1-11)
Flee from Idolatry (1 Corinthians 10:14-22)
False Apostles (2 Corinthians 11:13-15)
Heavenly Versus Demonic Wisdom (James 3:13-18)
You Will Know Them by Their Fruits (Matthew 7:15-20)
A House Divided Cannot Stand (Matthew 12:22-30)
Test the Spirits (1 John 4:1-6)
Knowing the True—Rejecting the False (1 John 5:18-21)
The Signs of the Times and the End of the Age (Matthew 24)
The Corrupt Church (Revelation 2:18-29)
During this time of stillness, we need to reflect on how we have been living (Romans 6 & Romans 12), meditate on God's Word, and grow together in Christ to strengthen our faith, our relationships, and put our focus back on the One that truly matters. As we have seen, everything in this world is temporary and can easily be taken away. The only thing that is solid and remains forever is Jesus Christ and His kingdom. Christians, let's come together as one body in Christ, be unified in both spirit, mind, and actions and truly show the world the power, love, kindness, mercy, and beauty of the Lord our God!
Jesus the True Shepherd (John 10:1-6)
Jesus the Good Shepherd (John 10:7-21)
The Shepherd Knows His Sheep (John 10:22-30)
Faith Triumphs in Trouble
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. - Romans 5:1-5