What Happens After Unity?

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER UNITY? 

This summer we’ve talked a lot about Christian Unity, but what happens after that? If Christian Unity is only part of the journey, what’s the end goal?  To help answer these questions I wanted to share a few thoughts.

CELEBRATE OUR DIVERSITY

When we talk about Christian Unity, we should not think of it as Christian Homogeny. A unified Christian faith is still a diverse Christian faith. I’m so thankful for the diversity of our local churches. One church focuses uniquely on Cross-Cultural work (what we used to call foreign missions) while another emphasizes care for the homeless. One church focuses on Rex Putnam while our church serves View Acres. Perhaps another church doesn’t focus on a school at all but a community center, apartment complex or retirement home. There is a wide range of callings, giftings and emphasis for which I am grateful. We should never think ourselves either better or worse because we walk in a different calling or style from another church. 

Nor should we think that one style of church is best. Some churches are modern while others are more traditional, some churches express the style of one culutural heritage while others a different style. As the scripture says “(out of) every nation, tribe, people and langue” Jesus will call out his church. (Revelation 7:9)

EMBRACE OUR UNIQUENESS

As much as I believe in Christian Unity and want to see Faith on Hill live in partnership with each other and other churches we also know that God has made us all unique. 

There are a lot of different types of people out there and we are a church that will be a home for some and not for others, but there’s a church for everyone out there. It’s great to have larger family get-togethers like we recently at North Clackamas Park, but we understand that part of our role in God’s plan is to be a certain type of church with certain emphasis, styles and doctrine. 

WALK FORWARD

Historically, Faith on Hill has had a reputation for being somewhat isolated from other churches in our area. I do not believe that was intentional on anyone’s part and it is certainly not the spirit or attitude that I sense in our church today. 

I think the key for us is to walk forward in our commitment to each other as a church family and our core emphasis of style, ministry and doctrine while recognizing that we are part of a much larger family and that Jesus’ church in our area & around the world is much, much larger than just us or are denomination. 

BIBLE VERSES TO CONSIDER:

Revelation 7:9-10; Galatians 3:28

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER DURING PRAYER:

1.   Lord Jesus, thank you for the wide and diverse group of people who have placed faith in you and become YOUR church!

2.   Help me to celebrate the our diversity and our unique calling. Help me to see how I can live more fully in the callings you have given to me and my church family.

3.   Holy Spirit, please lead me deeper into the truth and help me see where I am not walking forward in unity so that I might be changed by you and live in your love.

Better Together Recap

How We Spent Our Summer Vacation…

For the past four weeks Faith on Hill and many other churches in North Clackamas have gone through the same sermon series called “Better Together” about Christian Unity. 

In week 1 we looked at our need for Christian Unity. This was by far the easiest sermon to preach or receive because it is something that most people agree with, at least on the surface. Of course, there are people out there who will balk at the idea of seeking unity among Christians as being some sort of compromise of principles or doctrine. But the vast majority of Christians really do believe that we are better together with each other and that Christian Unity is generally a good thing.

Week 2 was the harder sermon because we talked about how to achieve unity. While everyone wants Christian Unity, like most things, it takes work. We all might believe we are better together, but do we really have to interact with people who are different than we are? Will I really not get my own way all the time? Do we have to be nice to them? J

Week 3 was our “Pastor Swap” week which seems to have been well received by all the churches involved. I preached at Thompson Rd. Bible Fellowship, a church with a history not unlike Faith’s and Pastor Mitch from Life Journey Community Church shared with us. I’m so thankful for the many and diverse expressions of Jesus’ church that exist in our area. All of our churches have different strengths and callings and I’m so glad to know that we are in this together. 

Finally, Week 4 was our Joint-Church service at North Clackamas Park with 7 other churches from our area. First, unlike the previous weeks where we talked about Unity, this past Sunday we lived unity! We gathered together in unity, we sang together in unity, we eat together in unity. I had the privilege of preaching for this service and I tried to get across the idea that we already have a basis for unity because of Jesus and that Christian unity is not the end of the road because Jesus has a great purposes for all the churches in North Clackamas. 

BIBLE VERSES TO CONSIDER:

Psalm 133, Acts 2:42-47, Ephesians 4:3

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER DURING PRAYER:

 1.   Holy Spirit, will you remind me of the things you spoke to me during this Better Together series?

2.   God would you take the things you spoke to me and show me how they apply in my daily life?

3.   Lord Jesus, please show me the ways that others are better because I am present and how I can increase in blessing others?

Why We Are Talking About Unity

We Are Better Together!

This Sunday will be the second of four messages being preached at Faith on Hill about Christian unity. But we are not alone! Nine other churches in our community are doing the exact same series… and that’s on purpose!

I firmly believe that we will flourish and grow best as humans when we live in God’s ways. For the follower of Jesus Christ, part of God’s ways is to be united with God and his people: the Church. If I live in isolation from the church, I will diminish instead of flourish. In the same way, if our church lives in isolation from other churches we will be weak when we could be strong.

As we move forward in this discussion of Christian Unity, both our need for it and how to obtain it, I want to leave you with a few verses of scripture to consider and a few questions to ask as you pray to God for how we can all grow in this part of our lives.

Bible Verses to Consider:

John 17:20-26; Acts 2:42-47; Hebrews 10:19-25

Questions to consider during prayer:

1. Father God, please show me how I can be more unified with you? Please show me how to live in your blessing and strength as a human in this world.

2. Holy Spirit, am I living in Unity with my church family? How can I bless others as you have blessed me?

3. Jesus my Lord, since the need of this lost world is so great, how can we at Faith on Hill best serve you with all of your church in Milwaukie, Oak Grove and Gladstone?

On Earth as it is in Heaven,

-Pastor Adam

Welcome To Faith

Welcome to the new website for Faith on Hill Community Church. We are a christian community in North Clackamas County serving the communities of Milwaukie, Oak Grove, and Gladstone.