FLY THE UNITED WAY

River of Life Church

Pastor Greg Temke

Sunday, July 12, 2026

www.rolfamily.com

FLY THE UNITED WAY

Text: Philippians 2:1-4

• We should major in communion rather than muddle in contention.

John 13:35 – “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Galatians 3:28 – “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

1. THE IFS OF UNITY. Vs. 1

John 17:20-21,  “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who [j]will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.”

Romans 15:13: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Ephesians 4:31-32, “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”

I John 1:7, “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

• Unity is everyone’s responsibility. Sacred cows make the best hamburgers.

2. THE DO’S OF UNITY. Vs. 2

Ephesians 4:1b -3 “…walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace

ACTIONS

Romans 12:9, Sincerity: “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”

Romans 12:10, Community: “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”

Romans 12:13, “Generosity: Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”

Romans 12:15, Empathy: “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.”

Ephesians 4:4-6: “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”

Colossians 3:12-13, “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.”

• Robertson, “When we have this kind of unity, we will be “like clocks that strike at the same moment in time.”

I John 3:18, “My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”

3. THE DON’TS OF UNITY. Vs. 3-4

Galatians 5:13, “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.”

1 Corinthians 10:24: “No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.”

Mark 10:45: “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” 

Luke 6:35: “But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back.”

• We are only as strong as we are UNITED, and as weak as we are DIVIDED.

James 3:16, “For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.”