Planting Churches Among the City's Poor - Volume 2

156 • P LANTING C HURCHES AMONG THE C ITY ’ S P OOR : V OLUME 2

E. The Holy Spirit’s baptism has made us of one spiritual body and spirit , 1 Cor. 12.12-13 (ESV) – For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body – Jews or Greeks, slaves or free – and all were made to drink of one Spirit. F. The very essence of biblical faith is unity , Eph. 4.4 (ESV) – There is one body and one Spirit – just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Involves the Sharing of Monies, Persons, and Resources to Fund a Common Cause: We Share a Common Source, Table, and Pot. G. Our bond of partnership precludes unity with those not united to Christ , 2 Cor. 6.14-16 (ESV) – Do not be unequally yoked with 1. The taught share with the teacher , Gal. 6.6 (ESV) – One who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches. 2. Illustrated in the relationship of the Jew to the Gentile in the body , Rom. 15.27 (ESV) – They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings. B. The power of unity extends to those who are appointed by God to serve his people, Deut. 12.19 (ESV) – Take care that you do not neglect the Levite as long as you live in your land. A. The partnership between those who share the Word and receive it involves concrete blessing and giving.

II. Partnership 2