Talk: (5 min.) What are some factors that unite Jehovah’s servants today? Explain how these factors promote unity in the congregation. What is the most powerful reason for unity? (Mt 22:37; w18.06 9 par. 8; w05 1/1 4-6; wt 9-11)
Take a min / think of the meaning.
Brother and sister
Odd - married brother married your sister??
Obviously means something differnet..
Jesus = Matt 23:8 - "All of you are brothers"
they had become members of one large spiritual family, united by love and faith
Most importantly, united as recognising Jehovah as their heavenly father.
TODAY? Whole Christian congregation UNITED?
Despite many nationalities/backgrounds/professions -all united
Some of us were criminals, drunkards, immoral - all united
Some of us are old/young, inexperienced, wise - all united.
WHY???? WHY ARE WE TRULY UNITED???
w05 - 6 reasons / briefly look at them
Really good to meditate on...
1) Look to Jehovah for our standards of right and wrong & Let God's Word guide us
Reassuring - imagine going to new congregation worrying if they allowed immorality or not?
2) We all benefit from the same spiritual food
This talk will be given in every SKE class, whatever country it's in / all the same
3) Jesus is our leader
4) Look to God's Kingdom to solve all our problems
Therefore, never have to worry about who to look to / politics of a human leader etc.
Imagine if we had Conservative JW / Labour JW - not much unity
5) Holy spirit produces in worshipers of Jehovah qualities that are vital to Christian unity.
Learnt all about them / nice place to be with these qualities!
6) All share in the preaching work
What a privilege we have - all working together. / MOST IMPORTANT?
MOST IMPORTANT???
Matt 22:37 - He said to him: “‘You must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind.’
Love of Jehovah unifies us more than anything.
Isn't that beautiful?
Not unified by a human leader, an idea, but a quality.
A quality which never fails
A quality which God himself is!
A quality we can display to the soverign of the universe.
LOVE
Not just for anyone - Jehovah.
Love for Jehovah = true unity.
Next time problem / difficulty / greivance - remember - why they are your brother.
Why they are your sister
Love - Love for Jehovah
THAT IS TRUE UNITY
Application
Meditate on these ways - find that WT. appreciate them
Remember Jehovah has drawn them. Family members a pain = still love them. If you are annoyed by someone, remember you've probably annoyed them recently too.
Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much