The 2021 Unified Church - Communion Sunday

Jan 3, 2021    Bill Williamson    John 17:1-5

It’s been said that the local church is the hope of the world. However, it’s not the local church. Rather, it is the global Church, of whom Christ is the head. The actual Church, whatever denomination, whatever method or mode of worship, wherever its location, the church is not the hope of the world. Christ, and Christ alone, is the hope of the world.

As we enter into 2021, Christ is indeed the hope of the world. The church, in all its expressions, is to be the tangible presence of Christ. In January we are going to look at what it means to be the 2021 (One) Church. Specifically, we will see how we are to be the Unified Church. Looking at Jesus’ high priestly prayer in John 17, we will see that it was His desire that we would be unified. In fact, that is why upon ascending into Heaven, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit, that we might indeed be one people, one body, One Church, with one faith, one hope, one baptism, one Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

As we gather for worship this Sunday, and as we share Communion, let us be reminded of the words of Paul in Ephesians 4.4-6: “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.”