• Ephesians 4:2-6
    with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
     
  • John 17:20-23
    "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 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. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
     
  • Ephesians 4:11-16
    And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
     
  • 1 Corinthians 1:10
    Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
     
  • 1 Corinthians 12:4-23
    There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty,
     
  • Philippians 2:1-8
    Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
     
  • 1 Corinthians 12:25-30
    that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?
     
For more scripture references, please see Bible verses for Church Unity


Resources

Church Unity Despite the Spirit of the World

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Unity is to be the defining characteristic of the church in the relationships among its members. This unity is not primarily an organizational unity, as such efforts have been tried and found wanting, nor is it a unity achieved through total conformity, which would eliminate the valuable variety among Christians in personality, …


The Pursuit of Unity

CGG Weekly

The world constantly pushes us to take sides, leading to the dissolution of unities and the formation of factions. Satan cleverly invites us to participate in his wargame of division, but we find crucial instruction from Christ Himself to counter this. In the hours before His crucifixion, Jesus demonstrated faith and humility to …


Unity and Division: The Blessing and the Curse (Part One)

'Ready Answer' by Charles Whitaker

Unity and the peace it generates are central to Christ's prayer on the evening of His last Passover. A thoroughgoing unity is fundamental to Christianity, as God facilitates the extraordinary peace that Christ has bequeathed by calling us into a unified body. Christ's gift of peace is tightly coupled to the unity for which He …


Will the Church of God Be Thrown Down? (Part Two)

CGG Weekly by David C. Grabbe

The church of God, built on the foundation of apostles and prophets with Jesus Christ as the Chief Cornerstone, will always have at least one living stone upon another as long as it exists. However, turmoil, division, and scattering are natural byproducts of carnality, and unless every member rids himself of all carnality …


Unity (2006)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The church began in unity of mind on the day of Pentecost, as they were all with one accord in one place, setting a standard for us to strive toward as it was in the first century. This unity does not imply that the early believers were mere clones, but rather that they shared a singular purpose in their relationship with God, …


Unity

Sermon by James Beaubelle

Despite the inherent differences among individuals, unity within the church is a vital pursuit. God has created each person uniquely, with distinct internal and external traits, yet it is through our choices and conduct that we find common ground. Right living and good conduct foster peace among the brethren, while wrong choices …


Unity and Unleavened Bread

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The prayer of Jesus Christ in John 17 emphasizes the profound importance of unity among believers, desiring that they may be one as He is with the Father. This unity, which occupies a significant portion of His final prayer, is not something that can be externally imposed but must be cultivated within each individual through …


Reconciliation and Unity

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

It is foolish and pointless to use the same charm, social skills, and duplicity toward God as we use to deceive others and, sadly, even ourselves.



For more resources, please see the library topic for Church Unity