United In Sharing the Gospel - December 28, 2025
More Than Just a Tagline: Living Life Together for the Gospel
If you’ve spent any time in a modern church, you’ve probably seen them: the "trendy" taglines. They’re usually printed on a wall in a cool font or displayed on the big screen. Our church has one, too: United around the gospel, sharing it with God’s love in hand.
But as Pastor Michael shared this week, these words aren't just a marketing slogan to help us stand out. They represent a shared purpose that every Bible-believing church throughout history has held. Whether it's the church in Philippi two thousand years ago or our church today, the mission remains the same.
The Radical Priority of the Gospel
Pastor Michael took us back to a "crazy" moment in Jesus' ministry found in Luke 9:57-62. Jesus was at the height of His popularity, yet He didn't offer potential followers a life of comfort. Instead, He challenged their priorities.
When a man asked to bury his father before following Him, Jesus gave a jarring response: "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and spread the news of the kingdom of God."
It sounds harsh, doesn't it? Caring for family is ethically essential, but Jesus was making a point about priority. Sharing the good news of the Kingdom isn't just a "nice-to-have" add-on to our lives; it is the baseline expectation for anyone who claims to follow Him.
The "Team Sport" of Faith
Moving into the book of Philippians, we see how the early church put this into practice. Paul writes about "contending together" for the faith. This isn't a solo marathon; it’s an athletic team moving in sync, protecting one another and pushing toward the same goal.
"Just one thing: As citizens of heaven... live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ... standing firm in one spirit, in one accord contending together for the faith of the gospel." — Philippians 1:27
Being "united" means we look past the things that usually divide us—politics, ethnicity, culture, or language. We are glued together by a central piece: Jesus’ story.
Humility: The Fuel for the Mission
How do we actually stay united? The secret is found in Philippians 2:3-5. It’s not about being the loudest person in the room or having all the answers; it’s about humility.
Paul tells us to "consider others as more important than ourselves." This is exactly what Jesus did. He didn't exploit His status as God but "emptied Himself" to become a servant. When we stop worrying about our own reputation and start focusing on the needs of others, we find a natural joy and a deeper unity.
Let’s Talk About It
Pastor Michael ended with a challenge for all of us "scaredy cats" who might be nervous about sharing our faith. Sharing the gospel doesn't have to be a high-pressure sales pitch. It starts with:
Mutual Encouragement: Talking to each other about how to share Jesus.
A Humble Heart: Approaching people not as "better than them," but as fellow servants.
Unity: Knowing you aren't doing this alone.
As we go into this week, let’s remember our tagline. Let’s stay united around the story of what Jesus has done, and let’s keep sharing that story with God’s love in our hands.
