Perhaps the most difficult thing about biblical community is that little word "unity." In this series we study about real-life unity expressed in true biblical community.

Date	Scripture	Files
8-24-08	The Community of God Guest Speaker: David Hentschel. What is the basis of God's community? Love! Have you ever felt love is a burden? This message kick's off our Community Life Small Groups for 2008-2009.	Audio
8-31-08	Historic Christianity. True Unity. What is the basis of Christian unity? Why as a church do we value "historic Christian worship?" Lessons from the last 150 years of church history will instruct us and warn us to fight the good fight of faith.	Audio/ Manuscript
9-7-08	What is Biblical Unity? Ephesians 4:1-16. We need to begin with a working definition of unity from the Bible. What is Unity - and what isn't unity?	Audio / Manuscript
9-14-08	Lessons from the Fire When his house burned to the ground - guest speaker Cecil Murphey learned many important lessons - including what it means to live in community. We need other people!	Audio
9-21-08	Shades of Gray Romans 14:1. The battle for unity is often won or lost - not on clear, cardinal doctrines - but on "gray issues." What is a gray issue? Why can they divide?	Audio / Manuscript
9-28-08	The Lamentable Legacy of Legalism. Colossians 2:16-23. The early church. The reformation period. Modern Times. Every era in Christian history has struggled with legalism. We are strongly tempted to set up rules and put our faith in them, rather than in Jesus. Legalism battles against church unity in many ways.	Audio / Manuscript
10-5-08	Fully Accepted! Romans 14:1-5. Have you every been accepted fully into a community - even though you were not exactly like everyone else? That is the beautiful standard Paul sets out for the church in Rome - but... it is extremely hard to do!	Audio / Manuscript
10-12-08	Limits of Liberty We are to avoid legalism and judging one another in gray areas - but can you ever take your liberty and freedom too far?	Audio / Manuscript
10-19-08	The Amazing Game of Grace! We end this series with the big picture of grace. Grace is not only the basis of our salvation, but also how we are to live with one another. Are you ready for grace?	Audio / Manuscript

Definition of Biblical Unity:

Church unity is a state of harmony in a community of diverse people that originates from the Holy Spirit and belief in the triune God; and must be diligently preserved and carefully restored, when broken.

Definition of "Gray Issue":

A gray issue is one that is either not directy addressed by the Bible and/or an issue that leaves room for legitimate differences of opinion.

Top 25 Gray Issues in DFW Area (PDF)



Definition of Legalism

A legalist is a person who judges other people for having differences of opinion in gray areas of theology and culture. The legalist sets up rules around these areas that promise holiness, but in reality are of no value for spiritual growth.

Web Resources

Gray issues:

Video Interview with the Devil - on how he likes to split up the church!

Historic Christianity:

The 2006 "Call to An Ancient Evangelical Future" at Christianity Today's Web site.

Newsweek Magazine's "Return to Tradition" featuring our mother church, Trinity Fellowship.

Sermon Series Song:

"They Will Know We are Christians by our Love."