Ecumencial

This lesson defines the growing trend of "Ecumencialism" and describes what the Bible says about striving for unity at the expense of all else.

1. Ecumenical by Brian Birdow Sermon text:John 17 & 2 John 6-11 www.cmcoc.org

2. Objective of Lesson Define Ecumenical Why is it a growing trend Unity through compromise…Is it biblical? A challenge.

3. Ecumenical Representing a number of different Christian churches. Promoting or relating to unity among the world’s “Christian churches”. Catholic Promoting or tending toward worldwide Christian unity or cooperation. Inter-religious or interdenominational unity. Ecumenism and ecumenical (oikomene)—the whole inhabited world. Historically ref. Roman Empire.

4. Ecumenical Catholic Lutheran Wesleyan Methodist Episcopalian Baptist 7th day Islam Buddha Cogic Holiness Hindu Cowboy Mormon

5. Ecumenicalism Why a growing trend? Family relationships —the desire to have us all worship together. Co-sign or ignore the error. Luke 14:26 If anyone comes to me Me , and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be MY disciple .

6. Ecumenicalism Why a growing trend? Friendship —-Don’t want to hurt others feelings; the desire to be well liked among peers and friends. James 4:4 You adulterous people! Do you not now that friendship with the world is enmity with God ? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Enmity -enemy of someone, a deep and biter hatred.

7. Unity through comprise ? John 17:17-24 …turn with me please…. 2 John 5-11 …turn with me please… Unity comes by abiding in the doctrine of Christ . Acts 2:42 —And they continued steadfastly (devoted) in the apostles doctrine (teaching) and fellowship , and in breaking of bread , and in prayers . John 14:16, 26 —the apostles were guided by H.S.

8. The seed Genesis 1:11 And God said, Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds , and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. Every seed will bring forth after its kind! Watermelon seeds bring forth only watermelon. Cantaloupe seeds bring forth only cantaloupe.

9. The seed John 17:17 — Sanctify (set apart, to make holy) them in the truth , your word is truth . 1 Corinthians 4:17 — Therefore I exhort you, be followers (imitators) of me. For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord , and he will remind you of my ways which are in Christ , just as I teach everywhere in every church. 1 Cor. 11:1 —Be followers of me, as I am of Christ .

10. The seed Luke 8:11 …the seed is the word of GOD… Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

11. The Challenge “Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the river and in Egypt, and serve the LORD . And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD , choose this day whom you will serve , whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:14-15