Unity in Diversity - Steps to Life

February 4 – 10, 2024

Key Text

“Fulfill my joy by being likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” Philippians 2:2

Study Help: The Desire of Ages, 805, 806

Introduction

“All who believe are to be gathered into one church.” The Desire of Ages, 821

Sunday

1 COUNSELING TOGETHER

1.a. To advance His cause on earth, what does God want us to do in forming plans of action? Proverbs 11:14; 15:22

Note: “The Lord does not apportion to any one man some special territory in which he alone is to labor. This is contrary to His plan. He designs that in every place where the truth is introduced, different minds, different gifts, shall be brought in to exert an influence upon the work. No one man has sufficient wisdom to manage an interest without helpers, and no one should think himself competent to do so. The fact that a person has ability in one direction, is no evidence that his judgment on all other subjects is perfect, and that the wisdom of some other mind does not need to be united with his.” Gospel Workers, 481

1.b. In order to work with others with whom we are bonded by the same precious faith, what is needed in each of us? 2 Chronicles 7:14; 34:27; Isaiah 57:15; 1 Peter 5:5, 6

Note: “Those who do labor together should seek to be in perfect harmony. And yet no one should feel that he cannot labor with those who do not see just as he sees, and who do not in their labors follow just his plans. If all manifest a humble, teachable spirit, there need be no difficulty. God has set in the church different gifts. These are precious in their proper places, and all may act a part in the work of preparing a people for Christ’s soon coming.” Gospel Workers, 481

Monday

2 UNITED IN DIVERSITY

2.a. Why could Jesus speak with authority, and how can we teach with the same divine mandate? Matthew 7:28, 29; 2 Timothy 2:15; 1 Peter 3:15

2.b. What types of gifts are needed in the church, and why do we need people with varied abilities to reap the gospel harvest? 1 Corinthians 12:7–11

Note: “Many times the progress of the work has been hindered because the laborers thought their gifts all that were necessary for its advancement. The Lord has not done for His people what He would have done if so many of the workers had not limited the development of the work by refusing to cooperate with laborers who should have been given standing room and encouragement. In self-sufficiency, men have ignored and pushed aside those to whom God has given a special work.” Pacific Union Recorder, December 29, 1904

“It may seem to some that the contrast between their gifts and the gifts of a fellow laborer is too great to allow them to unite in harmonious effort; but when they remember that there are varied minds to be reached, and that some will reject the truth as it is presented by one laborer, only to open their hearts to God’s truth as it is presented in a different manner by another laborer, they will hopefully endeavor to labor together in unity.” Testimonies, Vol. 9, 145

2.c. What will people recognize when they see that Christians are working harmoniously? Acts 4:13; John 13:34, 35; 17:21–23

Note: “Let the messengers whom He [God] sends work so harmoniously that all will take knowledge that they have learned of Jesus.” Testimonies, Vol. 9, 146

2.d. In Old Testament times, as entrusted according to specific families, what did each member of the tribe of Levi receive as a divine responsibility?

Gershonites: Numbers 3:23–26
Kohathites: Verses 29–32
Merarites: Verses 35–37

Tuesday

3 SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

3.a. In the case of Uzzah, what happened when he did another’s work? 2 Samuel 6:6, 7; Numbers 3:38. How does this apply today?

Note: “[One] remarkable exhibition to the nations round about was the perfect order observed in the camp of the Israelites. They could see the cloud hovering over the place where the tabernacle was to be pitched; they observed the priests and other appointed agencies going about their special work, each one doing the part assigned him in the work of preparing the camp for the night. No one did anything that someone else should do. Whoever would have tried to do another man’s work would have suffered the death penalty. Each one attended to his special duty. In the erecting of the tabernacle, part fitted to part, and the house of the Lord was set up with beautiful precision. Not a word was spoken, not an order given, excepting by the one in charge. No one was confused.” Lift Him Up, 145

“The directions in regard to order in the tabernacle service were recorded that lessons might be drawn from it by all who should live upon the earth. Men were selected to do various parts of the work of setting up and taking down the tabernacle, and if one strayed in carelessly and put his hands to the work assigned to another, he was to be put to death. We serve the same God today. But the death penalty has been abolished; had it not been, there would not now be so much careless, disorderly work in His cause. The God of heaven is a God of order, and He requires all His followers to have rules and regulations, and to preserve order.” Testimonies, Vol. 5, 274

3.b. How does God intend to finish the work when we are composed of such a diverse group of believers? 1 Corinthians 12:14–18

Note: “The leaders among God’s people are to guard against the danger of condemning the methods of individual workers who are led by the Lord to do a special work that but few are fitted to do. Let brethren in responsibility be slow to criticize movements that are not in perfect harmony with their methods of labor. Let them never suppose that every plan should reflect their own personality. Let them not fear to trust another’s methods; for by withholding their confidence from a brother laborer who, with humility and consecrated zeal, is doing a special work in God’s appointed way, they are retarding the advancement of the Lord’s cause.” Gospel Workers, 488

Wednesday

4 INDIVIDUALITY AMONG BELIEVERS

4.a. How are we in danger of underestimating one another? Ephesians 4:7

Note: “Let us beware of allowing our minds to become fixed on ourselves, thinking that no one can be serving the Lord unless he is working on the same lines as those on which we are working.

“Never is a worker to say, ‘I do not want to work with such a one, because he does not see things as I do. I wish to work with someone who will agree with all I say, and follow out all my ideas.’ The one the worker thus refuses to connect with may have truths to present that have not yet been presented.” Pacific Union Recorder, December 29, 1904

4.b. Because we are all fellow believers, can we dictate the details of what each missionary worker shall do? Matthew 23:8

Note: “No human being is to seek to bind other human beings to himself as if he were to control them, telling them to do this and forbidding them to do that, commanding, dictating, acting like an officer over a company of soldiers. This is the way the priests and rulers did in Christ’s day, but it is not the right way. After the truth has made the impression upon hearts, and men and women have accepted its teachings, they are to be treated as the property of Christ, not as the property of man.” Testimonies, Vol. 9, 146

“A strange thing has come into our churches. Men who are placed in positions of responsibility that they may be wise helpers to their fellow workers have come to suppose that they were set as kings and rulers in the churches, to say to one brother, Do this; to another, Do that; and to another, Be sure to labor in such and such a way. There have been places where the workers have been told that if they did not follow the instruction of these men of responsibility, their pay from the conference would be withheld.

“It is right for the workers to counsel together as brethren; but that man who endeavors to lead his fellow workers to seek his individual counsel and advice regarding the details of their work, and to learn their duty from him, is in a dangerous position and needs to learn what responsibilities are really comprehended in his office. God has appointed no man to be conscience for his fellowman.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 477

Thursday

5 DEVELOPING A SANCTIFIED UNITY

5.a. Despite our great diversity, how will God’s work be finished? Isaiah 52:7, 8; 1 Corinthians 1:10

Note: “The Reformation was greatly retarded by making prominent differences on some points of faith and each party holding tenaciously to those things where they differed. We shall see eye to eye erelong, but to become firm and consider it your duty to present your views in decided opposition to the faith or truth as it has been taught by us as a people, is a mistake, and will result in harm, and only harm, as in the days of Martin Luther. Begin to draw apart and feel at liberty to express your ideas without reference to the views of your brethren, and a state of things will be introduced that you do not dream of.” Counsels to Writers and Editors, 76

5.b. Where does God place believers, and why? 1 Corinthians 12:18–25

Note: “Our Redeemer throws souls into the arms of the church, for them to care for unselfishly and train for heaven.” Testimonies, Vol. 2, 331

“The man who is truly united with Christ will never act as though he were a complete whole in himself. …

“The perfection of the church depends not on each member being fashioned exactly alike.” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 6, 1090

5.c. What type of authority does this united church have over its membership? Matthew 18:16–18

Note: “On the church has been conferred the power to act in Christ’s stead. It is God’s instrumentality for the preservation of order and discipline among His people. To it the Lord has delegated the power to settle all questions respecting its prosperity, purity, and order. Upon it rests the responsibility of excluding from its fellowship those who are unworthy, who by their unchristlike conduct would bring dishonor on the truth. Whatever the church does that is in accordance with the directions given in God’s word, will be ratified in heaven.” Gospel Workers, 501, 502

“Unless the advice and counsel of the church can be respected, it is indeed powerless. God has placed a voice in the church which must control its members.” Testimonies, Vol. 5, 108

Friday

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

1 Since God’s work is diverse and complex, what do we greatly need?

2 Why are various gifts and abilities important in the final harvest?

3 What can we learn from the thorough order and organization of the Levitical system?

4 How can we guard individual duty to the great Head of the church?

5 How does respect for individuality relate to organizational structure?