"Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 15:5-6

When we talk about a church being committed to living in Gospel Community we are discussing a concept that goes beyond simply creating a safe and hospitable environment or even meeting the needs of those around us. Each of these are important and worthy of our attention but when we stop there we actually lose sight of the object of the Gospel’s ultimate influence in the life of the individual believer and the life of the church; the glorification of God. All that we are as a result of Christ’s work on the cross is intended for the purpose of embodying Jesus Christ in our lives. To revealing the power of His Gospel to the world around us. A unified community made up of a diverse group of people covenanted to each other shows the power of Christ to transform us and transverse any divide.

Romans 15 verse 6 reveals the depth of unity that glorifies the work of Jesus when it uses the phrase ‘with one accord’. The phrase comes from the greek word Homothumadon. It is a unique Greek word, helping us to understand the uniqueness of Christian community. Homothumadon is a compound of two words meaning to “rush along” (thumos/thymos) and “in unison” (homos). The intended imagery is almost musical. You see, as a number of notes are sounded, while different, they harmonize in pitch and tone. In the same way that the instruments of an orchestra come together under the direction of a choir director, so the Holy Spirit blends together the lives of members of Christ’s church. In this we embody our highest purpose.

As one commentator said; The consummate purpose of Christian unity is not to please other believers but to please the Lord, both inwardly and outwardly, individually and corporately. It is only when His people are in one accord and worship Him with one voice that they truly and fully glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Help us, by your Spirit, to be united as your church. Empower us to go beyond our own selfish concerns that we might reveal and reflect the transforming work of Christ in our lives and in our community of faith. We join our prayer with that of your Son’s when he asked that we may all be one; even as You in the Godhead are one, so that the world may believe in work of Jesus Christ. Amen.