UNITY

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UNITY DIVERSITY
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The Bible is Diverse

• Different genres
• Different authors
• Different cultures
• Different emphasis

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Why the Diversity?

• Meeting us where we are
• Shows the value of diversity (?)
• To magnify the unity in the Messiah (?)
• Occasional nature of the documents message is
  contextual
• The incarnation (?)

4
The Unity"

• Same God
• Mercy in OT Judgment in NT
• Central core message as pattern
• Exodus 201-17 10 Commandments
• Ephesians 41-6 7 Ones
• The StoryRetold
• Israels story is often retold
• Jesus retells the storyin practice
• Revolves around the cross

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Revolves Around the Cross

• GOD-------------------------- CHRIST -------------
  --------- HOLY SPIRIT
• Initiative Action Response
• Attributes Attributes Attributes
• Character Character Character
• Mediator

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Core principles

• Matters of first importance (1 Cor. 151-3)
• Weightier Matters (Matt. 2323 cf. Matt 127
  Hos. 66)
• The Story of Jesus as connecting principle
• 2 Cor. 519 Acts 830-35 Rom. 109 1 Cor.
  158 1 Jn. 42-3 1 Cor. 123
• Butkeep the standard high!
• These you ought to have done, without leaving
  others undone
• Be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is
  perfect
• Connection or core does not imply other
  issues are unimportant simply that other
  issues stem from or are explained by the core.
• What revelation is unimportant? What word from
  God is not needed? What action requested/demanded
  by God is not to be kept? (Luke 177-10)
• Example least common denominator for
  fellowship vs. testing all things and
  searching daily to see if these things are so.
  Is it really an either/or?

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Attitude Check

• Do I demand more from myself than anyone could
  possibly demand from me?
• Do I offer more grace to others than anyone would
  expect from me?