We’re all in this together (United in Christ)

“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” – Ephesians 2:13-22

Throughout this week at YFC National Conference 2017; we have been hearing God speaking so clearly to us as an organisation.

Lives have been touched and transformed.

People have had their vision renewed.

God has encouraged and challenged us.

And we have had many laughs and lots of joy filled times together.

We have heard great messages in our morning and evening sessions; we will be posting some of them up on our blog space; or linking you to the YFC UK media channel for you to benefit from the great teaching we have heard; as and when they become available.

The seminars have been insightful, heartfelt, relevant, challenging, pragmatic, practical, visionary, and exactly what we as a youth work organisation have needed as we head into 2017. Putting tools into our hands to see young people reached with the life transforming message of Jesus in a relevant way.

Our main speaker for the morning sessions has been Stephen Gaukroger; ‘the founder-director of Clarion Trust International, an organisation which exists to equip the worldwide church for leadership, mission & evangelism.’ He has been leading us through the book of Ephesians as we look at the over-arching theme of our unity in Christ.

Unity comes from being one in Jesus and nowhere else. This unity affects us culturally and socially; we are not divided into groupings, tribes, races, ethnicities, or in any other way that the world and culture would like to categories and pigeonholes us as; but we are all ‘One’ in Christ.

Out identity is firmly grounded in Him and Him alone.

The answer to all of the division and segregation that we see in the world around us can only be found in Jesus; and as the church of God, His beloved bride, we need to tear down the fictitious walls that the lies of the enemy have built up around us and between us. Lies that say that our denomination; our background; our worship styles, the versions/translations of the Bible we read; where we live; how we dress, etc. etc. define us and give us our identity.

We need to stop listening to these lies and living out of them; for they create and foster a sense of us and them.

There is no us and them in Jesus; but He has made us one. “For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility” – Ephesians 2:14

Let us live out 2017 united in Christ; all working together to see God’s kingdom come and see lives saved by Jesus.

There is so much more to say about the 2017 National Conference; look for another post from me on Monday.

Have a great week-end everyone and let’s see how we can encourage one another to stand united in Jesus in 2017.

Happy New Year!