EBOOK
About
New York Times-bestselling author Francis Chan calls for believers and churches everywhere to align our hearts with God and start taking seriously His numerous commands to unify.
It is absolutely clear from Scripture that God passionately desires supernatural unity within His Church. Unity is what Jesus prays for, what He commands, and what He says will be our greatest witness to the world.
If unity is so important to the heart of God, why is the Church one of the most divided groups on earth? While many believe doctrine is at the root of the problem, Francis argues that the real problem is the shallowness or non-existence of our love for each other-rooted in a shallowness in our understanding of the gospel. This is what desperately needs to change.
The reason that God gifts the Church with leaders is so they can equip God's people in a way that leads to "unity of the faith" (Ephesians 4:13). We have done a poor job at this, but it can all change.
Those who are believers will hear the call and be "eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (v. 3). There will be opposition, but we cannot allow anything to discourage us from giving everything we have to the pursuit of a unified, restored Bride.
In Until Unity, bestselling author Francis Chan challenges readers to grieve the division within the Church and then become so attracted to the vision of a unified Bride that they are ready to make costly changes.
Francis Chan has been a pastor for over thirty years. He is a New York Times—bestselling author of several books, including Crazy Love, Letters to the Church, and Until Unity. He and his wife, Lisa, have been married nearly thirty years and coauthored You and Me Forever. Currently, Francis and his family split their time between ministry and church planting in Northern California and Asia.
Contents
Acknowledgments 11
Introduction 13
Chapter 1: It's What the Trinity Wants 35
Chapter 2: It's What You Want 53
Chapter 3: It's What the World Needs 75
Chapter 4: It Starts with Repentance 97
Chapter 5: It Comes with Maturity 119
Chapter 6: It Survives with Love 137
Chapter 7: It Requires a Fight 161
Chapter 8: It Must Start Small 191
Conclusion: A Return to Childlike Faith 207
Notes 215
Scripture Index 217.
It is absolutely clear from Scripture that God passionately desires supernatural unity within His Church. Unity is what Jesus prays for, what He commands, and what He says will be our greatest witness to the world.
If unity is so important to the heart of God, why is the Church one of the most divided groups on earth? While many believe doctrine is at the root of the problem, Francis argues that the real problem is the shallowness or non-existence of our love for each other-rooted in a shallowness in our understanding of the gospel. This is what desperately needs to change.
The reason that God gifts the Church with leaders is so they can equip God's people in a way that leads to "unity of the faith" (Ephesians 4:13). We have done a poor job at this, but it can all change.
Those who are believers will hear the call and be "eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (v. 3). There will be opposition, but we cannot allow anything to discourage us from giving everything we have to the pursuit of a unified, restored Bride.
In Until Unity, bestselling author Francis Chan challenges readers to grieve the division within the Church and then become so attracted to the vision of a unified Bride that they are ready to make costly changes.
Francis Chan has been a pastor for over thirty years. He is a New York Times—bestselling author of several books, including Crazy Love, Letters to the Church, and Until Unity. He and his wife, Lisa, have been married nearly thirty years and coauthored You and Me Forever. Currently, Francis and his family split their time between ministry and church planting in Northern California and Asia.
Contents
Acknowledgments 11
Introduction 13
Chapter 1: It's What the Trinity Wants 35
Chapter 2: It's What You Want 53
Chapter 3: It's What the World Needs 75
Chapter 4: It Starts with Repentance 97
Chapter 5: It Comes with Maturity 119
Chapter 6: It Survives with Love 137
Chapter 7: It Requires a Fight 161
Chapter 8: It Must Start Small 191
Conclusion: A Return to Childlike Faith 207
Notes 215
Scripture Index 217.