The reason why there is so much division in families and churches, folks are focusing on the wrong thing.

Dr. Tony Evans says we need to pay more attention to the things that draw us together instead of the things that push us apart.

It is not everybody being the same. It is all the differences moving toward a common goal.

This is the alternative broadcast featuring the timeless biblical teachings from the archives of Dr. Tony Evans.

It seems no matter how much we talk about the value of diversity, our differences still separate us,

whether they be economic, cultural, political, or racial.

Dr. Evans' message today explores unity within the church, and he had this to say as a way to set up what we're about to hear.

The major theme in the scripture is unity. In fact, it is so important that God will literally

back away from a person, a family,

a church, or a society that insist on illegitimate disunity. Unity is not loss of uniqueness.

Unity is oneness of purpose. It is where there is a common goal to be reached and everybody's shooting toward that

goal. And so just like in football where you have different positions on the field, they're unique,

but there's only one goal line that they're trying to move that ball to. Well, the goal line is the

purpose of God to bring glory to God through the advancement of its kingdom.

We have uniquenesses as individuals from our family backgrounds in our church, your styles of

worship, even in our political perspectives. But if those differences can be pulled together

toward God's goal, then what we can do is be excited about the different

things everybody's bringing to the table because we're all shooting after one goal line. So unity,

oneness of purpose, not sameness of being. Well, with those thoughts as background, let's listen

as Dr. Evans presents a message exploring the power of the unified church.

When God saved you or birthed you, the new birth, he birthed you into the family of God.

In other words, you were born into a community.

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