1. Unity in Adversity 1 Peter 4:12-16 Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

2. Adversity 2

3. Unity in Adversity 3

4. Overcoming Adversity to Keep Unity Requires… Faith in Christ, Jno 16:33; 1 Jno 5:4 –Peace and joy, Jno 16:22 (15:18; 12:31-33) –“Bond of peace” – uniting principle, Col 3:15 –Continue in the faith, Acts 14:22 –Endurance, 2 Tim 2:11-13 –Walk in love, Jno 13:34-35; Col 3:14 (“bond”) 4

5. Overcoming Adversity to Keep Unity Requires… Unwavering commitment to truth, Eph 4:20-24; Gal 5:7-9 –Uncompromising allegiance, Jude 3-4 Reject all lesser “norms” (unity in diversity) –Unflinching support of faithful brethren, Gal 4:11-16 (2 Tim 4:16) 5

6. Overcoming Adversity to Keep Unity Requires… Putting a high value on our unity in Christ, Jno 17:20-21 (tirelessly guard it) –Enjoy the goodness of unity, Psa 133:1 –Preserve the integrity of unity, Gen 13:8 –Endurance maintains unity, Matt 24:13; Heb 12:1-2 6

7. ADVERSITY Discord and rivalry, Gal 5:19, 20-21 –Hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy –Failure to lovingly serve, Gal 5:13-15 I N T HE L OCAL C HURCH 7

8. ADVERSITY Things that disrupt unity: –False teachers/teaching, 2 Tim 2:16-18; Titus 1:10-11 –Factiousness (binding opinions), Rom 14:1-5 –Power plays, 3 Jno 9-10 (Phil 2:3-4) –Hidden sin, Josh 6:18; 7:11-15, 25; Matt 18:15-17 –Demand for “new things”, Jer 6:16-17 I N T HE L OCAL C HURCH 8

9. ADVERSITY Special occasions –Holidays, birthdays, weddings, funerals, etc. –Yield to each other, Gen 13:8 Finances, Matt 6:25-34; Phil 4:11-13 Marital “bliss”, Eph 5:31, 33 I N F AMILIES 9

10. Unity in Adversity -United in faith and obedience to Christ -Marks us as people of God, 1 Pet 4:12-13 10