Does it feel like sometimes your family, your business, yourself, aren’t on the same page? I’m sure in a time as dizzying as our current world, you find yourself trying to claw back your sense of unity and solidarity. If that’s true, then there is something to be learned from the first century church.
Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.
Acts 4:32 ESV
I don’t know how many people the “full number” encompassed, but even if that number was two, being unified with “one heart and soul” is still an incredible feat. The question is, how did the early church find itself being unified so cohesively? More important question, how can we create a cohesive culture within our own families and organizations that can stand strong in the midst of ever shifting cultural divisions?
Three ways to foster unity from the early Christian church:
1. Share your stories
There is something about a story that unites people, especially because stories are memorable. At least the powerful stories are memorable. Its those powerful stories people will remember and believe with one accord.
Look at verse 33: “And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.”
Think about the words coming out of your mouth. Are you telling a meaningful story or are you just rambling? When you tell stories with great power, you’re not rambling. In this passage, we see that the apostles were giving their testimony. The point of their stories was recounting of the work of Jesus in their lives. There was a clear purpose to their testimonies. It wasn’t random hodgepodge. When they told people stories about the work of Jesus in their lives that them provided the listeners with a common understanding of grace and unified their hearts toward Jesus. Be sure you have a point in your story.
Are you telling a meaningful story or are you just rambling?
Moreover, when telling your story, make sure you don’t apologize for sharing your story; instead, make sure people know that you are telling them so that they can be a part of that story as well.
If you want to start creating unity with lots of people, or maybe just one other person, then tell stories, lots of them.
2. Take care of needs
Another way to build unity is by taking care of needs.
Look at verses 34-35 in this passage: “There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.”
You want people to “buy-in?” then take care of them. Don’t just talk about taking care of them, actually take care of the perceived needs of the people you want to be unified with. That is a good way to ensure they know you are tied to them and moving together.
The last time you genuinely cared for a person’s needs, did you and that person feel unified? If yes, then do that over and over again until you are unified. If you’re trying to unify an entire organization, start think how you can leverage your resources to take care of the needs of many and then do it.
3. Be transparent
Bringing about unity as one heart and soul requires all of us to be transparent with each other. Look at verses 36-37: “Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.”
Barnabas basically made a deal and then showed everybody what he was handing over. Not so that he could brag, but so that people can see that he was willing to be vulnerable and transparent in his dealings. He could have as easily given the money from his proceeds in private. But the fact that he laid it at the apostles’ feet was to show the apostles and all who were around that there was no reason to hide what he did.
When was the last time we aired out our business to be transparent, for better or worse? It was because the early church was transparent with one another that they could be of one heart and soul. There was nothing to hide and no shame that would cause them to hide.
Conclusion
Try being transparent, taking care of needs, and telling stories in your efforts to unify people with one heart and soul. It worked for a persecuted church in the first century. I believe taking these steps will unify your marriage, business, and friendships.
Prayer: Father in heaven, it’s so much easier to be disentangled from people. It’s less hurtful too. But God, that is not your way. You sent your son to save us so that we could be united with you, as heirs through the blood of Jesus. We thank you for that. Help us take care of the needs of the people we want to be unified with. Help us be vulnerably transparent with them. Moreover, help us tell powerful stories of why we do these things in your name. We pray that you help us be united when division is the norm. We pray in Jesus name. Amen.
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