Special Study Outline

A COMMON BOND
There is some discussion today about the “common bond” that has held and still holds churches together. There has always been a common bond that has held churches and people together. This common bond will hold churches and people together wherever they may live - Alabama or Nigeria, it matters not. But the common bond that God speaks of and brethren speak of is often two different things. Let me share with you a few things this common bond IS NOT: First, this common bond that unites people and churches together is not universal agreement on all matters. There have been and will always be things the brethren disagree over. From the indwelling Spirit to the type of buildings we build - brethren have always had differences of opinions. This will never change! Secondly, the common bond that unites people and churches together is not allegiance to a particular preaching school or brotherhood publication. It seems some believe that churches and preachers today are only “sound” if they are somehow connected or approved of by a preacher school or if you are an avid reader and subscriber to some paper. Thirdly, some believe the common bond that holds churches together is that you must do, think, and act just like they do. For example, let a church begin to grow - most don’t rejoice, they question and investigate as to what’s wrong. Since they are not growing, they think that churches can’t grow unless they are doing something “unscriptural”. There are other things we could mention - but suffice it to say that many brethren have “missed the mark” concerning the common bond that holds people and churches together. The one and only common bond that we can unite around is Jesus Christ. “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 5:1). “...so we, being many, are one body in Christ…” (Romans 12:5). “For through him (Jesus) we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household” (Ephesians 2:18-19). “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:27-28). It is clear from God that the only common bond that will keep us together is Jesus...stay near to Him and experience the common bond He and He alone provides! Richard O'Connor

There is some discussion today about the “common bond” that has held and still holds churches together. There has always been a common bond that has held churches and people together. This common bond will hold churches and people together wherever they may live - Alabama or Nigeria, it matters not.

But the common bond that God speaks of and brethren speak of is often two different things. Let me share with you a few things this common bond IS NOT:

First, this common bond that unites people and churches together is not universal agreement on all matters. There have been and will always be things the brethren disagree over. From the indwelling Spirit to the type of buildings we build - brethren have always had differences of opinions. This will never change!

Secondly, the common bond that unites people and churches together is not allegiance to a particular preaching school or brotherhood publication. It seems some believe that churches and preachers today are only “sound” if they are somehow connected or approved of by a preacher school or if you are an avid reader and subscriber to some paper.

Thirdly, some believe the common bond that holds churches together is that you must do, think, and act just like they do. For example, let a church begin to grow - most don’t rejoice, they question and investigate as to what’s wrong. Since they are not growing, they think that churches can’t grow unless they are doing something “unscriptural”. There are other things we could mention - but suffice it to say that many brethren have “missed the mark” concerning the common bond that holds people and churches together.

The one and only common bond that we can unite around is Jesus Christ. “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 5:1). “...so we, being many, are one body in Christ…” (Romans 12:5). “For through him (Jesus) we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household” (Ephesians 2:18-19). “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:27-28). It is clear from God that the only common bond that will keep us together is Jesus...stay near to Him and experience the common bond He and He alone provides!

Richard O'Connor