Leader Guide

Objective
Students will learn what it means to be unified in Christ and discover the joy of unity when people come together despite their differences.

Warm Up
Have students turn to the “What Divides Us” section of their Student Guide. Give them two minutes to write down as many polarizing topics as possible.

When time is up, have students share their items while crossing off any duplicates on their list. The person with the most unduplicated answers wins.

• What are the reasons why people divide themselves?
• What causes people to be so passionate about their dividedness?
• What do you feel is the number one topic over which people in our country seem to be divided?
• What do you think is the number one topic over which people in our world seem divided?

Transition
Our world is divided in so many ways. Sin brings about separation from God and God’s creation. This division has not gone unnoticed as we see people digging in their heels along political, racial, cultural, economic, and even theological lines.

Our world sees people who claim to love God but show more of what they are against than what they are for. In this lesson, we will discover the joy of unity when people come together despite their differences. Together we will find out what it means to be unified in God.

The Video
Have students turn to the “Dance of Unity” section in their Student Guide. As the video plays, students will write down any ingredients of unity they observe in the song.

Play “Trinity Street” by Trinity.

Transition
Allow several students to share their responses from the Student Guide.

• What is the significance of “Everybody needs somebody” when
• discussing unity?
• What is important about saying “we are one and many?”
• How is it that a “crazy family” can be unified?
• What do you think is the first step to bringing unity when division is all around?

Bible Study
Throughout the word of God, the theme of unity is spoken and enacted as God’s creation strives to be one and find peace through Jesus. Jesus came so we might be reunited with God and overcome the separation of sin and death.

The book of Ephesians addresses the church about the need for unity. As we think about how to add further depth to the song’s message and apply it to our own lives, let’s see what God’s truth says to us about how we relate to others and bring harmony between all of God’s people.

Read Ephesians 4:1-6

• What did the writer mean by “calling?”
• Why is it important to know this “calling” is for everyone?
• How do the character traits in verse 2 help a person to live out verse 3?
• On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being best), how would you rate people you know, your community, your region, your country, and the world on following the calling to live this life?
• What is the importance of all the “ones” in verses 4-5?
• What is meant by “one body?”
• How do these verses all fit in with the message of the song?

Wrap Up
Challenge each of your group members to say one place where people are divided in their schools or extended families, or with friends. Then give them a few minutes to write down one action step they will take to help bring unity in that area. Give time for each person to share their action step and pray specifically for each person.

Playlist
This song is featured on “The Linc: Unity” Spotify playlist – which is the perfect way to remind your students what you’ve taught them in this session. To share it with them, click the live link on the web version of this study.