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• Illustration: Lucado begins with a story of sailors who are rescued by their captain only to split into factions in his absence.
• One needs not spend much time in the Christian faith before he notices dissension among the ranks.
• Disunity distracts the believer and discourages the seeker.
• Disunity distracts the believer, and it also discourages the seeker.
  - Illustration: The appearance of a vitamin salesman discouraged Lucado from buying the vitamins

• Paul urges us to make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
• The Greek tense means, "make every effort, keep on making every effort, never stop making efforts."
• Paul's prescription for disunity in Romans 15:7 is to accept one another.
• The Roman church was comprised of two different cultures—Gentiles and the Jews—and experienced disagreement as a result.
  - Illustration: Lucado imagines what it might have been like for Jewish and Gentile Christians to plan a potluck dinner together.
• There will be differences of opinion in the church.
• Beneath the cross are issues of varying degrees of importance.
• We must learn to be tolerant of the perspectives of others.

• We must accept one another as Christ accepts us.
• The verb "accept" literally means to receive into someone's heart.
• This is the same verb used in John 14:2 to describe how Jesus will receive us when we come to heaven.
• Christ's acceptance is not unconditional, even though his love is.
• His acceptance is conditioned upon your repentance and faith.
• In the same way, our acceptance of people is not without conditions; we accept whom Christ accepts.
  - Illustration: Lucado describes two powerful examples of Communion creating unity between members of different congregations from different backgrounds.
• Paul commands Christians not to argue.
• He commands them not to judge one another.
• He commands them to be peacemakers.

• Illustration: Lucado illustrates acceptance with the story of Alexander Campbell.
• Accept one another as Christ has accepted you.