Unite Church Nashville is a local church that has a specific call to intentionally pursue John 17 Unity. 

But what does this mean?  Be one as Jesus and the Father are one? That seems pretty mysterious. 

Another example given to the early church is of a Body. Jesus is the head, and we, His followers, are all members of His Body. Together we are to function together as one Body to continue Jesus’ mission to one another and to the world. 

John 17 and other passages show us that Jesus did and said what the father told him to do and that everything he did on earth and had on earth was “from the father”.  

Likewise, for us as the body of Christ, we are to do and say what Jesus (our head) tells us and everything we have and do is to be from and through him. But while we should certainly pursue being one with him individually, it can’t stop there. We can not be the BODY on our own.  

If you ever did a three-legged race, you know that it is much easier to run on your own than to coordinate a joined leg with someone else. It takes, communication, practice, and sometimes a lot of fumbling around before we get to a smooth stride because you suddenly have two heads involved! Now think of how much more complicated with many Body parts all being pieced together. It is here where intentionally pursuing unity comes into play.  

There is not just a prayer to be one, but a command to be one. That is not to be taken lightly. At Unite, we believe the Lord has called us to intentionally strap on that leg strap and learn to run his race together, as one, under the headship of Christ.  

1. We are called to help individuals (and families) find a relationship with Jesus and be discipled in pursuing ever greater oneness with the Lord so that they can walk in full freedom, peace, love and joy, and take their God given place in THE BODY – under the one head Jesus Christ.

2. We are called to intentionally partner with other churches and ministries to be Jesus to the world around us. Sometimes this may be for a single three-legged race (one time events), and other times it may be a series of continual races (regular partnerships).    

This is a call to a hard but beautiful journey as it shows us where we are still growing and being refined as individuals, and groups. It both demands and draws us into greater oneness with the Lord as running together shows us where we are out of alignment with the head. It becomes a priority of need to move into greater transformation and a posture of humbly receiving gifts, strengths, and gentle and loving nudges into alignment. It calls each person and gifting into our God given places in the Body because we can not function properly without the places filled.  

Like a sports team that works hard all season to function as one in perfect unity so as to win the game, so we invite you into the journey of becoming one SO THE WORLD MAY KNOW AND BELIEVE IN JESUS.