“Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ … standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel” (Phil. 1:27).

How can the North church of Christ keep from dividing? Today, we launch this year’s theme, “Standing As One,” with part one of a three-part series. Each lesson will focus on how we stand as one: 1) Hold firm to the faith, 2) Unite in a spirit of humility, 3) Stay together in trials.

The Lord doesn’t call Christians to just feel united or to manufacture togetherness. He calls us to stand, and in Scripture, standing is never passive. It’s faithfulness under pressure, and we do it together.

Unity always gathers around something, so what do we unite around?

A Common Banner

Our theme verse for this year begins, “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Phil. 1:27). The phrase “manner of life” comes from a word that means to live as a citizen, to carry out one’s responsibilities within a community, a shared life shaped by a shared allegiance. Our lives, together, are meant to announce the good news that there’s a new King and a new reign. We don’t suddenly deserve our salvation, but we walk “worthy of the gospel” when our “manner of life” matches our mission.

Unity always gathers around something, so what do we unite around? Our shared banner is “the gospel of Christ,” also called “the faith of the gospel” (Phil. 1:27). Rather than vaguely defined personal preferences, the gospel gives us a shared story that tells us where we are, who we are, and what God is doing in the world. That shared story creates solidarity as we “strive side by side” because we stand for something together. When the gospel becomes our common banner, our unity has purpose, strength, and true fellowship.

Wrong Ways to Unity

Scripture maps the road to oneness, and if we try to chart our own path, we won’t end up where God wants us.

1) Some assume unity requires uniformity — that people have to look the same, think the same, and act the same because differences feel dangerous. But Scripture speaks of one body with diverse members (Eph. 4:4-7).

2) Others assume unity means avoidance — that honest conversations and convictions are scary because unity means no tension or struggle. Yet Paul doesn’t say “avoid conflict.” He says “strive” (Phil. 1:27). Striving side by side means we face challenges together rather than pretending they don’t exist.

3) Still others assume unity comes through ecumenism. If doctrine divides, they might say, then love must mean agreeing to disagree. But Paul refuses to separate love from truth. He calls us “in love” to “maintain unity of the Spirit” while standing on one faith (Eph. 4:2-6). Love unites, but love without truth can’t sustain unity for long.

A Solid Foundation

We foster unity with family affection, humble attitudes, and loving actions, but these alone won’t sustain it. The foundation is our shared reality. Paul doesn’t tell us to find common ground; he shows us that we already stand on the same solid ground, listing the most important realities of our lives: “There is one body and one Spirit… one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all” (Eph. 4:4-6).

What we stand for lets us stand together.

The church doesn’t produce unity; we receive it. One Lord means we won’t follow competing authorities or divided loyalties — we have one God who is the Father of us all, and one Spirit within us. One faith means truth isn’t relative or self-defined, and one baptism means we entered the same life, the same way. And our one hope leads us to long for the same bright future. So rather than trying to feel united or negotiate unity into existence, we stand on what God has revealed. So we don’t need to produce unity, but we do “maintain” it as stewards (Eph. 4:3).

When we stand together on this solid ground, differences become manageable, we graciously work through conflict, and we share our struggles rather than isolating ourselves and avoiding them. What we stand for lets us stand together. As we reflect on this year’s theme “Standing as One,” it all starts here.

Our lives, together, are meant to announce the good news that there’s a new King and a new reign.

So, before we talk about Scripture’s teaching on relationships and Christlike attitudes, we have to recognize that without our foundation in the faith, our unity is no more solid than any secular club. We stand in the gospel. And because we do, we can stand together, firm, faithful, and united, whatever the year ahead may bring.