10:30AM “Modern” Service SLBC (LKLD, FL)
Shadow of the King
Week 12: “United”
1. God’s people are UNITED around God’s King
2 Samuel 5:1–5; 1 Chronicles 11:1–3
2. God’s people are gathered around the GOSPEL
2 Samuel 5:6–12; 1 Chronicles 11:4–9; 14:1–2
3. God’s united people are SENT together on God’s mission
2 Samuel 5:17–25; Matthew 28:18–20
Core Thesis
Unity in the Church is not a byproduct of social alignment or personal preference, but a strategic imperative driven by shared submission to a single King and a singular mission: the Gospel.
The Mechanics of Unity
Unity is forged by a “larger objective” that overrides internal friction.
The Apollo 13 Model: Deeply divided groups (Vietnam-era US) united around the objective of bringing the astronauts home. Professional specialties and personal differences were secondary to the mission.
The Davidic Model (2 Samuel 5): The tribes of Israel ceased civil war not through compromise, but by acknowledging God’s chosen King. David’s third anointing transitioned the nation from tribalism to a united kingdom centered in Jerusalem (Zion).
The Church Model: Unity is not uniformity. It is the result of belonging to Jesus Christ, which must supersede political and personal backgrounds.
Institutional Vitality & Data
The sermon addressed the current state of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) and the broader American church landscape.
Market Risk: Projections suggest 100,000 U.S. churches may close or be repurposed in the next decade.
SBC Performance: The latest Annual Church Profile (October 2026) indicates a modest recovery, though not yet at pre-2019 levels. Reported growth includes:
Weekly Worship Attendance: +3.6%
Small Group/Bible Study: +3.2%
Baptisms: +5.0%
Local Success: Scott Lake Baptist Church baptized 12 people this past year, trending upward. Within the local association of ~70 churches, only 12 are currently showing year-over-year growth. The differentiator for these growing churches is a “Gospel-first” center rather than a focus on programs or personalities.
The Mission Directive
Unity is a tool for mission, not an end in itself.
The Relay Analogy: A high school swim relay team exists to win races. The benefits of fellowship and support are secondary to the objective; if the focus on the race is lost, the team loses its purpose.
Strategic Humility: David’s success was tied to his refusal to assume he knew the path forward, repeatedly asking God for direction even in familiar battles (e.g., the Philistine attacks in 2 Samuel 5).
The Great Commission: The trajectory of the mission starts in Jerusalem (unity) but must move to the “ends of the earth.”
Summary of Principles
United around God’s King: Recognition of Christ’s authority precedes organizational health.
Gathered around the Gospel: The message of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus is the only rock-solid foundation for unity.
Sent on God’s Mission: A church that is not actively seeking to make disciples is “cheapening its purpose” and ignoring its calling.
