What does it really take to hold a congregation together? In this lesson, we explore the divine imperative to "bear with one another in love" from Ephesians 4:1–3 and Colossians 3:12–17. Satan is always working to drive wedges between brethren through poor attitudes, selfish actions, and internal conflict — so unity requires real effort. We examine the attitudes that make forbearance possible: compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering, and forgiveness, all bound together by love. The church isn't made up of the socially elite — it's a body of people from every background, bound together in Christ. That means real differences exist among us, and those differences can become sources of irritation if we let them. Rich and poor, different cultures and ethnicities, young and old — we look at the practical tensions that can arise in each of these areas and discuss what we can do to prevent them from becoming sources of division. Bearing with one another doesn't mean excusing sin, but it does mean patiently helping each other grow while letting the peace of God rule in our hearts.
