This doctrinal section is of course the basis for Paul's plea to live in a way that promotes unity and the bond of peace. I have often thought that I wanted to meditate on verses 4–6 more, and they did not disappoint me.

There are a couple of keys to preaching doctrine in a way that captures hearers in our culture.

First, I need to regularly challenge people on the cultural tendency to assume that doctrine is irrelevant, dry, boring, for experts. On Sunday I stated that specifically and challenged my hearers to love doctrine. "What is doctrine?" I asked. "The most important ideas from the most important book." These are the life-giving truths about the God who has mercifully chosen to reveal his ways and his salvation to fallen sinners.

Second, we need to show clearly how doctrinal truths connect to life, for they all connect. I did this in two ways. I said at the foundation of all reality is not chaos, not confusion, not division, not a fundamental dualism. Life in this fallen world could cause some to believe that, and many cultures and ideologies throughout history have come to that conclusion. Instead, when you come to the center and foundation of all reality there is a magnificent unity, the unity of God and his kingdom. And this is the unity to which all Christians are destined. Unity and peace are our future forever. The dissonance and chaos and strife of life in this world will one day be ended by the God who is over all and through all and in all.

Then I quickly summarized again the previous verses which call us to live in keeping with the unity of God and his kingdom. I had already developed these verses in previous sermons.

As we walked through the seven wonderful unities of verses 4–6, I also grounded the ideas in the relevant subject of the pluralism in our culture. What a contrast between that pluralism and one faith, one Lord, one hope, one baptism, one body. This passage is one of the most countercultural statements in the Bible, and so in terms of preaching there is built in energy and tension. I didn't delve in apologetics here. I just said that this is the clear teaching of Scripture, and I reveled in the glory of unity. Contrast is usually powerful in preaching, and I had plenty to work with here.

Finally, to preach doctrine in a way that captures hearers, the truths have to be wonderful to me first. My heart must be filled with praise and wonder and thanksgiving for every detail of what God has revealed of his glorious ways and awesome kingdom. This is the treasure hidden in a field for which I have given everything in order to buy that field. On Sunday, rather than caving in to the culture and skimming the doctrinal section, I urged my church to memorize these verses and meditate on them as they lay in bed at night. For my part, the passage still lingers in my spirit, bringing me joy.