Triangle Family Church Sunday Service on Oct. 25, 2026
Music “As the Deer” by Shin Yuh nim at Belvedere
Sermon: One for All and All for One
The message centers on the theme "One for all and all for one," emphasizing unity's power in families, communities, and nations. Drawing from biblical scriptures, divine principles, and historical parables such as the legend of the three arrows, the speaker illustrates how cooperation and mutual support create strength, harmony, and lasting peace. The talk integrates scripture passages from 1 Corinthians and Romans, the divine principle of dual purposes, and examples from history, including British colonial rule and Mahatma Gandhi’s unification of India. It contrasts earthly salvation efforts, like socialism and communism, with divine salvation rooted in recognizing and expressing the altruistic nature instilled by God. The message concludes with the importance of families as the foundational unit of society and calls for a united consciousness rooted in God to restore social harmony through love and collective well-being. The speaker encourages individuals to discover and utilize their unique God-given talents for the greater good, envisioning a world united beyond divisions of race, nation, and religion. Highlights
- Introduction of "One for all and all for one" from the Three Musketeers and Switzerland’s unofficial motto.
- The legend of the three arrows demonstrates strength through unity via a farmer’s parable.
- Bible verse "A cord of three strands is not quickly broken" parallels the story emphasizing mutual support.
- Historical example of British colonial strategy exploiting division versus Gandhi’s unifying leadership during India’s independence struggle.
- Discussion of political ideologies like socialism and communism contrasted with divine principles of true salvation and equality.
- Altruism as a God-given nature essential to expressing a “salvation from heaven.”
- The family as the foundation of unity, love, and peace expanding to society and nations.
Announcement
Transcript of sermon
Today's theme is "One for All, and All for One." This phrase is Switzerland's unofficial motto and appears in the Federal Palace. It's also famous from the French historical adventure novel “The Three Musketeers.” I got 3 Musketeers chocolate bars for children.
My goal is to make this service accessible to everyone. I am sharing a story related to the topic. I hope children can enjoy the story.
Before going to the story, let's review Bible verses and Divine Principle passages related to the topic.
The first one is from 1 Corinthians 12:12.
"The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.”
The second one is from Romans 12:5.
"So in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others."
The next is from Divine Principle chapter 1 “The Purpose of Creation”.
"All entities have dual purposes. In God’s ideal, there cannot be any individual purpose which does not support the whole purpose, nor can there be any whole purpose that does not guarantee the interests of the individual. The infinite variety of beings in the universe form one vast organic body interwoven by these dual purposes.”
These quotes are talking about unity, mutual interdependence, and the concept of "the body" where diverse individuals function together to create a harmonious, purposeful whole.
Let us read a story. The "Legend of the Three Arrows" is a famous Japanese parable attributed to the 16th-century feudal lord Motonari Mori. He sent a letter to his three sons. It shows that one arrow can break easily, but three bound together are strong—teaching that unity gives strength. The following story was inspired by that letter.
Once upon a time, an old farmer had three children who loved each other dearly — but oh, how they loved to argue!
Day after day they quarreled, until one morning the farmer had a wonderful idea. He walked out to the field and gathered a bundle of sticks…
The farmer handed each child a single stick and asked, "Can you break it?" Snap! One by one, every stick broke with the gentlest bend.
Then the farmer tied the sticks together into one bundle. “Now try,” he smiled. The children pushed and pulled with all their might — but the bundle would not break.
Alone we bend and burdens feel heavy; bound together we hold firm and carry more. This is the secret of every family, friendship, and community: we are made to hold together.
I am sharing a Bible quote mentioning a similar story. "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." Ecclesiastes 4:9–12 The Bible and the story of the farmer and three sons are saying the same thing.
I prepared story questions for the children. Use your imagination when answering, and enjoy the coloring activity. I also prepared a “Snap” Test for Dry Spaghetti to show how unity makes us stronger. First, hold one noodle and press down at its center with your fingers until it snaps. Notice how much force it takes. Next, tightly tape three or more noodles together to make a thick rod. The tighter the bundle, the stronger it becomes. Press down at its center in the same way, and compare the force needed to snap the bundle with that needed to snap a single noodle.
Let us look at history to see whether the lesson of the “Legend of the Three Arrows” applies. Britain used the principle to build a vast empire, while colonized nations such as India were often weakened by internal division.
Economic historians estimate that India produced about one-quarter of the world’s GDP around 1700, making it one of the world’s leading economic powers.
As the Mughal empire weakened in the 18th century, regional kingdoms often fought one another instead of forming a united front. The British exploited and deepened religious, ethnic, and social divisions through a “divide and rule” strategy, making organized resistance more difficult. The British understood the principle that unity creates strength, while division creates weakness.
Mahatma Gandhi later helped unite Indians through mass campaigns of nonviolent civil disobedience and economic boycotts, contributing to India’s independence from British rule.
Let us return to today’s theme: “One for All, and All for One.” Religions, businesses, and societies often emphasize “One for All” because shared commitment can strengthen communities and organizations, as the “Legend of the Three Arrows” teaches. Yet some young people may believe that powerful business, political, or religious leaders misuse this principle for their own benefit without practicing “All for One.” They may also see religious institutions as too idealistic or too closely aligned with the powerful. Some media in Korea and Japan portray our church in this way.
Democratic socialism recently appeals to many young people in America because they may see it as offering more practical support for those with less power and as better reflecting “All for One” than religion does.
This situation reminds me of a passage from Divine Principle: “When waves of capitalistic greed surged across Christian Europe, when starving masses cried out bitterly in the slums, the promise of their salvation came not from heaven but from the earth. Its name was communism.”
I am not saying that democratic socialism is communism. Society needs a safety net for vulnerable people, and those with privilege should help sustain it. Divine Principle also teaches that humanity’s original nature seeks a cooperative, “heavenly socialistic” ideal based on mutual prosperity and interdependence. Our belief, however, is that lasting salvation must also come from heaven.
Why is salvation from the earth alone not enough?
Communism seeks a classless society based on collective ownership. Yet in many governments that adopted communist systems, political leaders and party members received better housing, food, and goods than ordinary citizens.
Instead of creating genuine equality, centralized control over jobs and resources often produced new hierarchies of status and power.
What is salvation from heaven? Human beings have both mind and body, and our spirit and mindset must be elevated and aligned with our Creator’s original design. Research suggests that altruism appears early in life: infants prefer helpful characters, and toddlers often share, return dropped objects, or help adults without being asked. As children grow, this natural impulse can become more selective and socially influenced. God is not distant; God is present within each person and throughout creation. Salvation from heaven means discovering that divine presence and expressing the altruistic nature God has given us. Living by that nature leads us to practice “One for All.”
I would like to conclude with our church’s teaching on “One for All, All for One.” The individual and the whole are not rivals; each exists for the sake of the other.
True Parents teach that no one exists only for themselves. Our conscience, character, and spiritual condition affect those around us. The family is our first and closest sphere of influence, and society reflects the character of its families. Individual life ultimately contributes to the well-being of the whole.
True Parents teach that true love gives rather than receives. Love is measured by what we invest, not by what we gain. Serving the whole does not diminish the individual; it gives personal life greater value and purpose. Because our actions and spirit influence family and nation, personal fulfillment and collective well-being can grow together.
The God-centered family is the foundation of unity and a model for universal peace. First, it is a school of love, where we learn to live for others. Second, it is a model of peace, because harmony at home can expand into harmony among nations. Third, it is a chain of generations, carrying the ideal forward through time.
What problems does humanity face? Extreme individualism and self-centeredness weaken our bonds of love, while family breakdown contributes to wider social breakdown. Restoration requires three things: a united consciousness centered on God, the daily practice of living for others, and the rebuilding of society through renewed families.
Our goal is one family under God: a world where nation, race, and religion no longer divide us, individual freedom is balanced with responsibility to the whole, and peace is sustained by love rather than enforced through power.
What should we do when the ideals our church teaches seem absent from anywhere, even our own communities? Does our inability to see them mean they are unattainable—or that the ideals themselves are mistaken? Faith in what we cannot see or experience is not easy.
Many everyday technologies we take for granted were once considered impossible. Yet people who believed in their potential turned them into reality.
The first step is to seek God within ourselves. We should ask what unique nature, talents, and abilities God has given each of us. When we discover and use these gifts for the good of all, we can make a positive impact and gain a deeper sense of value and purpose.
