How can we avoid divisions in the church, as Paul suggests here? Setting the Scene in Corinth • 1 Corinthians 1:15 reveals Paul’s motive for minimal baptizing: “so no one can say that you were baptized into my name.” • The church had begun rallying around personalities (Paul, Apollos, Cephas, Christ), fracturing the fellowship (1 Corinthians 1:12–13). • Paul counters this by lifting eyes back to the One who was crucified and risen for all. Why Divisions Take Root • Elevating human leaders above Christ (1 Corinthians 3:3–4). • Pride that prizes personal preference more than gospel truth (Philippians 2:3). • Neglecting the shared foundation of the cross (1 Corinthians 2:2). • Failure to keep “the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3). Anchor Everything to Christ, Not to People • “Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?” (1 Corinthians 1:13). • Practical application: – Celebrate faithful teachers, but reserve ultimate allegiance for Jesus alone. – Measure every teaching against Scripture, not personality (Acts 17:11). Practical Habits That Protect Unity 1. Focus on the Gospel • Keep the main thing the main thing: “Christ crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). • Share testimonies that spotlight God’s grace, not individual achievement. 2. Cultivate Humility • “Do nothing out of selfish ambition … in humility value others above yourselves” (Philippians 2:3). • Speak well of believers in other groups; refuse gossip. 3. Embrace Diverse Gifts • “I planted, Apollos watered, but God made it grow” (1 Corinthians 3:6). • Affirm different callings while honoring the same Lord (1 Corinthians 12:4–6). 4. Guard the Tongue • “Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths” (Ephesians 4:29). • Address concerns directly and lovingly (Matthew 18:15). 5. Submit to Scripture Together • Hold joint studies across ministry teams; let the Word set the agenda (2 Timothy 3:16–17). • When disagreements arise, ask, “What does the Bible clearly say?” 6. Pray and Serve Shoulder to Shoulder • Jesus prayed “that all of them may be one” (John 17:21). • Shared service projects knit hearts, turning potential rivals into partners (Galatians 5:13). Keeping the Cross at the Center • Unity flows from remembering that every believer stands at the same foot of the cross, rescued by the same Savior. • The Lord’s Table visually reaffirms this equality (1 Corinthians 10:16–17). • Regularly retell the story of redemption; divisions fade when the greatness of Christ looms large. The Witness of a United Church • A harmonious body validates the gospel before a watching world (John 13:35). • “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3). • In honoring Christ above all, believers answer Paul’s appeal: “that all of you agree together, so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be united in mind and conviction” (1 Corinthians 1:10). |
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