How can we ensure Christ remains central in our church community? Setting the Scene 1 Corinthians 1:12 — “What I mean is this: Individuals among you are saying, ‘I follow Paul,’ ‘I follow Apollos,’ ‘I follow Cephas,’ or ‘I follow Christ.’” Recognizing the Subtle Drift • The Corinthian believers allowed personal loyalties to eclipse devotion to Christ. • Whenever personalities, programs, or preferences rule the conversation, Jesus slips from the center. • The warning: even well-meaning zeal for good leaders can divide the body and dilute our witness. Re-centering on Christ Together 1. Prioritize His Word • Colossians 3:16 — “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…” • Regular, expositional teaching that exalts Christ more than it promotes a teacher keeps hearts aligned. 2. Exalt His Supremacy in Every Gathering • Colossians 1:18 — “He is the head of the body, the church.” • Songs, testimonies, and sermons should all end up bragging on Jesus, not on human effort. 3. Embrace Servant Leadership • 1 Peter 5:2-4 calls overseers to shepherd “under the Chief Shepherd.” • Leaders model humility by pointing people upward, not inward. 4. Cultivate Gospel-Shaped Relationships • Ephesians 4:15 — “Speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself.” • Accountability groups, hospitality, and discipleship pairs keep conversations centered on what Christ has done and is doing. 5. Maintain Doctrinal Fidelity • Jude 3 urges us to “contend for the faith once for all delivered to the saints.” • Guarding sound teaching anchors us to Christ’s finished work instead of drifting into novelty. 6. Celebrate the Ordinances Thoughtfully • Communion proclaims “the Lord’s death until He comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26). • Baptism pictures union with Christ (Romans 6:3-4). • Observing both with reverence refreshes gospel focus. 7. Foster Persistent Prayer for Christ’s Fame • Acts 4:24-31 shows believers praying for boldness “through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.” • Corporate prayer sessions that revolve around His mission align hearts to His agenda. 8. Measure Success by Faithfulness, Not Numbers • 1 Corinthians 3:6-7 — “I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.” • Christ receives glory when we value obedience above statistics. Staying Vigilant • Regular self-examination (2 Corinthians 13:5) protects against pride. • Quarterly elder and ministry reviews can ask: “Did Jesus receive the spotlight in this season?” • Church covenants can include language that explicitly commits every ministry to magnify Christ. The Unifying Result When Christ remains central, divisions shrink, worship deepens, service flourishes, and the watching world sees a clear portrait of the Savior who alone rescues and reigns. |
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