What can you do to ensure that nothing separates us as a church?

1 Corinthians 1:10-17 , Psalms 2

1 Corinthians 1:10–17 (NKJV)

Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name. Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other. For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.

Haven’t begun his letter with a beautiful prayer of thanksgiving. It doesn’t take Paul long to jump into some of the big issues facing the church. It's really the outcome that will happen if they continue down this path.

Let there be no division among you.

Paul is asking What can you do to ensure that nothing separates us as a church?

In 1 Corinthians 1:10, the apostle Paul urges believers to “agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you. Paul encourages believers to be united as the church as they share the gospel throughout the world.

Rheumatologists are specialists who are called to study and diagnose autoimmune diseases. these type of diseases means the body attacks itself, and when the body attacks itself it weakens the entire body, unfortunately. As Christians, we can often be like an autoimmune disease. We can turn against each other often over the smallest of issues. That is the definition of division here in Corinth. the division of religious groups, which means that both sides have religion but they fail to understand the religion the same way so they become divided into groups or sects, which means there is no way they can be together because they are completely opposing/against each other.

In the first century AD, the church at Corinth was wrought with factions and divisions. The church was split over which leader or early missionary was their favorite and who they thought was most important to follow. Some preferred Paul while others preferred Apollos or Peter, mostly based on their speaking styles (see “wisdom” and “eloquence” in 1 Corinthians 1:17). Instead of being united under Christ, they were divided over their preferred leader. So, to push back against this temptation to divide, Paul commands them to agree with one another and not let there be divisions among them. In other words, stop asking whose side are you on.

The word division means there is no chance to bring things together again. each side had their religious beliefs based on Apollos, Peter, and Christ. That’s why Paul makes his statement

I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name.

Division means no turning back, Paul is telling the church in Corinth to not allow this to happen because it's going to be hard to turn back from. Paul is thinking back to the children of Isreal who finally allowed other religions, prophets, and tribal leaders to be their God and it cost them their lives. Church this will cost us our spiritual lives. So today I want us to listen to the apostle Paul as he has a message from God for us.

One important reason why believers should not let there be divisions among them is that it hinders their ability to grow and mature spiritually. In Ephesians 4:3, Paul commands believers to “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” He then goes on to say in Ephesians 4:15 that believers, as the united Body of Christ, will “grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.” In other words, if there are divisions among us as believers, we will not mature the way God desires us to. Spiritual growth happens when believers are united as they gather and worship God.

Another reason why believers should not let there be divisions among them is that it distracts them from their mission in making disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19–20). After Paul urges the Corinthian believers to agree with one another, he says that his sole mission as an apostle of Christ was to preach the gospel (see 1 Corinthians 1:17). He didn’t want to be remembered for his influence or for the way he spoke or even for the people he baptized. He only wanted to be remembered as someone who faithfully preached the gospel. Likewise, if we as believers focus on the ways we are divided over personal and preferred inclinations, we’ll miss the opportunities God gives us every day to GO, baptize and teach the gospel with those around us.

POINT: Don’t let the Great Commission become the great Omission.

Finally, perhaps the biggest reason why believers should not let there be divisions among them is that it hurts their witness to the world in revealing who God is. In John 17, just before Jesus was arrested and crucified, He prayed to God the Father for all believers throughout history: “May they all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us, so that the world may believe you sent me” (John 17:21). In other words, Jesus prayed for all those who follow Him to be united in order to help the world believe who He is, the Son of God. So when there are divisions among us as believers, it hinders our ability to show the world who God is and what He is like—the perfectly united Triune God.

Believers in Christ should not allow personal preferences related to politics, education styles, traditions, favorite speakers, or anything else to divide them.

NOTE: A church CANNOT survive long-term where members are focused on their own preferences.

Christians should first and foremost be known as a unified group of people who worship and praise Jesus as the Son of God who came to die for the sins of the world.

1 Corinthians 1:10–12 (FSB): you all speak the same thing Paul means that the Corinthian believers should all agree on how the Spirit works among them and the type of values that Christ would have them hold—both of these things Paul clarifies within this letter (see note on v. 2).

If the Corinthian Christ followers don’t say the same thing about what Christ expects of them and how the Spirit works among them, it will be difficult for people to find their message (and Christ Himself) reputable; thus, they will end up convincing others not to believe.

1:11 by those of Chloe’s Refers to the people in Chloe’s household. In Ephesus, people from Chloe’s household informed Paul of the quarreling in the Corinthian church (compare 16:19).

Paul had likely left for Ephesus (in ad 51) from Corinth four years prior to writing this letter. This report came after the church had been independent for quite some time and after he had already corresponded with them at least once (see note on v. 2; compare note on 5:19).

So then the reason behind all the contentions was the Corinthian issues were likely based on personalities rather than theological disputes.

1:12 Apollos A Jew from Alexandria who was an eloquent speaker and knowledgeable in the Scriptures. Apollos ministered in Corinth after Paul left (Acts 18:27–19:1). Some Corinthian believers may have preferred his teaching style (and even teachings) over Paul’s (see note on 1 Cor 1:5).

Knowing is half the battle. Simple awareness may help to prevent church conflicts in the early stages. It is best to stop the dispute quickly. “The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out” (Pr. 17:14).

Below, I have listed six critical causes of church conflict. Becoming aware may help our church adjust expectations and make strides to prevent or resolve conflict. If you don’t believe that church conflicts are common, I will let you carry my cell phone for a day!

1. Pride: People often behave with self-centeredness, ego, and pride. When you feel that life is about you, you take things personally. Self-centeredness causes one to experience hurt feelings easily. James observed, “What causes quarrels, and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?” (James 4:1). Solomon wrote, “By insolence comes nothing but strife, but with those who take advice is wisdom” (Proverbs 13:10).

Get the focus off of yourself and onto Jesus Christ!

Value others above yourself. Make sure people in your church know that you care about their needs. When you feel that you have allowed pride to influence your relationship negatively, admit your failure. Say, “I apologize. I let pride get in the way.” The Bible says, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3). NOTE: A church by definition is a body of believers who function for the greater good of the congregations. People prevent and resolve church conflicts when they implement this teaching.

2. Spiritual and Emotional Immaturity: Maturity helps a person understand that differences in perspective broaden understanding. Mature people learn to disagree without being distressed. Mature people are self-aware and seek to improve their weaknesses.

Immature individuals have not learned to avoid disputes over a person’s personality or style. Likewise, maturation helps a person understand the futility of fighting over things that cannot be controlled. “Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking, be mature” (1 Corinthians 14:20). Believers must learn to think, behave, and communicate with maturity.

3: Abuses of Power: Power is the influence a person has on his or her environment, relationships, or self. Shifts in power may create gains or losses. Power is the ability and means to get things done. Conflict expert Dudley Weeks wrote, “People choose how they use power and whether they allow it to be corrupt. We can use power negatively or positively. The severely damaging seesaw power approach creates the illusion that you are more powerful when you make the other party less powerful.” Thus, people must have a healthy view of power to prevent conflict.

NOTE: Make sure you want to be an Elder for the right reason stated in 1 Peter 5:1-3 I exhort the elders to shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not DOMINEERING OVER those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.

Jesus, the Son of God, used his power to serve others and to look out for those who were disadvantaged or in need. “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Jesus’ use of power is a model for a person of influence. God forbid that anyone would use power to abuse or hurt someone! Likewise, power and influence in the church should ultimately be directed to Jesus Christ, who is the Head of the church.

4: Church Politics: Factions in the church may intentionally or unintentionally engage in political maneuvering and posturing that leads to conflict. For instance, senior church members may favor proven methods, while younger members desire to change. Factions may attempt to increase their power and recruit others to their side. A person may be challenged to resolve the situation without offending the other individuals and groups involved in the conflict. For believers in Christ, this takes extreme caution and integrity.

The Bible addresses politics among factions. The Apostle Paul dealt with factions in the Corinthian church. “For you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? For when one says, ‘I follow Paul,’ and another, ‘I follow Apollos,’ are you not being merely human?” (1 Corinthians 3:3-4). One group in the Corinthian church claimed to be following only Christ (1 Corinthians 1:12). One may find it interesting that Paul did not commend those who followed him (“I follow Paul”) but condemned each of the factions. Paul identified these political factions in Corinth as distractions from the mission of the church and selfish in motivation.

5: Unclear Authority: Conflicts arise among church staff and members when authority is unclear. When lines of authority are unclear, church volunteers and leaders sometimes exercise authority out of the realm of their responsibility. Such conflicts may become worse in times of crisis. A biblical example of the lack of clarity and authority was during the transition between Kings Saul and David in Israel (1 Samuel 16-31). Severe and complicated relational difficulties erupted among those in authority and the citizens of Israel. The Israelites could not understand Saul and David’s relationship. Eventually, a physical conflict erupted. Saul’s pride, which led to his suicide, provided David with opportunities to prove his integrity amid the confusion (1 Samuel 31). 1. Culture of Corruption & Abuse of Power. Everywhere you look there are scandals, cover-ups, and abuse of power. Scandal sells. And the entertainment news cycle is buying so it can drive clicks to create controversy and sell ad space. Sadly some high-profile Christian leaders and churches have been in the news for these reasons as well. The result is that you see a general institutional distrust setting in–especially in Gen Z. And if we’re honest, it’s not hard to see why some people are wary of authority.

2. Loss of Truth. We live in a “follow your heart,” “you do you,” and “true for you but not for me” world. The slogans and soundbites are everywhere. Sadly, the spiritual and moral fallout is all around as well. No matter how well-intentioned and no matter how many Disney princesses sing about these ideas, reality does not work this way. As the end of the book of Judges puts it, “all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes” (21:25). And if you have ever read that far in the Old Testament, trust me, that didn’t end well. It never does.

6: Personality Differences: The real or perceived differences among your congregation play underlying roles in communication and conflict. Remembering why others talk and act as they do may prevent misunderstandings and false assumptions. The time-honored “DISC Profile System” may help church staff and committee members understand their differences. The four basic personalities or communication profiles are Dominant, Influencer, Steady, and Conscientious. When people discover and discuss their personality styles, healthy communication may result. More importantly, biblical fellowship among people is the best way for people to understand one another and grow together (Acts 2:46).

Dr. Chris Crain,