Perfectly United...in Christ

1 Corinthians 1:10–18 NIV

I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized in my name. (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Divisons

2. the condition of being divided because of conflicting aims or objectives, division, dissension, schism

BDAG, s.v. “σχίσμα,” 981.

https://accordance.bible/link/read/BDAG#20879

Be careful with comparisons

1 Corinthians 1:12 NIV

What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.”

1 Corinthians 1:13 NIV

Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul?

Paul for Everyone: 1 Corinthians Beware of Divisions! (1 Corinthians 1:10–17)

One of the words for such people was ‘sophists’. That word has a bad sound to us, indicating someone who gives themselves airs, who is a bit puffed up with their own self-importance. And one of the reasons we think of sophists like that is because of this very letter. Paul is about to launch an attack on such ‘wisdom’, and to show that you have to make a choice between the world’s wisdom and the power of the Messiah’s cross.

But the key point here is this: the ‘sophists’ who travelled around the ancient world were keen on making disciples for themselves, and their followers often quarrelled and scrapped among themselves as to which teacher was the greatest. Paul has realized, with the report from the family of Chloe, visiting him in Ephesus, that the Christians in Corinth have begun to treat him, Apollos, Peter, and even King Jesus himself, as a bunch of teachers to be played off against one another. And that is to miss the whole point. The church still (God help us!) sometimes makes the same mistake today.

Called to Unity

1 Corinthians 1:10 NIV

I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.

Paul says “Christ sent me to preach the gospel”, and so Christ sends us today.

We don’t have to have it all together, but we do have to all be in it together. This is the challenge and has been for churches since the earliest of times. The Church at Corinth eventually resolved their differences enough for this letter to be passed down and for us to learn. Will we learn?

Lest the Cross be Emptied of its Power...

If we rely on worldly wisdom or divisions or anything but our mission to share the good news together, all may be lost. But if we rely on the cross. If we answer God’s call. If together WE fulfill our mission, then anything is possible.

The New International Version Chapter 1

but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought

That’s only possible by the grace of God. That’s only possible if we use humble words. That’s only possible if we love each other. It’s only possible if we evangelize—share the good news in loving ways…together.

Let’s stop being divided over matters that just don’t matter. Let’s get on with sharing the good news in loving ways…together. Let’s lift up Jesus—the one who truly matters.

We have to know the good news to share the good news and that’s what we are working on Sundays at 11am down the hall. I hope you will join us today for some coffee and a snack a cool video and a great time together.