Division = Disaster

Division = Disaster 1 Corinthians 1:10-17 April 15, 2018 THE BIG IDEA: Paul challenges the Corinthian believers to end their disunity and find oneness in their common salvation in Jesus and what happened on the Cross. Divisions always end in disaster, but unity is so supernatural that God will be glorified by it. 1 Corinthians 1:10-17 10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 12 What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. 1. Paul’s Appeal (urge, encourage, exhort) [v. 10] • Basis of the request: o Based on family relationship (“brothers”) o By the name of Jesus (all that He is and is called by us – our “Lord”) • He Asks for 3 Things: o “Agree” – “all” are called to this – agree means “to speak the same thing” [Galatians 1:6-8] o “No Divisions” – schismata o “Be United” – not uniformity at every point, but harmony on the basics of the faith 2. What Was Going On in the Church? [vv. 11-13] • “quarreling” à strife, debate, conflict • Unhelpful Alliances • Divisions or Disunity is always Incongruous with Christ and the Gospel itself. Look at Paul’s 3 questions: o “Is Christ divided?” o “Was Paul crucified for you?” o “Were baptized in the name of Paul?” [vv. 13-16] 3. The Source of Spiritual Oneness: The Gospel – The Cross of Christ [v. 17] • The Gospel – God’s story of what He has done for us • Let the Cross speak for itself o No embellishment o No diminishing TIMELESS TRUTHS: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Division in the Church should always be acknowledged, confronted, and resolutions pursued. Spiritual Unity is 3-Fold: è Agreement on the essential things è Unbreakable Unity in Christ è Common Commitment to the Lordship of Jesus The Cross is a picture of an integrated life. When our vertical relationship with God is right, our horizontal relationships (with people) can be right. And, when I am not right with God, no matter how hard I try, my human relationships will never be what they were meant to be. When there is conflict, look at Jesus. Never make the messenger more important than the message. There is nothing wrong with admiration and appreciation of gifted teachers and leaders of the Church, but in our minds and hearts, Christ should reign over all others. We have no other Gospel but the Cross. The power to save and transform people is found in the simple message of what Jesus did on the Cross. [Romans 1:16] The Gospel – the Cross is the ultimate answer to human conflicts!