Day 2: 1:10-17 (Unity in Christ, Not Division)

1. SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 1:10-17
 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. For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 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.” 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, so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 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.    


2. OBSERVATIONS :

•   What did this passage mean to its original audience? 

The Corinthian church was experiencing conflict (“there is quarreling among you”) due to their divided loyalties to different spiritual leaders (i.e. Paul, Cephas [aka Peter], Apollos).  Paul rebuked them for placing greater emphasis on their allegiances to men above their allegiance to Jesus. He revealed the foolishness of doing this by a series of questions: Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

Paul gave thanks that he had not baptized many of them, not because the ministry of baptizing believers was not important but because the status obsessed Corinthians had begun to elevate the leader who baptized them to a position equal to or above Christ.

Paul’s question, “Is Christ divided” expresses the heart of this passage. The obvious answer is, “No, and because Christ is not divided neither should we be divided.”

• What does this passage reveal about God?
  - God has sent us his one and only Son, Jesus Christ.  There are no other Saviors. Jesus Christ is the one and only Savior and Lord of the church, which is His body. Since he is not divided neither can the church, His body be divided.

• What does this passage reveal about people?
  - It reminds me of our human tendency to develop factions and cliques. One reason people often  elevate human leaders above Jesus is because humans are more perceptible and relatable to us. We can see them, hear them, and touch them.
  
  

3. APPLICATION: What does this passage impact my affections, attitudes and actions?

- My Attitude — How I think
The Spirit is warning me not to allow any personal loyalties to create rivalries between myself from my brothers and sisters in Christ.  I must remember that my union with Jesus unites me to everyone who is “in Christ”.

Affections — What I love and desire
I must pray to be free from any glory-seeking, status-coveting desires.

Actions — How I live
By the power of the Spirit, I will work to take down walls of division in the church of Jesus Christ and never act in a manner that builds walls.  My primary allegiance will be to Jesus and I will do whatever I can to point people to him rather than to myself or other humans.  

4. PRAYER:
Dear God, help me to foster unity in the church and dismantle walls of division. May I keep my eyes focused on Jesus, the author and perfector of my faith. Keep my mind and heart free from the contentious, tribal, hostilities that are so pervasive in our culture.  I ask you to bless and empower the churches in our community which are being faithful to your truth. May there be no rivalries between us!

Pastor Randy