Unity

Unity

Part of Embodied Spirituality—A Study of First Corinthians

January 22, 2023

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1 Corinthians 1:10-17 (New International Version)
10 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. 11 My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. 12 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.”

13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so no one can say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.) 17 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.

I. Spiritual Christians prioritize unity (vv. 10-11)
• Exhortation is a charismatic gift that uses speech to

and

others.
• Charismatic Christians form

, but Carnal Christians form

.
• Mature Christians decide to keep the

things first.
• Quarreling is never charismatic but is always

. (Rom. 13:13)
• Mature

always involves fights for truth and love, but in the respect of unity.
II. Spiritual Christians defend unity (vv. 12-14)
• Charismatic Christianity does not believe that

,

, or

provide stronger anointings of God’s presence.
• Style is

which reflects culture and personality.
•

and

are not matters of maturity or God’s presence.
• Carnal Christians fall in love with

instead of Jesus.
•

and

is Carnal Christianity.
III. Spiritual Christians are in love with the Source of unity (vv. 15-17)
• Complaint is the

to division.
• The Holy Spirit unites Christians in love for

that outweighs differences of preference.
• Prayer

us to heaven, but fasting

us from the world.
• Knowing the gospel well so that we can preach it true is the

.
• Mature Charismatic Christians

what we mean,

what we say, but we never say it

.

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TAKE OFF
1. GTKY: Share about a time when you disagreed with someone but later realized you overreacted or the issue you disagreed about wasn’t a priority or first thing.
2. How did last week’s take away question about maintaining an attitude of thanksgiving go?

TEXT
1. What thoughts or feelings did you have during this week’s sermon?
2. What does Paul exhort the Corinthians to agree with one another about in verse 10? How can Christians be “united in mind and thought” even if we don’t share the same viewpoint?
3. What were the Corinthians “quarreling” about (v. 12) and how did it divide the church? What do Christians quarrel about today and how does that cause division within the church? Why is quarreling such a serious and threatening sin that is a priority in sanctification (Rom 13:11-14, Gal. 5:19-21)?
4. How do Christians “empty the cross of its power” (v. 17)? How does focusing on Jesus and the truth of who he is promote unity within the church?

TAKE AWAY
Complaint and criticism will always fuel division. Discuss how we can make the choice this week to not complain or criticize.