A Divided Church is a Puzzled Church
...but the gospel can sort it out.
Part of 1 Corinthians—Sorting Out a Puzzled Church
April 25, 2022

1 Corinthians 1:10-17

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.


Many churches are puzzled by .

But God wants , not division, in every church.

in the church is important to God (v. 10).

in the church comes easily to us (vv. 11-12).

But a divided church is a church (vv. 13-16).

Big Idea: Focus on to unite a church puzzled by divisions (v. 17).

Jesus Christ is the only that matters (v. 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. —v. 10

Jesus Christ is our (v. 17a).

Jesus Christ is our (v. 17b).