From Division to Unity
1 Corinthians 1–4
Paul’s Audience:
1 Corinthians 1:2 (NIV) …to all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ…
Paul’s Appeal:
1 Corinthians 1:10 (NIV) I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.
Divisions in the Corinthian Church
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.”
Four Divisions of Followers:
- Followers of Paul:
- Followers of Apollos:
- Followers of Cephas:
- Followers of Christ:
THE JOURNEY FROM DIVISION TO UNITY:
1. FOCUS ON
1 Corinthians 1:13 (NIV) Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?
1 Corinthians 2:1-5 (NIV) When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.
What divided them wasn’t a
“It is not the object of our efforts to make men think alike on a thousand themes. Let them think as they like on any matters of human opinion and upon ‘doctrines of religion’ provided they hold to the Head, Christ, and keep His commandments… indeed if you wish opinionism to cease or subside you must not call up and debate everything that men think or say. You
may debate anything into consequence.”
-Alexander Campbell
2. STAND ON
1 Corinthians 2:13 (NIV) This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.
“
-Alexander Campbell
3. GROW IN A OF
1 Corinthians 3:5-7 (NIV) What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.
References to “Pride” in Chapters 1-4:
1 Corinthians 1:29 (ESV) - “so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.”
1 Corinthians 1:31 (NIV) - “Therefore, as it is written: ‘Let him who boasts boast in the Lord’”
1 Corinthians 3:7 (ESV) - “So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.”
1 Corinthians 3:21 (ESV) - “So let no one boast in men”
1 Corinthians 4:6-7 (ESV) - “that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another…If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?”
1 Corinthians 4:18 (ESV) - “Some are arrogant, as though I were not coming to you.”
Why Pride Causes Division:
1. Pride makes me
2. Pride makes me
3. Pride makes me
4. Pride makes me
5. Pride makes me
John 17:20-21 (NIV) My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.