Slices
Prepare
Thank God for all the ways in which you’ve experienced the power of Christians and local churches working together. What has God done through that unity?
Bible passage
A church divided over leaders
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 baptised in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I did not baptise any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so no one can say that you were baptised in my name. 16 (Yes, I also baptised the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptised anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptise, but to preach the gospel – not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
Explore
Paul has prayed for grace and peace to come to the Corinthians, and has reminded them of what God has done and will do in and for them. On that basis he urgently (v 10) asks them to address their differences of opinion. In case they’re minded to deny or downplay the situation, Paul makes clear he has a local source with both sufficient credibility to count and concern to be publicly cited (v 11). They must face it: their divisions are tearing the church apart (vs 12,13).
What’s causing the divisions? Rather than seeing themselves as one church community, they were grouping with particular leaders (and possibly magnifying apparent differences between them). The language in verse 12 (literally, ‘I am of Paul’ and ‘I am of Apollos’ etc) suggests that individuals were identifying with a leader rather than with the whole church.
Worse still, from Paul’s perspective, they were downplaying the significance of Jesus himself, who has somehow become just one among four leaders. They need to remember who was crucified for them. Everything they’ve received comes from Jesus alone, of whom the others are just heralds.
Respond
What causes of division can you see in your local church context? How can you pray and work for unity?
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Numbers 15,16; Matthew 18
Pray for Scripture Union
Thank God for the technology which keeps us in touch with other staff, volunteers, customers and supporters. Pray for Technical Services Manager Ian Gooding as he guides staff and volunteers in effective use of our IT systems, including the fast-paced world of artificial intelligence, protecting our technology and data, and finding better ways of working together.
