““CHURCH UNITED”CHURCH UNITED”

1 Corinthians 1:10-17

•Last week …In Last week …In every situation we every situation we find ourselves find ourselves there is something there is something to be thankful for. to be thankful for. •This week …In This week …In every situation we every situation we find ourselves find ourselves there is something there is something to be work at. to be work at.

• 10 10 I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.thought.11 11 My brothers and sisters, some My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. that there are quarrels among you. 12 12 What I What I mean is this: one of you says, ‘I follow Paul’; mean is this: one of you says, ‘I follow Paul’; another, ‘I follow Apollos’; another, ‘I follow another, ‘I follow Apollos’; another, ‘I follow Cephas’; still another, ‘I follow Christ.’Cephas’; still another, ‘I follow Christ.’

• 13 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptised in the name of Paul? Were you baptised in the name of Paul? 14 14 I I thank God that I did not baptise any of you thank God that I did not baptise any of you except Crispus and Gaius, except Crispus and Gaius, 15 15 so no one can say so no one can say that you were baptised in my name. that you were baptised in my name. 16 16 (Yes, I (Yes, I also baptised the household of Stephanas; also baptised the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptised beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptised anyone else.) anyone else.) 17 17 For Christ did not send me to For Christ did not send me to baptise, but to preach the gospel – not with baptise, but to preach the gospel – not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.be emptied of its power.•  

•v. 11 “…Tv. 11 “…There here are quarrels.”are quarrels.”• I urge you, brothers I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch and sisters, to watch out for those who out for those who cause divisions and cause divisions and put obstacles in your put obstacles in your way that are contrary way that are contrary to the teaching you to the teaching you have learned. Keep have learned. Keep away from them away from them (Romans 16:17) (Romans 16:17)

• v. 12 “I Follow …v. 12 “I Follow …Paul/Peter/Apollo/CPaul/Peter/Apollo/Christ.”hrist.”• The Corinthian church The Corinthian church was divided into at was divided into at least four groups, least four groups, each having its own each having its own emphasis, following emphasis, following its own leader, and its own leader, and acting in bitterness acting in bitterness to the other three. to the other three.

• In the social In the social sciences, a clique is sciences, a clique is a group of people a group of people who interact with who interact with each other more each other more regularly and regularly and intensely than intensely than others in the same others in the same setting. setting.

CLIQUCLIQUESES

•v. 13 “v. 13 “Is Christ Is Christ divided?” divided?” • Paul quickly destroys Paul quickly destroys the idea of such the idea of such differences. This he differences. This he does by asking two does by asking two questions by which questions by which he denies that Paul he denies that Paul was crucified for was crucified for them and that they them and that they were baptised in his were baptised in his name. name.

•vv. 14–16 “I did not baptise any of you..” •The Corinthian The Corinthian believers had no believers had no reason to depend reason to depend on baptism on baptism because Paul had because Paul had baptised so few of baptised so few of them. them.

•v. 17 “Preach the gospel.” •Paul’s major task Paul’s major task was preaching the was preaching the Gospel of ChristGospel of Christ

•WHAT?WHAT? Cliques & personality cults are Cliques & personality cults are out of place in the church.out of place in the church.•WHY?WHY? Christians are not followers of Christians are not followers of personalities but followers of Christ.personalities but followers of Christ.•HOW?HOW? Make the Gospel the church’s Make the Gospel the church’s no.1 priority.no.1 priority.•WHAT IFS?WHAT IFS? The nearer we come to The nearer we come to Christ: the nearer we come together.Christ: the nearer we come together.

LOOKING FOR JESUSLOOKING FOR JESUS

““CHURCH UNITED”CHURCH UNITED”

1 Corinthians 1:10-17