Studies in 1 Corinthians Series 1 Corinthians 11017 May 18 2014 Pastor Paul K Kim FOUR RIVAL GROUPS AT CORINTHIAN CHURCH 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloes people that there is quarreling among you my ID: 436399
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Slide1Slide2
Dealing with Divisions in the Church
Studies in 1 Corinthians Series
1 Corinthians 1:10-17
May 18, 2014
Pastor Paul K. KimSlide3
FOUR
RIVAL GROUPS
AT
CORINTHIAN CHURCH
11
For it has been reported to me by Chloe's
people
that there is quarreling among you, my
brothers
.
12
What I mean is that each one of you
says
,
“
I
follow
Paul,
”
or “I follow Apollos,” or
“
I follow
Cephas
,” or “I follow Christ.
” (vs. 11-12)
The
Loyalists:
“I follow Paul”
The Stylists:
“I follow Apollos”
The Traditionalists:
“I follow
Cephas”
The Elitists:
“I follow Christ”Slide4
PAUL’S THREE
RHETORICAL QUESTIONS
AS HIS URGINGS
AGAINST DIVISIONS
Question #1:
“Is Christ divided?
”
No! The body of Christ cannot be distributed as fragmented parts among subgroups within his church.
The church is ONE BODY of Christ—i.e., you all are one!
Question #2:
“Was Paul crucified for you?”
No! I was not and could not be crucified for you.
I am, like all of you, a SINNER for whom Christ was crucified!
Question #3:
“Were you baptized in the name of Paul?
”
No! You were baptized in the name of Jesus, the Savior & Lord
14
I thank God that I baptized none of you except
Crispus
and Gaius,
15
so that no one may say that you were
baptized in my name.
16
(I did baptize also the household of Stephanas.
Beyondthat
, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) (vs. 14-16)Slide5
PAUL’S THREE
RHETORICAL QUESTIONS
AS HIS URGINGS
AGAINST DIVISIONS
Question #1:
“Is Christ divided?
”
No! The body of Christ cannot be distributed as fragmented parts among subgroups within his church.
The church is ONE BODY of Christ—i.e., you all are one!
Question #2:
“Was Paul crucified for you?”
No! I was not and could not be crucified for you.
I am, like all of you, a SINNER for whom Christ was crucified!
Question #3:
“Were you baptized in the name of Paul?
”
No! You were baptized in the name of Jesus, the Savior & Lord.
I am, like
all
other teachers, NOBODY who happened to be used by God’s sovereign grace in Christ!Slide6
HOW SHOULD WE
PURSUE UNITY
IN DEALING
WITH
DIVISIONS IN THE CHURCH?
1)
We are to
seek a
spirit
of agreement as one body of Christ.
10
I appeal to you, brothers
,
by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that
all of you agree, and that there
be
no
divisions
among
you... (v. 10a)
To agree here means literally, “to say the same things”—i.e., to come up with agreement at the end of differing opinions.
This requires us of a spirit, attitude of desiring agreement, setting aside our rights or pride to seek an unified way.
We ought to have a common approach in church matters—to seek together a spirit of agreement synergistically (= culture and attitude).Slide7
HOW SHOULD WE
PURSUE UNITY
IN DEALING
WITH
DIVISIONS IN THE CHURCH?
2
)
We are to
cultivate
like-mindedness and unified direction as one body of Christ.
. . .
but that you be
united
in
the same mind
and the
same judgment. (v.
10b)
Same mind
[lit., same thoughts]
does not mean uniformity but “like-mindedness” (= similar values & desire).
Same
judgment
[lit., same
opinions]
does not
mean no differing opinions
but
“unified direction”
(=
supporting communal decisions enthusiastically)
.
In so doing, we experience not a rigid politically unity but a emotionally congruent unity as a spiritual family.Slide8
HOW SHOULD WE
PURSUE UNITY
IN DEALING
WITH
DIVISIONS IN THE CHURCH?
3
)
We are to
focus
on Christ wholeheartedly not on human leaders
/wisdom
as one body of
Christ.
For Christ did not send me to baptize
but
to
preach the gospel,
and
not with words of eloquent wisdom,
lest
the cross of Christ be emptied of its power
. (v. 17)
21
So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours
,
22
whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life
or
death or the present or the future—all are yours,
23
and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.
1 Corinthians 3:
21-23Slide9
HOW SHOULD WE
PURSUE UNITY
IN DEALING
WITH
DIVISIONS IN THE CHURCH?
3
)
We are to
focus
on Christ wholeheartedly not on human leaders
/wisdom
as one body of
Christ.
For Christ did not send me to baptize
but
to
preach the gospel,
and
not with words of eloquent wisdom,
lest
the cross of Christ be emptied of its power
. (v. 17)
On one hand, division comes from following one human leader only rather than seeking Christ-centeredness.
On
the other
hand, division
also comes
from
a cynical attitude of rugged individualism and distrust in spiritual leaders.
To seek a balance, we ought to boast Christ alone in a Christ-centered community.Slide10
THREE PRACTICAL QUESTIONS
FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE
In what ways are convinced more about the danger of divisions in the church? How will you be vigilant against it?
What would it mean for you to cultivate an agreeing spirit, like-mindedness, and unified direction for the unity of CrossWay as a local body of Christ
?
What would it mean for you to focus on Christ wholeheartedly without an unhealthy follower-ship of spiritual leader/teachers? Slide11