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Summary  26^th Jan 2020

1 Corinthians 1:10-18 New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

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.
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Christians are very different because temperament and experience affect worldview.

We need to learn to disagree without being disagreeable.

Christians in Corinth had changed allegiance from being identified by Christ to being aligned to Paul, Peter and Apollos.

Happens because leaders are different and we align with that match our ideas and views.

But actually it caused divisions in the Church

Who baptized us is a very small issue but small issues can often cause serious problems in a church.

People can begin to find identity in how they feel about small issue and congregate together .causing division.

Paul calls the Church to Unity. The message of the cross is about self emptying humility. Christ died for all of us and when we allow things to separate us, it undermines what he did. Christ isn’t divided.

Application

1. Pauls call for Unity

Unity is not uniformity- diversity is good

But we need to be on the same page over the main principles.

• Reality and Supremacy of Christ
• God’s Kingdom
• Justice
• Peace
• Love
• Faithfulness
• Honesty

The small issues need to be dealt with  in the context of the Core values

2. Listen More : Listen better

Seek to understand before you make a assessment

3. Don’t just pay lip service to Differences.

Differences don’t need to be seen as a threat.