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Ask God: Not much is worst than Division to destroy an organization. This applies to the church. When Paul was made aware of this problem in corinth, he address it immediately.

Good Evening Reader,

Love always wins over division. That is what Paul taught the church at Corinth.

I hope you had a good week. Today we will continue to study the advice Paul gave the church in Corinth: God inspired advice to them.

Know that God is with you always!

All Glory to God.

Elvin

Division in the Body of Christ in Corinthian Church

In 1 Corinthians 1:12–13, Paul warned the church in Corinth about division. He wrote, "One of you says, 'I follow Paul'; another, 'I follow Apollos'; another, 'I follow Cephas'; still another, 'I follow Christ.' Is Christ divided?" The people were arguing over which teacher to follow instead of focusing on Christ. They allowed pride and personal preference to divide them.

Today, similar divisions still happen in churches. Some people focus more on a pastor's personality, preaching style, or background than on the message of the gospel. Others divide over worship music, politics, social issues, or race. Some believers say, "I'm part of this group," or "I agree with that leader," and they stop listening to others in the body of Christ.

Satan is behind this. Jesus said, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste" (Matthew 12:25). Satan knows a divided church is weak. He utilizes news, social media, and even church traditions to sow confusion, pride, and offense.

But God calls us to unity. Paul said, "I appeal to you... that all of you agree... and that there be no divisions among you" (1 Corinthians 1:10). Christ is not divided—and His church shouldn't be either. We must put Him first and love one another (John 13:34-35).

1 Corinthians 1:10-13 and 17

"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, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 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." ¹³ Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

"¹⁷ 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."

Paul's Instructions to the Church

Paul recognized the division in the church as a serious issue. He immediately wrote to the church in Corinth to address it. He pleads with the believers "by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" to be united in mind and judgment, not broken into competing groups. Paul doesn't make this appeal based on personal authority but on the authority of Jesus Himself, the true head of the Church (Colossians 1:18).

Christ is the head of the body, the church. Paul also wrote to the brothers in Colossae to provide a better understanding of who Christ is. He wrote,

"¹⁵ He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. ¹⁶ For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him and for Him. ¹⁷And He is before all things, and in Him, all things hold together. ¹⁸ And He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might be preeminent" (Colossians 1:15-18).

Paul learned from Chloe's people that the brothers in the Corinthian church were "quarreling among the believers." Some said, "I follow Paul," others Apollos, Cephas (Peter), or Christ. They had turned spiritual leadership into personal fan clubs. Instead of being united under Christ, they were divided over personalities and preferences.

Paul sharply challenges this in verse 13 of 1 Corinthians 1: "Is Christ divided?" He reminds them that no human leader was crucified for them—only Christ was (1 Corinthians 15:3). And they were baptized into Christ, not into Paul (Romans 6:3). The cross—not the preacher—is what saves.

In verse 17, Paul clarifies his mission: "Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel." Baptism is important, but it's the "preaching of the gospel" that brings salvation (Romans 1:16). Paul warns against using "eloquent wisdom" because human cleverness can rob the message of the cross of its true power. The gospel's power is not in how fancy it sounds but in the fact that "Jesus died and rose again" for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:3–4).

This passage reminds us today that the church must not be divided by human loyalties, politics, or preferences. Our unity is in Christ alone. As Jesus prayed, "that they may all be one... so that the world may believe" (John 17:21). When we are united, the cross speaks with power. When we are divided, its message is weakened.

Division Surrounds Us, Today

We live in a divided world today, from religion to politics, to culture, and even economic divisions. What do you do?

Many communities, including churches, are divided by race, ethnicity, and nationality. These things keep people apart, but should they? And how should a believer approach these divisions? Prejudice, injustice, and lack of understanding keep people apart.

Believers have an advantage in preventing division in that they have Christ's and Paul's words of wisdom. When we come to the realization that every person is made in God's image (Genesis 1:27) and that our source of life comes from God, we become more tolerant and even loving. It benefits all to teach children at an early age that all people are equal before God (Acts 10:34–35).

Summary of our Lesson from Paul

One day in eternity, we will all be united in Christ. Paul saw an opportunity to instruct the Corinthian church to start the walk of unity now. Today, as with Paul and the church in Corinth, it is better to address division issues early and to look to Christ as the one head of the church.

Pursue reconciliation and understanding of where the other person is coming from.

Focus on our shared faith and always seek God's guidance through prayer. Paul wrote in Romans 14:19, "Let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding." Let love rise above disagreement by focusing on Christ.

Whether in churches, families, or businesses, division brings destruction, distraction, and disgrace. Unity doesn’t mean uniformity—but it does mean working in harmony with love, truth, and a shared goal. As Psalm 133:1 says,

“How good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!”

Elvin

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Paul's Second Missionary Journey.

Ask God For Help

Christian faith

Reader,

Hosea said his people were destroyed for lack of knowledge. Knowledge give believers and non-believers a choice. When a person does not know, they cannot choose.

Feel free to forward this lesson to your friends and family.

Grow in the knowledge of God.

Elvin

Send your comments to elvin.aycock@AskGodForHelp.net and let me know what you think of the lessons.

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