1 / 11

Dealing with Divisions in the Church

Dealing with Divisions in the Church. Studies in 1 Corinthians Series 1 Corinthians 1:10-17 May 18, 2014 Pastor Paul K. Kim. FOUR RIVAL GROUPS AT CORINTHIAN CHURCH.

hang
Download Presentation

Dealing with Divisions in the Church

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Dealing with Divisions in the Church Studies in 1 Corinthians Series 1 Corinthians 1:10-17 May 18, 2014 Pastor Paul K. Kim

  2. 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.12What 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”

  3. 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)

  4. 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!

  5. HOW SHOULD WE PURSUE UNITYIN 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).

  6. HOW SHOULD WE PURSUE UNITYIN 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 unitedin 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.

  7. HOW SHOULD WE PURSUE UNITYIN 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 3:21-23

  8. HOW SHOULD WE PURSUE UNITYIN 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.

  9. 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?

More Related