1 Corinthians 1 (3)

Pray Psalm 119.25-27.
My soul clings to the dust;
Revive me according to Your word.
I have declared my ways, and You answered me;
Teach me Your statutes.
Make me understand the way of Your precepts;
So shall I meditate on Your wonderful works.

Sing Psalm 119.25-27.
(Festal Song: Rise Up, O Men of God)
My soul clings to the dust; revive me by Your Word!
My ways I have declared to You; teach me Your statutes, LORD!

Make me to understand Your precepts and Your ways,
as on Your works I meditate with wonder and with praise!

Read 1 Corinthians 1.1-13; meditate on verses 10-13.

Preparation
1. What problem was affecting the churches in Corinth?

2. What did Paul seek for them?

Meditation
Division and disunity within the Body of Christ are hindering the progress of Christ’s Kingdom. Jesus prayed that His followers might all be one, so that in their oneness they would refract the unity of the divine Trinity and show the world the power of love (Jn. 17.21).

But division and disunity appeared early on in the Christian movement. Paul confronted it here in the house churches at Corinth. The problem was not that there were various churches, meeting in homes across the city. The problem was that those churches were fostering disunity rather than working hard to maintain the unity of the Spirit of God in the bonds of peace (Eph. 4.3).

The believers were quarreling with one another (v. 11), as if to follow Paul or Apollos or Cephas were the high-water mark of Christian faith. Even those who boasted about following Christ appear to have done so in a divisive manner. The believers should have been one in voice and mind and judgment (v. 10), followers of Jesus and servants of God. Instead, they allowed division to enter the Body of Christ in Corinth. This was the most serious problem reported to Paul, and he addressed it first, with a stinging rhetorical question (v. 13). For without unity, no amount of other counsel or correction would have any lasting effects.

In our day we think nothing about our disunity. Rather than climb together the heights of oneness in the Lord, we cling to the dust of division. Churches do almost nothing together. Denominations tout their superiority over others. Believers do not come together locally to worship, witness, or work for the Kingdom. Division and disunity hinder the progress of the Kingdom, and very few pay attention to the words of Jesus and Paul in this matter. Disunity is Satan’s greatest scheme for hamstringing the Church.

Jesus wants His Body to practice oneness. Paul calls us to unity. How much longer will we ignore them both?

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
Jesus said, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand…He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad” (Matt. 12.25, 30).

Our daughter Kristy is using her massive basketball skills of yore to teach and coach middle and high school kids in her town. She is busy spreading the love of Jesus to these young lives who need her guidance. What if she told her point guard to make sure and always give the ball to the opponent? Or maybe it would be good for the team if her players blocked each other from shooting a basket? Or perhaps it would be smart to tell the players to stay in the key for as long as they chose? Just hang out there, no problem. I’m pretty certain that would not surge her teams on to victory and would make the game kind of pointless.

So why is the church so divided when Jesus and Kristy would tell you that is not a winning strategy?

Paul, having heard there were contentions and divisions in the church, wrote, pleadingly that they would:
1. Speak the same thing with no divisions in beliefs of salvation.
2. Be perfectly joined together with the same mind on all issues regarding Jesus.
3. Use the same judgment in all decisions concerning matters of the Law (1 Cor. 1.10).

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Ps. 133.1).
“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Eph. 4.1-6).

No team will win if it is playing against itself.
No kingdom or country will stand if divided from within.
No church will survive with divisions of beliefs about the Law and Jesus (Jn. 14.6).
Let us plead for unity in the churches we attend, and for fellowship with all believers worldwide;
so that the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ will not scatter, but stand firm, to the end.

In Christ there is no East or West,
In Him no South or North,
But one great fellowship of love
Throughout the whole wide earth.

In Him shall true hearts everywhere
Their high communion find;
His service is the golden cord
Close-binding all mankind.
(John Oxenham, 1908)

For reflection
1. Why did Jesus and Paul consider unity so important for Christians?

2. What should you do to promote Christian unity?

3. How does serving Christ bind us with other believers?

But let us see what he requires as to Christian unity. If any one is desirous of nice distinctions ― he would have them first of all joined together in one mind; secondly, in one judgment; and, thirdly, he would have them declare in words that agreement. John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on 1 Corinthians 1.10

Pray Psalm 119.28-32.
We should be weighed down with woe about the disunified state of Christ’s Body. Pray that God will convict us of our divisiveness and lead us to choose the way of truth and oneness. Ask Him to show you what you can do to work for the unity of the Spirit among the churches of your community.

Sing Psalm 119.28-32.
(Festal Song: Rise Up, O Men of God)
My soul weighs down with woe, I need Your strength, O LORD!
Remove from me all lying ways; grant me Your holy Word!

I choose the way of truth; Your judgments I proclaim.
Your testimonies I embrace, LORD, put me not to shame!

Command my course, O LORD; Your gracious truth impart.
I cling to You and know You will enlarge my seeking heart.

T. M. and Susie Moore

The Church in Corinth was in need of revival. But there was much to be done before that would happen. The Church today is in need of revival, and the same is true for us. Our book, Revived!, can help us to discern our need for revival and lead us in getting there. Order your copy by clicking here.

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter, available by clicking here.