The organ begins the bridal march, and everyone stands. His Word does not disagree with itself. Now, the Apostle Paul is very concerned about this matter of incipient division in the church at Corinth, and he begins dealing with it in this powerful appeal for unity in Verse10: I appeal to you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no dissensions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. There are three different causes of divisions in churches that Paul mentions in I Corinthians. To an unbeliever, this looks like we cannot agree on our own religion. There are many other things that do cause serious problems stemming from the outside world. So, just a few texts and there are so many more. is the history and significance of the church This Western Church soon became known as the Roman Catholic Church. They embraced the values of their Roman society, which divided over ethnicity (e.g., Jews vs. Gentiles) and social rank (wise vs. foolish, powerful I personally experienced this at work about a year and a half ago. Now, the second thing Paul says is, "Was Paul crucified for you?" It is well known that division in the church of Corinth was over leadership. Then there were the stylists, those who were attracted by the different kinds of preaching, and they had especially been drawn to Apollos. He does not say we should stop baptizing because of this problem. This doesnt mean that they have to agree on the minutest points in areas where there is no clear teaching in Scripture. As we read through First Corinthians, I think we will see how very much like modern day churches this ancient church of Corinth was. We tend to fall out along doctrinal lines or because we are drawn to one charismatic pastor over another. Other divisions were to follow. I appreciate the perspective given by the author and agree 100% that the body of Christ is divided. (1Corinthians 1:12 RSV), Now, there was the trouble at Corinth. So, just a few texts and there are so many more. We get so off track of what Christianity is all aboutMark 12:30-31 and begin focusing on worldly things like Rob Bell debated are actually being held to see if this Pastor is even Christian! Divisions Some considering Paul their authority, other Apollos, others Peter, and still others accepted only Jesus as their authority. the Problems in the Corinthian Church With Pauls harsh criticism of said divisions, you would think that we might have learned how to move beyond that in the 21st Century, however, that is not the case. "One is your master; all of you are brothers," (Matthew 23:8 KJV). God is not confused, and He does not contradict Himself. A number of churches in this postmodern era have begun to resemble the Corinthian church in alarming ways. There was nothing wrong with them, they were very helpful, but it was not very long before they became status symbols, and they were used to put down, not always intentionally, those who did not have them. Now, in Verse13 you understand why. For a local church to be spiritually healthy and effective, and for there to be harmony in the local church, there must be doctrinal unity. We worry about how the power points are going to look, if we should have one or two singers, drums or no drums, electric guitars or none at all (I feel like you get my point) its almost as if we worship these things! WebAccording to Paul, the communitys problems were the consequence of the Corinthians mistaken belief that they had already been exalted. When daylight again appeared, they looked for him with renewed energy but still without success. They are still acting just like the world. This is the challenge of the divisions in 1 Corinthians how does the modern church act just like the world? DIVISIONS AND PERSONALITIES IN THE CHURCH I told them that it is a concern of mine as well. I would like to close this service by reading what one man wrote about the cross: It is well that we should think sometimes of the Upper Room and the Last Supper, and of his soul, "exceeding sorrowful unto death"; of Gethsemane and the deep shadow of the olive trees; his loneliness, prayers, and disappointment with his disciples; his bloody sweat; the traitor's kiss; the binding, the blow in the face, the spitting, the buffeting, the mocking, the scourging, the crown of thorns, the smiting; the sorrowful way and the burdensome cross; the exhaustion and collapse; the stripping, the impaling, and the jeers of his foes, and the flight of his friends; the hours on the cross; the darkness, his being forsaken of God; his thirst, and the end. in the Corinthian Church 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. In fact, Paul never claims disciples. I think the letter to the Philippians helps us here, because in that passage I just quoted from, Paul goes on to say, "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus," (Philippians 2:5). 4-The churchs failure to discipline. In verse 17, Paul says that his calling of God was to preach the Gospel, and the focus of the Gospel is the cross of Christ. In the year 1 054 the Church was divided into two parts: 1) The Greek Eastern Church 2) The Roman Western Church. Will we do so by the strength which God alone can and will supply? in the Corinthian Church With all the differences among us, it is impossible to get people to think alike. When you call them back to an understanding of the meaning of the cross, you will find all the divisions disappearing; they fade away like the morning mist. Some pigged out at the Lord Supper; others had barely enough to eat. I think that if you put the teachings of a man over the teachings of Scripture then you have a problem. The bridesmaids have come down the aisle. Webdivided. This unintentional mindset causes people to treat the Bible and its words like it is a product that can wear out, and ignored like an infomercial. Splits and Quarrels in the Church Church has become about the pastor and not about his message. All rights reserved. Instead of tearing themselves apart, he urges them to be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. This consumerism that we face today in the end doesnt seem all that much different from the way the Christian faith was treated like just another philosophy back in the days of Paul. In fact, there are still many divisions that exist today in modern churches. (I have been trying for a long time to get my wife to accept that!) A second issue that seems to keep the church divided (the whole church and individual churches) is the little things such as the structure of the service, the type of music played for worship, whether a pastor should always wear a tie, and what color should be used in the bathroom. the background of the Corinthian Church It is those who have a financial interest in their own wellbeing, that divide the sheep up into different folds. That is what they were doing with baptism here in Corinth. I have had people say to me, "Oh, Mr. Stedman, when you speak I see so clearly! Bruises show on her arm! For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. All that mattered to Paul was Jesus! You only have to listen around you today and you find outstanding leaders being held up by their congregations as almost the equal of the Lord himself in their value to the church. The cross of Christ cuts across all human value systems. Galatians: Freedom through Gods Grace (Wipf & Stock, 2019). Obviously sin is at the heart of these divisions, but I am encouraged to hear that at least in your corner of the world there is some unification and revival. Sermon 5: Who is the Most Important? The word divisions comes from the Greek word schismata, from which we get our English word schism. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized any one else). How important was unity to the apostle Paul, and to the Holy Spirit who moved Him to write this letter to the Church in Corinth? He's a great preacher, a warm, capable, eloquent man, who can make the Old Testament come alive!". In the year 1 054 the Church was divided into two parts: 1) The Greek Eastern Church 2) The Roman Western Church. They were hard to get in those war years, and every shipment that came in went out like hot cakes. They failed to take seriously the power of evil; their behavior caused divisions in the church and led to a lack of concern for other members. The groom and his attendants are in their places. The Factions At Corinth These are not the only causes of divisions in churches today. That is the mind Paul is talking about. Corinthians We reveal our immaturity when we insist that only those with certain characteristics are the ones we will listen to, or we feel can bless or strengthen our lives. What he says we'll listen to, not Paul or Peter or anyone else -- it makes no difference to us." 3- The presence of an immoral member. These are not the only causes of divisions in churches today. Paul was the apostle to the gentiles. Anyone who claims that he or she has an exclusive part in Christ is wrong. On Friday of this week we will gather again to consider the cross of Christ. Since November 2021, Reading Acts is edited by Sarah Westphal. We had some great meetings and great times together. It is not merely that the Church is everywhere split up into sections, but that this has led to party strife and jealousy. 2 Corinthians Members follow him blindly and whatever they do seems right to them. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. There are still others today who follow after some school of thought. It is popularized in the movie Mean Girls. WebAccording to Paul, the communitys problems were the consequence of the Corinthians mistaken belief that they had already been exalted. When you follow one man you are getting a view of Christ, but there is no teacher in the church who has ever come along -- including the Apostle Paul himself -- who has ever had a totally complete view of Christ. This division in the church was over their own selfish ambitions evidenced in what they wanted. And there are others who are drawn to some speaking style that has attracted them. God wants the local church congregation and the local community to see the beauty of a church that is unified and fitted together in love. Each group claimed to be better than the others, and party spirits began to grow in the church. However, I would like to approach this in a different way than the comments already present here. When the Corinthians divided into factions, it wasnt so much about core doctrine (nature of God, nature of Christ, the Gospel, the nature of man). He described the activities of the disciples of the Sophists the professional orators who were able to command large audiences, high fees for educating youth, and often a great deal of power within the city. This is the result of a religious snobbery associated by cliques that produced pride and conflict. WebWhat were the causes of division in the Corinthian Church? This Bible was pushed by the Navigators, and everybody had to have one. They were dividing over this whole issue, and Paul says it is all wrong. We see similar situations today, with political debates often devolving into a shouting match in which the person who yells their opinion the loudest and the longest is the winner. Divisions Their divisions, lack of church discipline, lawsuits, abuse of Christian liberty and over-emphasis of the gift of tongues, all illustrate this root problem. But that is a very dangerous attitude, and yet we tend to think of people as being the channel by which deliverance can come to our heart. It is well known that division in the church of Corinth was over leadership. The church at Corinth had divided loyalty to different leaders. We all know what a clique is. Acts 18:24 says that Apollos was an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man. 7-False zeal for spiritual gifts. The cross strips away our illusions and brings the pride of men tumbling down from that high place where it exalts itself against the knowledge of God. I think today if church leaders focus on Jesus and only Jesus we would be so much healthier. The Factions At Corinth But if it is to escape pressures and difficulties and problems in the congregation, then it is absolutely wrong and the worst thing he could do, because it sets before the watching world a false testimony concerning the church of Jesus Christ. I would agree that we find ourselves in much the same situations as those listening to the Greek philosophers/orators. If you survey the church scene all over America today, you find people dividing up this way. I believe that if people would take their eyes off man and stop putting man up up so high and put THE MASTER BACK FIRST in their lives it wont be so much division in our churches. Phil Long is correct, we have not improved much since the first century. Paul, however, was a good leader. 2 Corinthians Each group claimed to be better than the others, and party spirits began to grow in the church. The church at Corinth had divided loyalty to different leaders. Corinthians Every piece of that jigsaw puzzle is different, isnt it? 16(Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don't remember if I baptized anyone else.) 1 Corinthians Problems in the Church John 12:37-50, THE PARADOX OF LIFE FROM DEATH John 12:20-26, THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM JOHN 12:9-19, SPIRITUAL LIGHT AND DARKNESS John 9:35-41. I will jump on the bandwagon here and say that division is definitely an issue today. 11My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. Faith rests on Gods shoulders alone- its not by our wisdom and ability (Polhill 237). 13Is Christ divided? From the book of Acts we learn that Apollos was an outstanding orator in a world that loved and appreciated oratory. In verse 11, Paul gives the reason for his appeal for unity in the church at Corinth. There were: the followers of Paul, the followers of Apollos, the followers of Cephas or Peter, and the followers of Christ. I told them that I do not foresee and end to these divisions anytime soon (sadly). WebDivisions in the Church. He appeals to them in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Have you ever tried to put a jigsaw puzzle together with the pieces turned upside down so that they are all blank? I find there are these tendencies right here in Peninsula Bible Church. That is what Paul speaks about. His bride, the Church, has been fighting again!. No man would ever have planned the cross. Members follow him blindly and whatever they do seems right to them. Divisions in the Church In the year 1 054 the Church was divided into two parts: 1) The Greek Eastern Church 2) The Roman Western Church. In verse 11, Paul gives the reason for his appeal for unity in the church at Corinth. Corinthians The Protestant Reformation had its beginnings in 1517 (see Chapter 1 0). These are not the only causes of divisions in churches today. Still others say, "We are of Schaeffer," and others, "We are of Graham," or, "We are of C.S. Her nose is bloody! Paul condemns their behavior in verse 13 by saying, Has Christ been divided? In other words, have different amounts of Christ been given to different people? They would have the Scofield Reference Bible and a notebook under one arm, and you knew that if you examined their Bibles you would find the ladder index on the pages. The minister is waiting, Bible in hand. WebThe Corinthians were basically making a mockery of Communion. Some Corinthian Christians were dividing over church teachers. "I appeal to you," he says, "by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." The Lord Jesus is praying to the Father, and this is part of His prayer for us: I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one; even as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be one in Us; that the world may believe that You sent Me. And there were some who said, "Well, when Peter came through, he baptized me. He called to ask whether I thought that would be right or wrong to do. Something shows up sooner or later as an identifying badge that marks them as "special," with special privilege and special status in that group. Austin Hellier Brisbane Queensland Australia. Because the Holy Spirit has but one will, and because a church must be in complete harmony with His will, the leaders must be in complete harmony with each other in that will. He says, in effect, "You don't cure divisions in a church by identification badges. I told them GBC and they said something along the lines of, Oh a Bible college? I've not forgotten that incident because it seems to me to capture the very attitude Paul is describing here. You may be reminded by his words in Verse10 of the similar passage in his letter to the Philippians where, in Chapter2, he says to that church, "So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any incentive of love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord, and of one mind," (Philippians 2:1-2 RSV). 6-Members defiling the Lords Supper. 1 Corinthians Problems in the Church How important was unity to our Lord Jesus Christ? The search went on until nightfall, but no answer came to their urgent calls. Sometimes a church leader can have so much clout that he begins to have cult status. On a large jigsaw puzzle of a thousand pieces or more, its almost impossible to put it together upside down! Like the world, Christians are too concerned with being right and having our way. God is all about people, not money, and I feel sorry for anyone who tries to take over the current move of God, put it in a box, stick a label on it, and own it they will be swept away. As we do, I hope every one of us will understand more and more fully the character of this radical principle that God has turned loose among us, this revolutionary idea represented in the cross of Christ that wipes out all these distinctions among men. 3- The presence of an immoral member. WebDivisions in the Church. When you divide up among men you lose something, that is what he is saying. A. And some of them are really gross. When the lifeless body of the little one was carried back to the anxious mother, she cried aloud, Oh why didnt you join hands before?. Some considered Paul their leader, others Apollos, still others Peter. To all of this Paul would say to us, as he says to Corinth, Is Christ divided? Yes, we have the core beliefs that most Christians will agree upon, but the rest is still very confusing to non-believers. Others bragged that they were followers of Peter (1 Corinthians 1:12). It was expected. Going off of what Cody is saying, in todays church everything needs to be just right. If you limit yourself to one speaker or one teacher and feed only on him, you are getting a distorted view of Jesus Christ; you are chopping Christ up, dividing him and taking one little portion as one man reports it and ignoring the rest, thus your view of Christ is deficient and unable to satisfy you as it was intended to do. Its not just the denominations per se any more theres also a proliferation of house churches too. So rather that detailing their accomplishments as orators, Paul describes their functions (Paul planted, Apollos watered, etc.) These are two common causes of church divisions in the West. Public arguments were commonplace in the Greco-Roman world at the time that Paul was writing to the Corinthian church. Then comes that great Christological passage where he describes how Christ, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. The church at Corinth had divided loyalty to different leaders. You may recall also that in writing to the church at Ephesus, he exhorted the elders there to be careful to "maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace," (Ephesians 4:3 RSV). Instead of directly saying that we follow Paul, or Apollos, we say that we are Baptist, Reformed, or even Catholic. We become followers of out Pastors and churches rather than of Christ. The ground, of course, is the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. WebPaul goes right on, in Verse 12, to describe the forms that these divisions were taking in the church of Corinth: What I mean is that each one of you says, "I belong to Paul," or "I belong to Apollos," or "I belong to Cephas" [another name for Peter], or "I belong to Christ." Corinthians We all know what a clique is. Paul rejects this disunity, telling the church members to focus on Christ. Now, how could that be? Christ belongs fully to every believer in His spiritual body, the Church. 10 I appeal to you, brothers,[ a] 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. These kinds of things happen when there are divisions in a church. These preachers draw in masses of people every week who are eager to hear them speak. Paul doesnt want these divisions to continue, so he offers them an alternative. Now, it cannot. in the Corinthian Church Many of us are familiar with this common phenomenon in human psychology of thinking that some symbolic thing that is of use to us is so important that we finally make it a badge of the group to which we belong.
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