I have been a member of a number of churches that have had divisions.  One church had a split over how women participated in the services, that same church then struggled when virtually all of their younger members left.  I have been in a church where the concept of small groups was a divisive issue.  The question that people were discussing was, “Are they an evangelistic tool, or are they a way to feed people and help them grow deeper together?”  I have also seen many times a church find its identity in its senior pastors.  In Minnesota you will find John Piper’s church, in Chicago you will find Irwin Lutzer’s church.  People attend those churches to hear a talented preacher preach.  At my present church the preaching used to be shared between the senior pastors.  However, more recently the church has unified the teaching under one of the pastors.  At my present church there has been criticism from former members that the church was too casual and shallow.  I have heard that from a number of former attenders.  What potential reasons for division are there in your church?  Is there a cult of personality?  How should such situations be addressed?

1 Corinthians 1:10-17

 ¹⁰I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. ¹¹My brothers, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. ¹²What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas^[a]“; still another, “I follow Christ.”

 ¹³Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into^[b] the name of Paul? ¹⁴I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, ¹⁵so no one can say that you were baptized into my name. ¹⁶(Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.) ¹⁷For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

Questions

1. What does Paul appeal with the church to do?
2. Who has reported the quarrels?
3. What rhetorical question does Paul ask about Christ?
4. In what ways do you see Christ’s church divided?
5. How can you promote unity among Christians?

Going Deeper

Observation

1. In what way should Corinthians be united?
2. Who are the personalities that Corinth is divided over?
3. What three rhetorical questions does Paul use?
4. Paul baptized whom?
5. Why doesn’t  Paul baptize?

Interpretation

1. Why does united action depend on united thinking?
2. Why isn’t all thinking the same and being in agreement a bad thing?
3. Who was Apollos?
4. What is the implied answer to the rhetorical questions?
5. Why does Paul take time to explained that he has baptised some people?

Application

1. How does a church that is divided get to a point of agreement?
2. Frank Schaeffer accuses evangelical Christianity of being a cult of personalities.  He cites the Graham family, Dr. Dobson and others.  Do you think he has a point?  Why?  Why not?
3. How could a more active church forget the cult of personality divisions?
4. How does ‘church as entertainment’ lead to more division?  How can we grow past that?
5. Is your life centered on Jesus or on problems?

Bonus:

1. Will the USA be able to upset England in the World Cup?  How will the World Cup affect church unity 🙂 ?