Introduction

Good morning, dear friends. I am thrilled to stand before you today, not merely as a speaker, but as a fellow pilgrim, walking hand in hand with each of you on this path of faith we tread. We are here, not by accident, but by divine appointment. God, in His infinite wisdom and boundless love, has gathered us together to glean from His Word, a Word that is as timely today as it was two millennia ago.

Today, we turn our hearts and minds towards the first letter to the Corinthians, penned by the Apostle Paul, a man who knew firsthand the joys and struggles of unity in the body of Christ. In the first chapter, verses 10 through 17, Paul implores the believers in Corinth to seek unity, to shun division, and to preserve the strength of their church. Allow me to share this passage with you:

"I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, 'I follow Paul'; another, 'I follow Apollos'; another, 'I follow Cephas'; still another, 'I follow Christ.' Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized in my name. (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don't remember if I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power."

As we reflect on these words, we are reminded of the timeless wisdom of J.C. Ryle, who once said, "Unity without the gospel is a worthless unity; it is the very unity of hell." Indeed, the unity that Paul speaks of is not a superficial agreement, but a deep, abiding unity in the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is a unity that transcends our differences, a unity that binds us together in the love of Christ, a unity that strengthens the church and glorifies God.

Promoting Unity in Purpose

The Apostle Paul's plea to the Corinthians is a call to unity. He urges them to agree with one another, to put aside their differences, and to be "perfectly united in mind and thought." This is not a call to uniformity, but to unity. It's not about everyone thinking the same way or having the same opinions. It's about having a shared purpose, a common goal that transcends individual differences.

Essential for the health and vitality of the church: When we are united in purpose, we can accomplish far more than we could as individuals. We can support one another, encourage one another, and work together to achieve our shared goals. We can overcome obstacles, face challenges, and make a difference in the world. But when we are divided, when we focus on our differences rather than our common purpose, we weaken the church and hinder our mission.

Verse 13: Paul's words also remind us that our unity in purpose must be centered on Christ. He asks, "Is Christ divided?" The obvious answer is no. Christ is not divided, and neither should His church be. Our unity in purpose should reflect the unity of Christ, a unity that is rooted in love, grace, and truth.

The Corinthians were dividing themselves based on who they followed: This refers to Paul, Apollos, Cephas, and Christ. But Paul reminds them that it's not about who they follow, but about who they serve. They were not baptized in the name of Paul, Apollos, or Cephas, but in the name of Christ. Their allegiance, their purpose, their unity should be centered on Christ, not on human leaders.

Verses 14-15: Paul also makes it clear that our unity in purpose is not about personal glory or recognition. He thanks God that he did not baptize many of the Corinthians, so that no one can say they were baptized in his name. He was not seeking to build a following for himself, but to point people to Christ. Our unity in purpose should not be about promoting ourselves or our own agendas, but about glorifying God and advancing His kingdom.

Verse 17: Paul reminds us that our unity in purpose is not about our own wisdom or eloquence, but about the power of the gospel. He says, "For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power." Our unity in purpose should be fueled by the gospel, by the life-changing message of Christ's death and resurrection. It's not about our abilities or our efforts, but about God's power at work in us and through us.

Preventing Division in the Body

As we reflect on the words of Paul, he makes it clear that the church in Corinth was experiencing division ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO