The Book Of 1 Corinthians

Book Overview
 Authorship. The Apostle Paul is the author. 1:1
 Background of Corinth:
o In the N.T times, it was a trade city. It was well situated as a land and sea
trade route and therefore was a very wealthy city.
o Was the administration center of the province of Achaia.
o A pagan city known for the worship of the Greek goddess Aphrodite and
1000 temple prostitutes.
 Occasion
o Paul writes this letter in response to the reports that he had received. Some
of the issues addressed are, division in the church, sexually immorality,
marriage and divorce, spiritual gifts and more.
o These issues aren’t any different from what is happening in the church
today and so it is important for us to pay attention to God’s word so that
we can address them correctly.
o So, over the next number of weeks we will delve more into them.
Today: 1 Corinthians 1:10 – 4
From chapter one through chapter four Paul is appealing for unity while addressing the
problem of division in the church.
Key scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:10–12 (NLT)
10
I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to
live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of
one mind, united in thought and purpose. 11 For some members of Chloe’s household
have told me about your quarrels, my dear brothers and sisters. 12 Some of you are
saying, “I am a follower of Paul.” Others are saying, “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow
Peter,” or “I follow only Christ.”
Paul’s appeal for unity was Jesus’ prayer for the church. In John 17:11, 22-23, Jesus
prayed, “Holy Father, keep them in Your Name… that they may be ONE as we are
ONE.”.
But unfortunately, we see that wasn’t the case in the Corinthian Church. There was the
problem of division among the believers. And so, the Apostle Paul writes to address this
as a matter of urgency.
I. The Problem Of Division
1 Corinthians 1:11–13 (ESV)
11
For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you,
my brothers. 12 What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow
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Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul
crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
The problem of division in the church was based on people’s preferences of a preacher /
leader. Different factions / camps were formed that followed different preachers for
various reasons.
† Perhaps some followed Paul because he founded the church. Or because he was a
great theologian.
† Some chose Apollos because he was an eloquent preacher and knowledgeable
about, the scriptures. Acts 18:24. Part of the culture in Corinth was for people to
follow philosophers or debaters who were eloquent & rhetoric. Please note that
Apollos wasn’t a heretic. In fact, he worked closely with Paul. Titus 3:13
† Probably those who chose Peter did so because he was one of the twelve
disciples of Jesus. Being a Jew, other Jews were drawn to him.
† Those who said they followed on Christ, were probably disregarding any human
leadership and placing themselves above the others.
Their division was premised on their PREFERENCES not the MISSION of the
church.
This is still true today. (You can use other examples)
† People say unless it’s Ps. Brian who preaches, they have missed the message.
† Some say, ‘buy into the vision but not the leader’.
† If worship leader X doesn’t lead then, the worship is not going to be great.
Illustration: Member at one of our campuses who would first ask who the preacher was
before they decided to attend the celebration.
This way of thinking only promotes division and misses the point, which is Christ and
His mission to save the lost.
It is true we all have preferences, BUT We must learn to submit our preferences to the
Lordship of Jesus, His word, and the leadership he has put us under.
And if we are going to deal with the problem of division, we must understand the root
cause of it.
II. The Root Of Division
1 Corinthians 3:1–4 (GW)
1
Brothers and sisters, I couldn’t talk to you as spiritual people but as people still
influenced by your corrupt nature. You were infants in your faith in Christ. 2 I gave you
milk to drink. I didn’t give you solid food because you weren’t ready for it. Even now
you aren’t ready for it 3 because you’re still influenced by your corrupt nature. When
you are jealous and quarrel among yourselves, aren’t you influenced by your corrupt

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nature and living by human standards? 4 When some of you say, “I follow Paul” and
others say, “I follow Apollos,” aren’t you acting like ⸤sinful⸥ humans?
At the root of the problem of division in the Corinthian church was immaturity.
† They were still being influenced by their sinful nature. They allowed their evil
selfish desires to become more important than the mission of the church.
† They were making decisions based on human standards. The Corinthians exalted
their PREFERENCES above the MISSION of the church.
† They lacked the understanding of God’s word and therefore didn’t know how to
live righteous.
† They hadn’t mastered the basic principles of the faith.
This is true about us today. The reason we experience division in the church is because
of immaturity and being worldly.
We see church life through our selfish agendas. Everything must suit my tastes or
preferences, or I leave.
† If we don’t begin the service with prayer, we are unspiritual.
† If pastor X doesn’t preach, it is a bad service.
† If we aren’t doing crusades Billy Graham style, we’ve lost the cause of Christ.
† If there aren’t deliverances in the services then, there is no power.
† If it isn’t Ribena for communion juice, then we’ve lost it.
† If the church isn’t doing ministry in prisons, ministry for widows, ministry in the
refugee camps, etc. we don’t have the heart of Jesus. The list is endless.
As you’ll notice, the underlying root to all this is immaturity.
To deal with the problem of immaturity, we must choose to be renewed in our thinking
and begin to see life through God’s lenses.
Romans 12:2 (NIV84)
2
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the
renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—
his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:2 (The Message)
2
Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even
thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out.
Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the
culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings
the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

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Let’s move on from immaturity and grow up in our understanding and obedience to
what God expects of us.
For us to embrace the urgency of the matter, let’s look at the effects of division as
pointed out by the Apostle Paul.
III. Effects Of Division
1 Corinthians 3:16–17 (NLT)
16
Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of
God lives in you? 17 God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s
temple is holy, and you are that temple.
The greatest impact of division is that it destroys the Church.
 Divisions lead to unnecessary and unhealthy church splits.
When a church leader feels his opinions are better, rather than submit to authority, they
choose to breakaway and start their own thing in protest/rebellion.
Illustration: Some of our small groups/cells embraced wrong doctrines and refused to
submit to leadership eventually had to be cut off.
Unfortunately, this left some families in strife. Those who didn’t want to go with the
breakaway kept coming to Watoto. It destroys the Church.
 Divisions bring shame and disrepute to the Name of Christ
When non-believers look to the church, do the see Jesus or a mockery of him. When
churches split over matters of personal and selfish preferences what are we
communicating to the world.
 Divisions affect our witness of the gospel.
Remember Jesus’s prayer, John 17:23 (ESV), 23 I in them and you in me, that they may
become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them
even as you loved me.
So, when there’s division in the church, we hinder the message of the gospel from
being received.
It is categorically clear that division / disunity is an enemy of the church.
Therefore, we must individually and corporately become champions and proponents of
unity in the local and global church.
IV. Power Of Unity
When we are united as believers the power of unity is realised:

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 † We confirm and strengthen the testimony of Christ. John 17:22–23 (ESV) 22 The
glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as
we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so
that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.
† We advance the great commission further and faster, the preaching of the gospel
and making of disciples is more effective. Acts 2:44-47. The believers were
united, and the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being
saved.
† We are stronger together. Mark 3:24-26. A kingdom divided against itself cannot
stand.
† We achieve more when united. Ecclesiastes 4:9. Two are better than one for they
have a greater return for their labour.
† We receive God’s blessings. Psalm 133
For us to see the power of unit at work, we must build and keep it.
V. How To Build Unity
For us to build and keep unity, we need to,
a. Prioritize The Gospel Not Preferences
1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17 (NIV)
10
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.
13
Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of
Paul?
17
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.
Paul uses the strongest of appeals, “…by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ…”, to
draw the church’s attention to the seriousness of being united.
Set aside your preferences and focus on the purpose for which the church has been
called out to do.
1 Corinthians 1:17 (NIV)
17
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.
Paul himself sets the example for us. The main focus of the church is the preaching of
the gospel.
For in the message of the cross, lies the power of God to save all who believe.
† Set aside your evil selfish preferences and prioritize the preaching of the gospel
in everything you do.
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 † Submit your preferences to the purpose of the church. To preach the gospel and
make disciples for Christ.
For us as members of Watoto, it means you submit your preferences to the vision that
God has given to us.
To bring healing to the cities and to the nations by Celebrating Christ and Caring for
Community.
To build and keep unity we need to:
b. Exalt CHRIST Not PERSONALITIES
Because it is Christ who died for us.
1 Co 1:13 NIV
13
Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of
Paul?
The answer to these rhetorical questions is.
† No Christ isn’t divided.
† No Paul wasn’t crucified for us but Christ.
† No, we weren’t baptised in Paul’s name but in Jesus’s name.
What Paul was saying is, don’t exalt me or other personalities through whom you’ve
been taught about Christ to the level of Christ but only exalt Christ who was crucified
for you and in whose name, you were baptised.
1 Corinthians 1:30–31 (NLT)
30
God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him (Christ) to be
wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he (Christ) made us pure and holy, and
he (Christ) freed us from sin. 31 Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast,
boast only about the Lord.”
Notice that these verses exalt Christ alone. This is why we should only boast in Christ
alone because we have been saved by grace through faith in Christ alone.
None of us is anything apart from Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:26 (NLT)
26
Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or
powerful or wealthy when God called you.
Christ has lifted you up and given you significance NOT for your boast but that you
would exalt Him in everything you do.
Let Christ us keep Christ at the centre of everything we do as a church.

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As an individual, in everything you do and wherever you may be, do all things so that
Christ is magnified.
Draw attention to Jesus not to yourself or what He has done through you or to the
servant of God.
To build and keep unity we need to:
c. Live as Servants of Christ
1 Corinthians 4:1–2 (ESV)
1 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries
of God. 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.
In effect Paul is saying do not idolise the church leaders but consider them as those
who’ve been called to serve Christ in a specific way.
Illustration: Watoto Transition. Ps. Gary was called to serve for a season and now it’s
Ps. Julius. If there’s anything we’ve learned from Ps. Gary and Marily, is to stay
humble and always seek to serve not to be served. And Ps. Julius & Vernita have
carried that on.
No matter how big a ministry you have, or how much God has used you, consider
yourself a servant and stay focused on Jesus and His mission.
1 Corinthians 4:6 (ESV)
6
I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that
you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed
up in favor of one against another.
Paul continues to emphasize the fact that, he was using himself as an example for all of
us.
In other words, all of us should regard ourselves as servants of Christ so that we can
stay focused on the main thing.
† Have the attitude of a servant whether at home or your workplace or community.
† Serve your leaders as they follow Christ and lead us onto God’s agenda.
† Remember God will call each one of us to account.
When we embrace these 3 aspects of building and keeping unity, we will see the power
of unity realised in our churches and all aspects of life.
Conclusion
1 Corinthians 1:10 (NLT)
10
I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to
live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of
one mind, united in thought and purpose.
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 † Let us become champions and proponents of unity within the church and in your
families and wherever you may be.
† Let us prioritise the gospel above our evil and selfish preferences and exalt Jesus
above everything else.
† Let us live as servants of Christ.
It is Jesus Christ who was crucified in our place and died a death that we deserved and
now is available to forgive and save those who will trust him.
Altar Call

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