Young People's Group

PERFECTLY JOINED TOGETHER

by Pastor Mitch
July 20, 2014

The Danger Of Having Schism In The Church

Schisms within churches today can be so adverse that rival factions have chosen to go separate ways. It has happened in the past, it continues to happen today, and it will continue to happen in the future. One of the causes of division among fellow brethren is very often due to the issue of pride. This was something that the Church at Corinth had to deal with.

“That there are contentions among you. Now I say this, that each of you says, ‘I am of Paul,’ or ‘I am of Apollos,’ or ‘I am of Cephas'” 
1 Corinthians 1:11-12

The word “contention” in the Greek means to “strive and wrangle” with each other. The church at Corinth was a gifted Church. They were greatly blessed and enriched in everything and had not come short in spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 1:7). But with many blessings, there was also the problem of pride. The Corinthians took pride in belonging to the various spiritual leaders who baptised them. The emphasis in the Greek text of 1 Corinthians 1:12 is on the “I am” aspect. This brought about contentions among themselves. Young people, let’s never allow such things to affect us as a Church.

Having A Strong Basis Of Pleading For Oneness

“Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of the Lord Jesus Christ” 
1 Corinthians 1:10

The apostle Paul appealed to the Corinthians to not continue in their contentions for any reason. Paul mentioned the Lord Jesus’ name eight times in just nine verses. The Corinthian Church was considered sanctified in Christ Jesus (1 Corinthians 1:2). The name of the Lord Jesus was also called upon in prayer from every place on earth (1 Corinthians 1:2). There was also grace and peace from the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:3). Grace had also been given by the Lord with reference to being enriched in everything (1 Corinthians 1:4-5). The Corinthians were also called into the fellowship of the Lord Jesus. And the list goes on. There is so much that the name of the Lord Jesus represents. This is indeed a strong basis to plead for oneness.

The Challenge To Have A Deep Sense Of Oneness

“That you all speak the same thing, and that there be no division among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” 
1 Corinthians 1:10

1. Seeking To Be Perfectly Joined Together

In order for things to mend between two people, they need to learn to have the same mind and reasoning. They should take time to seek wisdom that is from the Lord and not from men. There should be the mending of ties that would help people to be knit together as one. If there are rifts between us, let’s seek to mend them and seek to be one in Christ

2. Choosing To Speak The Same Things

The challenge for the Corinthian Church was to learn to speak the same things that it might bring them together rather than bring about further dissension. Our challenge is to speak to each other with the words of wisdom from God, rather than with the wisdom of men. Let’s seek to have a gracious and humble spirit in the way we speak. Let’s choose to speak and emphasise the same truths from the Scriptures.

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