A Plea for Unity

I Corinthians 1:10

Introduction:

     A. Paul began his epistle with some encouraging remarks to the Corinthians

         1 He told them how he is praying for them

         2. He reminds them of God’s grace for them

         3. He speaks of their full reception of miraculous gifts

         4. He promises that God would continue to confirm them

         5. He reminds them that God is faithful and that they have been called to fellowship with Christ

     B. Having done so, Paul begins the unpleasant task of dealing with the problem of division among them

  I. A Plea for Unity

     A. I beseech you brethren

         1. Paul pleads earnestly with the church concerning this nature

         2. This demonstrates the urgency of the situation

         3. Paul prefers to urge rather than command

         4. By using the term brethren, he reminds them that they are a family

              a. He speaks as a brother

              b. They are to behave as a spiritual family

              c. They should be ashamed that they do not have brotherly love

                  1. Rom. 12:10"Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another"

                  2. 1 Thess. 4:9 "But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are

                      taught of God to love one another"

                  3. Heb. 13:1 "Let brotherly love continue"

     B. By the name of our Lord Jesus Christ

         1. Paul invokes the name of the Lord as authority

         2. Divisions of “party names” are overcome in Christ’s name

     C. That ye all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you

         1. The idea to “agree to disagree” is absent here

         2. The Greek word translated “divisions” is “schismata”

              a. Refers to a rend, as in a garment

              b. Paul is saying, “you are one, do not be torn apart”

     D. But that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and the same judgement

         1. “Perfectly joined together” from Greek “to mend what has been broken” (as in mending broken bone)

         2. “Same mind and the same judgement” from Greek “same understanding and same resolve”

 II. The Church Today Can be United If…

     A. We will all speak the same thing

         1. There will always be divisive people in the church, and they will have followers

         2. Unity can be maintained by establishing strong Biblical knowledge: "My people are destroyed…"(Hos. 4:6)

     B. Scriptural congregations maintain fellowship and "provoke each other to love and good works" (Heb. 10:24)

         1. This involves providing opportunities to learn and work together

         2. This can be done through gospel meetings, lectureships, and other means of involvement

     C. We share our burdens (Rom. 15:26)

         1. "For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem"

         2. We should follow this Biblical example of caring for those in other congregations as well as our own

Conclusion:

     A Each of us have a responsibility to contribute to unity in this congregation and with others

     B. Am I contributing to unity or division?

     C. What can we do as a church to promote unity here and with sister congregations?

Michael E. Grooms