This Week\’s Sunday School Lesson, \”Unity In The Church\”, 1 Corinthians 1:1-16, 3/6/2022

UNITY IN THE CHURCH

1 Corinthians 1:1-16

THE BLESSING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

According to Acts chapter 2:1-4, the church started with 120 disciples in one room in Jerusalem.

They were all on one accord. They all received the Holy Spirit at once. They were empowered to

Preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  They all began speaking in different languages

They had not learned. The Holy Spirit kicked started the ministry.

The church was qualified, authorized, and empowered to speak a different language that world had

Not learned. That language was the Gospel of Jesus Christ. No matter what our personal circumstances

Or agendas are, they have to be laid aside, so the Gospel of Jesus Christ becomes the light the world sees.

The City of Corinth was a port city of wealth and commerce. It had a mixed culture because

Of it fishing activities. It was the center of idol worship. They worshiped the Roman goddess Venus.

She was the goddess of sexual love and beauty. The Temple housed 1000 prostitutes.

It was the grace of God to establish a church in the midst of moral decay.

Paul established the church after traveling from Athens.

He had the awesome job of bringing light to a dark community.

Empowered by the Holy Spirit, he preached the gospel in Corinth for almost  2 years,

The Gospel has the power to overcome all sorts of evil among all classes of people.

God opens the hearts of men and women to receive the Word preached by his

Disciples.

Proclaiming the Word is the beginning of changing hearts in new believers.

Encouraging and promoting the study of the Word is the constant work inside the

Church. The power of a convicted heart is work outside the church.

THE BLESSINGS OF ENCOURAGEMENT

V:1.  Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,

2 To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ — their Lord and ours:

3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1. It is good to hear words of encouragement from someone who knows us and has

Our best interest.

1. It is good to be reminded of what Jesus has done for us.
2. It is good to be reminded of our mission.
3. It is good to be reminded that we are part of the worldwide body of

Christ.

• It is good to be included in the prayers of other believers.
• It is good when we pray the favor of God on others
• It is good when we pray the peace of God for others.    
• Our thoughts and prayers unite us in the body of Christ.
• We were cleansed with Word and set aside to be in the Lord.
• We have been positioned for the work of Christ.
• We Have God the Father and the Lord Jesus seated at the right

Hand of the Father making intercession for us.

THE BLESSING OF POSITION AND GIFTS

V:4 I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. 5 For in him you have been enriched in every way — in all your speaking and in all your knowledge— 6 because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you. 7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 8 He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.

1. We ought to be thankful for all brothers and sisters in Christ. Whatever good they do will have an effect on us.
2. Each of us has been given God’s grace.
3. Out of His love, God favored each of us with His call.
4. He gave us His grace first then His peace,
5. We have access to peace, but we must accept it.
6. Once His peace is accepted, we must pursue it.
7. We must make all efforts to stay in a state of peace.
8. We have been enriched in speaking the Word of God.
9. We have been enriched in the knowledge of God.
10. We must study the Word to apply it to our situations.
11. We must meditate on the Word to continually  be ready

In an instance to proclaim and apply it.

• We have been equipped with spiritual gifts to bless others in the Lord.
• We have been strengthened to remain blameless under trials

And temptations.

• We have been called into fellowship with our Lord Jesus Christ.
• Maintaining our fellowship with Jesus is our daily work.
• It is that continuing fellowship with Jesus that prepares us for the

Work outside the Church.

THE BLESSING OF UNITY

V:10. I 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. 11 My brothers, some from Chloe\’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you.

1. There is nothing more important to Satan than creating division in the church.
2. When we disagree with one another, we open the door for Satan to slip in.
3. A Church can be torn down from the inside when there are quarrels of

Any kind among the members.

• Satan specializes in divisions, therefore we must be on guard.
• Divisions arise when there are differences in opinions.
• The Word of God is not based on our opinions or desires.
• Divisions start when we oppose the Word of God.
• All activities in the church should be governed by the Word.
• Quarrels should be a red flag to stop and pray.
• Quarrels should be a red flag to study the Word.
• Quarrels should be a red flag to study similar situations in the Word.
• Quarrels should be a red flag that Satan is operating in the minds of

The members.

Luke 11:17

       Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: \”Any kingdom divided against itself will be   

       ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall.

• Adherence to the Word of God unites us.

THE BLESSING OF TEACHING SCRIPTURE

 V:12 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.\”

13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul? 14 I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so 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.)

1. Divisions can occur when we don’t understand the meanings of the Word.
2. We cannot apply the Word without an understanding.
3. We cannot get an understanding without a teacher.
4. You and I have the completed Bible and many commentaries, plus

The Holy Spirit.

• The early church in Corinth had only a memory of the words of Paul.

The Old Testament was complete, but it may not have arrived in Corinth.

• Today we do not have an excuse for not studying the Word
• 2 Timothy 2:15

      Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,    

      rightly dividing the word of truth.

• The disputed issue was a misinterpretation of baptism.
• Different Christians had put the importance on who performed their baptism.
• They did not understand that the physical baptism was an outward sign

Of their confession of faith in Jesus Christ.

• Paul explained that the physical baptism by him or any other person

Did not affect their faith In Jesus Christ.

• We are baptized in the name of Jesus not the name of the baptizer.

The key point in the lesson is to make sure we understand the scripture pertaining

To the issue.  Make sure the issue is worth fighting for.

Paul said this 

1 Corinthians 2:2

For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

1. Much of what we argue about has nothing to with salvation.
2. We can disagree on tradition but never on scripture.
3. Disagreement on the interpretation of scripture is a cause for

Immediate and intense Bible Study.

• We must study to unified in the purpose of our call.
• We must study to be unified in the purpose of our work.
• We must study to be unified in the purpose of our salvation
• We must study to be empowered for the outreach work of the

Gospel.

Rev. M. Mitchell