Posts with the tag “division”

Engagement with the gospel locally is redemption made reachable. But we can get misaligned in our mission. The church that is growing is a church that is changing -in part because each new person, each family brings a diversity of history, expectations, culture, perspective, goals, hopes… sins. We all have them all. And we need to go there from time to time to stay healthy and cultivate an environment that fosters growth. It’s what the rest of 1 Corinthians is about.  Read More

Camps, and conflicts cause believers who should be working together in the great commission to have a “come-apart”. Our spiritual thumb is in our mouth when envy, strife, and division are perpetuated. Sometimes we foolishly take sides in disputes and act like – well, babies. Paul calls us on it! (From 1 Co. 3:1-9).  Read More

Ever find yourself between a rock and a hard place? How about in a situation in which people you love and respect disagree? What do we do when competing views put us between a rock and a hard place? Some things aren’t as “cut and dry” as those claiming the authority of Apollos, Cephas, Paul, or Christ suggest! Who’s right? Each claims their beliefs, behaviors and be-attitudes are biblical. But division is not. (From 1 Cor. 2:9-16)  Read More

Paul points these divided disciples to the depths of Christ crucified - the mystery of the gospel, godliness, and of God’s goodness and grace. It’s a healthy distraction. Paul will bring two key things to bear to help these conflicted Christians: The Mystery of the gospel of Christ not revealed before the New Testament, and the Mind of Christ revealed through God’s word. We’ll take the first part today (From 1 Corinthians 2:6-10):  Read More

If you could choose the greatest challenge to unity in the church, what would you pick? What stumbling-block or sin separates us the most? Is it an action or an attitude? 1 Corinthians deals with both. Winning people from our culture gets messy and problems manifest themselves at times within the church. We complicate it with our contentions. But he starts with arguably our greatest challenge: Self-will. (From 1 Cor. 1:10-18)  Read More