3.

Where do divisions come from?

1 Corinthians 1:18-31

  • Session: 3
  • Week: 1
  • Day: 3
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Introduction

In this session, I Corinthians 1: 18-31, we focus on understanding why divisions of the church of God come when the church puts its focus on the messenger rather than the message. Church leadership is concerned about setting the vision of the church, providing for the church, supervising the resources of the church and confronting division of the church.

Objectives

By the end of this session, the learner will have:

  • Identified the author of the letter to the Corinthian Church
  • Understood why he commended the church of God in Corinth and why he rebuked them
  • Understood the first main cause of divisions in the church of God in Corinth

Outline

  • Commendation of the Corinthian church
  • Condemnation of the Corinthian church
  • The main cause of the division of the church at Corinth

Group Study Time

1 Corinthians 1:18-31

Connecting

  • Gather with two or more people for a community discovery bible study session.
  • Start with a heartfelt prayer, inviting God to guide and bless your understanding.
  • Explore the passage by reading it at least twice, using different Bible versions if available, then retell the story together as a group.
  • Reflect and share the challenges and blessings you experienced from the previous study.

Comprehending

  • Read 1 Corinthians 1:18-21. What was the first main cause of division in the church of God in Corinth?
  • What is the difference between the message of the cross and the messenger of the good news?. What did Paul say about the messengers of the good news when they were called? 1 Cor 1: 26-31.
  • Why did the church of God in Corinth misunderstand the message of the cross as the only hope for their problem of sin? 1: 22-25; 26-31.

Committing

  • Engage with the Bible—read, study, memorize, meditate, pray, listen, and live it out.
  • List three lessons you have learnt as an agent of change that you would like to put into practice and teach others about.
  • Take time and worship Jesus with the attributes revealed about Christ.
  • Use the SPACEPETS model, to assist you in putting God’s word into practice. Look for:
    • Sin to confess
    • Promise to claim
    • Attitude to change
    • Command to keep
    • Error to change
    • Prayer to make
    • Example to copy
    • Truth to obey and
    • Something praiseworthy

Communicating

  • Identify one person you can connect with and share the valuable insights and lessons you gained from this session.
  • Reach out to a new believer—either in person or by phone—and pray with them to support them through their challenges, including any concerns about attending church.
  • Create a new group and guide others through this study to help them grow in their understanding.

Post Lesson Teaching Summary

Great job completing the study! Take a moment to listen to this summary to reinforce your group’s understanding of the text and ensure you’re all on the same page. We’re here to support your learning journey!

Where do divisions come from?

1 Corinthians 1:18-31

1 Corinthians 1:18-31

Context

  • Paul addresses divisions in the Corinthian church caused by members focusing on human leaders (Paul, Apollos, Cephas) rather than the unified message of the cross, leading to disunity.
  • The passage contrasts the foolishness of the cross with human wisdom, emphasizing God’s power to save and unify the church.

The Message of the Cross (1 Corinthians 1:18-31)

  • Cause of Division: Divisions arose because members focused on human leaders instead of the vision of the cross, mistaking the messenger for the message.
  • Role of Leaders: Leaders must cast the vision of the cross, provide resources (spiritual, material, human), supervise its implementation, and prevent division by keeping the focus on Christ.
  • Message of the Cross: The cross is foolishness to those perishing but God’s power to those being saved, revealing human inadequacy and dependence on God, unlike worldly self-reliance.
  • God’s Wisdom vs. Human Wisdom: God’s wisdom, embodied in Christ crucified, surpasses human wisdom, frustrating the wise, philosophers, and teachers, as it shames worldly intelligence.
  • Stumbling Block and Foolishness: To Jews, the cross is a stumbling block due to the curse of crucifixion; to Gentiles, it is foolishness, as a crucified savior appears weak.
  • God’s Choice: God chose the foolish, weak, and lowly to shame the wise and strong, ensuring no one boasts before Him, with Christ as our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.
  • Purpose: By focusing on the cross, the church overcomes division, rejects worldly wisdom, and embraces God’s wisdom to live out its calling without boasting in human strength.

Application

  • Focus on the message of the cross, avoid elevating human leaders, and trust in God’s wisdom to unify the church and live humbly before Him.