Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

March 12
Friday


UNITED GOAL

READ:
1 Cor. 1:10-17
___________________________________________________________

The spotted owl has been disappearing in the US. Originally it was believed that old growth logging was its greatest threat. But research shows that one of the owl's relatives may be the problem. For the past 15 years, the barred owl has been rapidly migrating westward. Barred owls, which used to live exclusively east of the Mississippi, compete for the same food as spotted owls but are more aggressive and adaptable.

In a similar way, our greatest spiritual conflict often comes not from outside the church, but from other Christians. This was happening in the church of Corinth, and Paul took some time to address the divisive spirit that had grown in this congregation. This spirit threatened the unity of the church. Paul, with a pastoral nudge, encouraged the Corinthians to agree on the essentials and not be divided over the nonessentials. People were quarreling because they were aligning themselves with different Christian leaders__Paul, Apollos, Peter, and even Christ. In creating these divisions, they were valuing their favorite leader above unity in christ.

Paul said the one essential that should unify the church is preaching the good news. That should be our united goal as well. __Marvin Williams
_____________________________________________________________

`````````````````````Lord, bless our congregation,````````````````
``````````````````````We humbly ask of Thee,```````````````````
`````````````````````That we may walk together`````````````````
````````````````````In perfect unity. __Fennema`````````````````
_____________________________________________________________

A united church is a strong church.

*************Today's Bible Reading __ 1 Corinthians 1:10-17********

10 Now I plead with you,brethren,
by the name of
our Lord Jesus Christ, that
you all speak the same
thing, and that there be no
divisions among you, but
that you be perfectly joined
together in the same mind
and in the same judgment.

11 For it has been declared
to me concerning you, my
brethren, by those of
Chloe's household, that
there are contentions among
you. 12 Now I say this, that
each of you says, "I am of
Paul," or "I am of Apollos,"
or "I am of Cephas," or "I
am of Christ." 13 Is Christ
divided? Was Paul crucified
for you? Or were you
baptized in the name of
Paul?

14 I thank God that I
baptized none of you except
Crispus and Gaius, 15 lest
anyone should say that I
had baptized in my own
name. 16 Yes, I also baptized
the household of Stephanas.
Besides, I do not know
whether I baptized any
other. 17 For Christ did not
send me to baptize, but to
preach the gospel, not with
wisdom of words, lest the
cross of Christ should be
made of no effect.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

The Corinthian believers were divided because of favoritism toward
different leaders--"I am of Paul," or "I am of Apollos," or "I am
of Cephas," or "I am of christ." Party spirit within the christian
church shows immaturity. This is why Paul said he had to speak to
them "as to babes in Christ' (3:1). Favoritism causes alliances which
divide believers. A characteristic of a mature believer is the desire to
maintain spiritual unity. __DENNIS FISHER