Broken Unity & Lacking Power

Devotional

Day 1: Unity in Christ, Not in Personality

The Apostle Paul pleaded with the early church in Corinth to speak the same thing and to be perfectly joined together in mind and judgment. He observed that divisions were arising, with people identifying with different leaders rather than solely with Christ. This devotional encourages us to examine our own allegiances, ensuring our focus remains on Christ and not on human personalities, which can fragment the body of believers. True unity is found in Him, not in the charisma or eloquence of any individual. [45:56]

1 Corinthians 1:10 (ESV)
"I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment."

Reflection: In what ways do you find yourself aligning more with a particular leader or teaching style within the church, rather than with the overarching message of Christ?

Day 2: The Power of the Cross Over Human Wisdom

Paul declared that he was sent not to preach with eloquent words of human wisdom, but with the demonstration of the Spirit and power, so that faith would rest in God, not in human cleverness. This passage reminds us that true spiritual impact comes not from persuasive rhetoric or intellectual arguments, but from the transformative power of the gospel. When impressive speech or style overshadows the message of the cross, we risk diminishing its effectiveness and placing our trust in the wrong source. [01:03:10]

1 Corinthians 2:4-5 (ESV)
"And my speech and my proclamation were not with eloquent, persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God."

Reflection: Where have you recently observed the "power of God" at work in your life or in the lives of others, and how did it differ from what human wisdom might have predicted?

Day 3: Rejecting Personality-Driven Churches

A church built around a personality, rather than the foundation of Jesus Christ, is a problem that divides the body of Christ. This can happen unintentionally, but when personality supersedes God's Word or becomes the main attraction, the true purpose of the church is missed. This devotional calls us to ensure our focus is squarely on Christ, recognizing that He alone is the foundation upon which we are built, and that any emphasis on individuals must serve to point back to Him. [51:09]

1 Corinthians 3:11 (ESV)
"For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ."

Reflection: Consider a time when you were particularly drawn to a church or a leader. How can you discern if that attraction was primarily based on personality rather than a genuine connection to Christ and His teachings?

Day 4: The Wisdom of Man Leads to Perishing

The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, meaning those who are rejecting God's way. This devotional highlights that our choices reveal the path we are walking. When personal advancement or the appearance of success outweighs truth, we begin to rely on human wisdom that does not produce lasting life. It is a call to choose the wisdom of God, embodied in the cross, over the fleeting insights of the world. [01:05:41]

1 Corinthians 1:18 (ESV)
"For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."

Reflection: Reflect on a recent decision where you felt a tension between following a culturally accepted path and adhering to a biblical principle. Which path did you choose, and what was the outcome?

Day 5: Faithfulness Over Performance

God judges based on faithfulness, not on performance. The Corinthian church began to evaluate leaders on their ability to speak and captivate an audience, missing how God truly assesses. This devotional encourages us to shift our focus from outward appearances and achievements to the inner quality of faithfulness. True spiritual value lies not in impressing others, but in remaining steadfast and obedient to God's calling, regardless of recognition or applause. [55:29]

1 Samuel 16:7 (ESV)
"But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.'"

Reflection: In what area of your life are you currently feeling pressure to perform or impress, and how might you intentionally shift your focus to faithfulness instead?

Sermon Summary

A call to sober worship and honest self-examination frames a study through 1 Corinthians that exposes how cultural mimicry and celebrity-driven allegiance fracture the church and mute God’s power. Opening with psalmic praise and a reminder that God dwells within his people, the congregation is urged to honor God in giving and in heartfelt worship. The historical context of Corinth—wealth, rhetorical culture, and moral confusion—serves as the backdrop for Paul’s rebuke: factions formed around leaders instead of Christ. Such personality-driven devotion elevates eloquence above faithfulness and shifts attention from the cross to the vessel, producing division and spiritual stagnation.

Paul’s instruction that believers “speak the same thing” is unpacked as a demand for unity rooted in Christ crucified, not in performance or pulpit charisma. Eloquent speech that entertains or impresses risks substituting human wisdom for the Spirit’s work; true transformation flows from the cross, which appears foolish to those choosing a path away from God but is the very power of salvation for those yielded to Christ. The pastor stresses that Paul’s harsh language is purposeful: choices made in the present reveal whether a person is perishing or being saved.

Practical applications flow from this diagnosis. Churches and individuals are encouraged to re-center on Scripture and the Spirit rather than on ministry brands, rhetorical prowess, or outward success. Faithfulness is measured by what possesses a person (Christ), not by what a person possesses (status, platform). The service closes with communion, a solemn invitation to self-examination, repentance, and remembrance of Christ’s costly atonement—an act that both rebukes complacency and restores those who return in humility. The overall thrust is corrective but pastoral: the aim is to protect the flock, recover unity, and see God’s power restored when Christ, not celebrity or culture, is declared and followed.

Key Takeaways

1. Personality-driven leadership divides the church When allegiance migrates from Christ to a leader, the body fragments into competing factions and loses corporate discernment. A church measured by attendance, charisma, or platform will often sacrifice depth for spectacle and allows sin to be cloaked by popularity. True unity requires centering identity and allegiance on the crucified Christ rather than on gifted vessels. [50:46]
2. Human wisdom does not give life Philosophical cleverness and rhetorical skill cannot produce lasting spiritual renewal because they appeal to the mind while bypassing the heart’s need for repentance. The wisdom admired by culture often validates moral compromise and reframes sin as preference. Life is produced when Scripture and Spirit call people to renounce their autonomy and receive God’s truth. [65:41]
3. The cross is God’s living power The gospel that looks like folly to the self-sufficient is the instrument of God’s saving work for those who bow to it; transformation is not stylistic but supernatural. Where preaching substitutes style for the Spirit, the cross is reduced to sentiment; where the cross is proclaimed in its offense and grace, souls are changed. Faith trusts the scandal of the cross over cultural applause. [66:18]
4. Pause and examine before communion Approaching the Lord’s table is not ritual but reckoning: believers must honestly inventory allegiance, sin, and repentance. Communion calls for self-scrutiny that leads to confession, restored fellowship, and renewed dependence on Christ’s atonement. The act both humbles the proud and confirms the returned. [78:19]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:24] - Psalm reading and praise
[03:22] - Opening prayer
[19:37] - Offering and stewardship reminder
[35:27] - Footsteps of Paul trip announcement
[37:47] - Study introduced: Broken unity, lacking power
[38:11] - Prayer for understanding the text
[45:56] - Reading 1 Corinthians 1:10 (contentions)
[50:46] - Problem: Personality-driven churches
[63:10] - Eloquence versus God’s power
[65:41] - The cross: foolishness and power
[78:19] - Communion: examine and remember
[88:04] - Closing prayer and pastoral reflection
[92:34] - Benediction and dismissal

Bible Study Guide

Here is a Bible study guide based on the sermon summary:

Bible Reading

1 Corinthians 1:10-18 (ESV)
> 10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people, my brothers, that there are quarrels among you. 12 What I mean is that each of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow 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 so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (I did also baptize the household of Stephanus. Besides that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
>
> 18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Observation questions

What specific instruction does Paul give to the believers in Corinth regarding their speech and unity? [45:12]
What were the "contentions" or quarrels that had been reported to Paul among the believers? [45:56]
Paul states that "the cross of Christ should be made of no effect" if he preached with "words of eloquent wisdom." What does this suggest about the nature of the gospel message? [46:41]
According to verse 18, how is the message of the cross perceived by two different groups of people? [01:05:41]

Interpretation questions

The sermon highlighted that the city of Corinth was known for its wealth, luxury, and immorality, leading to phrases like "lives like a Corinthian" and "speaks like a Corinthian." [43:25] How might the cultural values of Corinth have influenced the divisions within the church?
Paul's rebuke of the Corinthians for dividing into factions based on leaders (Paul, Apollos, Cephas) is presented as a core issue. [45:56] How does this tendency to elevate human leaders over Christ manifest in churches today?
The sermon emphasized that "personality-driven churches are to be rejected because they divide the body of Christ." [50:46] What is the difference between appreciating a leader's gifting and making that leader the primary focus of allegiance?
The sermon contrasted "eloquence versus God’s power" [01:03:10] and stated that "impressive speech replaces dependence upon God." [01:03:35] How can the pursuit of eloquent speech or impressive ministry styles inadvertently detract from the power of God?

Application questions

The sermon pointed out that "personality-driven leadership divides the church." [50:46] When you think about your allegiance within the church, is it primarily focused on Christ, or do you find yourself more drawn to a particular leader or ministry style?
We are called to "speak the same thing" and be "united in the same mind and in the same judgment," rooted in Christ crucified, not in performance or pulpit charisma. [45:12] In what areas of your life or within your small group do you need to seek greater unity and agreement in Christ?
The sermon warned that "human wisdom does not give life" and that "eloquent speech that entertains or impresses risks substituting human wisdom for the Spirit’s work." [01:05:41] How can you intentionally re-center your focus on Scripture and the Spirit rather than on ministry brands or rhetorical prowess?
It was stressed that "faithfulness is measured by what possesses a person (Christ), not by what a person possesses (status, platform)." [01:09:19] How can you practically ensure that your faithfulness is measured by your possession by Christ, rather than by external markers of success or status?
The message of the cross is described as "foolishness to those who are perishing" but "the power of God" to those being saved. [01:05:41] In what ways can you more actively trust the "scandal of the cross" over cultural applause or personal pride?
Communion is presented as a "solemn invitation to self-examination, repentance, and remembrance of Christ’s costly atonement." [01:18:19] As you approach the Lord's Table, what specific areas of your allegiance, sin, or repentance do you need to honestly inventory?

Sermon Clips

``But I thank you that as we run to you, as we confess our sins, that you are faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I thank you that there there's nothing as Roman eight tells us that there's nothing that can separate us from your love. That your arms are wide open to us, that there is no condemnation to those that are found within you. [01:28:04] (27 seconds) #NothingCanSeparateUs

But I hope that you will notice that they stood head and shoulders, the wisdom that God gave to Paul to speak to this church. It wasn't designed to be eloquent and crowd pleasing. They were words of truth that confront and convert sinners. Why? Because while it is true that entertainment within our churches can attract people, it's only the power of the gospel that has the ability to transform our lives. [01:17:21] (33 seconds) #GospelOverEntertainment

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Broken Unity & Lacking Power | 1 Corinthians