Unity in Christ: Embracing Diversity for True Community

Devotional

Day 1: United in Christ, Not Divided by Preferences

True unity in the church is not about everyone thinking or acting exactly alike, but about being united in Christ above all else. The church in Corinth, much like our own culture, was tempted to divide over personalities, preferences, and status, but Paul calls believers to be perfectly united in mind and thought—not by erasing differences, but by centering their identity on Jesus. When we put Christ first, we are able to lay down our egos, listen to one another, and sacrifice for the sake of the gospel, building a community that reflects the love and unity of God. [07:40]

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: Is there a preference, opinion, or personality in the church that you have allowed to become more important than your unity in Christ? What would it look like to lay that down today for the sake of the gospel?

Day 2: Beware of Cliques and Status-Seeking

The temptation to form cliques or elevate certain leaders above others is as old as the church itself, but it leads to division and a distorted view of Christ. When we attach our identity to a favorite preacher, movement, or style, we risk missing the fullness of Jesus and the richness of the body of Christ. No human leader can save, forgive, or deliver us—only Jesus can. Our baptism and belonging are in Christ, not in any preacher’s club or theological tribe. [16:17]

1 Corinthians 1:11-13 (ESV)
"For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. What I mean is that each one of you says, 'I follow Paul,' or 'I follow Apollos,' or 'I follow Cephas,' or 'I follow Christ.' Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?"

Reflection: Have you ever found yourself looking down on others in the church because of their preferences or affiliations? How can you intentionally build bridges with someone different from you this week?

Day 3: The Cross Is Our Only Boast

The cure for division is not better branding or stronger personalities, but the message of the cross. At the cross, Jesus bore the punishment for our pride, tribalism, and divisions, and in exchange gave us his righteousness, his Spirit, and his family. The gospel does not just save individuals; it creates a new community where all are reconciled to God and to one another. At the foot of the cross, there are no celebrities or nobodies—only forgiven sinners made family. [25:23]

1 Corinthians 1:17-18 (ESV)
"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. 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: What pride, preference, or division do you need to lay down at the cross today so that you can experience deeper unity with your church family?

Day 4: Unity Demands Shared Lives

True unity in the church is not accidental; it is built through intentional sacrifice, humility, and shared life. We are called to turn away from isolation and cultural defaults that divide us, and instead turn toward Christ and one another in real, flesh-and-blood community. This means listening well, sharing meals, bearing burdens, and practicing forgiveness—making the gospel real and visible in our relationships. [27:17]

Acts 2:46-47 (ESV)
"And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved."

Reflection: Who in your church family could you reach out to this week for a meal, a conversation, or an act of service to strengthen the bonds of unity?

Day 5: Our Unity Is the Brightest Message

When the church is truly one, united in Christ and not divided by status or preference, it becomes the loudest and brightest message to the world. Jesus prayed that his followers would be one, so that the world would know him. Our unity is not just for our own sake, but for the sake of the gospel’s witness. Let us be a people who lay down our preferences, listen deeply, and love sacrificially, so that our unity displays the power of the gospel to a watching world. [32:53]

John 17:20-23 (ESV)
"I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me."

Reflection: What is one practical way you can contribute to the unity of your church this week, so that others might see the love and power of Christ through your community?

Sermon Summary

Today, we gathered to honor the vital role of grandparents, recognizing the spiritual legacy they leave for future generations. But even more, we turned our attention to what it means to be the church—a people united not by status, personality, or preference, but by Christ himself. Drawing from 1 Corinthians, we explored the city of Corinth, a place much like our own culture: obsessed with status, diversity, and personal achievement. The church in Corinth, much like churches today, struggled as these cultural instincts crept into their community, leading to division and cliques.

Paul’s words to the Corinthians are a call to unity, not uniformity. The basis of our unity is not found in our favorite preachers, worship styles, or theological camps, but in the name and person of Jesus Christ. We are reminded that no human leader, no matter how gifted, can offer what only Christ can: forgiveness, new life, and true community. When we attach our identity to personalities or preferences, we settle for crumbs instead of the feast Christ offers.

Unity in the church does not mean we all think or look the same. God designed his church to be diverse, with different backgrounds and perspectives. The challenge is to wade through the discomfort of our differences, to listen, forgive, and put Christ first. True unity is forged not by accident, but by intentional sacrifice—laying down our preferences, pride, and time for the sake of others and the glory of Jesus.

At the cross, all divisions are leveled. There are no celebrities or nobodies—only forgiven sinners made family by Christ’s sacrifice. The cross reconciles us to God and to one another, creating a new community where love, forgiveness, and reconciliation are lived out. This unity is not just a theological idea; it is made real in the flesh-and-blood relationships of the local church. As we share life together, the gospel becomes tangible, and our unity becomes the loudest testimony to the world of Christ’s power and love.

Key Takeaways

1. Unity in Christ is not about uniformity, but about being centered on Jesus above all else. Our differences in background, thought, and expression are not obstacles to overcome, but opportunities to display the multifaceted beauty of the gospel. True unity is forged when we lay aside our secondary allegiances and find our primary identity in Christ alone. [07:15]
2. The temptation to attach ourselves to personalities, movements, or preferences is as old as the church itself. When we elevate human leaders or styles above Christ, we risk distorting our view of him and fragmenting the body. No single teacher or tradition can capture the fullness of Christ; we need the whole body, with its diverse gifts and perspectives, to know him more deeply. [16:17]
3. The cross of Christ is the great equalizer. At the foot of the cross, all status, pride, and tribalism are stripped away. We are reminded that our worth and belonging come not from our affiliations, but from being forgiven and made family by Jesus’ sacrifice. This shared identity is the foundation for real, lasting unity. [25:23]
4. Real community requires intentional sacrifice. Unity is not built by accident or convenience, but by choosing to lay down our preferences, listen to those different from us, and share life together. The gospel calls us to move beyond surface-level connection and into deep, sacrificial love that reflects Christ’s own love for us. [30:40]
5. The unity of the church is one of the most powerful witnesses to the world. When we are truly one—across generations, cultures, and preferences—we display the reconciling power of the gospel. This unity is not just for our own benefit, but so that the world might see and believe in the love and lordship of Jesus. [32:53]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:00] - Honoring Grandparents and Spiritual Legacy
[02:15] - Corinth: A City Obsessed with Status
[03:17] - Cultural Instincts in the Church
[05:50] - Paul’s Call to Unity
[07:15] - The Basis of Christian Unity
[09:40] - Personality, Movements, and Division
[11:10] - United in Mind and Thought
[12:29] - Diversity and Tension in the Church
[14:08] - The Work of Unity: Listening and Sacrifice
[15:27] - Cliques and the Danger of Status
[16:17] - Is Christ Divided?
[19:17] - Every Member Ministry
[21:05] - The Limits of Human Leaders
[22:55] - Identity in Christ, Not in Tribes
[25:23] - The Cross: Level Ground for All
[26:34] - Community Life and Shared Gospel
[27:17] - Vision for a Christ-Centered Community
[30:04] - Laying Down Preferences for Unity
[31:33] - Practicing Unity at the Lord’s Table
[32:53] - The Loudest Message: Our Unity
[33:37] - Prayer for Unity and Closing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

1 Corinthians 1:10-17 (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. For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 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.

Observation Questions

According to Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:10, what is the basis for his appeal to unity among the believers?
What specific problems does Paul mention that were causing division in the Corinthian church? ([15:27])
In the sermon, what modern examples were given of how Christians today can form cliques or divisions based on personalities or preferences? ([09:40])
What does Paul say about the role of human leaders compared to the role of Christ in the church? ([21:05])

Interpretation Questions

Why does Paul emphasize that unity is found “in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” rather than in any human leader or tradition? ([07:15])
What dangers arise when Christians attach their identity to a particular preacher, movement, or worship style instead of to Christ? ([16:17])
How does the cross of Christ “level the ground” for all believers, and why is this important for church unity? ([25:23])
The sermon mentions that unity is not the same as uniformity. What does it look like for a church to be united but not uniform? ([12:29])

Application Questions

The sermon challenged us to lay down our preferences for the sake of unity. What is one personal preference (music style, ministry focus, etc.) that you find hard to let go of? How might God be calling you to lay it down for the sake of others in the church? ([30:04])
Have you ever found yourself gravitating toward a certain preacher, teacher, or style and looking down on others who prefer something different? How can you guard your heart against this kind of division? ([10:24])
The message said, “Real community requires intentional sacrifice.” What is one practical way you can intentionally build relationships with someone in the church who is different from you—maybe from another generation, background, or perspective? ([30:40])
The cross reconciles us to God and to each other. Is there someone in the church you need to forgive or seek forgiveness from in order to pursue unity? What step could you take this week? ([25:23])
The sermon described how the unity of the church is a powerful witness to the world. What is one way our group or church could display this unity more clearly to those outside the church? ([32:53])
The pastor encouraged us not to settle for “crumbs” by attaching our identity to personalities or preferences. What does it look like for you to “feast” on Christ instead? ([07:15])
Think about a time when you felt left out or different in a church setting. How did others respond to you? How can you help make sure no one feels like an outsider in our church family? ([12:29])

Sermon Clips

What is the basis of the unity of the church? Well, it's right here in Paul's thesis statement. He says, I appeal to you—how? In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. That is the basis of your, our relationship with Christ. That is the unifying factor of the church. There is no name big enough, no other name big enough, no other name great enough, no other name that's glorious enough and powerful enough to gather everyone together. No way. [00:07:46] (34 seconds) #OneNameOneChurch

A healthy church has to wade through the uncomfortable cultural clashes. That's what we were attempting to do on those nights, to be intentional about it. Because there's a feast. Remember, there's a banquet feast. And in Christ, we all share one table. Different people, different backgrounds, but one meal, one spirit. We're to be united. [00:13:51] (25 seconds) #OneTableOneSpirit

If you limit yourself to one person and feed only on them, you're getting a distorted view of Christ, including this voice. We say we believe in every member ministry. Maybe you've heard that. Every member ministry. And what that says to us is this, that many in this family make contributions that help us in our understanding of Christ. It takes a body. [00:19:17] (30 seconds) #BodyOfChristTogether

Paul's point is that baptism unites us into Christ, not into the preacher's club. That's not how it works. Symbols can get distorted into badges. And we'll take the teachings, you know, of a certain person or the style of worship or a theological perspective, and we make it an ID badge. This is common human psychology. This is what we do. And we can easily ground ourselves in identity, affiliations, tribes, and labels instead of Christ. [00:22:30] (35 seconds) #BaptismUnitesNotLabels

Think about what this means. Think about that at the foot of the cross, there are no celebrities. You don't take that with you into heaven. There are no nobodies. You have value. You have worth. There's no one superior. There's no one excluded. Hey, just forgiven sinners like me, like you, who are gathered around the same Savior. And the gospel does this. It puts us all on level ground together, each of us. [00:25:29] (36 seconds) #ForgivenForgive

Because forgiven people forgive. And loved people love. And reconciled people reconcile. And that's why Paul keeps pulling us back to the cross. Because it humbles the proud. It heals the broken. It binds us together. [00:26:12] (22 seconds) #TurnBackToChrist

Paul does not just diagnose division—read the scriptures—he does not just give you a diagnosis. He points us to the cross, as we've said, and the cross always demands that we lay something down. That's the cross. We lay down our lives. We lay down our egos. We lay down our pride. [00:29:45] (23 seconds) #FeastNotCrumbs

Unity will not be built by accident. This won't just happen. We have to be intentional. It's built by sacrifice. And surely if the Son of God laid down his life for us, that we would be one, we can't cling to our preferences. [00:31:00] (17 seconds) #ChristUnitesUsAll

Remember that we are one body. And because of Christ's broken body and his shed blood, we don't settle for the crumbs. Because we have Jesus Christ himself. The feast of Christ. [00:31:41] (15 seconds)

Christ is not divided. He is not divided, so neither should we be. His people should not be divided. The cross of Jesus Christ, the highest, it makes us one. We're to be united. And then our unity, if we could truly be one, if we could come together, this will be the loudest message, the loudest sermon, the brightest message that the world could ever hear. [00:32:20] (33 seconds)

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