NASHVILLE (BP) — This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in a partnership with Lifeway Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, Lifeway publishes Sunday School curricula and additional resources for all age groups.
This week’s Bible study is adapted from The Gospel Project curriculum.
Bible Passage: 1 Corinthians 1
Discussion Questions:
- How does disunity threaten the growth of a church?
- What happens when we rely on human wisdom instead of God’s wisdom found in the Gospel?
- Why is it sometimes difficult to celebrate the differences within the body?
Food for Thought:
Divisiveness has always been part of the human character. We are all unique and have our own thoughts, opinions and preferences, which can lead to intolerance of others and division. This is true of the world, but this is also true of those in the church.
The world’s ways and wisdom easily filter into the church. Instead, the ways and wisdom of believers should come from Scripture.
In Paul’s first letter to the church in Corinth, he tried to address these issues by giving them the strategy of focusing on Christ. When those in the church preferred a particular leader, Paul reminded them that Christ was their ultimate leader. Perhaps they preferred a particular teaching style. Paul reminded them he didn’t try to speak with “eloquent wisdom” (1 Corinthians 1:17) because the cross of Christ was sufficient.
Paul reminded the church at Corinth not to rely on man’s wisdom but instead on Christ’s wisdom alone, “because God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength” (I Corinthians 1:25).
When Christ is the center and focus of everyone’s thoughts and purposes, unity is achieved. When we are all focused on Him, our other opinions and preferences fall to the wayside as periphery thoughts.
God desires that we are one in Him, as our trinitarian God is one. We are to celebrate the diversity of God’s people, acknowledging God made us unique individuals. For as the body of Christ, the church, we are all unified in humble submission under one head, Christ alone.
The Gospel Project
The Gospel Project is a chronological, Christ-centered study for kids, students and adults. The Bible is not a collection of stories. It is one story of God’s plan to rescue His people from sin and death. It is the story of redemption, the gospel message of Jesus Christ. More information can be found at Lifeway.com/gospelproject.
