Introduction: Have you seen a divided church? Have you ever entered a church where you could see the division simply by observing where people are sitting? I recall as a young man attending my grandmother’s church in Ironwood, Michigan. It appeared that all of the professionals sat on the left and those whose work did not require a degree sat on the right. While I was in law school, I noticed in the cafeteria that all the black students sat at one table. I thought that was unfortunate, so I sat at that table. Those at the table harassed me. I did not leave, but I never did that again! As a young lawyer, my wife and I attended a church where the black members tended to sit on one side and the white members sat on the other side. After I transferred to another church, I returned to that church and preached a sermon on racial reconciliation. After my sermon, some black friends said to me, “I hope they were listening,” and my white friends confided, “I hope they were listening.” Is there any solution to divisions in the church? Or is that just the natural order of things? Let’s jump into our study and read Paul’s advice on that subject!
I. Answers to Divisions
A. Read 1 Corinthians 1:10. What is Paul’s first step to eliminating division in the church? (Everyone needs to agree that there must not be any division. We need to be united “in the same mind and the same judgment.”)
1. Consider Paul’s goal of being “united in the same mind.” Is that possible?
2. Does being “united in the same mind” require identical opinions on every subject, or is Paul primarily demanding a common allegiance to Christ that rejects factions?
3. Think about one of the most contentious disputes in the Protestant churches in the United States today. Some churches approve homosexual practice to the point that practicing homosexuals may serve as members of the clergy. Are we to be “united in the same mind” on that issue?
4. The United Methodist Church recently decided to toss the “united” part and divide over the issue of homosexual clergy and same-sex marriage. Many congregations left the denomination, and the Global Methodist Church was launched in 2022. In 2024, the United Methodist Church removed its ban on practicing homosexual clergy and penalties related to same-sex weddings. Would this fit Paul’s “same mind” advice? If you think the church embraces obvious sin, do you form a new church with like-minded members?
5. Paul also tells us to be united in the “same judgment.” What do you think that means? (Let’s say that you agree with me that homosexual practice is inconsistent with the teachings of the Bible. We have the same mind. The next question is: “How do we treat homosexuals in our church?” Judgments vary on that point.)
B. Read 1 Corinthians 1:11-12. The bases for division that I raised so far are education, race, and disagreements over sexual practices. What is the basis for the division that Paul addresses? (Cliques in the church based on leadership. Each group has a favored leader.)
C. Read 1 Corinthians 1:13-17. How would you characterize Paul’s approach to this division among church members? (He makes a logical argument against the division. He points out that Jesus was not divided.)
1. Will logical argument and appeals to unity in Jesus, help to eliminate division based on education, race, and sexual orientation?
a. Do you see all three of these areas of division as involving the same underlying issue?
b. In answering the prior question, is pride the common issue?
II. Root Causes of Division
A. Read 1 Corinthians 3:1-3. What does Paul identify first as a root cause for division? (They are spiritually immature—still behaving like people of the flesh—and are not ready for “solid food.”)
1. Is that a root problem creating division in the church today? (I answer, “yes,” because on certain issues some members refuse to accept the plain teachings of the Bible.)
2. What is Paul’s answer to this? He says that he accommodated them “with milk,” and he addressed them as “people of the flesh” and not “spiritual people.”
a. How would we apply Paul’s advice today? (We need to understand that the dividers are immature. We need to understand that they are not listening to the Holy Spirit.)
B. Read 1 Corinthians 3:4-7. When Paul writes that the dividers are “only human,” is he excusing their conduct? (“Excusing,” may be too strong a word. Paul expresses understanding of their actions. This is his diagnosis.)
1. How would you characterize Paul’s response? (He makes a logical argument related to growing plants.)
C. Read Philippians 2:5-8. Who should be the example for all who are prone to division? (Jesus. Paul tells believers that they can have the mind of Jesus if they want.)
D. Read Philippians 2:6-9. What characteristic of Jesus is the cure for division? (Humility.)
1. Let’s see if we can apply this solution to the divisions that I mentioned in the introduction. When professionals sit on one side and those without degrees sit on the other side of the church, is pride the problem? (Yes. I was at a church party and the wife of a physician said of us sitting together, “It is good for us professionals to be together.” I had a very negative reaction to her statement. But this works both ways. In the Ironwood church, the laborers were resentful of the professionals because the professionals were new and were taking over.)
2. Is pride behind a racial divide in church? (Again I answer, “Yes.” After my racial reconciliation sermon, each side of the racial divide was hoping that the other side learned something–apparently not having sufficient humility to think they might learn something.)
3. What about when I sat at a table of black students when I was in law school? (Perhaps it was my pride of opinion that made me think that my sitting with them, because I was white, would help solve what I regarded as a problem. I think pride was behind the black students’ response because they sought to humiliate me based on race.)
4. What about the dispute over homosexual clergy and same-sex marriage? (Tellingly, “pride” is a central theme of homosexual activism. But we all struggle with sin. Heterosexuals cannot be proud that homosexual practice is not their particular sin. All sin must be addressed and rejected. The especially difficult problem arises when people do not want to change their conduct but instead want the church to change its teaching. This is new in my experience)
III. A Solution?
A. Look again at 1 Corinthians 3:1-2 and read Philippians 2:8-11. Does understanding this path from humility to exaltation require Christian maturity? (This is how I understand Paul. Mature Christians understand that Jesus’ path through humiliation led to exaltation. That helps explain why some in the church never leave division behind. We can leave it behind as we mature in the gospel of Jesus. Jesus, although equal with God, chose the path of ultimate humility and was therefore highly exalted.)
1. Paul tried to convince the immature members with logic. Is that the only answer for the immature?
2. What role does the Holy Spirit play in the solution to the problem of immaturity and pride?
B. Friend, will you look at division in a new light? Will you understand it to be a reflection of pride and immaturity, and ask the Holy Spirit to impart to you true Christian humility? Why not ask for that right now?
IV. Next week: Sin in the Church.
Copr. 2026, Bruce N. Cameron, J.D. Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Suggested answers are found within parentheses. If you normally receive this lesson by e-mail, but it is lost one week, you can find it by clicking on this link: http://www.GoBible.org. Pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit as you study.
