CHRIST AS OUR SOLE FOCUS
AUGUST 14, 2025
TEXT: 1 CORINTHIANS 1:11-13
KEY VERSE: Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
Today’s topic addresses a disturbing trend in the house of God. From our given text, a full reading of the entire chapter reveals that the Corinthian church was one of the most gifted of all the churches encountered by the Apostle Paul.
However, they battled with diverse loyalties to various individuals in the fold. Some were loyal to Paul (an Apostle with authority), some to Cephas (Apostle Peter) while some cleaved to Apollos (a very eloquent speaker). This did not go down well with Apostle Paul, not because of his desire to make them love him, but because it was apparent that they were getting confused and losing the focus that ought to be on Jesus Christ. Paul had a tough time trying to call them back. He urged them to put aside unnecessary contentions and fragmentation as the church is Christ-based, rather than individual-based.
Today, it is not uncommon to see many Christians getting carried away by love for their religious leaders, while almost forgetting the place of Christ as the overall head of the church. You find scattered loyalties in most churches. Some will say: “I am for Pastor A. He is a good teacher of the word”. Another says, “I am for Prophet B. He sees visions and gives me solutions to my problems”. Another says, “I am for Pastor C. He gives food items to the poor every Sunday”. Can we see the great lack of focus that has continued to bedevil the church, almost unchecked and uncontrolled? Instead of the Corinthian church harnessing the diverse personality traits of Apostle Paul, Peter and Apollos, they were cleaving to each of them individually, thereby stirring up the waters of rebellion and lukewarmness in the church. When a church is not united, it will be difficult for God to move in such a gathering. This must have prompted the household of Chloe to report the matter to Apostle Paul.
DIVISION: Jesus Christ remains the same yesterday, today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8). He is one. There is no division in him. Therefore, there should be no division in the body of Christ.
CRUCIFICATION: Only Jesus Christ came to earth to die on the cross of Calvary for the remission of our sins. No human being died for us. Even the spiritual leaders are themselves beneficiaries of God’s gift of His Son to humanity, as Paul inferred in his strongly-worded letter to the Corinthians.
Baptism: Apostle Paul reminded the Corinthians that believers are baptized into only one baptism, which is that of Christ. No believer is baptized in the name of man. What the Apostle was trying to emphasise was the fact that leaders are mouthpieces of Jesus Christ here on earth. However, the focus of the church must be on the owner of the church (Jesus Christ) at all material times.
TO BE CONTINUED ON SUNDAY
SEARCHLIGHT:
Christ is the centre focus of our worship. He is our mediator. Leaders are only there to ensure our ways are right with him and to guide us in areas where we may lack sufficient knowledge. The church should not be an arena of division and divided loyalty to different leaders and their diverse gifts.
BIBLE READING:
Isaiah 10-12, Matthew 7
PRAYERS:
O Lord, help me to be unwavering in my worship and loyalty to you, in the Mighty name of Jesus Christ.
PASTOR MICHAEL OMOLE
