United goal

I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you.     — 1 Corinthians 1:40

The spotted owl has been disappearing in the US. Originally it was believed that old growth logging was its greatest threat. But research shows that one of the owl’s relatives may be the problem. For the past 15 years, the barred owl has been rapidly migrating westward. Barred owls, which used to live exclusively east of the Mississippi, compete for the same food as spotted owls but are more aggressive and adaptable.

In a similar way, our greatest spiritual conflict often comes not from outside the church, but from other Christians. This was happening in the church of Corinth, and Paul took some time to address the divisive spirit that had grown in its congregation. This spirit threatened the unity of the church. Paul, with a pastoral nudge, encouraged the Corinthians to agree on the essentials and not be divided over the nonessentials. People were quarreling because they were aligning themselves with different Christian leaders — Paul, Apollos, Peter, and even Christ. In creating these divisions, they were valuing their leader above unity in Christ.

Paul said the one essential that should unify the church is preaching the good news. That should be our united goal as well.      — Marvin Williams

Lord, bless our congregation,

We humbly ask of Thee,

That we may walk together

In perfect unity. — Fennema

READ: 1 Cor. 1:10-17

A united church is a strong church.

The Bible in one year:

• Deuteronomy 17-19

• Mark 13:1-20