The Gospel is greater than the Messenger | 1 Corinthians 1:10-17

Unity in the church isn't about everyone thinking exactly alike or tolerating everything—it's about being aligned around the cross of Jesus Christ. In 1 Corinthians 1:10-17, we encounter a church torn apart by factionalism, where believers were dividing into camps based on which leader they preferred. Some followed Paul, others Apollos, still others Peter, and some even used Christ's name to mask their spiritual pride. This ancient problem mirrors our modern struggle with tribalism, where we align ourselves with personalities, styles, and preferences rather than with the truth of God's Word. The profound lesson here is that theological unity means holding certain truths with a closed fist—the authority of Scripture, the person of Christ, salvation by grace—while holding other matters with an open hand. When we elevate human leaders to celebrity status or fight over preferences that have no bearing on eternity, we empty the cross of its power. We're called to be a people unimpressed by human eloquence and totally captivated by Jesus. True unity requires us to be in relationship with one another, carrying each other's burdens, and sacrificing our desires for the health of the body. The question we must constantly ask ourselves is: does this conflict obscure the cross of Jesus Christ? Because when we're all aligned with God's Word, we're automatically aligned with each other.