THIRD QUARTER 2026
SABBATH SCHOOL INSIGHT #3
JULY 18, 2026
"UNITY IN CHRIST".

 

Now I plead with you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10, ESV).

Our Sabbath school lesson this week focuses on problems within the church of Corinth that were causing disunity and the solution to the church’s divisiveness.

The author of the Teacher’s Study Guide points out that one of the greatest threats to unity is pride.  Pride is a twin of envy, and envy leads to a host of sins including malicious gossiping, accusing, boasting, self-justification, and spiritual blindness.  The two main themes in the lesson relating to unity were summarized as follows:

“1. The threat of Personality Cults.  In 1 Corinthians, Paul addresses how believers were dividing themselves based on loyalty to different leaders—forming personality cults around Paul, Apollos, and Cephas (Peter).  These factions turned gifted leadership into a source of division, distracting the church from its true foundation: Christ.

“2.  The power of Christlike Servanthood.  In contrast, Philippians 2:1-8 offers the antidote:  Christlike humility.  Paul urges believers to lay down selfish ambition and look not to their own interests, but to the interest of others.  He points to Jesus, who, though equal with the Father, took the form of a servant, humbled Himself, and became obedient to death.  That is the true model of unity: sacrificial love.” —Teacher’s Edition Adult Bible Study Guide 3Q 2026, p. 39.

Ellen White addresses both of these lesson themes in The Acts of the Apostles, chapter 26.

“It had been Paul’s work to instruct the Corinthian converts in the rudiments, the very alphabet, of the Christian faith.  He had been obliged to instruct them as those who were ignorant of the operations of divine power upon the heart.  At that time they were unable to comprehend the mysteries of salvation; for ‘the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned’ (2 Cor. 2:14).  Paul had endeavored to sow the seed, which others must water.”—Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, pp. 271-272.

Apollos watered the seed which Paul had planted.  “The success that attended Apollos in preaching the gospel led some of the believers to exalt his labors above those of Paul.  This comparison of man with man brought into the church a party spirit that threatened to hinder greatly the progress of the gospel” —Ibid, p. 270.

As was mentioned in our first two lessons, after Pauls’s experience in Athens He determined to preach “only Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:2).  This was the burden of His message.  It must be ours as well.  “Never should a sermon be preached, or Bible instruction in any line be given, without pointing the hearers to ‘the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world’ (John 1:29) … Keep before the people the cross of Calvary.”—E. G. White, Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 6, p. 54. 

While keeping the story of Jesus central, the Holy Spirit helps the gospel worker discern the best approach for each individual and audience.  Jesus shared gospel truths with both Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman, yet He did so with a tender regard for their diverse backgrounds and the needs of their individual minds and hearts.

“When the apostle took up his work in Corinth, he realized that he must introduce most carefully the great truths he wished to teach.  He knew that among his hearers would be proud believers in human theories and exponents of false systems of worship, who were grouping with blind eyes, hoping to find in the book of nature theories that would contradict the reality of the spiritual and immortal life as revealed in the Scriptures.  He also knew that critics would endeavor to controvert the Christian interpretation of the revealed word, and that skeptics would treat the gospel of Christ with scoffing and derision.

“As he endeavored to lead souls to the foot of the cross, Paul did not venture to rebuke, directly, those who were licentious, or to show how heinous was their sin in the sight of a holy God.  Rather he set before them the true object of life and tried to impress upon their minds the lessons of the divine Teacher, which, if received, would lift them from worldliness and sin to purity and righteousness.  He dwelt especially upon practical godliness and holiness to which those must attain who shall be accounted worthy of a place in God’s kingdom.  He longed to see the light of the gospel of Christ piercing the darkness of their minds, that they might see how offensive in the sight of God were their immoral practices.  Therefore the burden of his teaching among them was Christ and Him crucified.  He sought to show them that their most earnest study and their greatest joy must be the wonderful truth of salvation through repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

“The philosopher turns aside from the light of salvation, because it puts his proud theories to shame; the worldling refuses to receive it, because it would separate him from his earthly idols. Paul saw that the character of Christ must be understood before men could love Him or view the cross with the eye of faith. Here must begin that study which shall be the science and the song of the redeemed through all eternity. In the light of the cross alone can the true value of the human soul be estimated.

 

“The refining influence of the grace of God changes the natural disposition of man.  Heaven would not be desirable to the carnal-minded; their natural, unsanctified hearts would feel no attraction toward that pure and holy place, and if it were possible for them to enter, they would find there nothing congenial.  The propensities that control the natural heart must be subdued by the grace of Christ before fallen man is fitted to enter heaven and enjoy the society of the pure, holy angels.  When man dies to sin and is quickened to new life in Christ, divine love fills his heart; his understanding is sanctified; he drinks from an inexhaustible fountain of joy and knowledge, and the light of an eternal day shines upon his path, for with him continually is the Light of life.

 

“Paul had sought to impress upon the minds of his Corinthian brethren the fact that he and the ministers associated with him were but men commissioned by God to teach the truth, that they were all engaged in the same work, and that they were alike dependent upon God for success in their labors.  The discussion that had arisen in the church regarding the relative merits of different ministers was not in the order of God, but was the result of cherishing the attributes of the natural heart.  ‘While one says, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?  Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?  I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.  So then neither is he who plants anything, neither he who waters; but God gives the increase’ (1 Corinthians 3:4-7).

 

“It was Paul who had first preached the gospel in Corinth, and who had organized the church there.  This was the work that the Lord had assigned him.  Later, by God’s direction, other workers were brought in, to stand in their lot and place.  The seed sown must be watered, and this Apollos was to do.  He followed Paul in his work, to give further instruction, and to help the seed sown to develop.  He won his way to the hearts of the people, but it was God who gave the increase.  It is not human but divine power that works transformation of character.  Those who plant and those who water do not cause the growth of the seed they work under God, as His appointed agencies, co-operating with Him in His work.  To the Master Worker belongs the honor and glory that comes with success.”—Ellen G. White, The Acts of the Apostles, pp. 272-274.

The members of the church in Corinth were infants in Christ.  They needed a fuller understanding and appreciation of the gospel.  They needed humble hearts to experientially embrace the cross of Christ.  This would bring about unity.

The Bible is a great lesson book from which we learn that human nature has not changed through the centuries.  The Corinthian church’s divisiveness and need to be united in Christ is our problem and need as well.  We too have a propensity to praise and/or criticize leaders in our church.  Or perhaps we have at times trusted too implicitly.  We need discernment to recognize teaching and preaching that contradicts the Bible.  “To the law and to the testimony: If they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:20, KJV). 

As sinful humans we are ever prone to look to man; to seek the praise and approval of the creature rather than worshipping our Creator God.

Certainly it is appropriate to express appreciation to leaders who sacrificially serve the cause of Christ.  Genuine words and thoughtful acts of appreciation cheer and encourage both the receiver and giver.  However, the Bible and Ellen White strongly speak against flattering and praising ministers, teachers, and leaders (or anyone for that matter).  God’s workers are merely His instruments.  We possess no gift or talent but that has been given to us by the Creator.  Talents are to be used and improved upon for God’s glory.  We are to praise and uplift our Savior.  

We live in an age where we have ready access to a myriad of online sermons, articles, blogs, audio books, movies, seminars and much more.  Rightly used, this ready access certainly can bring us inspirational blessings, however, even the best, most inspiring spoken or written communications should not replace one’s own personal Bible study and prayer life.  What tremendous blessings and seasons of refreshing come to us when the Holy Spirit brings to light hidden treasure from God’s word. 

In his farewell address to the Pilgrims, Puritan Pastor John Robinson said, “I charge you before God and His blessed angels to follow me no farther than I have followed Christ.”—Martyn, vol. 5, p. 70, The Great Controversy, pp. 291, 292. 

“The unity of belief in the church is not forced by the church coming together and the majority defining the creed to be beloved.  The church cannot define doctrine, nor make laws for itself or anybody else.  The church of Christ is made up of all who obey the Lord’s commands, not a body to issue commands.  The Head directs; the body obeys.  God speaks; each one must listen to His voice, for faith comes by hearing the Word of God, and no one can give faith to another.  'It is the gift of God.’”—E. J. Waggoner, The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, October 21, 1902, p. 101.

“By partaking of the Spirit of God, conforming to the law of God, man becomes a partaker of the divine nature.  Christ brings His disciples into a living union with Himself and with the Father.  Through the working of the Holy Spirit upon the human mind, man is made complete in Christ Jesus.  Unity with Christ establishes a bond of unity with one another.  This unity is the most convincing proof to the world of the majesty and virtue of Christ, and of His power to take away sin.”—Ellen G. White, Letters and Manuscripts, Vol. 18, number 111, 1903.

We are admonished by God’s grace to “Strive earnestly for unity.  Pray for it, work for it.  It will bring spiritual health, elevation of thought, nobility of character, heavenly-mindedness, enabling you to overcome selfishness and evil surmisings, and to be more than conquerors through Him that loved you and gave Himself for you. Crucify self; esteem others better than yourselves.  Thus you will be brought into oneness with Christ…The world needs to see worked out before it the miracle that binds the hearts of God’s people together in Christian love. —Ellen G. White, Counsels for the Church, pp. 290, 291.

In John chapter 17 Christ prayed, just prior to facing the crucible, that His followers would experience perfect oneness even as He and the Father were one.  May the Cross so transform us that Christ’s body, the church, fully comes into the unity of the faith.  Maranatha!

~ Martha Ruggles