Emphasis Preaching Journal

There is a story that preachers like to tell about a church down south where a disagreement in the congregation got out of hand. It escalated into a battle similar to the Hatfields and McCoys. Finally, when everyone realized that reaching an agreement was no longer possible, the church council voted to saw the church in half, right down the middle of the steeple, right down the center aisle, right through the altar and the cross that hung in the chancel. As the story goes, they renamed the churches. One half took the name Left Half Community Church, and the other side took the name Right Half Community Church. But everyone at Right Half always called the neighboring congregation Wrong Half Community Church.

Paul appeals to the brothers and sisters in Corinth to be in agreement by sharing the same mind and purpose. Remember what you are about! Remember who you are! Paul knew that there was dissension in the ranks and he wasn't happy about that. "Let's see now. There were Chloe's people, Paul's people, Apollos' people, and Cephas' people." But Paul says that they shouldn't be anyone's people except Christ's people. Paul was especially incensed at those who called themselves Paul's people.

"I'm glad I didn't baptize any of you!" he rants. But then remembering that maybe he did, Paul adds, "Except for Crispus, Gaius, and the family of Stephanas. Maybe more. I don't remember." Paul doesn't remember. Friends, imagine having been baptized by Paul and then realizing that Paul didn't remember baptizing you. Perhaps when that realization sinks in, the proper perspective will return. We belong to Jesus and no one else.