Why was the church in Corinth so divided, and what was Paul's answer? In this episode of Leader's Lesson, we study Unity in Christ from First Corinthians chapters 1 through 4, where members had begun lining up behind their favorite teachers and personalities instead of standing together in Jesus.

Pastor Ryan helps us see how Paul confronts this. Some believers tied their loyalty to the person who baptized them or to a particular style of teaching, and Paul gently but pointedly reminds them that the faith was never about him or any other teacher. It was always about Christ. We also talk about the well-known image of the body of Christ, where unity is not the same as uniformity. The parts of the body look very different from one another, yet every part is needed and they work together as one.

Along the way we reflect on a striking idea: because of Christ and His love, we can have more in common with a believer from a completely different background than with a neighbor who looks just like us. The love of God transforms how we treat one another and frees us from pride and comparison.

If you teach Sabbath School, you will find a practical tip in this episode. Aim for discussion rather than lecture, prepare carefully without overwhelming your class, and lean on open questions that invite people to engage.

This conversation is part of our Third Quarter 2026 study of First and Second Corinthians. The Unity in Christ lesson is studied during the week of July 5 to 11 and is taught in class on Sabbath, July 11.

Next week we continue with Lesson 4: Sin in the Church.

Executive Producer: Carolina Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
Producer: Henrique Gomes
Editing: Henrique Gomes
Logo: Becky Carpenter