Is the Christ Divided?

On August 5, 1973, Brother Stephen delivered a ministry in Richmond, Virginia, focusing on 1 Corinthians. He emphasized the importance of unity within the church, highlighting that divisions among believers contradict the nature of Christ, who is indivisible. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians addresses serious issues, including spiritual pride and immorality, which the church members overlooked while asking about less critical matters. Stephen pointed out that the church is not an organization but an organism, called out from the world to be united in Christ. He stressed that the church, referred to as the assembly of God, is made up of saints, not sinners, and that all believers share a common identity in Christ. The divisions in Corinth arose from followers aligning themselves with different leaders, which Paul condemned. Stephen urged that true unity comes from recognizing that all believers belong to Christ, and he called for a return to the message of the cross to overcome carnality and foster genuine fellowship. He concluded with a prayer for the church to embody the oneness of Christ, free from divisions and sectarianism.

• Introduction to the ministry by Brother Stephen Kong

• Reading from 1 Corinthians

• Importance of unity in the church

• Issues in the Corinthian church: pride and immorality

• Definition of the church as an organism, not an organization

• Identity of believers as saints

• Condemnation of divisions based on allegiance to leaders

• Call for unity in Christ

• Need for the message of the cross to overcome carnality

• Conclusion with a prayer for oneness in the church