保罗费尽心思教导信徒，神是信实的，祂努力召唤人来与祂的儿子建立关系。而这群与基督建立了关系的人，若要忠心地向这世界见证基督，他们必须同心合意、和谐共处。
可惜，哥林多的教会并不是这样，在这封写给当地信徒的书信中，保罗直言不讳地指出这个问题。
在这封书信中，保罗首先为神赐给他们的恩典和属灵恩赐感谢神，在提醒他们信实的神呼召他们与祂建立关系后，保罗便 “藉我们主耶稣基督的名” 劝勉他们，他吩附他们 “说一样的话” ，他又责备他们并要求他们必须 “一心一意，彼此相合” 。他们中间断不可分党，反而要让爱心、合一、和谐，成为基督与他们同在的标志。
若忘记了他们为什么能够合而为一，信徒便往住只专注在表面的事情上，例如谁为谁施洗、谁跟从哪一位领导人、谁来自哪一个国家、谁是什么肤色、或谁最富有。我们同心合一，不是基于我们有同一的喜好或兴趣，我们中间容不下以自我为中心的分党分派，我个必须藉彼此相爱来表达我们对基督的忠心。这是十分重要的！
主耶稣，求祢帮助我们，活出我们与祢和与祢教会的关系，好叫我们的合一和交通，能向这个受创伤的世代见证祢的慈爱。奉祢的名祈求，阿们。
哥林多前书 1:4-17
4我常为你们感谢我的神，因神在基督耶稣里所赐给你们的恩惠；
5又因你们在他里面凡事富足，口才、知识都全备，
6正如我为基督作的见证，在你们心里得以坚固，
7以致你们在恩赐上没有一样不及人的，等候我们的主耶稣基督显现。
8他也必坚固你们到底，叫你们在我们主耶稣基督的日子无可责备。
9神是信实的，你们原是被他所召，好与他儿子－我们的主耶稣基督一同得分。
10弟兄们，我藉我们主耶稣基督的名劝你们都说一样的话。你们中间也不可分党，只要一心一意，彼此相合。
11因为革来氏家里的人曾对我提起弟兄们来，说你们中间有纷争。
12我的意思就是你们各人说：“我是属保罗的”；“我是属亚波罗的”；“我是属矶法的”；“我是属基督的”。
13基督是分开的吗？保罗为你们钉了十字架吗？你们是奉保罗的名受了洗吗？
14我感谢神，除了基利司布并该犹以外，我没有给你们一个人施洗，
15免得有人说，你们是奉我的名受洗。
16我也给司提法那家施过洗，此外给别人施洗没有，我却记不清。
17基督差遣我，原不是为施洗，乃是为传福音，并不用智慧的言语，免得基督的十字架落了空。
"God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." — 1 Corinthians 1:9
Paul diligently taught that God is faithful, calling people into fellowship with his Son. And for the sake of being faithful witnesses for Christ to the world, it's essential that all who are called into this fellowship live in unity and harmony.
But things weren't going that way in the church at Corinth. And Paul minced no words in addressing the problem in this letter to the believers there.
He began his letter noting his thanks to God for the grace and spiritual gifts given them. And after reminding them of God's faithfulness in calling them into fellowship, Paul appeals to them "in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." He calls them to "agree with one another," and he admonishes them, demanding an essential unity of "mind and thought." There was to be no room for divisions. Instead, love, unity, and harmony are to be the signs of Christ's presence.
When believers forget what unites them, they focus on externals such as who baptized whom, or who follows which leader, or who comes from what nation, or who has what skin color, or who has the most money. Our harmony is not to be based on our common preferences or interests. Ego-driven divisions have no place among us. Our allegiance to Christ must be expressed in our love for one another. It's essential!
Lord Jesus, help us to live out our relationship with you and your church in such a way that our harmony and fellowship testify to your love for a hurting world. In your name, Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
