There are few things identified by Scripture that God (actually) hates. Discord in the church is one of them (Prv 6:19). When there is unity within the church, the Spirit of God is present and flows through the church leadership down into the church body like anointing oil flowing down Aaron beard into his sacred robes that covers his body. When believers live and serve in agreement with God's word, our fellowship is pleasing aroma to God to his glory (Rom 15:5-6). It is this life of worship Paul exhorts the church to reclaim. He now concludes his discourse on church division that is flourishing in the Corinthians congregation by way of the wisdom of men. He offers his final admonishments on this issue that remains applicable for the church today.
Focus Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:14-21
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Human pride is incompatible with the character of Christ. It will never produce fruits of the Spirit in the life of Christian. Not only does it exalt its wisdom higher than God's, but it considers the Gospel way of living and thinking as foolish. In addressing the worldliness prevailing in the church of Corinth, Paul continues to put on display the Apostles way of life as a model for Christ-centered living and attitude as he confronts the church’s embrace of the wisdom of this world that has produced:

• Misappropriation of glory to church leaders that has caused the congregation to be divided into four factions (1 Cor 1:11-13).
• Inflated sense of status. They saw themselves as rulers over others, even rejecting the authority of the Apostles.

In our focus text, Paul continues his use of irony (and a little bit of sarcasm) to expose the foolishness of Corinthians behavior in the church. He will remind them what is the true temperament and life of servant of God in a world hostile to its message and messengers.

Focus Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:9-13
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The wisdom of men can shipwreck the faith and Gospel fruit of any body of believers. This is what was occurring in the Corinthian church as they were extolling the giftings and personalities of their favorite church leaders (i.e., the Apostles) that they preferred. This misappropriation of glory was the source of factionalism in the church they had divided the congregation into four groups, "...I follow Paul,' or 'I follow Apollos,' or 'I follow Cephas,' or 'I follow Christ'" (1 Cor 1:12). In response to this error, Paul labored to use these questions to re-establish Biblical truth in the first 3 chapters of his (1st) letter:

· What is the difference between the wisdom of God vs the wisdom of men?

· What is the true foundation of Jesus Christ and his teaching? And how is church doctrine and living built on that substructure?

· How is the operation of worldly wisdom (of men) in the church ruinous? How does it destroy the work of the Gospel and our witness to the world?

· What is a servant of God? Do the congregants owe glory to the Apostles or to God?

Throughout his exhortations on these questions, he has used office of the Apostles as a model of the kind of attitude and service the Christian should imitate and submit to by the wisdom of God. Having dealt with the issue of right judgements and faithfulness (1 Cor 4:1-5), he now confronts pride that is propping up human supremacy and self-righteousness which is the root of the division plaguing the Corinthian church.

Focus Scripture: 1 Corinthians 4:6-8
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