1. Did Jesus Die to Establish Denominationalism?
Scripture Reading: I Corinthians 1:10-18
Are there so many churches to choose from
by Divine design, or
by man’s perverse intervention?

2. I Corinthians 1:10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now I say this, that each of you says, "I am of Paul," or "I am of Apollos," or "I am of Cephas," or "I am of Christ.“ 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name. 16 Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other. 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect. 18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

3. Did Jesus Die to Establish Denominationalism?
Are there so many churches to choose from
by Divine design, or
by man’s perverse intervention?

4. “I’d never thought about that!”
Many have never considered it because the status quo is so accepted that it’s the “status quo.”
Many may not KNOW to question this arrangement until we bring them to an understanding of the need to.

5. Pleasing Man vs Pleasing God:
Our Creator made mankind for the purpose of serving Him.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man's all. 14 For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.

6. This is not a suggestion, but a direct command from
Our need for Divine Authority:
Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
This is not a suggestion, but a direct command from
The Lord God Almighty.

7. What can we say about Scripture?
God’s Word is God’s direction to us, which we would be lost without.
Jeremiah 10:23 O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.
Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
It is complete, Jude 1:3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

8. The Bible is:
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

9. Our Need for God’s Word:
John 8:31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My Word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall make you free.” 33 They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, 'You will be made free'?” 34 Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.

10. God’s Word is Understandable:
Ephesians 3: 1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles - 2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, 3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ),

11. We Must Handle God’s Word with Care
Ephesians 5:17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.

12. “Denominationalism” DENOMINATION, noun 1. The act of naming.
2. A name or appellation; a vocal sound, customarily used to express a thing or a quality, in discourse; as, all man fall under the denomination of sinners; actions fall under the denomination of good or bad.
3. A class, society or collection of individuals, called by the same name; as a denomination of christians.
Webster’s Dictionary 1828

13. Worthy of Your Consideration:
What makes one a Christian?
Is that from God’s Word?
What makes one a member of a specific denomination?
Is THAT from God’s Word?

14. I Corinthians 1:1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, 2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, 5 that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, 6 even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, 7 so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by Whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

15. I Corinthians 1:10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

16. Does the Scripture praise denominationalism?
Does God’s Word tell us that it is acceptable?
Does the Word show us that this is a pathway to be avoided?

17. I Corinthians 1:10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

18. There were contentions, and they even NAMED them!
I Corinthians 1:11 For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now I say this, that each of you says, "I am of Paul," or "I am of Apollos," or "I am of Cephas," or "I am of Christ."
There were contentions,
and they even NAMED them!

19. I Corinthians 1:13 Is Christ divided. Was Paul crucified for you
I Corinthians 1:13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

20. Christ is NOT Divided! I Corinthians 12:12-13, there is only ONE BODY.
Ephesians 1:22, The BODY is the CHURCH and it belongs to Christ.
Ephesians 4:4, There is only ONE BODY.

21. I Corinthians 12:12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body - whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free - and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.

22. Ephesians 1:22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him Who fills all in all.
Ephesians 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;

23. The Church Belongs to Christ:
Matthew 16:18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
Acts 20:28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His Own blood.

24. Christ is the Head of the Church:
Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in Heaven and on earth…”
Colossians 1:18 And He is the head of the body, the church, Who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
Acts 3:22 For Moses truly said to the fathers, 'The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you. 23 And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ 24 Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days. 25 You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, 'And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ 26 To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities."

25. Is Christ Divided? There is ONE Body It belongs to Christ
He paid for it with His LIFE
The TRUTH will always be THE TRUTH
When Truth is supplanted by human doctrines, opinions, traditions and desires, putting them in place of God’s Word…
RELIGIOUS DIVISION is the inescapable result

26. Matthew 15:13 But He answered and said, "Every plant which My Heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted…”
God’s Word addresses
Denominationalism

27. The rhetorical question yet all too often this gets a “Yes”!
I Corinthians 1:13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
The rhetorical question
gets a resounding “NO!”,
yet all too often this gets a “Yes”!

28. JESUS CHRIST was crucified for us:
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting Life.
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His Own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Galatians 3:13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"),

29. What are we to do?
Acts 2:36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, Whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.“ 37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?“ 38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

30. There’s always “Options” “Yeah, I know the Bible says that, but…”
Galatians 1:6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him Who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the Gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from Heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.
“Yeah, I know the Bible says that, but…”

31. Matthew 7:19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them. 21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'

32. “What Must I Do To Be Saved?”
Hear The Gospel (John 5:24; Romans 10:17)
Believe it (John 3:16-18; John 8:24)
Repent Of Your Sins (Luke 13:1-5; Acts 2:38)
Confess Jesus as Christ (Mt 10:32; Rom 10:10)
Be Baptized (Acts 22:16; Galatians 3:27)
Remain Faithful for Life (John 8:31; Rev. 2:10)
For The Erring Child of God:
Repent (Acts 8:22), Confess (I John 1:9),
Pray (Acts 8:22)