Introduction:

·        Illustration: A humorous magazine article lists ways a pastor can tell when it's time to leave the church.

·        Godly people in the New Testament didn't always agree.

·        People can't always agree because people see things differently; people are sinful and tend to be selfish, ambitious, and thoughtless of others.

·        Illustration: In a Nintendo hockey game, disagreements are settled with fists.

Transition: Paul advises the church in Corinth to do three things to solve their discord.

Focus on Jesus because he is the reason we are here.

·        1 Corinthians 1:10

·        As brothers and sisters in Christ, we ought not to be fighting.

·        Paul asked the church at Corinth to stop fighting for Jesus' sake.

·        Long Illustration: A preacher reflects to Clarence Jordan that revival often involves preaching away the people who don't love Jesus.

Focus on Jesus instead of other people.

·        1 Corinthians 1:12

·        Christians are supposed to follow Jesus, not other people.

·        Illustration: A John Maxwell story of two grazing cows that feel inadequate after they see a milk truck pass by.

·        Illustration: A couple arguing over the effectiveness of their pastor displays the danger of not keeping your eyes on Jesus.

·        It is tempting for church leaders to build a "personality cult" around themselves.

·        We must try to keep Jesus in focus and eliminate distractions so we can worship.

·        Jesus is perfect, and imperfect people need to keep their eye on him.

Focus on Jesus and on what he wants us to do.

·        Illustration: A humorous story about a children's sermon where the kids unexpectedly answer "Jesus" to the pastor's question.

·        We are here because Christ died for us, and out of our gratitude for his mercy we want to worship him.

·        I Corinthians 1:13–17

·        What God wants from us is faithfulness and fruitfulness.

·        Illustration: A humorous story of a church sign that read "JESUS Only," but the wind transformed it into "Us Only."

·        Fruitfulness has to do with us getting the message of Christ out.

Conclusion

·        If we focus on Jesus, we won't worry about who gets the credit.

·        Illustration: Patrick Morley, in The Seasons of a Man's Life, wrote, "The turning point in our lives is when we stop seeking the God we want and start seeking the God who is."

·        Big Idea: We're imperfect people, selfish and self-centered, but if we focus on Jesus, he will make us faithful and fruitful.