“Questions from Corinth”

Division in the body of Christ grieves the heart of God and hinders the church’s witness to the world. When Jesus prayed in John 17:21 that His disciples “may be one,” He understood that unity would be our most powerful testimony. Yet throughout church history and in many congregations today, we face the painfulreality of conflict, misunderstanding, and fractured relationships. The good news is that Scripture provides us with profound wisdom and practical guidance for both preventing division before it takes root and healing wounds that already exist.

As members of God’s family, we have a sacred responsibility to actively pursue peace and unity. This isn’t about superficial harmony or avoiding difficult conversations—rather, it’s about cultivating the kind of authentic, Christ-centered community where truth and grace walk hand in hand.

Our approach must be both preventative and redemptive. Like a wise gardener who both waters healthy plants and tends to diseased ones, we must simultaneously build strong foundations of unity while also knowing how to restore relationships when they fracture. This requires courage, humility, and a deep commitment to the gospel that reconciles us first to God and then to one another. In this portion of Lesson 2, we’ll examine specific biblical principles and actionable steps that can transform how we handle conflict and pursue the unity for which Christ prayed.