The Division of the Church. 1 Cor. 1:17-25 We are living in a day when the message of the church is changing. Churches, and even whole denominations, are moving away from the old message of salvation through the blood of Jesus, and are moving toward a message of salvation through social activism and good works. The old bloody message of the cross is quickly being replaced by a bloodless message that lacks power and that lacks hope. Instead of hearing the devastating, but life changing news that men are sinners, people hear a message that tells them, “I’m OK and you’re OK!” Paul said that it pleased the Lord by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. Man’s wisdom is a deterrent in coming to Christ, but men can come to Christ if they will believe in Him. God has chosen the foolishness of preaching to save those people who will put their faith in the Lord. Our purpose is to reach people for Christ, to mature people in Christ. If we can get our minds and hearts together on that purpose, we can avoid the problems the Corinthian Church in their time.