Prepared by William Earnhardt for Sabbath School Class on 18 July. 

Photograph by William Earnhardt

Key Text: “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10, ESV).

Read in Class: 1 Corinthians 1:10-17.

Study: What did Paul mean by being united in the same mind and the same judgment? How does this passage help us understand the importance of being united in Christ, rather than being a groupie of a preacher or any human leader? 

Apply: During the past few decades, some parts of the Seventh-day Adventist Church have emphasized small group Bible studies. What is the difference between cliques and small groups? How can we be careful that small groups do not turn into cliques?

Share: Every time the district pastor is gone, and a local elder speaks at your church, one of your friends says she is just going to stay home watch the livestream broadcast where the pastor will be preaching from the other church in your district. What do you tell your friend? 

Read in Class: 1 Corinthians 3:1-4.

Study:  How does Paul here describe the spiritual immaturity of the Corinthians?

Apply: What has been your experience with being greatly disappointed by someone whom you had greatly admired? If you have had this experience, what lessons did you learn from it?

Share: How would you advise a friend to deal with the envy, strife and division going on in his church? What practical ideas would you suggest for him to be a peace maker? 

Read in Class: 1 Corinthians 4:1-2 and Philippians 2:5-8.

Study: How can we as human leaders have the mind of Christ? What does being a servant-leader look like today in your church culture? 

Apply:Prayerfully dwell on the message of Philippians 2:5-8. How do we grasp what this tells us about God’s self-denying love for us? Why, too, do we need to die to self in a way so that, in our own sphere, we can emulate this love?

Share: A freind of yours who is an elder in the church tells you he would be a lot more humble if the other elders were not so arrogant. He says he can’t be humble because then the arrogant elders will just bully him. What do you tell your friend?  

Read in Class: 2 Corinthians 11:23-28 and Colossians 1:24.

Study: What does it mean to suffer for Christ’s sake? 

Apply:How much have you suffered for Christ’s sake, whatever your role in the church? What lessons might be found in your answer? 

Share: Your friend asks you if you have ever rejoiced because of your sufferings? What do you tell your friend?

Mission: Find a prayer partner to pray for unity in your church. 

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/3-unity-in-christ-sabbath-school-lesson-teaching-plan/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=3-unity-in-christ-sabbath-school-lesson-teaching-plan

Daily Lesson for Sunday 12th of July 2026

Paul’s appeal that “there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10, ESV) dominates the first four chapters of 1 Corinthians. In fact, most scholars agree that unity is the all-encompassing theme that binds all the parts of the letter together.

Image © Lifeway Collection at Goodsalt.com

Paul employs strong words to portray the lack of unity among the church members in Corinth. He uses the Greek terms schisma (“division,” 1 Corinthians 1:10, NKJV) and eris (“contention,” 1 Corinthians 1:11, NKJV). The noun schisma (as well as the verb schizō, “to split”) is used elsewhere in the New Testament to describe differences of opinion resulting in factions. In turn, the noun eris (“contention”) frequently appears in lists of vices that must not be practiced by Christians.

The disagreements in the church of Corinth came to the surface—even in the form of lawsuits against one another (1 Corinthians 6:1-3). “I say this to your shame,” Paul told them (1 Corinthians 6:5, NKJV), concerning these lawsuits between church members. In fact, they didn’t lay aside their differences even when celebrating the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:17-22).

The problem of lack of unity among church members is so terrifying, and Paul is so worried about it, that this is the first issue he addresses in this letter to the Corinthians.

<–Sabbath Monday–>

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/26c-03-the-problem-of-cliques-in-the-church/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=26c-03-the-problem-of-cliques-in-the-church

For good Sabbath afternoon viewing, see the video below created for our first lesson. I believe it will help us understand the rest of the two letters to the Corinthians, which we are studying.

I know that, even after reading the letters multiple times, I gained a deeper understanding of them through a better grasp of what Paul and his converts were up against in Corinth. So take a little time this Sabbath afternoon to watch the video below.  

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/corinth-the-backdrop-for-pauls-letter/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=corinth-the-backdrop-for-pauls-letter

Daily Lesson for Sabbath 11th of July 2026

Image © Pacific Press

Read for This Week’s Study

1 Corinthians 1:12-17, Romans 1:29, 1 Corinthians 1:10, 1 Corinthians 3:1-4, Philippians 2:5-8, 2 Corinthians 11:23-28, Colossians 1:24.

Memory Text:

“I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10, ESV).

Those who observe wildlife know that some creatures live in packs, in herds, or in groups, all of varying sizes. From wolves, to dolphins, to even army ants, these creatures stick together. Chimpanzees are especially known for their tight-knit social bonds, sometimes existing in groups of 15 to 150 fellow chimps. However, these relationships are not always harmonious, and sometimes the chimps fight among themselves.

Humans are somewhat like that as well; that is, not only do they tend to exist in groups, but they sometimes fight among themselves in those groups. And that’s a reality even in our churches! Cliques form, often around some kind of charismatic leader. And, even worse, sometimes one clique does not get along with others.

Have you ever seen that in your church? If so, then you have an idea of an issue Paul faced in Corinth. This week we will take a look at 1 Corinthians 1:1-31; 1 Corinthians 2:1-16; 1 Corinthians 3:1-23; 1 Corinthians 4:1-21, where the apostle Paul deals with the problem of quarrels in the church and how to overcome them, namely, through unity in Christ.

*Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, July 18.

Sunday–>

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/26c-03-unity-in-christ/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=26c-03-unity-in-christ

Inside Story for Friday 10th of July 2026

By Vyacheslav Demyan

Fabiola lived in the peaceful surroundings of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, yet peace was the last thing she felt. A breast cancer diagnosis had shaken her world, and with the added fear of COVID-19 spreading across the country, death felt closer than ever.

Meanwhile, in the city of Salvador, Luisa’s world was collapsing. A betrayal shattered her marriage of 23 years, leaving her to discover she had contracted syphilis from her husband. Additionally, her mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and she witnessed a neighbor take her own life. The thought haunted her—maybe she should do the same.

Both women were drowning in their suffering. Like the woman who had bled for 12 years in the biblical story of Mark chapter 5, Fabiola and Luisa were desperate for physical, emotional, and spiritual healing. They each needed a touch of hope.

On two separate evenings, God intervened in a surprisingly similar way. As Fabiola tried to escape her anxiety by watching TV, her small dog hopped onto her lap, accidentally stepping on the remote and switching the channel to Novo Tempo, Hope Channel in Brazil.

Some 800 miles away, Luisa’s dog did the same thing. In Fabiola and Luisa’s darkest moments, one divinely placed paw on a remote revealed the life-changing love of a Savior.

Both women felt a wave of hope wash over them.

Today, Fabiola has found renewed purpose, encouraging those around her with the same message of comfort she received. The messages from Novo Tempo reshaped her outlook on her illness. She no longer saw cancer as a punishment but as a part of something God allowed to help transform her. Now, as she waits for her medical appointments, she shares Christian books, speaks of Jesus, and encourages those around her with the hope she found.

For Luisa, the programs she watched helped her recognize she was battling depression. She was able to receive treatment that became her turning point, helping her emerge from darkness into the light of God’s love.

“I was that lost, dirty, empty daughter,” she reflects. “But [after His touch], I never want to leave His presence.”

Hope Channel exists for people like Fabiola and Luisa—people searching for hope, for healing, for Jesus. Thousands are waiting to be reached. Eighty-four Hope Channels around the world are reaching people through life-changing content, offering Bible studies, and connecting seekers with Christ.

When you give to the mission offering during Sabbath School or choose mission on your tithe envelope, a portion of that offering helps fund Hope Channel’s important ministry around the world. Thank you for your generous support.

Source: https://ssnet.org/blog/26c-02-inside-story-a-touch-that-transforms/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=26c-02-inside-story-a-touch-that-transforms