Love endures forever pt. 2

What Unites Us When Everything Else Divides?

Left vs right. Male vs female. Generations, races, ideologies—even churches. In part two of the Love Endures Forever series, Pastor Josh unpacks the Apostle Paul’s letter to the fractured church in Corinth, revealing how Christ is the only answer to our divided world.

This isn’t just a message about church unity. It’s a powerful challenge for our marriages, friendships, families, and our personal walk with God.

Unity in a Divided World

Pastor Josh begins by pointing out how deeply division runs in our world—and how it often strikes closest to home. Whether it’s politics, relationships, or church life, the tension is real. And like the Corinthian church, we tend to bring our personal preferences into sacred spaces.

Some in Corinth chased miracles and power. Others craved intellect and eloquence. Today, the same tendencies persist—some prefer emotional worship, others value sharp theology. But Pastor Josh warns:

“You naturally gravitate toward what you are comfortable with.”

Paul’s solution wasn’t to cater to preferences. It was to preach Christ crucified—the one truth big enough to unite people from every background.

A Shared Destination

One of the core ideas from the sermon was this:

“Unity is achieved when we have an undisputed destination while appreciating the uniqueness of our companions on the journey.”

Pastor Josh explains that real unity isn’t about being the same—it’s about moving in the same direction. This applies not just to churches but also to marriages and friendships. Many relationships suffer because they lack a clear shared goal. Without that true North, differences feel threatening instead of enriching.

He shares his own vision that has guided him for decades: “To reach the next generation so they can lead and serve the generation to come.” That clarity has shaped his decisions, even when it meant stepping into the unfamiliar or uncomfortable.

Don’t Major in the Minors

Throughout the message, Pastor Josh calls out the way Christians often divide over secondary issues—doctrines, denominations, and personal expressions of faith. He tells a humorous story about someone opening a dating app conversation with, “Are you a reformed Christian? Do you believe in predestination?”—a moment that highlights how misplaced priorities can fracture community.

“Why would you make a minor into a major?”

The church isn’t built on shared preferences. It’s built on Christ. When we elevate lesser things above Him, we lose sight of what really matters.

The Only Answer That Holds

For anyone feeling fractured—by confusion, pride, or spiritual drift—Pastor Josh offers a word of peace: simplify. Come back to Jesus.

“Jesus Christ is the one constant in a constantly changing world.”

We don’t need perfect theology, flawless character, or answers to every question. We need Christ—the one who unites us to God and to each other. When He is our true North, everything else finds its place.

“Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” – 1 Corinthians 1:31

Come back next week as Love Endures Forever continues—and we keep discovering how Jesus unites what the world tries to tear apart.