This week we explore Paul’s writings to an early church, torn up by competition and divisions among them. Paul tells them that although they are different, each one of them is filled by the Holy Spirit and so is given different spiritual gifts in order to build up the community for the better. He urges them to think of themselves as the BODY OF CHRIST, an image that is powerful in helping us understand the kind of unity we are called to as Christians. We are not called to be the same or even to always get along and agree. We are called to a relationship with fellow believers where we are committed to continuing our shared life together. In these divided and polarizing times, what can we learn from a message like this? How can the church be profoundly countercultural in living out this challenging unity?