1. HERETICS John 17:20-21 20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

2. GALATIANS 5:19-20 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these;… variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies…

3. HERESIES Dissensions arising from a diversity of opinions and aims and pushed, after making a choice, to the point where an actual division takes place.

4. MATTHEW 10:34-36 34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.

5. ISAIAH 48:18 O THAT THOU HADST HEARKENED TO MY COMMANDMENTS! THEN HAD THY PEACE BEEN AS A RIVER, AND THY RIGHTEOUSNESS AS THE WAVES OF THE SEA. LUKE 12:51 SUPPOSE YE THAT I AM COME TO GIVE PEACE ON EARTH? I TELL YOU, NAY, BUT RATHER DIVISION.

6. PSALMS 119:165 GREAT PEACE HAVE THEY WHICH LOVE THY LAW: AND NOTHING SHALL OFFEND THEM.

7. WHEN DOES SOMEONE BECOME A HERETIC? 1 CORINTHIANS 11:19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. MATTHEW 9:16 No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.

8. SECT OR HERESY VINE’S-A SECT (HAIRESIS) “IS A DIVISION DEVELOPED AND BROUGHT TO AN ISSUE; THE ORDER “DIVISIONS, HERESIES” (MARG. PARTIES) IN “THE WORKS OF THE FLESH” IN GALATIANS 5:19-21 IS SUGGESTIVE OF THIS.” LITERALLY THE WORD MEANS A CHOOSING OR CHOICE.

9. TITUS 3:10-11 Titus 3:10-11 10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; 11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.

10. WHEN IS DIVISION OF A CONGREGATION SINFUL AND WHEN IS IT JUSTIFIED AND ACCEPTABLE? DIVISION THAT OCCURRED NEAR DEMING, NEW MEXICO ABOUT 70 YEARS AGO. LUKE 12:51-SUPPOSE YE THAT I AM COME TO GIVE PEACE ON EARTH? I TELL YOU, NAY; BUT RATHER DIVISION.

11. 1 CORINTHIANS 11:19 19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. MATTHEW 18:7-8 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! 8 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.

12. IF A FEW BRETHREN SECRETLY MEET TOGETHER WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE REST OF THE CONGREGATION AND THEY PLAN TO LEAVE AND BEGIN A NEW CONGREGATION NEAR BY, ARE THEY GUILTY OF DIVIDING THE CHURCH OF CHRIST?

13. 2 PETER 2:1-2 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

14. GALATIANS 2:4 Gal 2:4 4 And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:

15. IS DIVISION OF A CONGREGATION EVER AN ACCEPTABLE SOLUTION IN CASES WHERE BRETHREN JUST CAN’T GET ALONG? IS THERE BIBLE AUTHORITY FOR BEGINNING A NEW CONGREGATION FOR OTHER REASONS OTHER THAN FOR EVANGELISTIC PURPOSES OR BECAUSE BRETHREN RELOCATE (EXAMPLE: BECAUSE OF PERSECUTION, ACTS 8:1)

16. CAN THE “PAUL AND BARNABAS,” “ABRAHAM AND LOT” SCENARIO JUSTIFY DISSENTING BRETHREN IN STARTING A NEW CONGREGATION?

17. GENESIS 13:8-9 8 And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. 9 Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.

18. ACTS 15:36-40 36 And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do. 37 And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. 38 But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. 39 And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; 40 And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.

19. ISAIAH 11:6-9 6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. 7 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. 9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

20. EPHESIANS 2:13-14 13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; ACTS 20:29 29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.