Journey Through Disagreements

Journey through Disagreements

One game that causes amazing disagreements

Scrabble 1 pic

Weird words in scrabble

“Bizjet” – short for business jet “Qapik” – the currency of Azerbaijan “Hench” – a strong and fit man “Hackerazzo” – a person who hacks into the phone or computer of a celebrity

Set it up.. judea to jerusalem

Paul and barnabas are the teachers

James and peter are the elders

The Pharisees and others are ones the disagree

Has become known as the Jerusalim council..

When we journey through disagreements

Identify the problem

Acts 15:1-2a (ESV)

15 But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem…

Here what we are seeing is that the Jews have an expectation that the gentiles have to now do all the things a Jew would.. we will see this throughout the new testament both ways and paul deals with most of it.. What things to eat what festivals to celebrate.. here its circumcision…. Some can argue the medical reasons for circumcision but it important to Paul and barnabas let everyone know that the practice of circumcision does not save it is the work of Christ that does the saving.

James 4:1a

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you?

Matthew 18:15 (ESV)

15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.

Amy and I disagreements

When we journey through disagreements

Share your perspective

Acts 15:3-5 (ESV)

3 So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers. 4 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them. 5 But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.”

Works based

So whats this issue here.. salvation

What are the thigns the modern church argue over?

Unless you are baptized you cannot be saved.

Unless you got to a certain denomination you cannot be saved

Unless you insert your theology here

What does it take to be saved?

Er triage

When we journey through disagreements

seek the elders

Acts 15:2 (ESV)

2 And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question.

Matthew 18:16-19 (ESV)

16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed[a] in heaven.19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.

Damar Hamlin

When we journey through disagreements

Go to the word of God

Acts 15:6-18 (ESV)

6 The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. 7 And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, 9 and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. 10 Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11 But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.” 12 And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.

3 reasons. We go to the word of God

Authority- Psalm 119:89 Forever, O Lord, your word     is firmly fixed in the heavens.

Advisor- Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Psalm 119:108 Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O Lord, and teach me your rules.

Accomplishes-Isaiah 55:11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,     and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

When we have obstacles a great place to start is Gods word..

So lets deal w/ paul and barnabas’ argument works vs salvation

Acts 15:13-18 (ESV)

13 After they finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me. 14 Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name. 15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written, 16 “‘After this I will return, and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it, 17 that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who makes these things 18 known from of old.’

Peter goes back to acts 10 when he saw Cornelous come to Jesus.. it was through this experience that Peter understood God looks on the heart of a person..

Peter understood the circumcision of the heart was more important..

Romans 2:29 (ESV)

But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.

Amos 9:11. ..restoration of all people

In our disagreements are we out to win? Or are you trying to restore the relationship..

Maybe ask yourself where is your heart at.

Even more important in our salvation.. do we really think we can earn Holiness? We can be good enough to outweigh our wrongs?

Work VS Faith

Reformation 5 solas

Sola fide. latin

Sola Gratia

Ephesians 2:8-10 (ESV)

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them

You have been verb

Through preposition

Faith noun

This is why we sing the song Amazing Grace

Amazing grace, How sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I am found, Was blind, but now I see. 'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, And grace my fears relieved. How precious did that grace appear The hour I first believed. Through many dangers, toils and snares I have already come, 'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far And grace will lead me home.

Some of us are singing

New slide

amazing me

look at what I have done

I have earned everything I own

I am the man no matter what you say

I am the chosen one

God would never say no to me

Just look at the things I have done

I am the almighty

Yes I am the chose one

John 1:10-12 (ESV)

He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own,[a] and his own people[b] did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

Revelation 5:9 (ESV)

And they sang a new song, saying,

“Worthy are you to take the scroll     and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God     from every tribe and language and people and nation

When we Journey through disagreements

We need to Obey God

Acts 15:19-21 (ESV)

19 Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, 20 but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood. 21 For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.”

What the Elders do is set some guidelines which fall in with scripture. They find four important ones

Abstain from things polluted by Idols ..meat from animals used in sacrifice.. and was seen to eat that meat as worship Sexual immorality Animals that are strangled. –still had blood because it was not butchered properly Blood the shedding of blood.. murder

1. Theology Orthodoxy

The consensus of the council was that salvation comes by faith apart from any human work. On this point there was no compromise. However, they recognized that for the community of faith to flourish, there must be a sensitivity one to another. Jews and Gentiles must make adjustments in order to live together."

2. Application Orthopraxy

Holiness. The requirements handed down by the council focus on personal holiness. Idolatry and immorality were, of course, forbidden. God's people must be holy.

Harmony. To preserve the harmony of the early Christian community other suggestions, such as dietary restrictions, were included. We must curb our liberties at times so that the higher good of mutual edification is accomplished. The early church leaders were concerned about doctrinal integrity and relational health

Here we see the issue being dealt with here is a Heart attack issue. Paul and barnanbas they traveled to Jerusalem the spoke with the Elders they shared their experience and would not relent on. What the word of God says!

So like them when we journey through disagreements with care and grace but never back down from the word of God. ZÅ

Acts 15:1-21. (ESV)

The Jerusalem Council

15 But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question. 3 So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers. 4 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them. 5 But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.” 6 The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. 7 And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, 9 and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. 10 Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11 But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.” 12 And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. 13 After they finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me. 14 Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name. 15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written, 16 “‘After this I will return, and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it, 17 that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who makes these things 18 known from of old.’ 19 Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, 20 but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood. 21 For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.”