Disagree in Unity
Notes
Transcript
1 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling,
3 if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked.
4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord,
7 for we walk by faith, not by sight.
8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
A. Rapport for the time
Oxymoron—a figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction
Faith unfaithfully kept
Awfully good
bittersweet
same difference
original copy
sweet sorrow—Romeo and Juliet
B. Reading of the text
36 And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.”
37 Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark.
38 But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work.
39 And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus,
40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.
41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
C. Review of the text
D. Relevance of the text
How well do we know the plans of God? Let’s think about that just for a moment. I want to ask it another way. Apart from spending time with God and with him in prayer how much will you know about the plans of God? Do you think we understand this verse that was read earlier?
6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord,
7 for we walk by faith, not by sight.
My desire this morning is that we would see the hand of God in the early church and understand that he is calling us to live the same way. There is no vacation from the Lord.
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
T.S. We are going to continue in the conversation of unity to begin with to understand that all involved had a Unity of Desire
I. Unity of desire
I. Unity of desire
36 And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.”
Last we saw Paul and Barnabas.
35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
delivered the letter to the gentiles that said they should abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has ben strangled, and from sexual immorality.
We learned they shared this information to help the early church gentiles begin their walk with the Lord and to provide unity amongst Gentiles and Jewish Christians.
vs. 36 is a desire to see the Gospel not just spread but flourish. Discipleship begins when someone comes to know Christ.
We looked at how people grow the last few weeks as we have looked at being at ambassador for Christ.
—Christ desires that we grow
—Part of being a Christian
—No opting out
—True believers grow
Understand that both Paul and Barnabas have this desire. Do you know the possibilities of a group of Christians who have are led by the Spirit of God with the desire to follow Christ and be led by him? Ultimately, you have to believers in Christ with a desire to walk with the Lord and to be led by the Spirit to pursue others for Christ. No one can question this desire with these to men.
T.S. Don’t leave that unity of desire behind but bring it with you as we see a disunity on the how.
II. Disunity of the How
II. Disunity of the How
37 Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark.
38 But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work.
Barnabas has a desire that his cousin goes along with them on what would be their second missionary journey together.
Paul doesn’t believe that he should go along with them because of whatever it was that occured on the first journey.
13 Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem,
John—is John Mark—We don’t know what circumstances made him withdraw and many have speculated but we just don’t know what happened. Yes this is Barnabas’ cousin but also this is the heart of Barnabas. God has given him this heart--
27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus.
22 The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.
23 When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose,
24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.
25 So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul,
He reached out to Paul when he needed the help and desire to do it again.
Understand the unity of desire is still there between Paul and Barnabas—they both want to see the greater progress of the Gospel. They both want to see others come to know Christ. They both desire to follow up and disciple those that had been led to Christ but they differ on the how. AND GOD USES THOSE DIFFERENCES TO PROGRESS HIS KINGDOM!..Amazing! Is Paul wrong in this situation? Is Barnabas wrong? I don’t know, I can’t tell you. You know what I know for sure..it is that their desire for the Gospel overcomes even this disagreement and God uses this moment to further HIS Kingdom. Not the kingdom of Barnabas or Paul but His Kingdom.
We know how Paul views his life.
3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.
Paul also has a high value for those that are in this with him!
20 For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare.
21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.
22 But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel.
T.S. They have a unity of desire but not on the way to go about it and it leads to Separate but Equal tasks.
III. Separate but Equal tasks
III. Separate but Equal tasks
39 And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus,
40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.
41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
Sharp Disagreement—Paroxysmos
Noun used in agitation—a state of emotional turmoil; especially expressed in words. As used in vs. 39
In a positive sense it is the act of stirring up emotions, feelings, and responses; can be positive or negative.
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,
Stir up—you get the emotional feeling with this verse and the sharp disagreement between them.
vs. 39 This will be the last we here of Barnabas—Luke follows the life of Paul and his missionary journeys. Barnabas will sail off with Mark to Cyprus and history tells us
Paul and Silas head to Syria and Cilicia to strengthen the Churches and Barnabas and John-Mark head to Cyprus and strengthen the churches in both locations. Among the disagreement between two men of God, God’s work is still going to get done.
Paul, Barnabas, John-Mark, and Silas are not enemies from this point forward. Listen to Paul.
10 Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him),
11 Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.
12 By Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it.
Application:
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord,
7 for we walk by faith, not by sight.
8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.