God Speaks in Community

[NOTE TO TEACHER] The focus of this lesson is on the way that this early doctrinal dispute was settled in the early church. It wasn’t left to each individual to decide for themselves. The dispute was brought to the leaders of the church who then discussed and made a decision. The principle at work here is the way the Holy Spirit speaks and directs us. The scripture reinforces a community approach to hearing from God, not an individualistic approach. Furthermore, the early Christians trusted God to speak through the church and its leadership. They accepted the decision when it was given. So the goal of this lesson is to challenge our individualistic mindset - one that would say, “I know what God told me and no one can tell me otherwise.” This is not the way the Holy Spirit speaks. We must humble ourselves and accept that the Word of God when confirmed through trusted leaders, brothers, and sisters, is more reliable and binding than our own personal beliefs and convictions.

Notes

Transcript

Sunday, April 21st, 2024

Introductory information

Soon after Paul and Barnabas had returned from their first missionary journey, some Jewish Christians started teaching that Gentiles had to follow the Law of Moses in order to be saved

Paul and Barnabas had been sent to Jerusalem to bring this question to the Apostles and Elders for a decision

In the last lesson, we covered the first part of their debate, where Peter had challenged the other Apostles and Elders to not lay additional conditions and requirements on God’s grace

In today’s lesson, we are going to see how this first big doctrinal dispute got handled in the early Church

Doctrine: a set of beliefs that are taught and accepted by a particular group

READ

Question to consider as we read:

How can you have confidence that God is speaking?

Acts 15:13–33 CSB

13 After they stopped speaking, James responded, “Brothers, listen to me. 14 Simeon has reported how God first intervened to take from the Gentiles a people for his name. 15 And the words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written: 16 After these things I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. I will rebuild its ruins and set it up again, 17 so that the rest of humanity may seek the Lord— even all the Gentiles who are called by my name— declares the Lord who makes these things 18 known from long ago. 19 Therefore, in my judgment, we should not cause difficulties for those among the Gentiles who turn to God, 20 but instead we should write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from eating anything that has been strangled, and from blood. 21 For since ancient times, Moses has had those who proclaim him in every city, and every Sabbath day he is read aloud in the synagogues.” 22 Then the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, decided to select men who were among them and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas: Judas, called Barsabbas, and Silas, both leading men among the brothers. 23 They wrote: “From the apostles and the elders, your brothers, To the brothers and sisters among the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings. 24 Since we have heard that some without our authorization went out from us and troubled you with their words and unsettled your hearts, 25 we have unanimously decided to select men and send them to you along with our dearly loved Barnabas and Paul, 26 who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, who will personally report the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it was the Holy Spirit’s decision—and ours—not to place further burdens on you beyond these requirements: 29 that you abstain from food offered to idols, from blood, from eating anything that has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. You will do well if you keep yourselves from these things. Farewell.” 30 So they were sent off and went down to Antioch, and after gathering the assembly, they delivered the letter. 31 When they read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement. 32 Both Judas and Silas, who were also prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers and sisters and strengthened them with a long message. 33 After spending some time there, they were sent back in peace by the brothers and sisters to those who had sent them.

EXAMINE

What are the key points in this passage?

#1 | A doctrinal dispute had to be resolved

This is the first time Christians had to deal with a major question about particular beliefs

Acts 15:2 ...Paul and Barnabas and some others were appointed to go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem about this issue.

The Elders in Jerusalem were among the earliest followers of Jesus and pioneers of the Christian faith

#2 | The dispute was brought to the Elders

The people trusted the Elders of the Church to hear from the Lord

They were trusted because of their character, track-record, and shepherd-like hearts

Consider the words of their letter (Acts 15:24-29) and the qualifications for Elder that Paul would later explain (Titus 1:6-9 & 1 Timothy 3:2-7)

This shows that the early Church recognized and respected authority

They didn’t have a hyper-individualistic culture like ours

Consider Hebrews 13:17 “Obey your leaders and submit to them, since they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.”

#3 | There was room for debate and discussion among the leaders

No one tried to silence another - all were invited to give imput

They didn’t just bring the question to the “top-guy”

Acts 15:6–7 The apostles and the elders gathered to consider this matter. 7 After there had been much debate, Peter stood up...

Even James (the Leader of the Church in Jerusalem) (1) only made a summary decision, after the issue had been thoroughly discussed and agreement had started to form

Acts 15:13–19 After they stopped speaking, James responded, “Brothers, listen to me. 14 Simeon has reported how God first intervened to take from the Gentiles a people for his name. 15 And the words of the prophets agree with this… 19 Therefore, in my judgment, we should not cause difficulties for those among the Gentiles who turn to God,”

They understood that the Holy Spirit speaks through the community of believers

The scripture teaches that we should listen to the Holy Spirit together so we can check one another and confirm what we believe He is saying

1 Corinthians 14:29 “Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should evaluate.” - 1 Corinthians 14:36 “Or did the word of God originate from you, or did it come to you only?”

1 Thessalonians 5:20–21 “Don’t despise prophecies, 21 but test all things. Hold on to what is good.”

#4 | The decision (2) was received by the people

Why did the people trust the decision and receive it with joy?

Acts 15:31 When they read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement.

Think about the process that led to this decision:

It was based on scripture

It was confirmed through multiple trusted Elders

It provided protection and direction for the people

Any such decision ought to carry serious weight for people in the Church

The people clearly understood that questions of doctrine weren’t left up to each Christian to decide for themselves

This story challenges us and instructs us

We must reject the hyper-individualism of our culture

Proverbs 19:20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction so that you may be wise later in life.

1 Corinthians 8:2 If anyone thinks he knows anything, he does not yet know it as he ought to know it.

God has designed His church to hear from Him together

So we must expect Him to speak that way, and trust the message when He does

APPLY

Explore and apply the passage with these questions:

[These questions must be focused, yet very open-ended. Allow the conversation to go where people take it - we want to encourage everyone to share and explore the topics of the passage. You don’t have to ask all these questions. Sometimes a group may only get through one or two questions. Select the questions you think are right for the conversation. Then, as it comes time to wrap up, refocus the conversation to “land the plane.”]

What stood out to you in this story?

What are some ways the individualism of our culture has carried over into the way we follow Jesus and act in the church?

How do you feel challenged by today’s passage/lesson?

Where we want to “land the plane”

We must expect God to speak to us through our church leaders, and trusted and mature brothers and sisters in the faith - and be ready to receive correction and direction

REFLECT

Prayer Points for Today

Let’s confess any individualism or pride that has been keeping us from receiving correction or directions from others in the church

Devotional Question for the Week

The Holy Spirit has empowered each Christian to hear from the Lord and communicate it to others. (Acts 2:17,38-39) Keeping this in mind, how can you better involve other believers in your process of hearing from God?

FOOTNOTES

James, evidently the head of the church at Jerusalem, then took the floor and issued a summary statement. He was Jesus’ half brother and wrote the Epistle of James. Stanley D. Toussaint, “Acts,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 394.

The Gentiles were to abstain from three items: (a) food polluted by idols, (b) sexual immorality, and (c) the meat of strangled animals and … blood. Many Bible teachers say these are only ceremonial matters. The food polluted by idols is explained in verse 29 as “food sacrificed to idols” (cf. 22:15). This then, it is argued, looks at the same problem Paul discussed (1 Cor. 8–10). The abstinence from sexual immorality is explained as referring to the marriage laws of Leviticus 18:6–20. The prohibition against eating blood is taken to refer to Leviticus 17:10–14. All three prohibitions according to this interpretation look back to the Jewish ceremonial Law. However, it seems better to take these as moral issues. The reference to food polluted by idols should be taken in the sense of Revelation 2:14, 20. It was a usual practice among Gentiles to use an idol’s temple for banquets and celebrations. Paul also condemned the practice of Christians participating in these (1 Cor. 10:14–22). Fornication was such a common sin among the Gentiles that it was an accepted practice. The problem of immorality even persisted among Christians all too often, as is witnessed by the New Testament injunctions against it (cf. 1 Cor. 6:12–18, where Paul was evidently answering arguments in favor of immorality). The third prohibition goes back further than Leviticus 17; it looks back to Genesis 9, where God established the Noahic Covenant, a “contract” still in effect today. There God gave people the privilege of eating flesh but the blood was to be drained from it. All three prohibitions in Acts 15:20 are best taken in an ethical or moral sense. If this be so, they are still the responsibility of Christians today, even to the point of not eating blood sausage and raw meat. By not attending temple banquets, or being involved in fornication, or eating meat with blood in it, the Gentile Christians would be maintaining high moral standards and would keep from offending their Jewish brothers. There were Jews in every city who would be offended by Christians not following these strictures. These Israelites were well acquainted with these moral issues. Stanley D. Toussaint, “Acts,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 395–396.

No verse 34? Verse 34 is omitted by several important Greek manuscripts. [Which is why many modern translations now no longer include it] Perhaps a scribe added it later to explain the choice of Silas (v. 40).

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