Building the Church (16)

Building the Church

Welcome back

How did you see God move this week?

A man stranded on an island for 5 years was finally rescued one day. The man rescuing him noticed he had built 3 huts. He asked him what they were for. The man said, “One was my house, and one was my church.” The rescuer said, “Okay, that makes sense, but what about the 3rd hut?” The man replied, “That was the church I used to go to before the church split.”

Its seems that the easiest way to get more churches is when they split.

Churches have split over the silliest things:

Argument over the appropriate length of the worship pastor’s beard

A church argument and vote to decide if a clock in the worship center should be removed

A fight over which picture of Jesus to put in the foyer

An argument on whether the church should allow deviled eggs at the church meal

A disagreement over using the term “potluck” instead of “pot blessing” 

Some church members left the church because one church member hid the vacuum cleaner from them. It resulted in a major fight and split

These are ridiculous

It could the way we did things, a change in style, the type of people we are attracting

So many times we get locked into the small things.

I am not saying there are things we should stand up for - the truth of Scripture, Christ alone, the sovereignty of God, and many more.

That is what we at looking at today.

How do we address our differences and conflicts.

Jesus prayed:

John 17:20–21 ESV

20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

Unity shows the world they can believe in Christ

We do this by:

Keeping the Main Things the Main Thing

Let’s pray

Keeping the Main Things the Main Thing

Believers all belong to the same Lord, and are thus one with each other. Therefore anything that denies our oneness with each other denies our oneness with Him.

 John MacArthur

Keeping the Main Things the Main Thing

We left off with the Gospel spreading and churches being started.

The doors had been opened to reach the Gentile world, and it was happening.

This brought new and very different people into the mix.

Things were changing fast, and when thigs change, many have a tendency to hold onto things of the past.

Change will cause tension and growth is many time painful

For young newly growing church, this could of ended it all

So let’s first look at :

The Dispute

Acts 15:1 ESV

1 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.”

The Dispute

This did not sit well with Paul and Barnabas

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.

The Dispute

Basically they were saying that a Gentile must first become Jew to become a Christian.

Trust Jesus and obey Moses

It is always Christ alone, never Christ and...

Off to Jerusalem where it all began to get a final answer on this

Paul and Barnabas believed that the Gospel alone was reaching the Gentiles and told everyone along the way.

Acts 15:3–4 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.

The Dispute

Even with the amazing events of this Missionary journey, there were still those dug in,

Acts 15:5 ESV

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.”

The Defense

“Defending the faith to the best of our ability is not a luxury or an indulgence in intellectual vanity. It is the task given to each one of us as we bear witness to our faith before the world.” ― R.C. Sproul 

The Defense

First there was precedent about the Gentile be given the Gospel

Acts 15:6–7 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.

Acts 15:8–9 ESV

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.

The Defense

Peter stood up and reminded them what God was doing. The walls had been torn down.

Peter reminded them

It is always Grace alone, never grace and..

Acts 15:10–11 ESV

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.”

The Defense

They and no one was ever able keep the whole law showing our need for Grace.

Peter’s experience was not a one time thing.

It was happening wherever Paul and Barnabas went

Acts 15:12 ESV

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.

The Defense

Finally James reveals this was and is God's plan for the future.

Acts 15:14–15 ESV

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,

Acts 15:16–17 ESV

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

The Decision

Acts 15:19 ESV

19 Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God,

Is what we require, helpful or hurtful for growth in faith

The Decision

We all must make concession for the unity of the church.

Acts 15:20–21 ESV

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.”

The Decision

No idolatry, immorality

Food - was to keep unity as the early was prone to eat together regularly

The goal was unity

It accomplished its goal

Acts 15:22–23 ESV

22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers, 23 with the following letter: “The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings.

Keeping the Main Things the Main Thing

They kept what tied them together instead of focusing what could drive them apart.

Acts 15:24–26 ESV

24 Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, 25 it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Acts 15:27–29 ESV

27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: 29 that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”

Keeping the Main Things the Main Thing

When we stick to the main things - the Gospel grows

Acts 15:30–31 ESV

30 So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. 31 And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement.

Keeping the Main Things the Main Thing

Every goes back to what was happening

The church continued to grow.

Acts 15:33–35 ESV

33 And after they had spent some time, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them. 35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

Keeping the Main Things the Main Thing

God has opened a door for us to take the Gospel everywhere

There are people whom will try to block the door or even close it.

A unified church with its eye focused on building God’ kingdom will not be stopped.

There is a different kind of unity enjoyed by the joining of diverse counterparts than is enjoyed by joining two things just alike. When we all sing the same melody line it is called unison, which means “one sound.” But when we unite diverse lines of soprano and alto and tenor and bass, we call it harmony; and everyone who has an ear to hear knows that something deeper in us is touched by great harmony than by mere unison. - John Piper

Next week - The end of Acts 15 and Acts 16