The Difference Between Division and Multiplication (Acts 15:36-41)

Acts 15:36–41 ESV

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.” Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Introduction

If you’ve been around the church for any amount of time, you certainly know that Christians don’t always agree. Sometimes we differ in doctrine. Sometimes in worship style. Sometimes in how we choose to live out the mission.

And those differences often determine what church we end up calling home.

And as I was driving through Weatherford this week, I was reminded of just how many different churches fill our city. Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Pentecostal, and Non-Denominational—which, has become its own denomination. Each has its own rhythm, its own style, its own expression of the same gospel.

Some raise their hands high and shout, others cross their arms and bow their heads in silence. Some baptize babies, others baptize believers. Some have choirs, while others have drum kits.

And yet, when Jesus Christ is Lord and the gospel is proclaimed, we are still family on the same mission.

Remember what Jesus said in Mark 9:40:

“Whoever is not against us is for us.”

The disciples were frustrated because some people were doing ministry “outside” their group. And Jesus basically said, “They were never meant to follow you. They were meant to follow Me.”

Paul echoes that heart in 1 Corinthians 12:4-7:

“There are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; varieties of service, but the same Lord; varieties of activities, but the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”

Different gifts. Same Spirit. Different roles. Same mission.

So differences within the body don’t always mean division within the mission. In fact, God often multiplies His impact through all kinds of people in all kinds of churches revealing His one true gospel.

But here’s the question: How do we know when our differences honor God and when they divide us?

Let me put it simply:

Division decreases. Multiplication increases.

Are we losing people or are we sending people? Are we operating out of worldly withdrawals or being blessed by gospel goodbyes?

Division drains the church of its strength. It separates what God joined together. It shrinks what the Spirit is trying to grow. But multiplication spreads the gospel farther and grows the kingdom wider.

Division is driven by pride. Multiplication is driven by the Spirit.

If we follow the spirit of the world—our ego, our emotions, our need to be right—we divide, and the mission shrinks. But if we follow the Spirit of God—His humility, His love, His unity—we multiply, and the mission grows.

And that’s what we see here in Acts 15—two godly men, Paul and Barnabas. Both filled with the Spirit. Both devoted to Jesus. But they see the mission differently. They disagree. They part ways.

And yet—God uses it. And the Spirit turns what looks like division to the world into multiplication for the kingdom.

Because the difference between division and multiplication is the Spirit who sends us.

CHUNK #1

So, let us bring some context to this passage. Back in Acts 13:13 we read

Acts 13:13 ESV

Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem,

John Mark had joined Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey, but somewhere along the way—right after Bar-Jesus the magician was struck blind and Sergius Paulus, a Roman proconsul, came to faith—Mark turned back. Maybe it was too intense. Maybe the cost felt too high. Whatever the reason, he left in the middle of their very first mission.

So Paul and Barnabas pressed on. They preached the gospel, saw the Spirit move, and faced fierce persecution. Paul was even stoned and left for dead.

And by the time they returned to Jerusalem, they had seen both revival and rejection. Then came the Jerusalem Council—where the apostles affirmed that salvation is by grace through faith, not by the law.

And now, after some time back in Antioch, Paul’s heart burns again for the mission. This is where our text begins.

Acts 15:36 ESV

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.”

That’s Paul’s heart. He’s ready to get back on the road. Back to the churches they planted. He wants to check in. To encourage. To strengthen. To remind these believers that the grace of God is still enough for them.

That desire is a good desire. It’s the heart of a shepherd. He’s not trying to control them. He’s not trying to check boxes or boost numbers. He genuinely loves the people God has called him to lead.

And if you read Paul’s letters, you see it everywhere:

Philippians 1:8 — “For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.” Romans 1:11–12 — “I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you—that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.”

That’s his motivation—mutual encouragement. He doesn’t want to just plant churches that gain crowds—he wants to plant churches that multiply disciples.

So that is the heart behind the beginning of this second missionary journey. To encourage the brothers to continue in the grace of our Lord. The mission was right, but the method on how to live out that mission would soon differ.

CHUNK #2

Let’s read Acts 15:37-39

Acts 15:37–39 ESV

Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. 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. And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus,

Now what happened in Acts 13 is coming back around to test Paul. He’s reminded of how unreliable Mark can be. How he deserted them at a time when they really needed him.

Probably pretty consistently thinking about how he had to deal with being ran out of towns, and nearly being beaten to death, all while John Mark was back home at his mother Mary’s place, sleeping in his comfy bed and having homecooked meals night after night. Dwelling on this probably angered Paul all the more.

And so there arose a sharp disagreement among Paul and Barnabas over Mark.

Barnabas says, “Let’s give Mark another chance.” Paul says, “No. He quit on us once.”

But don’t miss this. Scripture never says who was right.

That’s intentional. Because the point isn’t who won the argument—the point is what God did with it.

Both men were acting in faith. Both men were moved by conviction. Both men were filled with the same Spirit. Barnabas was gifted to restore people. Paul was gifted to advance the mission. Different gifts—same Spirit.

This is why it is important to understand who we are and how we are wired as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Let me make it real. I know a pastor in Michigan who believes in everyone. It is a beautiful gift of his, and it is part of him, because of his story. People believed in him when they probably shouldn’t have and God used that to change his life. But this brother is so compassionate that when our Acts 29 network goes to form assessment teams for new planters, he is allowed to speak life into the pastors who serve on these teams, but he is not allowed to serve on these team—because he can never say “no.” And those teams need people who know how to say no, for the good of the church. But he saw potential everywhere.

That’s Barnabas. He’s mercy-first. He sees what people could be.

Paul, on the other hand, leans toward structure and strategy. He’s counting the cost. He knows what lies ahead. And he doesn’t think Mark is ready for it. He’s conviction-first. He sees what the mission requires.

I tend to operate a bit more like Barnabas. I see in people what they don’t see in themselves, or others don’t see, because that’s part of my story. That’s a gift—that can also get me into trouble. Because sometimes I move faster than I should. I can unknowingly pressure others to move forward before they are ready. Or put people in places they have no business being. But God in His goodness, has given me people who slow me down, who help me discern, who remind me that pace and wisdom often go hand in hand.

But there are others who will never move forward because they are continually counting the costs, and thinking of all the things that could go wrong. Which can cause analysis paralysis.

There are times with my wife where she will be praying through something, looking for clarity and discernment, and I’m like…are we still thinking about that? That was yesterday. I thought we moved on already.

But those different gifts are from the same Spirit as they lead us toward humility instead of pride.

And we need both gifts, to balance each other out. She slows me down to consider; I urge her to trust and move. Together we reflect more of Jesus than either of us could alone.

And it’s the same with Paul and Barnabas. Different gifts. Same Spirit. They understood how they were wired. And this understanding did not create an arrogance in themselves, but an awareness of who they were created to be in Christ.

CHUNK #3

Let’s keep reading,

Acts 15:39–41 ESV

Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Here’s what I love, nobody quit the mission of God. Or went about that mission with a self-righteous chip on their shoulder. They just went in different directions.

Barnabas and Mark head toward Cyprus to restore and strengthen believers. And Paul and Silas head north through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening churches and planting new ones.

So, two separate paths, but one Spirit sending them both.

And let’s take a look at how both men are operating out of their gifting.

Barnabas—whose very name means “son of encouragement,” has been true to that name since we first met him in Acts 4. Look at Acts 4:36-37

“Joseph, who was called Barnabas by the apostles … sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.”

From the start, Barnabas was the guy who believed in the mission so deeply he gave everything for it.

Then again in Acts 9:26-27—when everyone was terrified of Paul, Barnabas is the one who brings him in, vouches for him, and says, “I’ve seen the change. This man really has met Jesus.” That’s who Barnabas is. He has been gifted to see the best in people before others see it, or they see it themselves.

So when he looks at Mark, he sees possibility, not failure. He believes the Spirit can finish what He started. And he’s right—because that same Mark will eventually write one of the four Gospel accounts in our Bible.

Then there’s Paul. Who takes Silas… a brother who had already been trusted by the church and proven faithful. That detail matters. Because it demonstrates the humility and maturity the Spirit is growing in Paul.

What I mean by that is, since being called by the Lord, his confidence is no longer coming from himself, but from the intrinsic authority of God, through the delegated authority of the church. Remember last week when he went all the way to Jerusalem to handle a dispute that he already knew the answer to? He’s learning to operate out of Spirit-dependence not self-reliance.

And this is a gift to the church.

Because when leaders have an awareness of their brokenness, it will always keep them from an arrogance in self.

Like I don’t know if you know this or not, but humility doesn’t come our way because we work really hard for it. It’s actually the opposite. Humility comes our way as we become aware of something greater than us. This is why we should do things that are hard for us…often. Learn an instrument, or a new language, or go to ATOS Jiu Jitsu and get your tail whooped. Nothing will humble you more than understanding just how far from perfection you are.

Spirituality works the same way. True spiritual humility comes only as God gives us the eyes to see our sinfulness in view of His holiness. Our brokenness in view of His perfection. He is the standard and everyone of us will always fall short. Gazing upon His holiness, will remove any arrogance in self.

And our brother Paul knows the danger of his self-reliance. He’s seen how he can hurt others with it…all he has to do is remember Stephen. So he moves forward with caution, not because he doesn’t know what to do, but because he trusts God’s leading more than his own instincts.

And this is what sanctification looks like—it’s confidence tempered by humility. Paul says later in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 that God gave him a thorn in the flesh “to keep him from becoming conceited.” Ending with this phrase, “When I am weak, then I am strong.”

Paul rejoiced in his weakness because it humbled him to continually rely on the true power of Christ. The story of his past is shaping the direction of his future. Hallelujah!

So both men—Paul and Barnabas—are walking in obedience. Both are being shaped by grace. Both are serving the same Lord.

And look at how God multiplies the mission through their obedience:

Paul and Silas will soon meet Timothy (Acts 16), who we will hear a lot more about next week, bringing another leader into the fold.

Their journey into Macedonia will take the gospel to Europe for the first time.

And Barnabas’ investment in Mark will bear fruit for generations through the writing of the Gospel of Mark.

If that’s not multiplication, I don’t know what is.

Disagreements do not always dishonor God. Sometimes we disagree because God is doing more through us separately than He could ever do through us together.

God took this one disagreement and used it to:

Double their missionary efforts,

Expand the gospel into new regions,

Develop new leaders, and

Demonstrate His power to redeem even our relational conflicts.

And the best part is that this story does not end in bitterness. Years later God’s Word is kind enough to show us the fruit of it all,

Paul writes to Timothy near the end of his life:

“Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.” — 2 Timothy 4:11

We don’t see exactly how it happened, but grace restored what disagreement had separated. Paul wrote to Timothy to bring him Mark. The same Timothy that Paul and Silas met on this missionary journey. This is what God does through His Spirit at work in our lives. He redeems and uses what the world believes is broken. Even when He sends us in different directions…though it might not look like it from our point of view, the story doesn’t end—it actually expands.

This is beautiful. Where the world sees denominations and thinks, how divisive those Christians are, we can actually see denominations and marvel at how diverse His kingdom is. Different roofs. Different rhythms. Different roles. But one Lord. One faith. One mission.

Division decreases. Multiplication increases. Because the same Spirit sending Paul and Silas was sending Barnabas and Mark.

Think of the Big C Church like a symphony. The violins and trumpets don’t play the same notes. The percussion beats a different rhythm than the strings. But when every section follows the same Conductor, the sound becomes breathtaking.

So it is today: The Baptist preaching downtown, The Methodist discipling in homes, The Pentecostal praying for healing— All part of one symphony under one Conductor.

Different notes. One melody. Different churches. One Christ.

CHUNK #4

Now this passage is not an excuse for us to walk away every time we disagree with others. But it is an invitation to walk in step with the Spirit—to know His voice, and to discern His sending.

And how do we do that? How will we know His voice?

Church, you have to seek it.

Make space for Him in the quiet. Through spending time in His Word, or praying…that is speaking, but also just listening. And in order to listen, we need to make space away from distraction. Pastor Jim Essian says, “You barely hear your wife’s voice when the game is on…don’t expect to hear God’s while you’re distracted.” Find spaces to be still and know that He is God.

And intentionally make space for this throughout your day. I’ve given you a few options on how that can look this week.

In the weekly email I sent on Wednesday, there’s a section entitled Family Worship at Home. I encourage you to go through it, with your family and your spouse. Read the passage together. Ask the questions. Let the Spirit lead your time.

Or if you’re in a Vine Group, I’ve asked your group leaders to make time to pray for another church in our city. This will help us remember that we are not competitors, but co-laborers on the same mission to see Jesus high and lifted up. And also if you are in a Vine Group and you feel the Lord preparing you to lead your own, talk to your group leader about how you can multiply.

And if you’re not in a Vine Group or don’t get the weekly emails, I want to challenge you with this simple rhythm: Spend five minutes in the morning, five minutes at lunch, five minutes in the evening in the Word and prayer. If you do that all 7 days, that’s 105 minutes dedicated and intentional moments with the Lord. Do this by yourself. With your spouse. With your family. However that looks. Ask the Spirit to speak. Ask for ears to hear. And then obey. Sometimes you’ll realize He’s already shown you the answer, you just have to obey His leading. He will certainly lead you places you don’t always want to go, but if He’s the one sending, you will not have peace until you say yes. Like sometimes the situations and circumstances he’s calling you into aren’t ideal. They might even seem chaotic or constricting in some way. But He promises to be your anchor. That deep root system that continually gives you life and rest even in those places. This is why Paul can rejoice from prison and James can say consider it all joy when hard things happen. Because they keep you coming back to the source.

And if He’s not the one sending, and you are just running away to find more comfort or support or whatever it is you are looking for that’s not Him…you will soon learn, as author Ryan Holiday said, “you can’t escape with your body problems that exist within your mind and soul.” Wherever you go, whatever you do, your anxiety and your sadness will pack their bags and go there with you. And some of you today are unable to hear the voice of the Lord in your life, because you’re avoiding the pain that is keeping you from Him. This is why it is important to do story work, to understand why you respond to things the way that you do. To understand those things you avoid. Like they don’t get to haunt you anymore. They don’t get to keep you from the grace of Jesus, unless you keep hiding them and giving them the power they don’t deserve.

Real rest. That deep, soul-level rest, only comes when you stop running from and start turning toward Jesus. The One who promised,

That if we come to Him with our heavy burdens, He will give us rest.”

The One who promised to finish the good work that He started in each one of us.

And the one who holds all things together, especially His church.

Nothing in God’s economy is wasted. When He sends us in different directions, even through sharp disagreements with one another, our separation brings multiplication, not division…because He’s the one sending. Division drains the church of its strength and shrinks what the Spirit is trying to grow. But multiplication spreads the gospel farther and grows the kingdom wider then we could ever ask or think or imagine.

Let’s Pray

Communion – The Table of Unity

As we come to the table today, remember: Jesus broke Himself to bring us together.

So as you come, come humbly. Come gratefully. Come remembering His grace.

And if today the act of communion feels monotonous—if your heart feels numb—take that as an invitation to pause. Use this time to pray, to worship, to ask God to renew your affection for Him.

This table is not just a ritual—but a reminder: That what looks like loss in the moment can lead to kingdom multiplication. The broken body of Christ became the means of redemption for the world.

So as we gather together, let me remind us of what this meal is:

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 ESV

That the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Church, as you go this week, I want to leave you with a quote from Saint Augustine of Hippo.

“In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things, charity.” — Augustine

May we remember, The same Spirit who sent Paul and Barnabas sends us. Let your differences display God’s diversity, and your life declare His grace. Go in Peace.