Council

At the last meeting I talked about one of the reasons why the process of discerning, setting goals and making plans for the future can fail or struggle (I talked about this yesterday). If we aren’t in close relationship with Jesus, if we aren’t able to listen to what God is saying to us, what we plan will not last. We want something sustainable.

We are a leadership body. We make important decisions, and set direction and make priorities. But we can’t lead others where we aren’t willing to go ourselves. Spiritual disciplines sustain us when hard times come. One of the biggest barriers to this process will be lack of spiritual disciplines.

The next greatest barrier to our work is conflict. Conflict is unavoidable. We come with different ideas, different passions, different interpretations of the Bible, different personalities and different styles of communication.

In Acts we see a successful Church: the Holy Spirit is being poured out on the leaders, people are coming to Christ, new missionaries are being called.

But they had serious conflicts on the way. I want to read about 2:

they were unified; they grew;

Acts 2:1–2 NIV

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.

they were unified; they grew;

were they one happy family? did they have agreements along the way?

Barnabas and Paul (Saul)

Acts 13:1–3 NIV

Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

But they fell out hard.

Acts 15:36–41 NIV

Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord. He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Acts 14:

Their ministry expanded. Even our disagreements can further our Kingdom work.

2 Timothy 4:11 NIV

Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.

2 Timothy

Peter and Paul

Galatians 2:8–9 NIV

For God, who was at work in Peter as an apostle to the circumcised, was also at work in me as an apostle to the Gentiles. James, Cephas and John, those esteemed as pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised.

Galatians 2P

A fierce argument. Paul confronts Peter for his hypocrisy.

Galatians 2:11–13 NIV

When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.

Galatians 2:11-13

Damage was done because of Peter’s hypocrisy, but it created an opportunity for Paul to clarify the Gospel.

They were reconciled, and recognized each other as partners in the Gospel.

2 Peter 3:14–15 NIV

So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.

Conclusion

2 Corinthians 5:18 NIV

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: