Getting along- 1 Cor1031
1 Cor. 10:31 Open Bible Baptist Church Sunday School 2/17/08
Wouldn’t it be great if we Christians could get along. After all it seems that we should be able to. We are have the same Lord, the same spirit and all are called to do the same thing- glorify Him.
We’ve all witnessed arguments, gossip sessions and even church splits. How can it be that Christians don’t always get along?
Look at an intense disagreement that happened in the Bible between two godly individuals. Its amazing the Holy Spirit chose to tell us of this problem.
I. The Friendship
A. There were a great number of Gentiles being saved due to the preaching of the folks for Jerusalem. That disturbed some of the leaders in Jerusalem and they needed to send someone to check on the situation.
1. Acts 4:36-37- Barnabas was their choice. He was a Jew and knew the law and that was important to them, plus he could speak the language.
2. Acts 11:23-24- the work prospered to such a degree that Barnabas could no longer handle the load. He needed some help. He knew just who to reach out to.
a. Acts 11:25-26-
1. Look what Barnabas had done for Paul earlier – Acts 9:26-29-
B. The first team ministry had been born
1. When Antioch wanted to send some money to famine Christians in Jerusalem they used Barnabas and Paul to deliver it. They seemed like a sure fit.
2. Acts 13:1- they entered into a new ministry.
3. Acts 14:26-28 – later they return to Antioch and reported in.
II. The Tension
A. There had been several rifts between Paul and Barnabas. We hear little about it but look how Paul writes in Gal. 2:13. Dissimulation- hypocrisy. This problem was never dealt with.
B. Acts 15:36-38- this turned out to be a major incident. You would think that they would have been able to sit down and talk it out. Richard Strauss- But agreeable solutions are not usually found when unresolved feelings are already running deep. We have been hurt, and our hurt may have settled into a lingering, low-grade anger that we are probably not even willing to admit to ourselves. And now, even a minor disagreement becomes a major issue to us. We say to ourselves, “I’m not going to let him do that to me again. I’m going to take my stand right here, and I’m not backing down. If I let him take advantage of me this time, there’s no telling what he’ll try to do next”.
C. Acts 15:39-40-
III. The Contention
A. Why do these disagreements happen
1. Pride- many times if our opinions are rejected then we feel that has something to do with our self- worth. So what do we do – we dig in. I’m going to win this one. A careful reading of the book of Acts will reveal that at first Barnabas was the leader of the pack but later Paul seems to be the one in charge. Barnabas probable had some hurt feelings.
2. Inadequate information about the situation – we are quick to form opinions and jump to conclusions without having all the facts. Once our judgment is formed concerning someone we seem to think all their actions are like their past ones- we don’t think people can change.
3. Lack of communication- we find it easier to accuse and reprimand that to get the the base of the problem.
IV. The Solution
A. Learn to admit to our feelings and talk about them
1. I felt put down when you said that can we talk about it.
2. Open honest talk- don’t put it off.
3. Not about what the other person did wrong but your feelings towards it
B. Allow differences of opinion
1. Richard Strauss- God did not make us all from the same mold. We have different backgrounds and we think differently about things. If God can accept all of us with our differences, certainly we can learn to accept each other.
C. Be quick to forgive- . We are all human. We are going to let our old sin natures and psychological hang-ups get the best of us at times, and we are going to say the wrong things in the wrong way. We need to be patient and understanding with each other, and willing to forgive.
Handling Critics
1- Maintain a gentle and humble spirit (Num. 12:3)
2. Make sure you understand what the critic is saying. Let’s don’t have any misunderstandings. Many time hard feelings have lingered among Christians because the parties didn’t understand what the other was talking about. Give the critic an opportunity to explain themselves
3. Find the truth in the situation. Don’t be hesitate to admit your failures.
4. Ask for help in finding a solution to the problem.
a. Discovering a mutually agreeable course of action becomes the common goal that helps us overcome our differences.
1. How would you advise handling the problem.
b. Counter criticism will only escalate the problem.