SF293 - HOW TO DEAL WITH DIFFERENCES (Acts 11 1-8)

@PAGE NUMBER = SF293

@TITLE = HOW TO DEAL WITH DIFFERENCES

@LEVEL ONE = ACTS 11:1‑18

@LEVEL ONE = INTRODUCTION

@ILL TITLE = NOT ON SPEAKING TERMS

@ILL TEXT = A stubborn old farmer was plowing his field.  A neighbor, who was watching as he tried to guide the mule, finally said, "I don't want to butt in, but you could save yourself a lot of work by saying `gee' and `haw', instead of jerking on the reins." The oldtimer mopped his brow and replied, "Yep, I know; but this here mule kicked me 6 years ago, and I ain't spoke to him since!"

@LEVEL TWO = Background Of Antioch

@LEVEL FOUR = 3rd largest city

@LEVEL FOUR = 500,000 population

@LEVEL FOUR = Melting pot for all peoples and cultures

@LEVEL FOUR = Wicked ‑ center of worship of Daphne ‑ immorality

@LEVEL FOUR = Roman officials retired there

@LEVEL FOUR = Will become the second most important city to Christianity next to Jerusalem

@LEVEL FOUR = Offered the greatest challenge yet to the unity of the church

@LEVEL THREE = Whenever there is growth there will be differences

@LEVEL ONE = 1A. ACCEPT EACH OTHER FOR WHO WE ARE

@LEVEL TWO = 1B. Understand Our Differences (vv.6‑8)

@LEVEL THREE = 1C. Religious Differences

@LEVEL FOUR = Gentile vs. Jews

@LEVEL THREE = 2C. Cultural Differences

@LEVEL FOUR = Greek vs. Jewish

@LEVEL THREE = 3C. Racial Differences

@LEVEL FOUR = European vs. Mid‑Eastern

@LEVEL THREE = 4C. Social Differences

@LEVEL FOUR = Ruler vs. Ruled

@LEVEL TWO = 2B. Unite In Our Similarities (vv.15‑17)

@LEVEL THREE = 1C. Serve the same God

@SCRIPTURE = 1CO 12:13<R>For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body‑‑whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free‑‑and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

@LEVEL THREE = 2C. Share the same Grace

@SCRIPTURE = JUD 1:3<R>Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.

@LEVEL THREE = 3C. Seek the same Goal

@SCRIPTURE = PHI 1:27<R>Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel

@LEVEL ONE = 2A. ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER IN THE LORD

@LEVEL TWO = 1B. The Model Of Encouragement 

@LEVEL THREE = 1C. His Name (v.22)

@LEVEL FOUR = Barnabas = "son of encouragement

@LEVEL THREE = 2C. His Nature (v.24)

@LEVEL FOUR = Good man = to benefit

@LEVEL FOUR = Spiritual leader = "full of..."

@LEVEL FOUR = Soul winner = "a great number..."

@LEVEL TWO = 2B. The Method Of The Encourager (v.23)

@LEVEL THREE = 1C. He looked for the right Thing

@LEVEL FOUR = "evidence..."

@LEVEL THREE = 2C. He reacted the right Way

@LEVEL FOUR = "glad"

@LEVEL THREE = 3C. He emphasized the right Person

@LEVEL FOUR = "...the Lord..."

@LEVEL ONE = 3A. HELP EACH OTHER IN TIMES OF NEED (vv.27‑30)

@LEVEL TWO = 1B. The Responsibility Of Family

@LEVEL FOUR = "brothers"

@LEVEL FOUR = Jerusalem 300 miles away

@LEVEL TWO = 2B. The Relationship Between The Spiritual And The Material

@SCRIPTURE = GAL 6:6<R>Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor.

@LEVEL TWO = 3B. The Requirement In Giving

@LEVEL FOUR = "according to his ability..."

@ILL TITLE = WINSTON CHURCHILL

@ILL TEXT = "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."

@LEVEL ONE = CONCLUSION

@LEVEL TWO = Key

@SCRIPTURE = ACT 11:18<R>When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, "So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life."

@LEVEL THREE = "repentance unto life."

@LEVEL TWO = We Must...

@LEVEL THREE = ACCEPT EACH OTHER FOR WHO WE ARE

@LEVEL THREE = ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER IN THE LORD

@LEVEL THREE = HELP EACH OTHER IN TIMES OF NEED