I.     Introduction

A.  Review the idea of “Poisoning their minds” (14:2).

1.    This time of year I feel like my mind is being poisoned by politics.

a)    It has been said, “Politics is the gentle art of getting votes from the poor and campaign funds from the rich by promising to protect each from the other.”

b)    C. Richard Stone of Normal, IL, sends some quotes from what he calls “razor-sharp political minds.”

(1)  I believe that this country’s policies should be heavily biased in favor of nondiscrimination. –Bill Clinton

(2)  If we don’t make some changes, the status quo will remain the same. – Clinton staff member

(3)  I support efforts to limit the terms of members of the Congress, especially members of the House and members of the Senate. –Dan Quayle

(4)  I didn’t say that I didn’t say it. I said that I didn’t say that I said it. I want to make that very clear. – Former Michigan Governor George Romney

(5)  Those who survived the San Francisco earthquake said, “Thank God I’m still alive.” But, of course, those who died, their lives will never be the same again. – Senator Barbara Boxer

c)     The most blatant lies are found in the “issues” up for vote. There is no name assigned to the various issues for accountability and so the commercials are very creative and dishonest.

2.    A call for honesty and integrity.

II.   Body – Acts 15

A.  Acts 15: 1 – Correlation between Circumcision and Baptism

B.  Acts 15:6 – Church meeting involving debate (sharing of ideas and determined effort to find solutions)

1.    Love

2.    Diplomacy

C.  Acts 15: 31 – Encouragement, the key to caring.

III. Conclusion