Listen to Glisten: Fallout

Listen to Glisten: Band of Broken Brothers

Acts 15:22-23; Acts 15:36-16:5

22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers...

36 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.” 37 Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. 38 But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. 39 And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Chapter 16 Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. 2 He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.

Introduction:

Kyregmatic History:

“Preached History”

These stories aren’t merely history, they are more than that. They are preached history.

BUT, sometimes it’s hard to figure out: How do these things apply to our lives today:

Theme: “God draws straight lines with crooked sticks.”

Observations about the text and then a corresponding lesson

Last Week: 2 Points, this week 4

Split the difference:

Luke(’s)warm Judgement

Barnabas’ Ministry of Mentorship

Luke(’s)warm Judgement

Fighting over John Mark

Sense of word: “A state of intense emotional turmoil”

Get into the moment, the emotion:

Paul: “We can’t take this guy? Don’t you remember how he took off in(?)?!”

Barnabas: “But Paul, he deserves a second chance!”

Paul: “Forget about it, Barnabas, no second chances. I’m still not over this!”

Barnabas: “Second chances? You kidding me, Paul? Why do you think I invested in you in the first place! While every one was suspicious towards you, I brought you with me.”

Paul: “Don’t compare me to him. That’s completely different!”

Barnabas: “How is that different!?”

Assume that they spoke words they didn’t mean??

I imagine Paul being wrong here… I can’t imagine Barnabas being wrong. He’s such a godly man. Always takes back stage. Though Paul’s mentor, constantly props him up.

BUT, the text doesn’t get into who’s right and who’s wrong...

Luke make a lukewarm judgment:

What does Luke do?

Just records the facts

There was a sharp disagreement: Paul went one way. Barnabas went that way.

We are left with nothing else but a bitter taste in our mouths:

RIGHT AFTER THE JERUSALEM COUNCIL:

ONE VOICE. ONE GOSPEL.

And now Barnabas and his protege split....

We can Learn Luke’s Lukewarm Judgement when Talking about Conflict

Lesson #1: State vs. Speculate

Don’t belabor the issue/speculate

Don’t Embellish.

Don’t get into who was right who was wrong.

Don’t make people look bad.

Don’t say anyone even sinned in their anger.

Don’t gossip.

2. Barnabas’ Ministry of Mentorship

Last week: Peter exits the stage in this book on a high note.

So does Barnabas: He’s off back home to be a missionary in Cyprus with his cousin.

Paul’s Legacy:

Act 9:26: And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles...

Acts 14: Barnabas=Zeus, Paul=Hermes

First: “Barnabas and Paul”

Later: “Paul and Barnabas”

Mark’s Legacy:

I Peter 5:13: She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings, and so does Mark, my son.

Gospels written after Pauline Epistles: Mark recorded the Gospel of Mark based on the stories of Peter.

Paul takes Silas:

40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Was part of the Jerusalem Council

Responsible for distributing the Letter to Antioch

Understood Grace first

15:32-33: “And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words. 33 And after they had spent some time, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them.

Lesson #2: Gospel Ministry and Mentorship

Helping someone based on your wisdom and experience

Do you have someone you call a mentor?

Do you mentor someone?

Do you take people along with you?

Are you doing Ministry Together?

3. The Curious Case of Timothy

Timothy: What do we do with Timothy?

Remember what the Whole Jerusalem Council was all about?

Acts 15:1: “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

Acts 15: 5: Pharisees rose up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.”

It was decided that this was a bad thing to insist on things God no longer insisted on.

Letter: Require “no greater burden!”

Galatians 5:2-3: Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. 3 I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law.

I Corinthians 7:18-20: Let him not seek circumcision. 19 For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. 20 Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called.

3 Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

What is happening here?? Did Paul make a mistake here??

Paul didn’t want to fight over non-essentials?

John Stott: “Little minds would have condemned him for inconsistency. But there was a deep consistency in his thought and action. Once the principle had been established that circumcision was not necessary for salvation, he was ready to make concessions in policy. What was unnecessary for acceptance with God was advisable for acceptance by some human beings.”

20 Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called.

Timothy: Half-Jew, wouldn’t have been able to join Paul in preaching to the Jews.

This is no longer about defining the Gospel. This is about accommodation FOR the Gospel.

Two Lessons:

1. Don’t water down the Gospel

Fight for the precious Jewel of the Gospel

Don’t discolor it, hide it, or chip away at it.

Gospel is the hope for the world! THE CRUCIFIED CHRIST IS ALIVE TODAY!

2. Accommodate where you can to win others over for Christ

Example:

One of my Java Jive Friends: Steve. So I’ve been talking to Steve for years. Actually, more accurately, I’ve been listening to Steve for years. Friendly guy and loves to talk. This past week was the first time he every asked me about being a pastor.

“So what church do you pastor at?”

“Christian Reformed Church. Sort of like Presbyterian.”

“Oh, so like mainline.”

Thinking: “How do I nuance a response to that assertion?”

But he cuts in before I can give a thoughtful response and says, “I like liberal churches. I grew up in a church where it was all fire and brim stone every week.” He called his church and it’s leadership hypocritical. He talked a lengthy about how all the leadership in the church brewed moonshine on the side but yet preached a tea-toddler lifestyle…

Now, I was just sitting there thrilled that he was willing to talk church shop with me. It’s taken me a while to get to this point and I want to keep building on this conversation. Now I’ve got something to talk about with him moving forward.

Now I’m thinking, “How can we remove labels here? How can we viewed not as ‘non-mainline’, but Gospel Centered. Christ Centered. A place where politically loaded labels don’t work with us because we believe in a Kingship here!

Last Reflection:

4. Short-Term Departure vs. Long-Term Division

This was a relational short-term departure, but it didn’t last!

Just a coupe of years later...

Did Paul and Barnabas make amends?

We don’t know all the details...

Paul asks a bunch of questions to defend himself against being judged by other people:

Saul and Barnabas

I Corinthians 9:6: Is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living?

Written a few years later, but he does clump himself with Barnabas as two who work as full time missionaries. Still partners in ministry in that sense!

Saul and Timothy

Mark ended up being a valuable ministry partner with Paul!

Colossians 4:10: Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions—if he comes to you, welcome him)

Philemon 23-24: Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you, 24 and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.

II Timothy 4:11: Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.

Disagreements are inevitable… I know for myself, I can do bonehead things and say things I shouldn’t have said…

Grace shapes: