The goal of this lesson is to help believers resolve conflict in ways that are designed to produce positive results. How do you handle conflict? abrasively, avoidance, ignore it, bottle it in until you explode???
Questions to consider:
Why should we expect conflict within the church?What issues cause conflict within the church?
Can conflict be productive?
Must conflict be a win-lose situation?
How should Christians resolve conflict?
Acts 15:1-2 Agree to Resolve the Issues
The Council at Jerusalem
1Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: "Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved." 2This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.
What is the conflict here?
a. theological issues-how a person is saved and whether they have to become circumcised like a Jewish person to receive Christ
a. theological issues-how a person is saved and whether they have to become circumcised like a Jewish person to receive Christ
b. practical issues-Jewish-Gentile relationships and expectations of Gentiles
What can happen when conflict within a church goes unresolved?
(split, some leave, stagnant, turn outsiders offf)
The first step in resolving conflict is acknowledging a problem(or difference) between 2 or more parties and there is an agreement to try and resolve it.
Acts 15:6-12 Discuss the Issues
6The apostles and elders met to consider this question. 7After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: "Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. 8God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. 10Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? 11No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."
12The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.
12The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.
How were the Gentiles saved? By grace as were the Jewish believers
How were they "testing" God by putting a yoke on them?
v7 After much debate Peter took the floor. Peter's argument was from his own experience. He was able to share the gospel with Gentiles. He states that there is no difference between Jew and Gentile to God. The real purity came by faith, not thru some custom such as circumcism. The yoke was a sense of legalism.
Acts 15:13-15 Look to the Scriptures
13When they finished, James spoke up: "Brothers, listen to me. 14Simon(Peter) has described to us how God at first showed his concern by taking from the Gentiles a people for himself. 15The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:
13When they finished, James spoke up: "Brothers, listen to me. 14Simon(Peter) has described to us how God at first showed his concern by taking from the Gentiles a people for himself. 15The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:
James, Jesus' 1/2 brother was a leader in the Jerusalem church and basically he refers to the scriptures of the old testament. He then sums up what was basically debated and in verse 19 he hands down a judgment.
19"It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.
The rest of the chapter basically is a letter to the Gentiles from the council that basically says some people were telling you wrong, you do not have to get circumcised in order to receive Christ.
We had 8 in attendance today and I do not feel that I wrapped the lesson up that well. We had a lot of discussion and everyone participate though. I think my hope was that we learn how to handle conflict. I usually try to avoid it or ignore it. I also think we need to be careful to note impose what we "think" is proper for someone who is ready to receive Christ. Something like telling them that they are not saved until they are baptised would be one thing that is contrary to the scriptures.
The worship service was youth led and it was refreshing to be reminded that the youth have a great mission field and they are so very capable of reaching others for Christ. A stat was shared that 85% of people receive Christ before they leave high school. Once someone becomes an adult it is much harder to reach that person.
