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Ever wonder how a diverse church can stay united without watering down the gospel or trampling conscience? We walk through Acts 15—where the dispute in Antioch sent leaders to Jerusalem—and watch the early church model a Spirit-led, scripture-shaped path to agreement. Peter recalls the Spirit falling on Gentiles, James anchors the moment in Amos, and together the council affirms salvation by grace through faith while offering four practical guardrails for shared table fellowship.

From there, we wrestle with the tension between liberty and love. Why these four limits—idols, blood, strangled meat, and sexual immorality—and how do they relate to Paul’s later teaching on conscience in Romans and Corinthians? We talk about cultural customs versus moral absolutes, why the church must remove unnecessary barriers to the gospel, and how to choose restraint when freedom would cause a brother to stumble. The line “it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us” becomes a blueprint for discernment: seek God’s word, listen to God’s people, and trust the Spirit’s leading.

We also lean into the very human story of Paul and Barnabas parting ways over John Mark. Barnabas bets on restoration; Paul prioritizes mission reliability. The split is sharp but not bitter, and later Paul calls Mark useful—proof that convictions can diverge while love endures, and that time can redeem what tension strains. Along the way, we revisit core themes—grace that saves apart from works, good works that flow from faith, and the ongoing need to strengthen churches with encouragement and clarity.

Join us for a grounded, practical look at conflict, conscience, and community that speaks to leadership, church unity, and everyday discipleship. If this conversation helped you think more clearly about grace and wisdom, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.

Text us at 737-231-0605 with any questions.