Paul begins his second missionary journey returning to Iconium where he meets his most prominent disciple Timothy. Though legitimate disagreements separated him from Barnabas, it brought more opportunities and individuals into the work God was doing through him.

1. Jesus has the power to protect you from harm as much as give you the strength to endure it wherever He's called you.

2. There is nothing wrong with having disagreements on secondary issues even between Christians.

3. It is a miracle whenever we are capable of sharing and showing God's heart to others.

In light of prophetically significant events taking place in Israel, we would do well to remind ourselves and each other what is and isn't true concerning Bible prophecy.

1. The journey will be scary, but we know how the story of history ends.

2. Our war is against false doctrine, not those taken in by it.

3. Jesus is coming for us, or we're going to Him. Either way, live ready for that guarantee.

Following the first Council of Jerusalem, Paul and Barnabas continued to minister God's Word as they were called and equipped by the Holy Spirit. That calling impacted people emotionally as well as intellectually. It even led them in places many assume weren't the best decisions. Yet where God was and where His Word was taught, He was found working in ways we are still benefiting from today.

1. The Bible isn't boring. We are.

2. Good Emotions are meaningless if they aren't invested in truth.

3. The Grace of God is the key motivation to living the Christian life.

Ezekiel's prophecy against Edom is followed up upon with a prophecy for Israel. Where one will be destroyed, another will be restored. We are seeing that promise fulfilled literally today.

1. The fact that God is for you is the greatest comfort in any trial.

2. God keeps His promises. It's who He is by nature.

3. God's ongoing faithfulness to Israel is how we know He will be faithful to us.

The First Council of Jerusalem and the first Church Council of Christian history addressed the Galatian Heresy. The claim was that you couldn't believe in the Hebrew Messiah without first observing Hebrew customs and ceremonies like circumcision. The matter wasn't resolved by pulling rank, infallible declarations of men, or anything less than the simple reading of the Word of God.

1. Unnecessary conflict dies in an environment of accountability and transparency.

2. Having confidence in the truth includes being willing to listen to what others say first.

3. The Word of God remains the only authority over which Christians ought to submit.

Edom is presented as a cautionary tale of bitterness. Learning from their experience shows everything that it costs, but also a reason to choose the alternative.

1. Anger isn't sinful, but the decisions we make through it can be.

2. Emotions are good servants, but poor masters.

3. Only God can love people like He does, and is willing to do so through us.

Paul and Barnabas endure a season of persecution on a physical and emotional level. What enabled them to overcome both was the kind of perspective that only the Holy Spirit can provide. What kept them from resentment, bitterness, or discouragement was the same Spirit that enabled them to minister in the first place.

1. The greatest miracle we can ever be a part of is witnessing a positive response to the Gospel.

2. Comfort is as much intended to be shared as received.

3. Gifts from God point us to Jesus, not distract us from Him.

We have all heard of the compulsive person, yet have you ever thought a person could be addicted to bad speech? A self gratification of the tongue! James gives us a vivid description of just how damaging our speech can be and the importance of using wisdom when sharing with others.

1. Our Speech is hard to tame.

2. Our Speech can damages people.

3. Our Speech needs to be to build up others.

Paul and Barnabas pursue sharing the Gospel with a new crowd after the previous group turned hostile. Following a public miracle, they made certain that their audience understood the message it was meant to verify.

1. Wisdom is as important to Ministry as faithfulness.

2. A sign is only useful if it points you in the right direction.

3. To know your audience, You have to be willing to listen.

God addresses where Israel got off track and got to where they found themselves in exile. The leaders were as negligent as the people were themselves of God's Word. The only solution was for both to refocus on or answer to the only One we can all count on to be the perfect leader and the perfect man.

1. The responsibility of every spiritual leader is to point people to the perfect spiritual leader.

2. The responsibility of every member of God's house is to point people to the only perfect member of God's house.

3. God will judge those who abuse His flock. Make sure you're not the one doing the abusing.