Bible Study Questions:

1. How does our pride impact our relationship with God?

   • Can you relate to the struggle of wanting what you want even if it goes against God's commandments?
   • Have you ever experienced a time when pride prevented you from building a relationship with God?
   • How does pain or unmet expectations affect your relationship with the Lord?

2. How does our pride impact our personal relationship with God?

   • Do you find yourself seeking to know what is true more for the sake of being right rather than knowing God better?
   • Have you ever viewed your relationship with God as a way to gain access to His power rather than having a genuine connection with Him?
   • Do you ever see your relationship with God as a system of earning His blessings?

3. How does our pride impact our ability to focus on God and outdo one another in love?

   • Are you willing to receive correction and consider other perspectives, or do you struggle with being defensive and prideful?
   • Can you think of situations where focusing on being right caused division or conflicts?
   • How can you develop a humble attitude like Priscilla, Aquila, and Apollos, seeking to grow in understanding together?

4. In the passage about Apollos, how did Priscilla and Aquila demonstrate humility and love?

   • How do you respond to correction and new information about God and His Word?
   • How does humility impact our willingness to learn and grow in our relationship with God?

5. In the passage about the disciples in Ephesus, how did Paul handle the situation with humility and love?

   • How can we seek to understand where others are in their journey with Christ rather than assuming or judging them?
   • How does pride impact our willingness to learn and grow in our understanding of God and His ways?

6. In the passage about the sons of Sceva, what does it teach us about the dangers of pride and seeking personal gain?

   • Have you ever tried to manipulate God for personal gain or blessings?
   • How can we shift our focus from self-centeredness to a genuine desire to know God and His best for us?

7. How did the believers in Ephesus demonstrate their faith and humility by burning their magic books?

   • Can you think of things in your life that might need to be "burned" or removed to prioritize your relationship with God?
   • How can you cultivate a heart that delights in the Lord and is willing to let go of worldly things for His sake?

8. How can you apply the lessons from these passages to your own life and relationship with God?

   • What steps can you take to grow in humility and focus more on Christ in your daily life?
   • How can you seek to outdo one another in love and build a deeper, more intimate relationship with God?

Good Morning RCF, If it is your first time joining us either here in person or online- welcome, we are glad that you have chosen to join us. My name is Caleb- I am the lead pastor and this morning we are going to be looking at the first half of Acts 18. So if you brought your Bibles, either paper or electronic that is where we are going to be but before we jump in and get to work would you please pray with me: Lord we have so much to be thankful for. Most importantly, above all else- thank you for who You are and for the way that You work in our lives. Thank You for your unconditional love, your endless mercy, your protection, your grace, your constant provision. When we are mature we can even be thankful for your correction, your discipline. We acknowledge that we do not always trust You and we certainly do not always obey You and in response to our disobedience- to our sin, You sent Christ to the cross in order to put on display Your Holy, perfect love. Jesus we thank You for voluntarily going to the cross to offer redemption to any and all who would humble themselves. As we prepare to dig into the Scriptures- Holy Spirit we ask for You to open our hearts and minds to receive the truth so that we will be encouraged to develop a deeper, more intimate relationship with the Lord who is the Creator of all. Holy Spirit we ask for You to speak, for we your servants are listening. In the powerful name of Jesus Christ we pray- amen. Our question as we get started: What Trauma do you have? We all have trauma in our lives- trauma stays with us- even if we process our trauma well- in healthy ways- trauma is a life long thing. What does your trauma look like and how have we processed it? Processing trauma is dreadful, hard, painful and perhaps the worst of all- unavoidable. Whether we want to process trauma or not- isn’t really the question- the question is how are we processing our trauma. Most of us, perhaps all of us at one time or another have tried to avoid the processing of our trauma and so we try to stuff our trauma down and the world is happy to offer plenty of options for stuffing trauma (alcohol, drugs, sexual pleasure, pursuit of wealth, becoming a workaholic, a hobby of some kind) whatever method of stuffing trauma we prefer at first seems to be a pretty great little short cut but in reality- until we actually process our trauma the short cuts actually prolong and magnify the impact of the trauma which means that the short cut isn’t really a short cut at all. When we haven’t processed our trauma when we are triggered by something and the trauma comes roaring back within us- we can become monsters who lash out and cause all kinds of pain both in ourselves and those around us. Several years ago I was sitting with a group of people and something was said that was not directed at me but I was there in the meeting and I took offense (which can certainly point to some of my own areas of growth that I had at the time) and I responded while in the midst of the group- now wait a minute- that is not fair- you can’t say that. Now I was looking at the topic at hand, not realizing that the person I was challenging had been triggered by some of their trauma and their response so strong and they specifically referenced events that had taken place years before that had nothing to do with the issue at hand and I was completely caught off guard. I don’t even know what we are talking about anymore- I thought we were talking about this issue over here. Obviously this person had some past trauma to process and because they had not yet done that work they had become a monster who was lashing out at those around them.

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Trauma can be caused by any number of things; Death of a loved one, past mistakes, divorce, abuse, being involved with family dysfunction, some kind of traumatic accident, a medical emergency of some kind, natural disasters- any number of things can cause trauma and if we don’t process it well than we can become a ticking time bomb. All trauma is hard to deal with but an extra level of complexity exists with trauma that we are responsible for it. Part of the processing of trauma is assigning responsibility and blame to specific people. Is it my fault or someone else’s fault or a combination? We can’t help but run the different scenarios through our minds- if I had done this differently- if I had sold the house and moved to a different state, if I had chosen a different …. than maybe things would be better. Should of, could of, would of- is part of the processing of trauma and I am not convinced that it can be helped but this part of processing isn’t actually beneficial because it is either trying to fix the trauma which is impossible- trauma cannot be fixed- it happened and because it happened there is pain. So when we run the should of, could of, would of through our minds we are trying to undo what has already happened and that is impossible. Now assigning blame for what happened can be appropriate depending on the trauma, especially in situations where consequences need to be enforced to ensure the trauma isn’t repeated again…but even assigning blame for what happened (if you can- sometimes you can’t depending on the trauma- someone dies of an aneurism for example) even if we are able to assign responsibility to someone else- it still doesn’t give us peace because having someone to blame for what happened again, doesn’t fix what is broken. So identifying who is responsible for our trauma is certainly a part of the processing but if fixing trauma is impossible- what is a realistic response to our trauma when we have processed it well? It sounds crazy- but through a relationship with Christ, we can have our joy and peace restored even with all of our traumas. Acts 18 provides a great example of how to deal with trauma, the chapter opens with a nonchalant reference to some significant trauma and as we work through this passage I think there is great relevance and lessons for each of us to learn: Acts 18:1–3 After this (after Paul spent time Philosophizing with the people of Athens) Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. (which was some 46 miles to the west) 2  And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them, 3  and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade. Archeologists have the decree issued by Claudius from AD 49 that expels all Jews from Rome because of a certain Chrestus who kept causing civil riots in the city. Chrestus is thought to be an alternate spelling for Christ based on the Latin pronunciation for Christ. It is most likely that the Jews were expelled from Rome because of the riots that were caused over the discussion of whether or not Jesus is in fact the Christ, the Messiah, the anointed One of God who provides forgiveness for sins. So Christianity is causing quite the stir all over the Roman empire-

3 especially in Rome where the course of action chosen to reestablish peace was to kick out all the Jews. Over the last few years I have talked with several families that have lost their homes in fires some were afraid for their lives as they fled from fires but were stuck in traffic. The trauma is significant- some of them have shared their story with me more than once. To be in life threatening danger for so long not knowing if they were going to be burned alive, to loose so much, so suddenly- the trauma stays with you. Aquila and Priscilla lost their home and the business clients that they had built up because they were connected to the civil unrest and their connection is ethnicity- perhaps they participated and contributed to the chaos in Rome, but perhaps not- either way they were forced out and had to begin rebuilding their lives. We are not told whether Aquila or Priscilla were Christians prior to meeting Paul- scholars speculate and we can fight over it if we want to but at the end of the day it really doesn’t matter- at some point either before or after meeting Paul, Aquila and Priscilla become devoted disciples of Jesus Christ and they become valuable long term partners in ministry who went on to travel extensively with Paul as they worked to spread the Gospel and establish churches. To sustain himself on a daily basis while in Corinth, Paul partnered with Aquila and Priscilla. No doubt as they sat next to each other working the leather they would talk about their experiences and I can just imagine the conversations that they would have as they share their stories and experiences. How Paul would weave in the Gospel and the goodness of God while also talking about his own trauma, being beaten, imprisoned multiple times, being stoned and left for dead, fleeing for his life over and over again and yet- God’s faithfulness. Can you imagine the conversation as they are processing their own traumas? I don’t understand, if God is so good than why were my wife and I thrown out of Rome- we lost so much- we suffered greatly at the injustice of an edict that was so far reaching. I don’t understand why God allowed this to happen to us- these are the kinds of questions we ask as we process the trauma…and yet in the midst of the hardship and sorrow that is very real, look at what God did, for Aquila and Priscilla they were seemingly placed by God to be at the tip of the spear, to be on the front lines of spreading the Gospel… in a way they were having their Jonah experience: God’s intense involvement in their lives often does not free us or protect us from significant hardship. In Paul’s case, in the midst of the beatings, jail cells, riots, death threats; Paul sees demons cast out, people healed, the lame walk, earthquakes that set him free and the most unlikely people surrender their hearts to Christ- for example, the jailer- the one directed to be his captor, is the one who accepts Christ as his personal Savior along with his entire household. In a moment we will read of another most unlikely of individuals who accepts Christ. When we process our trauma the first step is triage- the initial grief that comes as we consider what was lost, to acknowledge that the pain and suffering are real and tremendous- this is a necessary and important part of the processing trauma is the grief- but if we stay here, or we try to stuff it because it is easier than processing our trauma further than triage than our trauma can

4 become a cancer in our soul that grows to produce bitterness that eats away at our joy. If we are willing to process our trauma- than we learn to focus on what the Lord is doing and that is where joy is restored, peace is attained and a person can truly declare the goodness of God even in the midst of their hardships. When we continue to read through Acts it becomes obvious that Aquila and Priscilla were not bitter at God for being thrown out of Rome but became thankful for the way God guided and directed their lives. I have the privilege of listening to people as they share their story, and they describe their trauma because it is part of their story and then they start to talk about their personal relationship with God and they declare how God is good- they have joy- they have peace- and the sorrow is still real but they are not bitter or angry- there is peace. When I speak with people who have lost their spouse to cancer, of their spouse is now in prison or a child who died by suicide- horrific traumas and they express the heartbreak and they don’t tell me how the hardship was used by God for good- they don’t understand or comprehend any redeeming feature- but they are able to declare the goodness of God as they see the Lord working in their lives. There are tears, lonliness, sorrow- but also joy and peace as they focus on who God is and how He continues to work in their lives- that is when I listen and I try to learn. Other people I meet with discuss their trauma which can be 30 year old, and they discuss it as if it happen a month ago- they are stuck and their trauma is all consuming- there is no forgiveness for themselves or anyone else- bitterness doesn’t even begin to describe their heart. They are consumed by anger and no closer to healing than when the trauma first happened. Joy and peace are nowhere to be found and if God is real- if- He is distance and uninvolved. How have we processed our trauma? We all have it and at times- even when we can see the goodness of God being worked out in our lives- we can still be triggered. Triggers can be very unexpected both in timing and in what they are. Sometimes we know when we are going to be triggered- a specific anniversary that hits every year or special song or phrase or place where memories were made, but at other times we can just be living life and all of a sudden, something triggers us: Acts 18:4–8 (ESV) 4  And he (Paul) reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks. 5  When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus. 6  And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” So things are going as they have gone in every other town- some people are accepting the Gospel, while others refuse to consider the truth of who Christ is and are not only resistant but hostile. Acts 18:6 And when they opposed and reviled him…

5 The word revile indicates personal attacks- no longer are the Jews discussing a Biblical understanding of who God is- they are no longer talking about how the Old Testament points to Christ they are now intentionally attacking Paul and trying to tear apart his reputation so that he will be disqualified from teaching in the synagogue. Seeking truth is no longer the goal- now the goal is to attack Paul. I would expect this to be a bit of a trigger for Paul and his traveling companions who have seen this pattern unfold over and over again. I would expect that once they start hearing the arguments turn from debating Scripture to personal attacks they begin thinking- ok, here we go again, how long until these verbal attacks become physical attacks like they have in so many other towns. By this time Paul’s traveling companions have started to be fairly aggressive even insistent that Paul leaves town before things get physically abusive. In Acts 17:10 and 17:14 we are told that Paul’s fellow Christians immediately sent Paul, they are making Paul leave before things get any more dangerous. I would imagine that Paul’s traveling companions, Silas and Timothy are speaking regularly with Paul about moving on- when to leave town, what things should be prepared in case they need to leave at a moment’s notice, food, clothing, a bit of money. Trauma does that to us- we expect the worst, we prepare to minimize the suffering as best we can When Paul sees that he is now being personally attacked- that the Jews are no longer able to hear the message but are only wanting to attack the messenger, he has a strong and calculated response. When I spend time with my older brother, one of his favorite things to do is inform me with a specific hand gesture that I am number one. He is usually informing me in some discreet fashion so that other family members don’t notice but he is usually laughing- I used to ask “what was that for?” His most common answer- cause I can. No reason. Now he hasn’t stopped informing me that I am number one but I have stopped asking why. When my boys or Abby catch on- cause our kids are watching all the time- that will be a fun conversation to explain what being number one means... So why on earth am I talking about this in a sermon- in our culture- informing someone that they are number one with a specific finger has tremendous meaning. In Paul’s day- to shake out your garments was a powerful symbol of warning and impending judgement. To shake out your garments also flirt with, suggested, point towards proclaiming a curse. This is an extremely strong and offensive gesture. Why would Paul make such an offensive gesture: because the judgement of God is real and the consequences for rejecting Christ are severe and last for all of eternity. This is offensive and people don’t like to talk about judgement and consequences but Paul is communicating one last time to a people who are not willing to listen, unwilling to consider the truth of Christ- and he is trying to show the severity of their decision to reject Christ.

6 Often the cultural expectation is that if a Christian is doing what they are supposed to than they are never going to cause offense- that is not Biblically accurate. This is extremely difficult- because we need to be wise and Holy Spirit filled to know how best to navigate each situation, each relationship, each conversation. At times the best thing- the wise action is to keep our mouths shut, other times we need to be bold and declare the truth of God. How do we know when to speak and when to be silent? It is my experience that wisdom points towards the harder of the two. When I want to talk and tell someone what I know, how right I am and how wrong they are- that is often when I need to shut up. When I don’t want to engage- I don’t want to enter into the conflict- that is often when it is necessary for me to take a step of faith and present God’s truth. Another indicator for me is to evaluate my fear- how is my fear influencing me- often our fear is self- focused- so fear often points us in the wrong direction. So Paul declares the severity of rejecting Christ by shaking off his garments before them and then we are told of the many who receive Christ: 7  And he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. His house was next door to the synagogue. 8  Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized. (Crispus is perhaps the most unlikely person to accept Christ, being the leader of the synagogue…) Pastor Levi is quickly teaching Josh our new high school director to tease me about pretty much anything they can. Once of the things they tease me about is the phrases that I use all the time. When we are discussing a Bible lesson for any age group- my number one question is: why do they care? When we are discussing logistics for some event or ministry need- I am often approached with hey should we do this or that- my response is almost always- there are pluses and minuses for everything we do- which option is the best one? Then we talk it though. When I read that Paul left the synagogue but kept meeting in the house next door to the synagogue, I go- man that is really confrontational. That is like rubbing salt in the wound as people are walking down the street towards the the synagogue- as they have done for years are now entering the house next door- week after week there is this reminder- it is in your face very confrontational. Now the positives is that every Jew and God-fearing gentile is used to walking to the synagogue on the Sabbath- so the house next door is very convenient with routines staying the same and you get to see if there are any more opportunities to interact with others who have not yet surrendered to Christ but wow this was confrontational. The hatred that would have been felt by the Jews as they stood on the steps of the synagogue and glared at everyone who walked into Titius’ house… and then to see the ex-ruler of the synagogue who had placed his faith in Christ…it certainly reveals Paul’s ability and willingness to engage with anyone which would

7 have been viewed as a threat by those who wanted nothing to do with Paul or Christ… It would have been so much easier- so much less confrontational to meet on the other side of town or at least a couple blocks away but that is not what happened- Paul was willing to engage in the tension and stay in it but the hostility of the Jews, the personal attacks had to be causing Paul and his companions to question how long they were going to be able to stay in Corinth. … but then God speaks- Acts 18:9–11 (ESV) 9  And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, 10  for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.” 11  And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. Paul hears that and we think- Oh good, we can relax. How exciting- God has promised to protect us. We can put the emergency bag away and have confidence that the threats are just words and nothing is going to come of it. We are not told- but I assume that Paul was excited to hear of God’s protection for him, that he can plan to stay in Corinth for an extended period of time- and so I assume- now this isn’t scripture- this is Caleb but I assume that the first time Paul sees Aquila and Priscilla after receiving the dream from God that Paul was excited to tell them. I wonder what thoughts Aquila and Priscilla had: I assume that they would have been excited and happy to hear of God’s protection- that they would get to continue to minister with Paul and sit under his teaching but I wonder did they also had thoughts of ... that sure would have been nice if God would have done that for us- so that we didn’t loose everything in Rome… I’m happy for Paul but what about us… Trauma will make us go there. Even when we are processing our trauma in healthy ways- part of that processing is dealing with thoughts and feelings of- good for you- but what about me? And these thoughts can open the door for bitterness to set root in our hearts or these thoughts can cause us to question God’s love for us, these thoughts can be used to distance ourselves from the Lord so we harden our hearts or on the other extreme these thoughts can be used to beat ourselves up for even having the struggle- if we were a more faith filled Christian we wouldn’t have thoughts like this. Trauma happens to us, and we develop triggers and we can’t help that- sometimes even good things can be triggers. That is why we must be intentional about how we process our trauma- are we focusing on God, who He is and how He is working in our lives or are we focusing on our circumstances, on ourselves- anything other than focusing on God will produce brokenness in our hearts and minds. Through a personal relationship with Christ we can process our trauma and experience joy and peace. To the world this sounds crazy- impossible and it is if we don’t know Christ. I had lunch with a guy who went to my youth group as a middle school student- he is now in his 20’s, graduated from college a few years ago, working…makes me feel old… anyway during our conversation he said that he would prefer to reject the existence of God but he is intellectually honest enough to admit that no one can prove that God does not exist so he is unwilling to say that God does not exist but pretty much lives like God isn’t real. During our conversation which

8 we didn’t get to finish due to time he talked about religion being good in that it helps people to be a good person -but the belief in God is unnecessary… I am freaking out- I could barely stay seated in the booth- I wanted to jump all over that kind of thinking because it is exactly backwards- Transformation comes through a personal relationship with God- not by wanting to be a good person… Sure- when we wake up in the morning most of us want to be a good person but as soon as we are confronted with a situation to cut a corner, to say something not true, take something that is not ours, do something for selfish gain- how long does our desire to be a good person hold us back? Let me ask the same question another way: When was the last time you fought with your spouse because you were being selfish? When was the last time you got on a device and looked for something inappropriate? When was the last time you didn’t give your employer your best because it was Friday or Monday or because someone wasn’t watching and no one would notice that it is gone? When was the last time you declared someone to be inferior to you- by calling them some derogatory name or by informing them that they are number one? Now that is just the average daily stuff that we deal with- When we are forced to deal with our trauma- whatever it looks like for you- the only healthy way to process our trauma is to focus on God and how He is working in our lives. All the different ways to suppress our trauma; drugs, alcohol, work, hobbies, sexual pleasure- none of these are effective long-term and the desire to be a good person isn’t going to be very effective when we are dealing with something as painful and powerful as trauma. So God gives this awesome, wonder promise of protection and Paul stays in Corinth 18 months preaching the word: Acts 18:12–17 (ESV) 12  But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, (that is equivalent to our governor- a proconsul was appointed by the senate in Rome) the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal, The tribunal is a formal court setting. Here in California we have 58 counties and so there are 58 superior courts- one in each county. Above these 58 superior courts are 6 court of appeals and above these 6 court of appeals is the California Supreme Court. The decisions of the judges in the 58 superior courts and certainly decisions of the court of appeals influence, set a precedent on how other cases are handled in the state- but the California Supreme Court influences, sets a precedent for cases that are handled in the rest of the nation. When the Jews made their united attack they are not just trying to get Paul kicked out of Corinth- they are trying to set a precedent for the entire Roman empire- They want Christianity to be outlawed- they want to put an end to this movement as forcefully as possible.

9 When Paul gets served the summons- whatever that looked like- what do you think was the first thing that went through his mind: God, I don’t understand- You said: Acts 18:9–10 (ESV) “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, 10  for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.” God, what are You doing- where are You? How can you not call this an attack? Should we run and not even show up for the court date? Can I trust You? Are your promises really true? My trauma says no- but when I look at how You have worked- yes- but I am afraid and for good reason- the decision of this case is by far the most far reaching decision that an official has made towards Paul specially but Christianity as a whole. You said no one will attack me to harm me- so am I to breakdown and analyze what exactly did you mean by this phrase- because this isn’t what I expected or had in mind? Is the win in the courtroom already secured- because if it is- this would be the first win in front of a Roman official? Usually I always end up getting beaten and imprisoned by officials. Lord my past trauma is beyond triggered; what are you doing? In my study this week, scholars also point out that there is a significant amount of information about this Gallio- he was a gifted lawyer so he excelled in dealing with issues of legality. He was also known to be anti-Semitic which wasn’t reassuring even though Paul’s accusers were also Jewish. This angst would have been beyond measure. Acts 18:12–17 (ESV) 12  But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal, 13  saying, “This man is persuading people to worship God contrary to the law.” 14  But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, I would have reason to accept your complaint. 15  But since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of these things.” 16  And he drove them from the tribunal. 17  And they all seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal. But Gallio paid no attention to any of this. The Jews wanted to punish someone so they beat Sosthenes- the ruler of the synagogue. We don’t know if this Sosthenes is the one mentioned in 1 Corinthians 1- it could be but Sosthenes was a common name so it very well could be someone entirely different. There is plenty of speculation and theories- we can fight over it if we want but who it is really isn’t the point- the point is that they went for Paul but the court didn’t hand him over, so they attacked someone completely different. God provided the victory and protection for Paul and this decision played a significant role in allowing Christianity to continue to spread throughout the rest of the Roman empire for more than a decade. This was a massive win- and Paul wasn’t even allowed to say a word. God took care of all of it.

10 God really can be trusted. God really is good. His word really is true, His promises are absolute- it doesn’t always look the way we expect and our trauma demands that we rely on ourselves but the Lord is active in our lives and He is working if we are willing to look and listen. I needed to get a couple cars smogged this week and my regular guy wasn’t available so I went to a completely different shop that I have never used before. During the 15 or so minutes that you have to small talk about whatever, the mechanic asked what I did for a living. I took a deep breathe and said that I am a pastor- and waited to see his response. He lit up and started telling me his experience of serving in the church and that took up the rest of our time. I paid the bill, and as I jumped in the car to leave I told him I would be back the same time the next morning with the other vehicle that needed smog. Next morning I pull in and somehow we get on the subject of his family and growing up years and this guy who I have just met- informs me of some horrific abuse that he and his siblings endured and proceeded to explain how that abuse impacted him as a teenager and continued to impact him as an adult with sinful behaviors that he engaged in. He shared details, personal stuff about how the abuse caused sinful behavior that has impacted the rest of his life. He shared some hard painful life altering details that made my eyes get big and when I got in the car and started to drive away and I went- holy smokes- what just happened- I was just listening and I felt emotionally drained and bewildered and encouraged. As I have processed the conversation I was blown away at how this man was able to process his trauma and identify how the abuse got expressed in very destructive sinful behaviors that he took responsibility for and I noticed how he referenced the cross of Christ which provides forgiveness and redemption. He talked about being thankful multiple times and how he worked diligently to break the chain of abuse in his own family. He kept saying how he is thankful and blessed. The trauma is real, there is certainly pain and sorrow, but through a personal relationship with Christ there is also peace and joy. How are we processing our trauma? As we close, would you pray with me:

If you would like prayer for a specific situation or perhaps you would like to speak with someone about your relationship with the Lord- please make your way over to the round tables- someone will be there to speak with you.

Benediction: Phil 4:7 7  May the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Good morning RCF. If this is your first time joining us either in person or online- welcome, my name is Caleb- I am the lead pastor here and we are glad that you have chosen to join us this morning. If you brought your Bibles- either paper or electronic- we are going to be digging into Acts 16 this morning but before we get to work- would you please pray with me: Lord- Thank you for who You are. Thank you for Your goodness, mercy, forgiveness and protection. Thank you for your generous provision. Thank you for the way that You continue to provide opportunities for us to know You more. Holy Spirit, as we dig into the Scriptures- prepare our hearts and minds to receive and apply this truth. Help us to keep our focus on You and what You are doing. In the powerful and risen name of Jesus Christ we pray- Amen. Our question as we get started this morning: How do you respond when you are told it’s not about you? I assume it depends on the context. Just a couple days ago, I had finished with an off-campus appointment and I was driving back to the church for my next meeting and a car pulled out in front of me and made me press my brake pedal and I was all kinds of annoyed- they had inconvenienced my life by an entire half second and I was genuinely perturbed. I didn’t honk or yell or tell him thsat he is number one or anything but I was annoyed. Then- I found myself asking- what is the big deal, why are you so upset? How many times have you made someone step on their brake pedal by pulling out in front of them? It’s not about you Caleb… If my wonderful wife had been sitting next to me in the passenger seat and she gently put her hand on my arm and said honey, it’s not about you- I don’t think I would have responded very well. She would have been right- but I would not have appreciated it. Capitalism has many benefits and I think it is the best of the economic systems that humanity has tried, but capitalism isn’t perfect- I am thankful to live in a country that uses capitalism but I think we are wise to be aware of some of its pitfalls as well. One of Capitalism’s weaknesses is that capitalism trains us to become selfish monsters- with the hope that the more selfish we become the more we will stimulate the economy by buying things for ourselves. Now the marketing campaigns never say it that way- but that is exactly what every advertisement is communicating- hey- you need to buy this medication or booze or lotion or whatever and then you will be happy. Capitalism encourages us to be selfish but an even greater culprit is our human nature which doesn’t need too much encouragement because we are already predisposed to turn our attention to ourselves. All of us have pride, and because of our pride- our concern over what others think of us, we have insecurities. Our past Mistakes, Our level of financial stability, our physical appearance, we can even be insecure about our opinion on a topic. Our insecurities compel us, drive us to focus on ourselves.

2 If we are upset with a boss at work or a family member at home and we make our frustrations known and the answer we receive is: it’s not about you- that can be a tough to hear. So our perspective, our insecurities, our circumstances, the way our culture’s trains us to think about ourselves, all of these things contribute to encourage us to focus on ourselves. A considerable factor of the turmoil in our society is from the inability of people to recognize that the world doesn’t actually revolve around them. We know that a marriage will be healthy when the husband and wife both know that their marriage isn’t about what they want but that it is about outdoing one another in love. Marriage isn’t about me. The most satisfying friendships are going to be where both parties are focused serving each other and not focused on what they can get from the other. Friendship isn’t about me. The healthiest children are those who are taught, loved and modeled by their parents that the world does not exist to serve them. That they are to be a contributing member of the family. So they can help carry the groceries in from the car, they can help work in the yard, they should help with dishes after dinner. As a parent- it is easier, faster, cleaner to just do it yourself- less things get dropped and broken and there are less messes to clean up if you just do things yourself- but parenting isn’t about me- it is about raising kids that don’t turn start out being selfish monsters… It isn’t about me: it isn’t about me: it isn’t about me: As I studied Acts 16 it became clear that the overarching theme is- it isn’t about me and I’ll be honest- I went- oh… I’m not sure how well this is going to be received… but that hesitation actually reveals my own insecurity- Hey preacher- it isn’t about you either. Do your job and preach the word of God. Acts 16 opens with an introduction to Timothy- a young man who would go on to be the lead pastor in Ephesus. 2 weeks ago, Pastor Levi preached a great message that focused a significant amount on Timothy. Last week we dove into Acts 15 and discussed the huge debate that the apostles had over what provides salvation, how is a person saved. Generally speaking does a gentile who places their faith in Jesus Christ have to adhere to the Law of Moses and specifically does a gentile need to be circumcised in order to be saved. This was a massive debate among the Jewish leadership, do we earn our salvation or do we trust the work of Jesus Christ? Peter reflected on what God had been doing in people’s lives and settled the debate with the declaration that Acts 15:11 (ESV) …we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as the Gentiles will.” So it was clearly declared that circumcision was not required for salvation because a person is saved by grace through faith in who Jesus Christ is and in the sacrifice He made on the cross. So this matter is settled- salvation by faith- not by works and then when we look at Acts 16 we see that right away Paul asks Timothy to be circumcised. Wait, what? Now this alone can be confusing and inconsistent but if we read Galatians chapter 2 it becomes even more confusing. In

3 Galatians 2 Paul describes the conference that took place in Acts 15 and tells how he refused to allow Titus- a gentile Christian to be circumcised. So why the inconsistency. Paul refuses to allow circumcision to be understood as a means of salvation. Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Therefore- Paul insists that Titus, a Christian gentile is not to be circumcised and then when he gets to Lystra he asks Timothy a half-blooded Jew and a half-blooded Gentile to be circumcised. Why in the world would Paul do this? Acts 16:1–5 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. Around 10 years ago I was scheduled to preach here in the main services so I came to church in slacks and a dress shirt. And a person approached me and asked why I was dressed more formally than normal. I explained that I was preaching and they said- so, your clothes should have nothing to do with a person’s ability to listen. I agreed with him but then explained that I was pretty young and so I wanted to remove any obstacle that I could so that people might listen better. The person I was speaking with was frustrated and scoffed- thats stupid, if a person can’t hear you because of your clothes that is on them- you shouldn’t have to wear formal clothes just because your preaching… he was indignant- unreasonable- condescending. Now that I am the lead pastor- it is my responsibility to arrange a replacement when I am going to be out of town on a Sunday. When I have asked Dr. Rich Brown to speak in my place- we dialogue about the date, topic, length, point of contact- all the logistics and then he asks- what do you wear- I want to fit the culture of the church so what do you wear on a normal Sunday. Should I wear a tie- I laughed- no tie- I explain, slacks and a Hawiaan shirt- Then he asked- do you tuck in my shirt- I said you can do whatever you want- and he responds- no- what do you do on a normal Sunday? If it is a hawiaan shirt- I don’t tuck in my shirt- ok thank you. Slacks- dress shirt, not tucked in- got it. Which person is right? They both are right- the guy who was impassioned that clothes shouldn’t matter, that truth does not change if you are wearing in a t-shirt or dress shirt- shorts or slacks… he is right- but Dr. Brown who asks what is the cultural norm when it comes to clothing isn’t content with just being right- he also wants to be strategic- there is a maturity here because it isn’t about him- he knows that his preference is unimportant- the Gospel is what matters. The Apostle Paul was extremely strategic- that is why he declared in 1 Corinthians 9: 1 Corinthians 9:19–23 (ESV) 19  For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20  To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I

4 became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21  To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22  To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23  I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. What is Paul saying here: it’s not about me- its about people understanding and accepting Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior- who loves them and died on the cross to offer forgiveness of sins and a restored relationship with God. It’s about the Gospel- its not about me. Why does Paul ask Timothy to be circumcised: to be strategic, to remove as many obstacles as possible. Paul knew that they were going to be working with a Jewish population that was going to get offended by Timothy’s heritage unless Timothy identified Himself as a member of God’s chosen people through circumcision. Circumcision is not a matter of salvation- but if it will help people consider the truth- than sharpen the knife… Being strategic is relevant for all of us- on just about every aspect of our lives. Strategy often makes the difference between winning and loosing- achieving the goal or falling short. But we are only able to be strategic when we are willing to set aside our preferences to achieve the goal. Paul has a clear goal and he isn’t afraid to make it known: 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. 5  So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily. Its not about me, its not about Paul, its not about Timothy- its about the churches who were strengthened in the faith and how they increased in numbers daily…. What strategy are we using and to what end? Do we care more about our personal preferences, what is familiar or do we care to see lost people become saved? We think a lot about how to get what we want- do we have any strategy in sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the people around us who do not know the Lord? We will only care to introduce people to Christ if we have a personal relationship with Christ. We don’t feel motivated to introduce people to complete strangers and we won’t introduce others to Christ- if He is a stranger to us- only through a real relationship with the Lord will we be motivated to have initiate spiritual conversations. Since Paul is strategic about reaching as many people as possible with the Gospel- I think it is safe to assume that Paul is just as strategic about travel plans. But as is often the case- life doesn’t always go the way we think it should because its not about me.

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Acts 16:6–12 6  And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. 7  And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. 8  So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. Paul and his companions traveled over 300 miles- mostly on foot from Lystra where Timothy joined their ranks- and everywhere they went the Lord stopped them stopped them from preaching. How long would you keep walking? How long before you would grow frustrated by the unknown destination that continues to evade you? As you continue to walk and shell out funds for food and lodging and all the dangers that come with traveling- How long until you begin to doubt yourself, doubt who God is? As you pass by city after city- why would the Holy Spirit prohibit the Gospel from being preached to the multitudes that are in front of you? Scholars speculate over the why- some propose that God was keeping Paul and the rest of the group from violent riots and attacks, others scholars have speculated on how the Holy Spirit communicated that the Gospel was not to be preached in Asia or Bithynia. Because there are no specifics provided of trying to preach in specific cities- it is assumed that the Holy Spirit provided some kind of vision, dream or some other means of miraculous communication. We just don’t have much information about how the Lord communicated so it leaves plenty of room for speculation. What if we stop speculating and actually look at what God was doing- what do we find? God was Guiding and directing their steps- it wasn’t what they wanted to hear- but God was certainly active- He was saying keep walking, Don’t preach yet, your plans are not my plans- but I am working in your life. God really is in charge, God really is Sovereign- He really does have power and authority over all things. This is a struggle for us because we prefer to call the shots. This is a struggle for us because we endure pain and suffering. This is a struggle for us because we don’t trust the goodness of God. But- God has secured the victory- He has conquered sin and death and offers eternal life with Him. But we want what we want when we want it- so when we see the sovereignty of God we can become discontent pretty quick. When I read this passage I get frustrated for Paul. Lord we want to preach in Asia- NO, ok… so they travel to Bithynia, how about here- NO, Ok… so they travel to a port city and after traveling hundreds of miles, God tells them where they are to go…. Why not just tell me from the beginning- it would have been so much faster, easier, cheaper… Now we want God to give us the entire plan, so we know what to do- so we know what to expect and can plan accordingly. To trust the Lord is so difficult that if the Lord reveals the whole plan- we have a tendency to stop seeking the Lord and trust the plan because we would rather trust anything other than the Lord. The Lord wants us to seek Him. He wants a

6 relationship with us where we want to spend time with Him- and He knows that if we become comfortable, if we begin to think we are self-reliant than we stop seeking Him. Let me say it another way: Matthew 19:24 (ESV) 24  Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” We prefer to do things ourselves and when we have enough resources at our disposal- it often feels like we can. When we look at the United States as a nation that was founded on Biblical principals- we see God’s blessing. The United States has been and continues to be a nation of great wealth and prosperity- but in our prosperity we as a culture have become prideful, arrogant- no longer seeing a need for God because we think we have the financial ability, technology and ability to do it ourselves. Feeling rather self-sufficient- many in this nation have turned away from the Lord so they can give themselves permission to do whatever it is that they want…but we are seeing that even when we do whatever we want, we still aren’t satisfied- Currently our culture’s strategy is to climb deeper into the abyss and question things like male and female… and even if a person can use whatever bathroom they prefer and play on any sports team they want to… even if they get the rest of society to acknowledge their chosen identity they still won’t be satisfied because peace is found in the Lord- not in ourselves. It’s not about me. Now I do think there is a less extreme application of Matthew 19:24… recently I have had multiple people share how they are thankful for what Christ did on the cross for them- they trust the Lord for their salvation but their relationship with God has become stale and we’ll call it “dusty” because life is so busy that their relationship with the Lord has been pushed over to the shelf that we put things that are important- so they don’t get thrown away- but we never spend much time there either so the dust settles pretty thick. Now their lives are pretty good, they have been strategic, they have made good choices and have worked extremely hard and become fairly successful… so I ask a hard question- do you need God on a daily basis? Everyone I have had this conversation with has responded in a similar way- I know I need God, so yes- but I understand what you are saying- on a daily basis- no I am not relying on God- I pretty much doing the daily things on my own. So then we start to have a conversation about faith and being willing to step out of our comfort zone when we have worked so hard to set everything up to be successful and not need to step out of our comfort zone. Trusting the Lord is so hard, so uncomfortable, so scary that we would rather trust ourselves. But trusting the Lord is also where fulfillment, joy and peace are found. Who are we trusting? This is a relevant question regarding our salvation, which determines where we spend eternity, heaven or hell and this is also relevant for our day to day activities. How are we trusting the Lord to work in our lives this week? Many of us- including myself try to reduce our risks so that we don’t have to trust the Lord on a daily basis and if we don’t have to trust the Lord on a daily basis it becomes pretty easy to allow our relationship with Him to become distant as we spend our time on the stuff that screams for our attention.

7 So Paul and his companions have traveled to the port town of Troas and when they have walked to the edge of the sea- when they have walked as far as they can walk and now need to purchase a boat ticket- the Lord finally gave direction through a dream. 9  And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10  And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. 11  So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, 12  and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. When we read Paul’s response it doesn’t seem like he is frustrated with the fact that plans haven’t gone his way- he seems excited because he now knows where the Lord wants him to go. I think Paul’s response to the Lord’s communication points to the fact that he understands that it isn’t about him- it is about what the Lord wants to do. Expectations are a funny thing- we have all gotten upset when our expectations are not met… about 10 years ago my older sister got a degree from OIT in Klamath falls to be a respiratory therapist. We put together a plan to celebrate and made reservations for some cabins on the side of the lake for an extended weekend. I had told my brother about this really fast competition ski boat that I had- it had a 350 chevy in it with a direct drive prop- the boat was fast. My brother told me to take it up to the lake and I explained that I really didn’t want to pull the boat all the way up to Oregon- but he had me when he said “if I am going to drive all the way from Colorado you can tow a boat 3 hours- what was I going to say. So I hook up the boat and tow it behind my old red pickup which gets 9 miles to the gallon if your going downhill with a tail wind behind you. I pull up to my sister’s place to pick up whatever she doesn’t have room for and to follow her up to the lake cause I have never been there before. I knock on the door she opens it and looks at my truck with the boat and goes “I’m really sorry” I forgot to mention the lake has a 5 mile an hour speed limit. We had a great time, food was awesome- no one died- we had a lot of fun and we were there to celebrate my sister’s graduation which we did… but I am still bitter about towing that boat all the way to Oregon and back… and just to top it off, true story… on the way home, when I got to about Lakehead, a tire on the boat trailer blew out. As I changed the tire on the side of I-5 I was saying stuff and it wasn’t praise the Lord…. Expectations- they sure have a way of making us focus on oursleves….but in reality- the entire trip wasn’t about me… Acts 16:12–18 (ESV) 12  and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. 13  And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. 14  One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The

8 Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. 15  And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us. Paul and Silas in Prison 16  As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. 17  She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” 18  And this she kept doing for many days. It became evident pretty quickly that the Lord was working in the lives of people in Philippi. Philippi was a wealthy city that sat in a fertile valley against hills that were rich in gold, silver and copper. The wealth of the city supported the purple clothing industry that was expensive because the purple dye was hard to develop. Scholars speculate that Philippi had a very small Jewish community if any- due to the fact that Paul went to the riverside outside the gate of the city instead of the synagogue. A synagogue was to be built if there were ten men- there seemed to be no men at the place of prayer which would also explain why the place of prayer wasn’t at a synagogue…so the Lord sent them to a place with almost no Jews… can you hear Timothy… if we aren’t going to be ministering to Jews than why in the world did I go through all of that? Was it just for the first churches that were encouraged and that’s it…its not about me! Far more importantly - The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. In order for a person to be saved- the Lord must stir their heart and someone must communicate the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Lydia accepts Jesus Christ as her savior and she immediately gets baptized along with her entire household. And immediately she insists that Paul and his traveling companions lodge with her. When we understand the Lord’s generosity towards us we become more generous to others. There was also another development happening in the city of Philippi that was completely different. Lydia’s heart had been opened by the Lord to accept the Gospel. But the slave girl was proclaiming the truth by a demon… “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” It is interesting the similarities between this interaction and the interaction that Jesus had with the demon possessed man who lived among the tombs in Mark 5. Both the demon in this girl and the demons in the man declare the Lord to be the Most High God- and both seek an audience with the Lord or the Lord’s servant. These demons do not shrink back and hide when there was ample opportunity, at least from an earthly perspective. Acts 16:17–25 (ESV) 17  She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” 18  And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having

9 become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour. 19  But when her owners saw that their hope of gain was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the rulers. 20  And when they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are Jews, and they are disturbing our city. 21  They advocate customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to accept or practice.” 22  The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. 23  And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. 24  Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. The Philippian Jailer Converted 25  About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, The slave girl is freed of her demon- God once again confirms his authority and power over all- Paul sees the Lord’s involvement in His life once again. And once again Paul is in jail- this time with Silas only after they had been stripped of their clothes and beaten with rods and in the middle of the night- they start singing hymns. Maybe they can’t sleep because of the pain, but they started singing songs of praise in jail after being beaten because they understood that the days events impacted them but were not actually about them. God’s power had been put on full display to much of the city- no one denied that the name and power of Jesus Christ was stronger than the demon- everyone saw it- even the city leaders. Acts 16:25–34 (ESV) 25  About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26  and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened. 27  When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28  But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” 29  And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. 30  Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31  And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32  And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33  And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. 34  Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God. Its not about us- Why were Paul and Silas in jail- it wasn’t about them- that night, it was about sharing the Gospel with the jailer.

10 Now- had you walked up to me 10 years ago on the side of I-5 as I am changing that tire and told me that it isn’t about me- I might have punched you in the face. If your in a version of a jail cell: divorce, Parkinson’s, death of a loved one, financial struggles, broken relationships- whatever your jail cell looks like…. If your in a jail cell right now and life has beaten you with rods- and your sitting in the dark- in the dead of night and you don’t know what tomorrow brings- and the pastor gets up and tells you that its not about you… wow- to be able to hear this message at all requires maturity. What is the Lord doing in your life? Paul didn’t know the plan- but he knew God was active in His life. What is the Lord doing in your life? Paul didn’t know how the Lord was going to work- or when the Lord was going to work but Paul understood that it wasn’t about him and that God was working. And at the same time- I think Paul was excited to share the Gospel in Philippi once he knew that is where the Lord wanted him to go. Paul understood how much God’s redemption had transformed his life. So he was excited to share Christ’s redemption with others. I think the songs in the jail cell were sung with a grateful heart, while it was also true that the wounds caused by the rods- really did hurt- the jailer didn’t wash their wounds for fun- when he set food before them I am sure their bellies were empty. Both are true- the fulfillment that a personal relationship with God provides and the hardships. The cross of Christ is for each of us and for those who truly understand the cross of Christ- we are able to live with the freedom, the joy, and the security that not everything is about us. When everything is about us- we are constantly insecure. But when we realize that all creation points to who God is- we don’t have to be insecure, so concerned with ourselves- we can learn to let go of whatever it is that we are hanging onto because God is real and He is working in our lives. As we close- I would like to pray for all of us because this is a hard message. There are days when each of us is unable to hear that it isn’t all about us. There are seasons where we struggle to see how the Lord is working. And Yet- the Lord is good, He loves each of us enough to go to the cross, He is active in our lives and He hears our prayers: Would you pray with me: Lord, we know that You love us- that You know everything about us, that You are actively working in our lives and yet at times- we struggle to realize, to see, to understand what Your up to. Holy Spirit turn our focus upon the Lord. Help us to have a security, a peace, and even a joy that is not based on ourselves or on our circumstances. You are the only One who doesn’t change- You are the only One who is always faithful, always Holy, always in control- may our peace come from You- may our joy be found in You. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.

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As we dismiss would you please stand for the benediction: From Ephesians 3:20 May You be blessed by Him; Our Creator, Our Redeemer, The Most High God who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think-

Good Morning RCF. If it is your first time joining us either in person or online- welcome. My name is Caleb, I am the lead pastor here and we are glad that you have chosen to join us.

 

If you have your Bibles- either paper or electronic we are going to be working through Acts 15 this morning but before we get to work- would you please pray with me:

 

Lord, we thank you for who You are and the way that You provide opportunities for us to know You more. Thank you for loving us so perfectly. Thank you for paying the cost to offer redemption through the cross. Thank you for providing the Bible, as we turn our attention to how You worked in the lives of people 2000 years ago- may we be humble enough, mature enough to apply this truth to our lives today- because You never change. Holy Spirit open our hearts and minds so that we may learn more about You, so that we will learn to trust the Lord more, learn to listen to Your leading more. May we trust the Lord more so that we will do things God’s way which brings redemption, glory to God and abundant life for us. In the powerful name of Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.

 

Our question as we get started: What was your last disagreement about? What do we fight about?

 

I asked several people this question over the last several days and I got a wide variety of answers:

 

A parent fought with their child over how important something is.

One person said they have a disagreement over the calendar- what time allows for and what they are going to do on a particular day.

One person- we fight over politics

We fight over what restaurant to go to.

We fight over being right

Over how to spend money

I asked one person what they last had an argument over and the guy gave me a sheepish smile and said- so last night I asked my wife- hey babe- how about tonight… leave me alone- it’s late- I’m tired…

 

We fight over all kinds of things. Before I came on staff here at RCF I served in a small church in Red Bluff- it was a church filled with normal people that loved the Lord, did their utmost to follow the Bible and struggled to engage with the ever changing culture. I was told a story about a giant fight that took place in the church prior to my time there… Should the church allow drums on the stage? I guess it was a very passionate fight but eventually they decided they would let drums become a part of the worship set. The first Sunday with drums there was almost a riot when the base drum declared the drum manufacturer- legion in big black letters. The next week the drum was redone with the name of the church… 

 

Conflict is a part of life. Conflict is important, because at times we are dealing with issues important enough that we need to engage in the conflict. At times the appropriate thing to do is to take a stand and advocate for things- protect things- there are many times that engaging in the conflict is the mature, reasonable, right thing to do. Avoiding conflict cannot be a reasonable goal because it is not possible. Often when we shy away from conflict that needs to be addressed, we allow bigger problems to form. Avoiding conflict is not the goal, but navigating conflict well, with love, like Christ did- now that is something to strive for.

 

Whenever we engage in a conflict we are wise to establish our why… What is it that we want to accomplish if we engage in the conflict? Why are we engaging in the conflict? Are we reasonable and able to listen or are we so passionate, so frustrated, so angry that we are just reacting… only able to shout and make demands… If we are unreasonable when enter a conflict the chances of anything meaningful being accomplished drop significantly. If we engage in conflict we must be able to use our minds. I have to be careful- I am a very passionate person and I continue to need to pump the brakes. I like to fix things- I like to control the results- I like to accomplish and get things done and that means I often try to force things through. Even if I have the best of intentions- I can’t make other people do things and if we are completely honest- I can even be wrong. To engage in a conflict well- requires humility and self-control, the ability to listen. 

 

I asked a teenager this week about what they argued about recently and they said their parent said they were driving too fast down a hill. I asked if the parent was right or if they were right- the teenager responded that everything was completely under control and their parent was wrong… I laughed and walked away- they were not humble enough to consider a different view. They were not reasonable… so they couldn’t hear anything I had to say. Not all conflicts are worthy of our engagement.   

 

Whenever we engage in a fight- in a disagreement- in a conflict- why? What is it that we want?

 

To make someone think? To have someone consider a different perspective?

To control the situation?

To convince someone of how wrong they are and how right we are?

To warn of the potential danger if they keep heading the direction they head?

To get what you want, when you want, how you want it?

 

Being reasonable is essential when we engage in conflict. Maintaining self-control and showing love is essential when engage in conflict. To maintain self-control requires much more strength than flying off the handle, yelling, screaming, punching holes and breaking stuff. That is what toddlers do- that is not strength or masculinity- that is immaturity.

 

Acts 15 is all about conflict. Acts 15 is all about how to manage our expectations of what God is doing and how to respond to others who disagree. When we read Acts 15 we see one conflict is handled fairly well and then we are directly shown how the main influncencial leaders of the church engage in a conflict required time to resolve. They didn’t completely blow it but they didn’t do a stellar job…

 

Conflict is a part of life- and just because we may have handled the last one well or horribily- we still are responsible to apply our faith, our relationship with Christ to the next one.

 

Let me set the stage of Acts 15 a bit:

 

Barnabas and Paul have completed their first missionary journey- establishing churches on the island of Cyprus and in modern day Turkey and then they returned to home base- the town of Antioch where they continued to disciple, evangelize and provide leadership for the young church.

 

Acts 14:28–15:2 (ESV)

28 And they remained no little time with the disciples.

15 But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question.

 

Matters of salvation are extremely important and are worth engaging in. The men who came down from Judea, from Jerusalem were not sent by church leadership- they took it upon themselves in their passion to inform the new Gentile believers that circumcision was a matter of salvation- heaven or hell for eternity was at stake in the minds of the men from Jerusalem.

 

Now it is natural to demonize these men who caused such a stir because they were wrong… but I don’t know if it is wise to assume that their intent was bad. In the minds of the men from Jerusalem they were likely thinking that they were loving the gentile believers well by informing them what they thought needed to be done.

 

It is also important that we are humble enough to recognize that there is nothing is new under the sun- 40 years ago churches fought over drums and electric guaitars and just a year or two ago we fought over covid vaccines. I actually heard people declare that the vaccination was a matter of salvation- some argued that those who were truly saved would get the vaccine to show their love for God and other people and others argued that those who were truly saved wouldn’t get it as proof that they were a person of faith in Christ… we did that here at RCF. So the lessons of Acts 15 are extremely relevant for us- or the next time we get together with family and argue about whatever it is that we argue about. Or the next time we get in a heated discussion with our spouse or coworker or sibling… Acts 15 is relevant for us if we are humble enough to apply it to our lives.

 

There is an important aspect about salvation at question here in Acts 15. What is it that saves a person? “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” What are these men from Jerusalem saying: our salvation depends on us- we need to… we need… we… the emphasis is on ourselves- as if we can earn our salvation.

 

Now what is true? 

 

 Ephesians 2:8–9 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

 

When someone declares that all religions are the same- they reveal how little they understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They are making declarations about things that they do not understand.

Being a Christian is so hard and wonderful and scary and powerful because our focus is not to be on ourselves. To be redeemed by Christ on the cross is to rely on faith in Christ- not on ourselves and that is both wondrous and terrifying. In some ways Faith seems to be such a miniscule thing, we pray a prayer asking for forgiveness and suddenly we are going to heaven….that doesn’t seem right… but it is that same faith that calls us to maintain self-control when someone cuts us off on the highway, when we are by ourselves with another person who is not our spouse and we are filled with passion or sitting in front of a screen that has internet access and we are bored. It is this same faith that informs our work ethic, our finances, how we forgive, discipline, talk, play, faith is what drives every aspect of our life.

 

Besides the Lord, faith is the most powerful thing that we have. And we live in a world that constantly encourages us to put our faith in anything other than the Lord. These guys have their focus on foreskin- and they are willing to declare that people will go to hell because of it. Over the last 2000 years we have fought and I am embarrassed to say at times killed each other over baptism, communion, a specific prayer, speaking in tongues, drums, vaccines and the list goes on and on. All of these are putting our focus and faith in something other than Jesus Christ.

 

Jesus Christ is the key. Jesus Christ is enough, Jesus Christ is real and Jesus Christ is where we find our salvation. Anything other than faith in Jesus Christ will place the focus on ourselves and what we do. This sounds simple- but things get messy really quick because when a person places their faith in Christ they are beginning a process of learning to turn away from sin and strive for the abundant life that God offers in the Bible. No matter how long a person has been a Christian- they are learning to surrender to the Lordship of Christ- it is a lifelong process to apply faith in Christ to all aspects of our life- it is messy.

 

So these men from Jerusalem declare that new believers need to chop off some skin in order to go to heaven because that is what they have done for generations- this is tradition- this is their expectation- this is what God declared in the dessert with Moses so these newbies must conform and fit the mold. God came up with this whole circumcision thing- this was God’s idea from the very beginning- they are just being faithful to the Lord and ensuring that the newbies follow suit. Paul and Barnabas both reject this and they go round and round and nobody is giving in so they appeal to the highest authority that they can- the elders in Jerusalem. After they appoint a delegation they arrive in Jerusalem where a huge debate ensues:

 

Acts 15:6–9 (ESV)

6 The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. 7 And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, 9 and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.

 

Peter references the events that took place in Cornelius’ house that God initiated in order to repeatedly point the attention of everyone to God.

 

God, who knows the heart

God, who sent the Holy Spirit

God, who made no distinction between Jew and Gentile

God, who cleansed their hearts by faith.

 

Yeah- I get all that but it isn’t what I want. I want what is familiar- I want things to be normal, I want… God sent the Holy Spirit as confirmation of genuine faith- and you have the gall to declare that the Holy Spirit is not good enough- are you kidding me? The Holy Spirit isn’t good enough but circumsiion is- what are you talking about? You are tossing aside the Holy Spirit- who is God!  

 

Acts 15:10–12 (ESV)

10 Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?

 

To put God to the test in this context is to disagree with God- Peter is asking why are you wanting to oppose God. Peter is declaring that we can clearly see the heart of God by His actions: God has repeatedly worked in such a way as to make Himself known to the gentiles, all the signs and wonders (Elymas, the magician made blind, the man who was crippled from birth able to walk and so many more) and He has given them the Holy Spirit… do you really want to oppose God?

 

Do we oppose God? Personally- more often than I care to admit. Anytime we choose to sin. Anytime we try to justify or redefine our sin so that it is ok, anytime we try to put our faith in something other than Christ- we oppose God. Now wait a minute Caleb, that is not fair- when I accidently put my faith in myself I don’t oppose God on purpose- when I choose to be selfish towards my family member, I don’t directly oppose God on purpose. When these men tried to convince everyone that circumcision was necessary for salvation they thought they were doing a good thing- being faithful to God and loving to the new believers by declaring what they believed to be true… they thought they were doing the right thing… but they were wrong and in their good intentions they were actually standing in opposition to what God had done.

 

We can oppose God while trying to serve Him. Our primary way of opposing God is pride- more than any other sin- pride is first and foremost because pride prevents us from being humble- pride prevents us from recognizing the Lordship of Christ- that our sin is sin but we have given it a new name. Pride is what makes our worship about ourselves and how we look in the eyes of others. Pride is what makes us greedy and motivates us to take advantage of others. Pride is what makes us insecure and start comparing, pride is what motivates us to think we are better than someone else. Pride is what keeps us putting our faith in Christ who offers a yoke that is easy and a burden that is light.    

 

10 Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?

 

Faith in anything other than Jesus Christ is unbearable. Pleasure is insatiable- a bottomless pit that never offers long-term satisfaction. Wealth, power, physical appearance- all fleeting (if we are able to acquire them at all) they are here today and gone tomorrow. They don’t provide meaningful peace.

 

  Acts 15:11 (ESV)

11 But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”

 

But if we are willing to focus on God- we can experience a peace that surpasses understanding, our circumstances and anything the world has to offer. When our focus is on ourselves; God’s commandments feel like a cold list of rules that are obligatory, required, something we should resent. When we focus on God- how he loves us even in our mess, in the sins that we have chosen and all the brokenness that they produce. When we focus on God and how He forgives us over and over again. When we focus on God and begin to fathom the depth of His provision and protection- His commandments can begin to transform from a cold list of rules that we resent to words of life that we genuinely delight in because God offers abundant life- a yoke that is easy and a burden that is light.

 

So the debate about circumcision was settled and James, the half-brother of Jesus declared that they needed to send word back to Antioch to all the gentile believers that were waiting to hear what the decision was, so they wrote the following letter:

 

Acts 15:23–29

 “The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings. 24 Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, 25 it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. 28 For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: 29 that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”

 

What does the letter say: If you have faith in Jesus Christ- don’t worry about circumcision, or following the Law of Moses… if you have faith in Christ- focus on these four things:

 

1.      Abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols

2.      From blood

3.      From what has been strangled

4.      From sexual immorality.

 

In my study this week there has been considerable ink spent providing proposals for why these 4 instructions were chosen. Each commentary I read gave a different answer and one of them provided 6 different theories but said only the last 2 were probable. All four instructions are found in the Old Testament Law in various places but why these 4 when there were so many others.

 

I am sure that we could argue and fight about why these 4 instructions are given while others are left out but when I consider the Scriptures- from bookend to bookend- from Genesis to Revelation- you begin to grasp a theme of distinction, an anointing that is given to God’s people, they are set apart, separate. You see it in the 10 commandments when God declares that He is God alone and there is to be no worship given to any image. You get this sense throughout the Law given by God to Moses- in the foods that they eat, clothes they wear, There is a constant setting apart. Jesus talks about the goats that will be sent to the left and the sheep that will be set to the right. Jesus also talks about the sheep that will follow the shepherd because they know the sound of His voice. In revelation we see that those who’s names are written in the book of life enter the new Jerusalem which has no temple because God dwells there and those who’s name is not written in the book of life are thrown into the lake of fire- which is described as the second death. There is a distinction, a setting apart, an anointing made between those who are God’s people and those who are not.  

 

I think that these 4 instructions are in accord with this overall theme in Scripture- when a person places their faith in Christ they are anointed- set apart, distinguished as God’s chosen people who worship God and God alone. And all 4 of these instructions are directly connected to idol worship. Antioch is a city strategically placed at the crossroads of trade routes from the east, south and west. The multiethnic nature of the city brought many different religious practices as well. The city was full of temples of all kinds of gods. Now if you are living in Antioch and you declare yourself a priest of some false god so that people will give you their money and elevate you to a place of prominence- but there are so many other temples to go to who are doing the exact same thing- how do you make your false god attractive? How do you get people to spend their money at your temple? You hold banquets that have an abundance of food, lots of wine and fermented drink and you provide prostitutes and you provide ways to indulge the flesh and once a person starts to participate regularly it is easy to get their money- because they want more- pleasure has always been insatiable- a bottomless pit- a fantastic way to make money.  

 

The 4 instructions are given to make the distinction between God’s people and those who are not- that those who worship the real living God do not worship any other false god- they don’t go to their banquets, they don’t engage in the snares that draw people into bondage, whether they be food, drink, sex, social status, or whatever else.    

 

Listen to the people’s response to the letter that provided the 4 instructions: Acts 15:31 (ESV)

31 And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement.

 

That is another evidence that their faith is real- they didn’t reject the instructions- they rejoiced in them because their focus is on God and all He has blessed them with- not on all that they have lost.

When our focus is on God we delight in Him- when our focus is on ourselves we respond to the life giving commandments of God with why? Why should I have to do that- I want to do that… our focus is all wrong. When our focus is on God we delight in Him.

 

So a major conflict is resolved with much reasonable debate- God was consistently brought back into focus by multiple apostles throughout the process- people were reasonable and everyone ended up rejoicing and they lived happily ever after… that is what we want to think…

 

Unfortunately that is not how life works- conflict of one form or another is always present. The two guys who have grown to love each other through years of intense ministry together- Barnabas and Paul who so successfully navigated the conflict over salvation and circumcision find themselves again entering conflict but this time, instead of being on the same side of the issue- this time they are opposed to each other:

 

  Acts 15:36–41 (ESV)

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.

 

Both agree to go back and encourage the churches. They agree on the overall goal but they are hung up on the details. We never do that do we?

 

Paul’s reluctance to take John Mark again was not without good reason- Acts 13:13 is what this passage is referencing when John Mark left the team to return home. We know his mom’s home was in Jerusalem because that was the house that Peter went to inform the church that he was ok after the angel of the Lord walked him out of the cell. These ministry trips are brutally hard- they are constantly under attack and fleeing for their lives. Everything they do is examined and often they are in the center of riots. The team needs to be able to trust each other and remain strong in extremely difficult situations. Paul has enough to worry about- he doesn’t want to be worried about team members abandoning the group when things get too hard. Paul was clearly not impressed that John Mark had run home to momma on the first trip and clearly didn’t want to even consider him a worthy candidate for the next trip. And to top it all off- the only reason Barnabas is giving so many chances to this John Mark is because they are related- John Mark is his cousin- if it weren’t for the family connection would he even consider it?

 

Barnabas also had a viable perspective. John Mark was likely a young man and the couple years from the first trip and the 2nd trip may have brought a lot of growth and maturity. What does redemption, forgiveness, and discipleship look like? If anyone should be disqualified for past mistakes- Paul is the last person to accuse someone. The first trip was brutally hard- can’t it be reasonable to cut John Mark some slack.

 

The difference in opinion was so strong that this partnership was severed. This is not outdoing one another in love. How long until the disagreement became…