Sermon Audio

Once again, I am continually amazed that God has us in the perfect text we need to hear this week. It has been hard not to question and try to understand God’s purpose and plan regarding the results of Kansas’ amendment vote. But even if this momentous even hadn’t taken place, there are always times in the believers life when we don’t understand what God is doing and can’t see His purposes in the events of our lives. We are often faced with the reality that our plans are not always God’s plans. Paul and Silas face this as they head out on the second missionary journey. In Acts 16:6-15, they attempt to evangelize portions of the Roman province of Asia and Bithynia, and both times God closes the door to them. God has a plan for their journey and He funnels them right where he wants them to go. But I wonder what they thought when those doors shut.

This Sunday we will see that God leads His people to accomplish His purposes (not necessarily our purposes). We will see what it looks like to follow Jesus when we have a direct call and also when we have no idea what to do next. We will remind ourselves from the text that God is in control of His mission. He is in control of all things. When he shuts doors on our efforts, there is a reason and a purpose. And though we often don’t see the big picture, we walk by faith.

Paul and the missionary team are not allowed to evangelize in Asia or Bithynia. Instead they are brought all the way across the Aegean to the edge of Europe in Philippi, so that one woman named Lydia may have her heart opened by the Lord through the gospel. We must follow God’s plan for it is only His power that saves and glorifies Himself by changing hearts.

Sunday’s passage is quite ironic in the context of chapter 15. Paul and Barnabas were instrumental in opposing false teaching that could have divided the church between Jew and Gentile. They stood against those teaching that Gentiles must be circumcised and hold to the law of Moses to be saved. When the church leaders met, they affirmed that God saves by grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ. They affirmed this because God’s work proved it, and God’s word proclaimed it. Now the churches in Jerusalem, Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia are unified in the gospel. The Apostles also sent a letter asking the Gentiles to abstain from certain practices that would offend the Jewish Christian’s consciences. Now, the church was unified in love for one another as well. A great victory for the body of Christ has been achieved. But in the very next section, Luke records a division among the two disciples that helped bring this unity.

Paul and Barnabas have a disagreement that divides them and sends them to serve separately. They did not disagree on God’s truth, the gospel, Christ’s mission, or weighty theological matters. Their personality differences led them to argue about who should be on their mission team. As we examine this conflict and its effect on the mission, we find that discord and even heated disagreement is possible among godly believers. It is possible among those who’s hearts are focused on Christ and His mission. It is possible among the closest of companions who have risked their lives together for Jesus and suffered persecution together for the gospel. If it can happen among these men, it can happen among any disciples...and it often does. How should we react when secondary disagreements such as these escalate to a heated discord? Who was right in Paul and Barnabas’ disagreement? These are the questions we will wrestle with Sunday. I hope you can join us.

Although we are focusing on Acts 15:22-35 this Sunday, I would encourage you to read verses 1-35 in order to remind yourself of the context. We will be jumping back into the middle of what is commonly known as the Jerusalem Council. Last week we saw the reason for this meeting. Men had come into the church in Antioch and began teaching that Gentiles must be circumcised in addition to trusting in Jesus to be saved. Paul and Barnabas stood against these teachers and the question was taken up by the elders and apostles in Jerusalem. Our focus in verses 1-21 was the church’s refusal to compromise the gospel. Peter, Paul and Barnabas all spoke up. Then James showed that God foretold the saving of the Gentiles in His word. The church decides to stand on the word and work of God, refusing to add anything as a requirement for salvation. The Gentiles are saved in the same way that Jews are, by grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone.

Sunday we will read the letter that is sent back to Antioch. In it we again see the church stand firm in the gospel of grace, disavowing those who teach contrary, but we also find that "requirements" (or essentials) are asked of the Gentiles. While the church in Jerusalem affirms that salvation is through faith alone and the Gentiles need not become Jews, they can also no longer participate in the pagan worship practices and festivities common in that day. They also recognize that the churches in Antioch, Pamphyilia, Cilicia, and Galatia are made up of Jewish believers as well as Gentiles. In order to preserve unity and table fellowship in churches composed of Jews and Gentiles, they ask the Gentiles to abstain from certain foods to retain unity with Jewish believers. Here we see two sides of unity in the body of Christ. First there can be no unity without the truth of the gospel. Some things are too important to be compromised for the sake of unity. But likewise, love for Christ must compel to walk in holiness and in unity with one another. If this means we sacrifice some foods, drinks, activities, or traditions for the sake of the mission to others, we must do so.

1 Co. 9:19-23 "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 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."

The plague of flies is sent upon Egypt as God continues to make his name known among Egypt and Israel

Salvation by grace through faith alone is put on trial when some people come to Antioch teaching that circumcision is necessary for salvation. The church takes up the question of what is necessary for salvation.

This Sunday, we will finish the final leg of Paul and Barnabas’ first missionary journey. Acts 14:21-28 shows us their route home and describes the missions activities they did along the way. Through chapter 13 - 14 we have seen them preach the gospel in the synagogues and the cities, to Jews and to Gentiles, and even to pagans with no knowledge of the Jewish Messiah or promises. They had been run out of several cities, caused quite a division in the cities, and had almost been worshiped as pagan gods. They had been persecuted and reviled. They had been chased by their opponents from city to city, and Paul had been stoned so severely that he was thought to have died. As we pick up in the city of Derbe (v.21) they continue to preach and make disciples because that is what Great Commission disciples do - they evangelize. But then they turn back to head home to their own church in Syrian Antioch. And on their way home, they retrace their steps to all the cities they had just visited. Not only was this dangerous because by now they were well known and hated by a great number of people in each city, but this was also the long way around to reach their home church in Antioch. Why would they risk it? Why would they backtrack out of their way to these dangerous places. They did so because their mission was to make disciples, not just converts. They returned to strengthen the disciples who were converted on their first trip through the area. They went back to encourage them to continue in the faith despite all the persecution and tribulation they would experience. They went back because they were following Jesus’ Great Commission, not only baptizing all nations, but teaching them to observe everything Jesus had commanded. They went back to organize the local churches there because that is God’s ordained instrument for disciples to grow and to make other disciples.

And when Paul and Barnabas finally get back home to Antioch, we see that even these great men of God knew the importance of being involved with their local home church. They stayed with there a long time and reported on their mission because it was also the church’s mission. The church in Antioch had sent them, ordained them, recognized the call of the Holy Spirit on them for the mission.

The passage demonstrates to us the importance of not only evangelizing but also investing in the growth of disciples. It shows us the importance of the local church for growing disciples to make disciples. Jesus’ call to us today is the same. Make disciples - evangelize the lost - baptize them - and come along side them to teach them TO OBSERVE everything Jesus has commanded. Simply, to help one another follow Jesus. I hope we will be a church who’s heart beats for Christ in the commission He has given.

The next two plagues are unleashed on Egypt as God shows Himself Lord over Egypt, Pharaoh, and his magicians.

A survey of Scriptural texts showing why every human life is valuable including the lives of those yet born.

Paul and Barnabas enter into Lystra, a frontier outpost town, and as God heals a lame man, the people begin worshipping the missionaries as gods....and then they try to kill them. What we see in this passage is that all people are worshipers. That is how we are created. Even the most devout atheist worships. What we live for - what we put all our hope in - what we sacrifice everything for - that is what we worship. And the truth of God’s message always exposes and confronts our idols. The gospel calls us to "turn from these vain things to a living God" (Acts 14:15).

It is God alone who "satisfies [our] hearts...with gladness" (Acts 14:17). All other things we live for, find our identity in, or put our hope in are powerless to give what they promise. Only a living God who created us in His image, can give the hope of salvation, reconciliation, and relationship for which we were created. But as we see in this text (and all around us) human beings don’t give up their idols easily. To touch someones idol will bring forth rage and hatred. To say an idol - what a person has built their life and identity on - is a "vain thing" will incite a tidal wave of opposition. The people of Lystra won’t give up their "gods" easily. The unbelieving Jews who followed the missionaries here won’t give up their idols easily either. And when they lash out together, we see where Paul has placed his hope and his worship. He values Jesus more than his own life, comfort, and security. He has turned to a living God and calls us to do the same.

When we left Paul and Barnabas in Acts 13, they had just been run out of town as the unbelieving Jews of the synagogue stirred up the leaders of the city to persecute them. As chapter 14 begins, they enter the city of Iconium and go right back to the synagogue there to continue preaching the same message. And, as you might expect, they same thing happens again. In each place, the gospel goes forth, God saves souls, a church is established, and the missionaries are attacked, persecuted, and banished. What we can see from these repeated situations is an uncanny perseverance that these witnesses exhibit. In 14:1-7, Paul and Barnabas persevere on the mission to which God called them. They persevere in contending for the faith against all opposition, and even when they are forced out of the city, they continue preaching the gospel wherever the Lord leads them.

This is instructive for the church today because Paul and Barnabas are not supermen. They are not free from despair, disappointment, weariness, and uncertainty. Yet something in them spurs them on in their mission. Not only will we seek to follow Paul as he follows Christ, examining his perseverance and applying it to our lives, but we will also see how he is able to persevere through the trials and opposition. It isn’t because he is stronger, smarter, or greater than everyone else.

When we left Paul and Barnabas in Acts 13, they had just been run out of town as the unbelieving Jews of the synagogue stirred up the leaders of the city to persecute them. As chapter 14 begins, they enter the city of Iconium and go right back to the synagogue there to continue preaching the same message. And, as you might expect, they same thing happens again. In each place, the gospel goes forth, God saves souls, a church is established, and the missionaries are attacked, persecuted, and banished. What we can see from these repeated situations is an uncanny perseverance that these witnesses exhibit. In 14:1-7, Paul and Barnabas persevere on the mission to which God called them. They persevere in contending for the faith against all opposition, and even when they are forced out of the city, they continue preaching the gospel wherever the Lord leads them.

This is instructive for the church today because Paul and Barnabas are not supermen. They are not free from despair, disappointment, weariness, and uncertainty. Yet something in them spurs them on in their mission. Not only will we seek to follow Paul as he follows Christ, examining his perseverance and applying it to our lives, but we will also see how he is able to persevere through the trials and opposition. It isn’t because he is stronger, smarter, or greater than everyone else.

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