Making Acts 15:1-36 Significant Decisions Paul J. Bucknell

Acts: A Thematic Look 1. The Plan of God’s Kingdom 2. The Power of God’s Kingdom 3. The Proclamation of God’s Kingdom 4. The People of God’s Kingdom 5. The Penetration of God’s Kingdom Pentecost Power

The church faces many issues Inner strife Religious persecutionReligious persecution WarWar Political eliminationPolitical elimination DiseaseDisease MaterialismMaterialism Threatening philosophiesThreatening philosophies Loss of love is the loss of life! “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).

Significant Decisions (Acts 15:1-36) A. Making Important Decisions(Acts 15:1-21)B. Communicating Important Decisions (Acts 15:22-36)

Arguments A. Making Important Decisions (15:1-21) 1. Detect the Problem (1-5) 2. Discuss the Problem (6-12) 3. Resolve the Problem (13-21) 1. Detect the Problem (1-5) 2. Discuss the Problem (6-12) 3. Resolve the Problem (13-21) Hatred Venom Guilt Division Bitterness

A. Making Important Decisions (15:1-21) 1. Detect the Problem (1-5) “And some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved” 2 And when Paul and Barnabas had great dissension and debate with them, the brethren determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning this issue. 3 Therefore, being sent on their way by the church, they were passing through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and were bringing great joy to all the brethren. 4 And when they arrived at Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them. 5 But certain ones of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed, stood up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses” (Acts 15:1-5).

A. Making Important Decisions (15:1-21) ✦D✦Discover the problem (1) ✦D✦Discussion and debate (2) 1. Detect the Problem (1-5)

Every significant advance in the kingdom of God will be challenged! A. Making Important Decisions (15:1-21)

1. Detect the Problem (1-5) A. Making Important Decisions (15:1-21) ✦ To Jerusalem in ministry (3) ✦ Update in Jerusalem (4) ✦ Rediscovering the problem (5)

1. Detect the Problem (1-5) A. Making Important Decisions (15:1-21) ➡ Truth is the reflection of what is rather than what one wants. Truth is worth determining because it affects our life and welfare. ➡ Don’t get caught unaware! ➡ Shine! Even in troubling times share the gospel and live in His joy. Application

A. Making Important Decisions (15:1-21) 2. Discuss the Problem (6-12) “And the apostles and the elders came together to look into this matter. And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brethren, 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. And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. Now therefore why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? “But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are. And all the multitude kept silent, and they were listening to Barnabas and Paul as they were relating what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles” (Acts 15:6-12).

A. Making Important Decisions (15:1-21) 2. Discuss the Problem (6-12) “And the apostles and the elders came together to look into this matter. And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said.” (Acts 15:6-7). ✦ Allow the different sides to voice their opinion and understanding Application ➡ Learn to genuinely listen.

A. Making Important Decisions (15:1-21) 2. Discuss the Problem (6-12) ✦ The Place of God-led Experience (7-9) “Peter stood up and said to them, “Brethren, 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. And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. (Acts 15:7-9). ‣ God first revealed the Gospel to Gentiles. ‣ God confirmed their belief by sign of Holy Spirit. ‣ God saved them by faith (rather than works).

A. Making Important Decisions (15:1-21) 2. Discuss the Problem (6-12) ✦ Conclusion (10-12) ‣ Peter, Paul and Barnabas confirmed this was happening all around the world. God was doing it. Why trouble Gentiles with the Law? ‣ Confirming signs among new works not as signs of salvation of all believers. ‣ Salvation is by faith (9) through grace (11) ➡B➡B y Faith - Salvation is gained by belief rather than by works (such as keeping the Law) ➡T➡T hrough Grace - Emphasizes salvation is not earned but given to unworthy and sinful people, whether Jew or Gentile (equally qualify).

3. Resolve the Problem (13-21) A. Making Important Decisions (15:1-21) ✦ What does the scriptures say? “Simeon has related how God first concerned Himself about taking from among the Gentiles a people for His name. “And with this the words of the Prophets agree...” (Acts 15:14-15). Not just experience. Not just experience. Not feelings. Not feelings. Not mere circumstances. Not mere circumstances. Not just one group’s opinion. Not just one group’s opinion.

3. Resolve the Problem (13-21) A. Making Important Decisions (15:1-21) ✦ What does the scriptures say? (14-18) “After this I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things’ that have been known for ages” (15:16-18 NIV). I will return Jesus came I will restore itJesus builds the people of God Remnant seek the LordBelieving Jews And Gentiles who bear my Name Non-Jewish believers

3. Resolve the Problem (13-21) A. Making Important Decisions (15:1-21) ✦ The Decision (19-21) ‣ Saved by grace through faith in Christ ‣ Abstain from three things “Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles, but that we write to them that they abstain from things contaminated by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood. For Moses from ancient generations has in every city those who preach him, since he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath” (Acts 15:19-21). Genesis 9:3-4

A. Making Important Decisions (15:1-21) ✦ Using conversation where one genuinely listens to one another. ✦ Believe in absolute truth ✦ Stand up for truth (debate okay) ✦ Value God-led experience ✦ Use scripture for final judgment ✦ Submit to the scriptures Application Care about what others say and experience. Care even more about what God said and is doing.

Some Important Church Councils Jerusalem Council (50 AD) A person is saved by faith not by keeping the law Council of Nicaea 325 AD Affirmed Christ’s deity Council of Ephesus (431) Emphasized the unity of Christ’s personality Council of Chalcedron (553) State the relationship between two natures of Christ Council of Constantinople (553) Deals with claim that Christ had one nature merged rather than two Council of Constantinople (680) Christ had one or two wills Council of Nicea (787) Restore permission for Christian images

B. Communicating Important Decisions (Acts 15:22-36) Communication is a difficult problem! “Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas--Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren, and they sent this letter by them...” (Acts 15:22-23). ‣ Unity and consensus! ‣ Representatives! ‣ Determined to communicate! ‣U‣U nity and consensus! ‣R‣R epresentatives! ‣D‣D etermined to communicate!

B. Communicating Decisions (15:22-36) ✦ Addressees (23) ✦ Identify problem (24) ✦ Consensus (25) ✦ Respected men verify (26-27) ✦ God & man decision (28) ✦ Resolutions (29) The Letter (23-29)

B. Communicating Decisions (15:22-36) ✦ Congregational meeting (30) ✦ Read the letter (31) ✦ People encouraged (31) ✦ Special message (32) ✦ People of God grow (33-36) The Delivery (30-35)

Having problems and misunderstandings is common. Never be afraid of the truth, it leads you to God. Don’t let life rotate around a problem (anxiety and fears). It is only a small matter. Keep perspective. Focus on harmonious living rather than fitting people into your standards as a judge. God’s grace should keep us all humbly serving. Remember it is Jesus who sets free, not our works. Point people to follow Jesus in their own contexts. Care about others. Genuinely listen to them. Love the truth. Meditate on God’s Word. Conclusion What about you?