“Encounter With the Risen Christ” John 20:11-23 “All Of Grace” Acts 15:1-12

I. The Dispute Over God’s Grace

1.Declaration of the gospel

I. The Dispute Over God’s Grace 1.Declaration of the gospel “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8

I. The Dispute Over God’s Grace 1.Declaration of the gospel “And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region.” Acts 13:49

I. The Dispute Over God’s Grace 1.Declaration of the gospel “Now it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed.” Acts 14:1

I. The Dispute Over God’s Grace 2.Dissension over the gospel

I. The Dispute Over God’s Grace 2.Dissension over the gospel “And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, ‘Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.’” Acts 15:1

I. The Dispute Over God’s Grace 3.Decision to go to Jerusalem

I. The Dispute Over God’s Grace 3.Decision to go to Jerusalem “Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question.” Acts 15:2

I. The Dispute Over God’s Grace 3.Decision to go to Jerusalem “So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren.” Acts 15:3

II.Deliberation At Jerusalem

1.Additional problems

II.Deliberation At Jerusalem 1.Additional problems “And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them.” Acts 15:4

II.Deliberation At Jerusalem 1.Additional problems “But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, ‘It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.’” Acts 15:5

II.Deliberation At Jerusalem 2.Statement of purpose

II.Deliberation At Jerusalem 2.Statement of purpose “Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter.” Acts 15:6

II.Deliberation At Jerusalem 3.Passion of the participants

II.Deliberation At Jerusalem 3.Passion of the participants “And when there had been much dispute,” Acts 15:7a

II.Deliberation At Jerusalem 4.Testimony from Peter

II.Deliberation At Jerusalem 4.Testimony from Peter a.God’s call to the Gentiles

II.Deliberation At Jerusalem 4.Testimony from Peter a.God’s call to the Gentiles “Peter rose up and said to them: ‘Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.” Acts 15:7b

II.Deliberation At Jerusalem 4.Testimony from Peter b.Witness of the Holy Spirit upon the Gentiles

II.Deliberation At Jerusalem 4.Testimony from Peter b.Witness of the Holy Spirit upon the Gentiles “So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us,” Acts 15:8

II.Deliberation At Jerusalem 4.Testimony from Peter c.God makes no distinction between Jew and Gentile when it comes to salvation

II.Deliberation At Jerusalem 4.Testimony from Peter c.God makes no distinction between Jew and Gentile when it comes to salvation “and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.” Acts 15:9

II.Deliberation At Jerusalem 4.Testimony from Peter “Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?” Acts 15:10

II.Deliberation At Jerusalem 4.Testimony from Peter “But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.” Acts 15:11

II.Deliberation At Jerusalem 5.The experience of Paul and Barnabas

II.Deliberation At Jerusalem 5.The experience of Paul and Barnabas “Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles.” Acts 15:12

III.The Discord in Our Lives

1.Lessons learned from conflict

III.The Discord in Our Lives 1.Lessons learned from conflict a.No conflict is ever easy

III.The Discord in Our Lives 1.Lessons learned from conflict a.No conflict is ever easy b.Conflict can be beneficial, when we respond properly

III.The Discord in Our Lives 1.Lessons learned from conflict a.No conflict is ever easy b.Conflict can be beneficial, when we respond properly c.Conflict should cause us to stop and think

III.The Discord in Our Lives 2.The proper way of handling conflict

III.The Discord in Our Lives 2.The proper way of handling conflict a.Open and honest communication is essential

III.The Discord in Our Lives 2.The proper way of handling conflict a.Open and honest communication is essential b.Willingness to go to those with greater knowledge, experience, and understanding

III.The Discord in Our Lives 2.The proper way of handling conflict a.Open and honest communication is essential b.Willingness to go to those with greater knowledge, experience, and understanding c.Willing to accept the outcome, even if wrong

III.The Discord in Our Lives 3.Avoiding the wrong side of conflict

III.The Discord in Our Lives 3.Avoiding the wrong side of conflict a.Don’t box God in …

III.The Discord in Our Lives 3.Avoiding the wrong side of conflict a.Don’t box God in … b.Be aware …

III.The Discord in Our Lives 3.Avoiding the wrong side of conflict a.Don’t box God in … b.Be aware … c.Let God be God …

III.The Discord in Our Lives 3.Avoiding the wrong side of conflict “But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.” Acts 15:11