1. Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

2. Dissension & Dissemination Acts 15:36-16:5
How do you handle conflict?
Dominate & win?
Avoid at all costs?
Depends on the particular conflict?
How important is the relationship?
How important is the issue?

3. Dissension Acts 15:36-41 Barnabas & Paul are both guilty
Sharp disagreement – paroxusmoV paroxusmos – contentious / provoking
A failure to love – 1 Cor. 5 (love is not provoked)

4. God Uses Ordinary People
Paul & Barnabas were “also men of the same nature as you”
God uses us while He is making us holy & blameless – conformed to the image of His Son – Eph. 4:1; Rom. 8:29
There are requirements for ministry – but perfection is not one of them
Are you a true Christian? Are you willing?

5. Basis of the Disagreement
Inherent personality differences
Barnabas was an encourager who was people oriented
Paul was a doer who was task oriented
Should John Mark go with them again?
He had “deserted” them before
Barnabas’ failure – Galatians 2:13

6. Division Acts 15:39, 40 Paul & Barnabas split up
The tragedy is not the split itself – God will use that to increase His kingdom
The tragedy is the manner in which the division took place

7. Dissension without Contention
Philippians 3:13,14
Romans 12:10,11
Philippians 2:2-4
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Ephesians 4:1-3

8. God’s Use of the Division
God uses us despite our imperfections
The Missionary Force doubles
Silas is a Roman citizen, which proves to be an advantage where they went
Silas represents the church in Jerusalem in delivering the council’s decision

9. Reconciliation 1 Corinthians 9:6 – 5 or 6 years after
2 Timothy 4:11 – 10 or 11 years after
Philemon 24 & Colossians 4:10 – 11 or 12 years after
Disagreements can be reconciled by those who continue to grow in the Lord and seek His will over their own

11. Selection of Timothy Acts 16:1-3
Timothy is in late teens or early twenties
Good reputation in Lystra & Iconium
2 Tim. 1:5 – Mother & Grandmother saved – they taught Timothy the Faith
Circumcised because mother was Jewish, therefore he was also Jewish

12. Principle of Accommodation
Paul rejected circumcision for Gentiles and as a requirement for acceptance by God
1 Corinthians 9:19-23
“Being a good Christian does mean being a bad Jew”
Remove unnecessary offenses for the sake of the gospel – without compromising God’s commands
Avoid being conformed to this world – Romans 12:2

13. Principle of Accommodation
Refrain from what is perceived as ungodly and practice what is seen as godly – But do not compromise God’s commands
The gospel is not “fire insurance.” It is salvation from sin to righteousness.
You must discern what cultural things should be practice or refrained from in seeking to bring people to Jesus Christ.

14. Delivering the Decree Acts 16:4,5
Paul & Silas also delivered the decision of the council in Jerusalem
This strengthened their faith
It removed any remaining confusion

15. Salvation is by God’s grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ & not by works (Ephesians 2:8)
Will you believe and follow the revelation of God or the musings of men?

16. Grace Bible Church Glorifying God by Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

17. O Sacred Head, Now Wounded
Hymn # 316
O sacred Head, now wounded
With grief and shame weighed down
Now scornfully surrounded
With thorns, Thine only crown.

18. How pale Thou are with anguish, With sore abuse and scorn;
How does that visage languish,
Which once was bright as morn!

19. What Thou, my Lord, has suffered Was all for sinners’ gain;
Mine, mine was the transgression,
But Thine the deadly pain.

20. Lo, here I fall, my Savior; Tis I deserve Thy place.
Look on me with Thy favor;
Assist me with Thy grace.

21. What language shall I borrow To thank Thee, dearest Friend,
For this, Thy dying sorrow,
Thy pity without end?

22. O make me Thine forever; And, should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never
Outlive my love to Thee.

23. Stood an old rugged cross, The emblem of suffering
The Old Rugged Cross
Hymn # 327
On a hill far away
Stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suffering
And shame;

24. And I love that old cross, Where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners
Was slain.

25. ‘Til my trophies at last
So I’ll cherish
The old rugged cross,
‘Til my trophies at last
I lay down;

26. And exchange it someday
I will cling
To the old rugged cross,
And exchange it someday
For a crown.

27. So despised by the world, Has a wondrous attraction
O that old rugged cross,
So despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction
For me;

28. To bear it to dark Calvary.
For the dear Lamb of God
Left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.

29. ‘Til my trophies at last
So I’ll cherish
The old rugged cross,
‘Til my trophies at last
I lay down;

30. And exchange it someday
I will cling
To the old rugged cross,
And exchange it someday
For a crown.

31. Stained with blood so divine,
In the old rugged cross,
Stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see.

32. For ‘twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died
To pardon and sanctify me.

33. ‘Til my trophies at last
So I’ll cherish
The old rugged cross,
‘Til my trophies at last
I lay down;

34. And exchange it someday
I will cling
To the old rugged cross,
And exchange it someday
For a crown.

35. To the old rugged cross
I will ever be true,
Its shame and reproach
Gladly bear;

36. Then He’ll call me someday Where His glory forever I’ll share.
To my home far away,
Where His glory forever I’ll share.

37. ‘Til my trophies at last
So I’ll cherish
The old rugged cross,
‘Til my trophies at last
I lay down;

38. And exchange it someday
I will cling
To the old rugged cross,
And exchange it someday
For a crown.

39. Blest Be The Tie That Binds! Hymn #426
Our hearts in Christian love;
The fellowship of kindred minds
Is like to that above.