Navigating Conflicts: Unity and Truth in the Early Church

Devotional

Day 1: Theological Conflicts and Accountability

The early church faced significant theological conflicts, particularly around the requirements for Gentile converts. In Acts 15, the debate centered on whether Gentile converts needed to follow Jewish customs like circumcision. Paul and Barnabas stood firm that salvation is through faith in Christ alone, not through adherence to the law of Moses. This debate was resolved through a structured and respectful discussion, emphasizing accountability and the importance of aligning with the core gospel message. The early church leaders demonstrated the importance of community and shared discernment in resolving doctrinal issues, showing us that respectful dialogue and accountability are crucial in maintaining theological integrity.

Acts 15:6-7 (ESV): "The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. 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.'"

Reflection: Think of a theological issue you have struggled with. How can you seek accountability and respectful discussion within your church community to gain clarity and align with the core gospel message? [12:48]

Day 2: Relational Conflicts and Grace

Relational conflicts are inevitable, even within the church. The early church leaders modeled an approach of grace and understanding, allowing open debate and discussion to ensure all voices were heard before reaching a consensus. This approach fosters unity and helps maintain healthy relationships within the church. We must remember that none of us are perfect, and we should approach each other with grace, understanding, and a willingness to listen. By doing so, we can navigate relational conflicts in a way that strengthens our community and reflects Christ's love.

Ephesians 4:2-3 (ESV): "With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

Reflection: Think of a recent relational conflict you have experienced. How can you approach the other person with grace and understanding to foster unity and maintain a healthy relationship? [14:52]

Day 3: Worldly Conflicts and Distinctiveness

The church must stand firm in its distinctiveness, even when it leads to opposition from societal norms. Jesus made it clear that we cannot serve both God and the world. The early church faced worldly conflicts by holding fast to their faith and not compromising their beliefs. This demonstrates the importance of maintaining our Christian identity in a secular world. We are called to be in the world but not of the world, standing firm in our faith and values even when they clash with societal expectations.

James 4:4 (ESV): "You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God."

Reflection: Identify a situation where your Christian values clash with societal norms. How can you stand firm in your faith and maintain your distinctiveness in this situation? [05:38]

Day 4: Unity in Diversity

While secondary issues can be debated, the core message of salvation through Jesus Christ must remain unaltered. The early church leaders modeled unity by focusing on the essentials of the faith and allowing for diversity in non-essential matters. This approach helps prevent divisions and promotes a spirit of cooperation and mutual respect. By prioritizing the core gospel message and embracing diversity in non-essential matters, we can foster a more unified and harmonious church community.

Romans 14:1 (ESV): "As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions."

Reflection: Reflect on a secondary issue that has caused division in your church or community. How can you focus on the core message of salvation through Jesus Christ to promote unity and mutual respect? [37:52]

Day 5: Gentleness and Love in Correction

When correcting others, we must do so with gentleness and love. The Bible teaches that it is God's kindness that leads to repentance, not harsh judgment. By approaching conflicts with a spirit of love and patience, we can more effectively teach and guide others, fostering a more harmonious and Christ-like community. This approach not only helps in resolving conflicts but also in building stronger, more loving relationships within the church.

Galatians 6:1 (ESV): "Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted."

Reflection: Think of someone you need to correct or guide. How can you approach this person with gentleness and love to foster a more harmonious and Christ-like relationship? [39:54]

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we delved into the conflicts faced by the early church as recorded in Acts chapters 15 to 19. We explored three main types of conflicts: theological, relational, and worldly. Theological conflicts often arise from differing interpretations of scripture, as seen in Acts 15 where the debate centered around whether Gentile converts needed to follow Jewish customs like circumcision. Paul and Barnabas stood firm that salvation is through faith in Christ alone, not through adherence to the law of Moses. This debate was resolved through a structured and respectful discussion, emphasizing accountability and the importance of aligning with the core gospel message.

Relational conflicts are inevitable in any community, including the church. We must remember that none of us are perfect, and we should approach each other with grace and understanding. The early church leaders modeled this by allowing open debate and discussion, ensuring that all voices were heard before reaching a consensus.

Worldly conflicts occur when the values of the church clash with those of the world. Jesus made it clear that we cannot serve both God and the world. The church must stand firm in its distinctiveness, even if it leads to opposition from societal norms.

In all these conflicts, the early church demonstrated the importance of unity, accountability, and a commitment to the truth of the gospel. They showed that while secondary issues can be debated, the core message of salvation through Jesus Christ must remain unaltered. As we navigate our own conflicts today, we should strive to emulate their example, prioritizing love, gentleness, and a commitment to the truth.

###

Key Takeaways

1. essential matters. This approach helps prevent divisions and promotes a spirit of cooperation and mutual respect. [37:52]
5. Gentleness and Love in Correction: When correcting others, we must do so with gentleness and love. The Bible teaches that it is God's kindness that leads to repentance, not harsh judgment. By approaching conflicts with a spirit of love and patience, we can more effectively teach and guide others, fostering a more harmonious and Christ-like community.

### [37:52]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:28] - Introduction to Conflicts in Acts
[03:32] - Relational Conflicts
[04:31] - Worldly Conflicts
[06:30] - Theological Conflicts
[07:16] - Scripture Reading: Acts 15:1-20
[12:48] - Accountability in Theological Debates
[14:52] - Handling Relational Conflicts
[15:38] - Open Debate in the Early Church
[19:38] - Testing God's Voice
[22:11] - Spiritual Signs and Confirmation
[24:43] - Structured Theological Debates
[27:12] - Primary vs. Secondary Issues
[33:05] - Living Peaceably with All
[39:54] - Gentleness in Correction
[42:13] - Love as a Mark of Discipleship
[45:45] - The Hope of a Peaceful World
[46:29] - Conclusion and Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What was the main theological conflict discussed in Acts 15:1-20, and how was it resolved? [06:30]
According to Romans 12:16-18, what attitudes should we adopt to live in harmony with one another?
In 2 Timothy 2:22-25, what behaviors does Paul instruct us to avoid, and how should we correct others?

Interpretation Questions

Why did Paul and Barnabas feel it was important to return to Jerusalem to resolve the theological conflict, even though they could have handled it themselves? [12:48]
How does the early church's approach to theological debates, as seen in Acts 15, differ from how we often handle disagreements today? [15:38]
What does Romans 12:16-18 suggest about the importance of humility and peace in resolving conflicts within the church?
How can the principles in 2 Timothy 2:22-25 guide us in addressing conflicts in a way that reflects Christ's love and gentleness?

Application Questions

Think of a recent theological or doctrinal disagreement you had with someone. How could you have approached it differently to ensure a respectful and loving discussion? [15:38]
In what ways can you practice humility and avoid being "wise in your own sight" when dealing with conflicts in your church community? [33:05]
How can you ensure that your approach to correcting others is filled with gentleness and love, as instructed in 2 Timothy 2:22-25? [39:17]
Reflect on a time when you felt the church was in conflict with societal norms. How did you or your church handle it, and what could have been done better to maintain a distinct Christian identity? [05:38]
How can you foster an environment in your small group or church where open debate and discussion are encouraged, but always with a spirit of unity and respect? [14:52]
Identify a secondary issue in your church that has caused division. How can you work towards unity while still respecting diverse opinions? [27:12]
What specific steps can you take this week to live peaceably with all, as instructed in Romans 12:16-18, especially with those who have different views from yours? [33:05]

Sermon Clips

1. "If you think you can hold the church, God, Jesus, and the world in one big hug, you are mistaken. You can't. The prince of the air, the one that controls and pushes this world, that steers this world, it is not Jesus. Jesus said it himself. The prince of this air, the prince of this place, is the devil. The enemy has his fingers into every part of society. The church should be different. And if we're different, we can't have a big, happy hug with the world." [04:31] (53 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Salvation is by faith in Christ alone. It's grace. There's no works for salvation. There's no things we can do to our bodies that will get us salvation. There's nothing we can do to earn salvation. And I'm pretty confident that Dave kind of reached over this in his sermon last week. It's all about Jesus. It's all about Holy Spirit. It's all about God. And Paul and Barnabas defend that point." [11:20] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "You were not created, I was not created to do this alone. They've talked about team last week. I can't just get up and preach to you something that I feel is right regardless of the consequences, regardless of the core beliefs that we have as an healing church, regardless of the accountability that I have with Peter, Peter, Andy as elders, and the accountability I have with you." [14:08] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "The Bible tells us there is security, safety, in a multitude of counsel. So we look, and we go to other people and we say, what are you feeling about this? What's God speaking to you about this subject? And then the third test of whether or not what we've heard is God is what are the spiritual signs that are going with it? What doors are opening? What doors are closing? What spiritual things are taking place that point to what you've heard being correct?" [21:35] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "We need to be strong for the things God tells us to be strong for. Not for things that are secondary issues or tertiary issues or even those issues that really don't matter. As Louis says, the small things. You see, I know that there is an ideology, an idea going through the church at the moment. Not this one. Although I'm pretty confident there's a few people that believe it in here. But it's going through the church in different areas. And it's called Flat Earth." [31:37] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty. But associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Never, ever think you know it all. Because the moment you think you do, somebody will pull you down. Because there is always somebody who knows that little bit more than you know. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil. give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all." [33:05] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "We are called to be eager to maintain unity. Not with those who mess with the gospel, but with those Christian brothers and sisters who might not believe the same as we do. I'm called to be in unity with flat earthers. I'm called to be in unity with those that believe that God's method of creating earth was not six days literal. I'm even called... Oh, this one's going to hurt. I'm even called to be in unity with Calvinists." [36:20] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "The Bible tells us that it is God's kindness that brings us to repentance. Not his judgment. It's not the stick. It's his kindness. It doesn't mean he doesn't have the stick. He does. And if you mess around with his kindness you end up with the stick. But we are called as his servants to not be quarrelsome but to be kind to everyone. Able to teach them. How can you teach somebody who doesn't want to listen to you?" [39:54] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. I've moved in and out of Acts and I've not really got very far through it. Because I knew and I know that even today when we are debating or discussing theology, we don't do it very well. Because we're not living out the way God is telling us to live out. To be kind to everyone. To be gentle with correction. To be patient." [42:13] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "We need to be filled with Jesus. We need to be filled with Holy Spirit. And the early church knew this. And that's why they robustly discussed their differences. But they always kept in mind that the person they were arguing with was a brother or a sister. That they were going to spend eternity with them. Regardless of whether they liked them on earth. I'm going to get stuck with some people in heaven that I'm not really looking for. I can tell you that right now. But they're going to get stuck with me too." [44:22] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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