www.rossvillechurch.com

781 Salem Road, Rossville, GA 307411

You arewelcome

StoneCreek

April 18, 2012

2

Controversy in the early church.

Must Gentiles who believed the Gospel

be circumcised and keep the Law of

Moses to be Christians.

3

Barnabas and Paul said, "Absolutely not."

Peter said, "God has already said, No.'"

Now James speaks.

4

Acts 15:18 (James) Known unto God are all His Works from the beginning of the world. 19 Where-fore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: 20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.

Review

5

23 And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: 24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the Law: to whom we gave no such commandment:

They called the Gentiles "brethren", recognizing that they were saved and members of the

family of God.

6

The men stirring up the controversy had overstepped their authority.

They were not sent out by the church in Jerusalem, nor were they ordained to teach the

Word of God.

They were just troublemakers.

7

They were the kind of people who believe that anyone who is not just like them

Must be wrong.

I am not the standard.

You are not the standard.

No man is the standard.Is the standard.

Race, color, opinions, emotions, education

8

25-26 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men that have hazarded their lives for the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.

Judas and Silas would verify that the letter came from the apostles and elders

in Jerusalem.They recommended Barnabas and Paul for the

work they had done and the dangers they had faced.

9

We need men who have passed the test.Barnabas and Paul had

"hazarded their lives for the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

We need men and women in the churchwho will not stoop at standing time.

They won't desert the battlefield in time of

difficulty.

10

1 Timothy 5 22 Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.

1 Timothy 3 1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

We must not push people into positions of leadership before they are seasoned and ready.

11

28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us,* to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

When we agree with the Holy Spirit of God

we do well.

It's not about what I think, or my opinion, or about how someone feels.

12

30 So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle: 31 Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.

Antioch was a church made up primarily of Gentiles; they received consolation from this letter.

You are in the family of God.

You don't have to convert to Judaism to be

Christians; you are already Christians.

13

How does this lesson apply to us?We must not major in the minors; we must major in

the things God has taught us in His Word.

We must not stoop at standing time.

We must not desert the battlefield.Ephesians 6 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the Power of His Might.