CONTENTIOUS CHRISTIANS

ACTS 15:35-41

 

 Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. BARNABAS- A GOOD MAN [Acts 11:24]

 

1. A Generous Consoler [4:36-37]

 

2. A Bold Encourager [9:26-27]

 

3. A Spirit-Filled Leader [11:22-26]

 

 II. PAUL- A CHOSEN MAN [Eph. 1:4, 2 Tm. 2:4]

 

1. A Changed Man [Gal. 1:23]

 

But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. And they glorified God in me.

 

2. A Charged Man [Acts 26:13-23]

 

At midday , O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me. And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance. For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me. Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.

 

3. A Charging Man [2 Tm. 4:1-5]

 

I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

 

 III. A SHARP CONTENTION

 

 1. It was not a Doctrinal Dispute [Acts 15:35]

 

2. It was not a Directional Dispute [15:36]

 

3. It was a Determined Dispute [15:37-41]

 

Both men were human. Humans will disagree. Good men sometimes disagree but we ought try to agree to disagree when it is not doctrinal or directional.

Romans 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men