Session 11: Getting Refocused (15:1-35)
In the previous session we saw how the church at Antioch has taken the risks to send missionaries to the Gentile world and we saw the religious and physical risks and dangers faced by Paul and Barnabas. But regardless of the risks the efforts by both the church and the missionaries proved to be worth the effort as the gospel was planted in many places. In today’s session we find a threat to their success develop. While the missionaries preached that salvation came from Jesus and only Jesus, a group consisting of former Pharisees came saying that salvation came from Jesus plus circumcision and Jewish ritual. The new, and errant, message they carried was Jesus plus.
Read 15:1-5
1. What was the message of the group that came from Judea?
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2. What was the meaning of the practice of circumcision? _______________________
3. How important was it to settle this issue? __________________________________
4. Who provided the argument for circumcision at the meeting in Jerusalem?
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Read 15:6-11
5. How did Peter characterize this requirement that the Jews wanted added?
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6. Why was it significant that Peter spoke out? ________________________________
7. How did Peter say we are saved? ________________________________________
8. How important are rituals in own worship and recognition of God?
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Read 15:12-21
9. Why was it important for Paul and Barnabas to report on their missionary activities to the council at Jerusalem?
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10. Who was James and why did he address the group? __________________________
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11. What Old Testament references did James use in his address?
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12. Who did the council select to carry the news of their decision back to Antioch?
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13. Why did the council not just give the answer to Paul and Barnabas to take with them?
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Read 15:30-35
14. What was the reaction of the church at Antioch to the decision by the Jerusalem council?
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15. What did Paul and Barnabas do when they remained at Antioch?
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Read 15:36-41
16. What mission activity did Paul propose to Barnabas?
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17. Why did Paul not want to take John Mark along as a companion?
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18. What is your view on Paul’s attitude? ________________________________
19. Is it possible for us as Christians to disagree without being disagreeable?
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This lesson holds vast implications to all who share the gospel with other people. Too often the tendency has been to add some cultural or social item that limits those of our group. We are not instructed to share with only those like us, but to whoever God places in our path. We should always accept only Jesus and Jesus only.
In the part about Paul and Barnabas disagreeing on the inclusion of John Mark on this second missionary journey, we must always account for individual differences of opinion. Each of us hold individual convictions and opinions that we have arrived at based on our thoughts and our experiences. To say that varying opinions have to been either right or wrong is in error. Sometimes our conclusions are based on faulty evidence and sometimes we introduce individual bias. To say that among two honestly reached conclusions that one must be right and the other wrong is to introduce an adversarial element which is unwarranted. Under these circumstances the two sides are merely different, nothing more. We should not shy away from having differing opinions nor be afraid of debating the pro’s and con’s of each. If we maintain an open mind, occasionally our minds can be changed by the learned reasoning of the other side. That is the Christian way.