The Best Of The Best
Today’s Message is part of a Series I’m calling, The Best of the Best; in this series I’m preaching what I think is the best message from each year of my 33-year pastoral ministry, which began in 1987
So far, I have done 24 Messages (1987-2010)
Today’s Message is # 25 and is from 2011
The Message is called, ‘Here Comes Trouble’
2011 was a good year in the NIC
Our leaders studied the 12-week ‘Perspectives On The World Christian Movement’ Basic Course, and our mid-week groups were studying a 25-week Discipleship Course
Yes, 2011 was a good year in our Church, but trouble was coming
That year, a couple who had only been in our Church for 18 months started to cause trouble
He was what I call a spiritual hitchhiker
We are all familiar with what a ‘normal’ hitchhiker is, right!?
A ‘normal’ hitchhiker is someone who doesn’t have their own vehicle, but they want to ride in your car for free, and, for you to take them to their destination
A spiritual hitchhiker is similar; they don’t have their own ministry and they come into a Church wanting a free ride to their destination – a position of leadership
Now let’s go to our Text – this Message is a compilation of 4 Messages from
Acts 15
The Apostle Paul was based in his home Church at Antioch and some spiritual hitchhikers arrived from Judea and caused trouble in the Church
Acts 15: 1
At this point it is important for us to know that the Church in Jerusalem was nothing like the Church in Antioch
The Church in Jerusalem was mono-culturally Jewish and had never really separated itself from Old Testament practices (Judaism)
Whereas the Church at Antioch was multi-culturally Jewish and Gentile and they were living in the freedom of Christ
So, these spiritual hitchhikers arrived in Antioch and insisted the Christians abandon their freedom in Christ, and instead practice Old Testament customs
In this case, circumcise the men so that they become ‘properly saved’
Do you see what they were saying? They were saying that Christ alone cannot save you; they were saying that Christ plus the application of Old Testament customs, saves you
Acts 15: 1, 5
They Apostle Paul knew exactly what these trouble makers wanted
Galatians 6: 13b ‘They only want you to be circumcised so they can boast about it and claim you as their disciples’
That’s what spiritual hitchhikers want; they want to take over Churches and claim the people as their disciples
So, how do we overcome trouble?
We follow the pattern of Acts 15
1/ Strong leadership
The leaders of the Jerusalem Church and the Antioch Church united together against the troublemakers and confronted them directly
Acts 15: 2 ‘Paul and Barnabas disagreed with them, arguing vehemently. Finally, the church decided to send Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem, accompanied by some local believers, to talk to the apostles and elders about this question’
Acts 15: 6 ‘So the apostles and elders met together to resolve this issue’
Acts 15: 7-11 The Apostle Peter
Acts 15: 13-21 The Apostle James
Acts 15: 22 ‘Then the apostles and elders together with…Paul and Barnabas…Judas (also called Barsabbas) and Silas’.
1 Corinthians 1: 10b ‘Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose’.
2/ Good theology
Here’s a question for you
What qualifies a Christian to be right about something?
- That they have been a Christian longer than you have?
- That they have Bible College qualifications and you don’t?
- That they have a more forceful opinion than you?
No, none of these things qualify a Christian to be right about something – only good theology qualifies someone to be right
The leaders of the Jerusalem Church and the Antioch Church used the Word of God to fight against the troublemakers
Acts 15: 15b-18 ‘as it is written’, 19-21 ‘and so my judgement is’
2 Timothy 3:16 ‘Every part of Scripture is God-breathed…showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way’
3/ Clear communication
So, the meeting of the Jerusalem and Antioch Church leaders had come to a decision that the Gentile believers should not be forced to live according to Old Testament customs (Judaism)
Acts 15: 19
This decision was to be communicated by letter to all the Gentile Churches beginning with the Antioch Church
Acts 15: 20 ‘We should write to them’
Now look at the effectiveness of their communication
Acts 15: 30-31
Do you think that was the end of the trouble for the Churches?
No, trouble is a recurring problem in all churches
Illustrate: Paul and the Jerusalem Church
Do you remember that I said at the start of this message that the Jerusalem Church had never really separated itself from Old Testament practices (Judaism)?
10 years later, the Apostle Paul returned to Jerusalem and met with the Church leaders
Acts 21: 18-22
From Paul’s discussions with the Jerusalem Church Leaders, it seems to me that they had abandoned their freedom in Christ and had returned to Old Testament practices (Judaism)
Acts 21: 20 ‘they all follow the law of Moses very seriously’
Notice: they didn’t say, ‘they all follow Jesus very seriously’
After this, the Apostle Paul was arrested by the Romans, and I find it very interesting that when Paul was arrested and imprisoned, the Jerusalem Church didn’t defend him
Once again, the Apostle Paul reminds us about the motivation of troublemakers that come into Churches
Romans 16: 17-18 ‘And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them. Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words, they deceive innocent people’
Going back to the couple who caused trouble in our Church – once they saw that our leaders were strong and united against them, and that we based out decisions on the Word of God, and, that we communicated our decisions to the Church – they left our Church
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