DEALING WITH ISSUES: PART 3
Text: Acts 15:22-35
Introduction
1. Illustration: “I firmly determined that my mannerisms and speech in public would always reflect the cheerful certainty of victory – that any pessimism and discouragement I might ever feel would be reserved for my pillow... I adopted a policy of circulating through the whole force to the full limit imposed by physical considerations. I did my best to meet everyone from general to private with a smile, a pat on the back and a definite interest in his problems. " (Dwight Eisenhower, The Road to Character, p. 61).
2. In our look into dealing with problems within the church, we have seen the problem, the solution, and today we will look at the implementation of the solution.
3. For the solution to the problem to be implemented takes three essential things.
4. Read Acts 15:22-35
Transition: First, to implement the solution takes…
I. Strong Leadership (22-23).
A. Apostles and Leaders Together
1. Whenever there is an issue within the church, strong leadership is essential.
2. We can see this from the reaction of the leadership in the early church. In v. 22 it says, “Then the apostles and elders together with the whole church in Jerusalem chose delegates, and they sent them to Antioch of Syria with Paul and Barnabas to report on this decision. The men chosen were two of the church leaders—Judas (also called Barsabbas) and Silas.”
a. So, here is the leadership of the early church mentioned by Luke.
b. The apostles did not hold a church office, but the position had more to do with their function and their gifts.
c. An apostle was someone who was an eyewitness of Jesus’ resurrection.
d. Furthermore, they were sent out to preach the Word to the lost. In fact, the word apostle means “sent out ones.”
e. Elders were appointed to lead and manage the local church.
f. We can see at this meeting that the apostles submitted to the leadership of an elder - James, Jesus’ half-brother.
3. Two elements of good leadership that we see in this section.
a. First, is decisiveness, there was a problem, and the leadership of the church stepped up and dealt with it.
b. As we talked about earlier, they didn’t let the problem linger, but they took the situation in hand and came to a conclusion.
c. Second, they communicated, they sent out a letter affirming their decision to the rest of the church.
d. In fact, they not only sent out a letter, but they sent two church leaders, Judas (also called Barsabbas - not Judas Iscariot), and Silas.
e. They sent these two church leaders out with the letter to make it certain that this letter was in fact from the leadership of the church.
B. Care for the Flock
1. Leadership: James Hunter in his book “The Servant” presents a powerful picture of what it really means to be a leader/servant. He shares “leadership is ultimately rooted in our will. Not forcing our will on others but demonstrating our will to serve.”
a. There is a big difference between leading through power and leading through authority.
b. Many people can simply force people to do what they want because they have the power to make them. However, few people like to be forced to do anything. Eventually such “power driven leadership” destroys relationships.
c. On the other hand, some can lead through authority. Authority is different than power. Power is something you have and force on people. Authority is something you gain – it’s given to you by the people you lead.
d. How does one gain authority from those they lead? Only through service and sacrifice. When people see that you have their best interests at heart, when they see you are willing to sacrifice and serve them, they will be willing to follow. That’s servant leadership, that’s authority.
2. True leadership in the church is not based on power, but on authority that is given to you from the people you lead. It is authority that is earned.
a. “And now, a word to you who are elders in the churches. I, too, am an elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ. And I, too, will share in his glory when he is revealed to the whole world. As a fellow elder, I appeal to you: 2 Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. 3 Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example. 4 And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor.” (1 Pet. 5:1-4).
b. Our church is blessed to have good leadership.
c. That begins, but most certainly doesn’t end with me.
d. We are blessed to have people who serve the church with their gifts and talents, and we would be lost without them.
e. They serve us in the form of shepherds and servants, and that authority they have is something they have earned by their character and willingness to serve.
f. We are in good hands, and when a crisis arrives, I am convinced that these people will rise to the occasion.
Transition: One of the things that good leadership must possess is…
II. Good Communication (24-27).
A. This Letter is from the Apostles and Elders
1. So, here is what the letter that informed the Gentile believers about their decision had to say.
2. The letter began, “We understand that some men from here have troubled you and upset you with their teaching, but we did not send them! 25 So we decided, having come to complete agreement, to send you official representatives, along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We are sending Judas and Silas to confirm what we have decided concerning your question.”
a. In this letter, the church made it clear that they had nothing to do with the troublemakers.
b. They make this fact certain by saying “we did not send them!”
c. They indicate that these men had no authority to say such things to them.
d. However, they wanted them to know about their decision, and they also wanted them to be certain that this letter most certainly came from the leadership of the church.
e. The men they sent with the letter did so with the authority of the leadership of the church.
f. The important thing here is that the leadership didn’t leave them hanging, but rather they clearly communicated their decision on the matter.
B. This Letter…
1. Illustration: Have you ever wondered why geese fly in a V formation? As with most animal behavior, God had a good reason for including that in their instincts. As each bird flaps its wings, it creates uplift for the bird following. In a V formation, the whole flock adds at least 71% more flying range than if each bird flew alone. Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to fly alone. Like geese, people who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier than those who try and go at it alone. When a goose gets tired, it rotates to the back of the formation and another goose flies at the point position. If people had as much sense as geese, they would realize that ultimately their success depends on working as a team, taking turns during the hard tasks, and sharing leadership.
2. It is essential for leadership to openly and honesty communicate with the church.
a. “This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. I am writing to God’s holy people in Ephesus, who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus. 2 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.” (Eph. 1:1-2).
b. This truth is clearly demonstrated by Paul himself. He must have learned a great deal from the dilemma he observed during the Jerusalem council.
c. In fact, two thirds of the NT are filled with Paul’s communication with the churches he started.
d. This shows the importance of communication with the congregation from those in leadership.
e. During the disaffiliation process from the UMC, we as the leadership of the church, did our best to keep folks informed and communicated the reasons we were doing what we needed to do in that process.
f. We provided you with the clearest information we had available to us.
g. As a result, we were able to make an informed and accurate decision.
h. We will do our best to continue to communicate with you as we move forward.
Transition: Another important thing that leadership must do is be…
III. Led By the Spirit (28-35).
A. Good to the Holy Spirit
1. The leadership wanted then to know that their decision came as a direct affirmation from the Holy Spirit. In vv. 28-29 it says, “For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay no greater burden on you than these few requirements: 29 You must abstain from eating food offered to idols, from consuming blood or the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. If you do this, you will do well. Farewell.”
a. They leave no doubt that their decision came from the Holy Spirit.
b. “They would confirm that the decision was truly from the Holy Spirit and that the letter was genuine” (Stanley M. Horton, Acts: A Logion Press Commentary, 270).
c. ” The Holy Spirit directed the leadership of the Jerusalem church, and therefore, they had no question that their decision came from God.
d. Jesus Had promised that the Holy Spirit would lead them into all truth (Jn 16:13).
e. Decisions within the church shouldn’t be made by humans alone.
f. The leaders of the church must pursue and accept the Spirit’s guidance through prayer, fasting and devotion to God’s Word until they can clearly and wisely determine God’s will” (Fire Bible, 15:28 note).
g. This was important since many of the things they believers are told to abstain from had to do with morality.
2. Now, let’s look at the response of the congregation to the stellar leadership of the church. Luke tells us in vv. 30-31, “The messengers went at once to Antioch, where they called a general meeting of the believers and delivered the letter. 31 And there was great joy throughout the church that day as they read this encouraging message.”
a. What we see here is a teachable, eager church in Antioch.
b. While they had been severely discouraged by the false teaching of the Judaizers, they are encouraged and filled with joy by the wise decision of James and the other leaders.
c. The law obligates; the gospel liberates!
d. Notice the text says they were filled with great joy over the leader’s decision.
e. This is what results from wise leadership decisions.
B. Guide You into All Truth
1. Illustration: The Spirit of God is always the spirit of liberty; the spirit that is not of God is the spirit of bondage, the spirit of oppression and depression. The Spirit of God convicts vividly and tensely, but He is always the Spirit of liberty. God who made the birds never made birdcages; it is men who make birdcages, and after a while we become cramped and can do nothing but chirp and stand on one leg. When we get out into God’s great free life, we discover that that is the way God meant us to live "the glorious liberty of the children of God." (Oswald Chambers)
2. It is imperative that the church is led by the Holy Spirit!
a. “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. 14 He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.’” (Jn. 16:13-15).
b. Jesus left us his Holy Spirit not only to empower us, but also to guide us and direct us.
c. The reason it is imperative that we are led by the Spirit is because he tells us what he hears from the Jesus and the Father.
d. He will tell us what to do in the present.
e. He will tell us what to do as we head towards the future.
f. He will show us the road to take and show us how to find it.
g. If we are being led by the Spirit, we will not go wrong!
Conclusion
1. There are three important things for us to have in dealing with issues.
a. Strong Leadership
b. Good Communication
c. Led by the Spirit
2. What’s the point preacher? If we have strong leadership, good communication, and are led by the Spirit, God will pour out his blessing on the church!
