#339 The Acts, Chapter 15

The Good Citizen Podcast

After Paul’s first missionary journey, the early church faced a critical question. Would Christianity be a splinter off Judaism limited in time and scope, or would Christ’s disciples follow His command to go into all the world and preach the gospel to all nations? In Acts 15, we find a remarkable example of the early church refusing syncretism, navigating tradition and deep difference, and remaining focused on its primary mission. There is much to learn here for our own cultural moment.

Big idea for the series: The early church carried the gospel throughout the known world in approximately 30 years and transformed an empire in 3 centuries. Now the church seems intimidated, uncertain amidst swift cultural changes. So, what did the early Christians, commanded by Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit, do that we are not doing? Here are their Acts, and may they inspire our own.

Outline:

1. A Stubborn, Stale Belief
2. Spiritual Direction Detection
3. A Holy Compromise
4. An Apostle Spat

Key Takeaways:

• Where there is a will, there is a woln’t.
• The great danger of syncretism and falling back into tradition rather than forward with the gospel.
• The remarkable way the early church handled conflict and deep difference.
• An example of the church’s leadership at work.
• The disagreement between Paul and Barnabas and the question, “Where can I be most fruitful?”

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