2014.12.28
Acts 15:36- 41, Acts 16:1-5
Paul´s Second Missionary journey
Good morning everyone…. I hope that you have had a good
Christmas celebration…… Our children are very happy about the snow…… How about
you?
As most of you know…. We teach through the Bible verse by
verse…… We are studying the Book of Acts…… We are witnessing the early days of
the church….. We’re continuing our study this morning in the fifteenth chapter
of Acts……
God´s grace in our lives is the main difference between
all religion and genuine Christianity….. Genuine believers know that they are
sinners….. Sinners who have been forgiven…… Ordinary people like you and me….. whose
hearts and lives have been transformed by the Lord Himself!.... It is God who
reaches inside and takes out our hearts of stone and gives us hearts of flesh!
In our Christian life we are free from the very severe
and legalistic requirements of the law….. We can now as genuine believers serve
and Love the Lord from a thankful and grateful heart…. we can…. With the Lord´s
help…. Love our neighbors as much as we love ourselves….
Because
the Lord Jesus has changed our hearts….. We can live the law of love…. When
we do we are fulfilling all the law….. we are demonstrating that we belong to
Jesus…. that he has transformed and saved
us…. It´s good News…. He is at work in us and he is working through us…. So
that we can love and serve our families and care for all of the people that the
Lord puts in our lives….. We can even love our enemies…. Luke 6: 35…
God´s grace is what sets Christianity apart from all
other religions….. Because All other religious systems in the world are based
upon the deeds and works of men……. The Good
News of the Gospel is that although we are by nature sinners and very
wicked…….. There is hope for us! His name is Jesus! He took our sins and died
in our place! The Good News is that the Grace of God has appeared…… He is ready
to forgive and save all who cry out to him for mercy!.....
As we study the 15th chapter….. The early church has
exploded with growth….. Many Jews have repented and believed the good news….
through the ministry of first Peter and then later…. The ministry of Paul and
Barnabas….. Many Gentiles have also believed the Good News of the Gospel… Paul proclaimed the
Good News that salvation is by grace through faith alone.... When he did he was
quoting the OT Hab 2:4....
Paul said the same thing over and over.... I think he
said it to believers in every church everywhere he went….. It is the good news…They
needed to hear it…… We need to hear it too....
because we feel that we need to do something to earn God´s love and
blessing in our lives…… You will remember that earlier in the 15th chapter
there was a dispute……. about whether the Gentiles must become Jewish before
they could become followers of the Lord Jesus….. as a condition of salvation…..
The legalists wanted to force submission the circumcision and the law….. They
were enemies of the truth of the Gospel… They tried to bring these Gentile
believers under the law of Moses….. They demanded circumcision….. and that the
Gentiles the follow all of the laws of
Moses….
The Good News of
the Gospel is that we are saved by grace
through faith in the finished work of the Lord Jesus on the cross….
Look
at what Paul wrote to the Galatians in ch2…..v.16…
Galatians
2: 16
NLT Neues Leben
16
Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not
by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be
made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed
the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.”
16 Und doch wissen wir, dass der Mensch vor Gott nicht
durch das Halten des Gesetzes gerecht gesprochen wird, sondern durch den
Glauben an Jesus Christus. Wir sind zum Glauben an ihn gekommen, damit wir
durch diesen Glauben von Gott angenommen werden, und nicht etwa, weil wir dem
Gesetz gehorcht haben. Denn durch das Befolgen des Gesetzes wird niemand vor
Gott gerecht.«
Paul
not
only evangelized the region of
Galatia….. but he went back there over and over through the years to
strengthen and disciple these believers……
Paul fought for the truth of the grace
of God….
By the way the area of Galatia was very special to the
Apostle Paul…. each of his first three missionary journeys included going
through Galatia to strengthen the disciples there…..
He
fought hard to make sure that they never forgot…… that Salvation is by grace
through faith…… You cannot add to grace…. There is nothing
more…. God´s abundant grace poured out on our lives…. It changes every
relationship that we have….
Over
and over he said it…. We are saved by
grace through faith….. In our text today…. Paul and Barnabas are in Antioch…..
they stayed there for some time teaching and strengthening the disciples…. let´s pick up the text in
Acts 15…v.36…
Acts
15: 36- 41
NLT
36
After some time Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit each city where
we previously preached the word of the Lord, to see how the new believers are
doing.” 37 Barnabas agreed and wanted to take along John Mark. 38 But Paul
disagreed strongly, since John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not
continued with them in their work. 39 Their disagreement was so sharp that they
separated. Barnabas took John Mark with him and sailed for Cyprus. 40 Paul
chose Silas, and as he left, the believers entrusted him to the Lord’s gracious
care. 41 Then he traveled throughout Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the
churches there.
Acts 15: 36- 41 Neues Leben
36 Nach einiger Zeit sagte Paulus zu Barnabas: »Lass uns
in die Städte zurückkehren, in denen wir vor einiger Zeit das Wort des Herrn
verkündet haben, und sehen, wie die neuen Gläubigen zurechtkommen.«
37 Barnabas willigte ein und wollte Johannes Markus
mitnehmen.
38 Paulus widersprach jedoch, weil Johannes Markus sie in
Pamphylien im Stich gelassen und nicht mit ihnen weitergearbeitet hatte.
39 Ihre Uneinigkeit in dieser Frage führte dazu, dass sie
sich trennten. Barnabas segelte mit Johannes Markus nach Zypern.
40 Paulus wählte Silas als Begleiter. Die Gläubigen sandten
ihn aus und vertrauten ihn der Gnade des Herrn an.
41 So zog er durch Syrien und Zilizien, um die Gemeinden
zu stärken.
v36…. And see how they are doing……
This shows Paul had a real pastor's heart….. He was not content to merely plant
churches…… He is obeying the command of the Lord Jesus to make disciples….. He
knows that he is not finished until he sees the believers growing strong in the
faith…..
v37-41….
Paul and Barnabas divided over the issue of taking John Mark with them…… Paul was unwilling to take John Mark
along again… Because John Mark had
previously left the missionary team….. Acts
13:13
But Barnabas….
The son of encouragement was not willing to give up on this young man….. We
need to display the grace and patience of Barnabas with each other……
By the way…. Barnabas was also John Mark's cousin (Colossians 4:10)….. He was determined to take
him along….. Paul refused to take him and so they split up and went into 2
different areas…. Luke does not give us a clue as to who was "right"
and who was "wrong" between Paul and Barnabas…… But it is never good
when personal disputes flare up among those serving in the ministry…… Wherever
there is sharp contention…. someone is wrong….. and usually there is wrong on
both sides……. There can be no way both Paul and Barnabas were each walking in
the Spirit on this issue!
It is hard to know how long their personal relationship was
strained….. As Christians….. we are commanded to resolve relationship problems
with others…. Matthew 5:23-24)…..
There is no doubt God used this division for His own good
purposes….. Two teams going two directions…. But that is because the Lord uses
us in spite of ourselves…. Not because he wants us to argue or fight….
Of course…. Paul
and Barnabas worked out their differences….. They will work together in the future….
And later….. John
Mark came to minister with Paul again….
And Paul highly valued Mark and his contributions to the work of God (Colossians 4:10; Philemon
1:24; 2 Timothy 4:11)……
We don't know if it was Mark who changed….. or Paul who
changed…… Probably God had a work to do in both of them!.....
v41….
Strengthening the churches….. This
was Paul's ministry…. in addition to evangelism….. Paul was constantly teaching
and encouraging the pastors and Elders to make well discipled and deeply
committed Christians…. New Christians needed strong churches to grow and mature
in….. Paul was a great Evangelist….. He turned entire cities upside down with
the Word of God….. But he was even better at teaching and making dedicated
disciples….. Let’s go on into ch16….
Acts 16….v1….
Acts
16:1- 5 NLT
1 Paul
went first to Derbe and then to Lystra, where there was a young disciple named
Timothy. His mother was a Jewish believer, but his father was a Greek. 2
Timothy was well thought of by the believers in Lystra and Iconium, 3 so Paul
wanted him to join them on their journey. In deference to the Jews of the area,
he arranged for Timothy to be circumcised before they left, for everyone knew
that his father was a Greek. 4 Then they went from town to town, instructing
the believers to follow the decisions made by the apostles and elders in
Jerusalem. 5 So the churches were strengthened in their faith and grew larger
every day.
Acts 16:1- 5 Neues Leben
1 Paulus ging zuerst nach Derbe und von da aus weiter
nach Lystra. Dort traf er Timotheus, einen Jünger, dessen Mutter eine jüdische
Gläubige, dessen Vater aber ein Grieche war.
2 Timotheus war bei den Gläubigen1 in Lystra und Ikonion
hoch angesehen,
3 deshalb wollte Paulus, dass er ihn auf seiner Reise
begleitete. Mit Rücksicht auf die Juden in dieser Region ließ Paulus Timotheus
vor ihrer Abreise beschneiden, denn alle wussten, dass sein Vater ein Grieche
war.
4 Dann zogen sie von Ort zu Ort und erklärten den
Menschen, was die Apostel und Ältesten in Jerusalem im Blick auf die Gebote für
die Nichtjuden beschlossen hatten.
5 So wurden die Gemeinden im Glauben gestärkt, und die
Zahl der Gläubigen wurde von Tag zu Tag größer.
v1…
Then he came to Derbe and Lystra….. This is the area of
Galatia…… Paul and Barnabas are back in this very difficult place of
ministry….. They see the need and they go to serve…… There is something for us
to learn as we look at Paul´s work…..
1 Paul´s
Passion was to make disciples….
2 Paul´s
Priority was making disciples….
These things are clear in this text because it was dangerous for him to go back there….. they
had tried to kill him….. Do you remember what happened in Lystra?.... turn with
me to acts 1v…19
Acts
14: 19-22
NLT
19
Then some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowds to their
side. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of town, thinking he was dead. 20
But as the believers gathered around him, he got up and went back into the
town. The next day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.
21
After preaching the Good News in Derbe and making many disciples, Paul and
Barnabas returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch of Pisidia, 22 where they
strengthened the believers. They encouraged them to continue in the faith,
reminding them that we must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God.
Acts 14: 19-22 Neues Leben
19 Da kamen einige Juden aus Antiochia und Ikonion und
hetzten die Menge so sehr auf, dass sie Paulus steinigten und ihn vor die Stadt
schleppten. Dort ließen sie ihn liegen, denn sie dachten, er sei tot.
20 Doch als die Gläubigen ihn umringten, stand er auf und
kehrte in die Stadt zurück. Am nächsten Tag zog er mit Barnabas weiter nach
Derbe.
21 Nachdem sie die Botschaft in Derbe verkündet und viele
Menschen zu Jüngern gemacht hatten, kehrten Paulus und Barnabas wieder nach
Lystra, Ikonion und Antiochia in Pisidien zurück.
22 Sie stärkten und ermutigten die Gläubigen, am Glauben
festzuhalten, und erklärten ihnen noch einmal, dass wir alle durch viele
Bedrängnisse in das Reich Gottes kommen müssen.
Paul went back to encourage and disciple the believers ….
And to prepare them for hard times….
22b reminding
them that we must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God….
Back to acts 16……. Paul and Silas are sent out from
Antioch again…..
v1… Now
in this second missionary journey Paul is back in Galatia again….. this is
already the third time that he has been in Lystra…..
It is about five years since he first went to Galatia…. Paul was anxious to see for himself how the
work of the Lord continued among these churches he founded five years before……
A
certain disciple was there, named Timothy….. In the time since
Paul had been to Lystra….. a young man named Timothy had been serving the Lord…..
Timothy had a believing mother with a Jewish background (son of a certain
Jewish woman who believed….. but an unbelieving Greek father…….
v2…. It
is very likely that as a very young man… Timothy witnessed the revival that
swept through Lystra…… It is even possible that he witnessed the persecution
and stoning of Paul….. Paul was impressed with Timothy´s heart to serve the
LORD…. Paul wanted to have him go with
him…… This shows God's provision….. because John Mark and Barnabas just left
Paul (Acts 15:36-41)…… here we learn something…. No single worker in God's
kingdom is irreplaceable…… When a Barnabas is not available…. God has a Timothy
to go instead of him…..
v3…
Paul he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews in that region: Paul
had Timothy circumcised….. It says he circumcised him because of what? The Jews
in those quarters…… Did Paul fall under the influence of the Legalists? No…. he was making sure not to be a
stumbling block to the Jewish believers….
Timothy was Jewish…. But because of his Gentile father he
was not circumcised…. To be uncircumcised as a Jew was considered apostasy…… It
could cause the Jewish brethren to reject listening to them…. circumcision was
the mark of Judaism…... Timothy was circumcised so that it wouldn't hinder his
work among the gentiles…… And so it was for expediency's sake….. it was not for
salvation's sake…… It was just to allow the ministry to function more smoothly……
Let´s read what Paul said In 1 Corinthians 9….v19…
1 Cor
9: 19-22 NKJV sch 2000
19
For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I
might win the more; 20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win
Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those
who are under the law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being
without law toward God, but under law toward Christ, that I might win those who
are without law; 22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I
have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
1 Cor 9: 19-22 NKJV sch 2000
19 Denn obwohl ich frei bin von allen, habe ich mich doch
allen zum Knecht gemacht, um desto mehr [Menschen] zu gewinnen.
20 Den Juden bin ich wie ein Jude geworden, damit ich die
Juden gewinne; denen, die unter dem Gesetz sind, bin ich geworden, als wäre ich
unter dem Gesetz, damit ich die unter dem Gesetz gewinne;
21 denen, die ohne Gesetz sind, bin ich geworden, als
wäre ich ohne Gesetz — obwohl ich vor Gott nicht ohne Gesetz bin, sondern
Christus gesetzmäßig unterworfen —, damit ich die gewinne, die ohne Gesetz
sind.
22 Den Schwachen bin ich wie ein Schwacher geworden,
damit ich die Schwachen gewinne; ich bin allen alles geworden, damit ich auf
alle Weise etliche rette.
Paul is being very practical….. He is avoiding making people stumble…. It has
nothing to do with legalism….. He fought against legalism at every
opportunity….
Rather….. Timothy by being circumcised is confirming his
Jewish identity…. Later when Titus came along….. Paul forbid Titus from being circumcised….. Because Titus was a gentile…...
To circumcise a gentile would have been to impose
legalism….. but to circumcise a Jew already a Jew was simply to allow him the
liberty to be more effective…... He would have been wrong to circumcise Titus…..
He would have been wrong not to circumcise Timothy for the sake of effectiveness…..
In Acts 15….. Paul
argued strongly that it was not necessary for converts to come under the Law of
Moses for salvation…... Paul would have never told Timothy to become
circumcised for the sake of legalism……. But Paul would do things for the sake
of love……
v5….
So the churches were strengthened in the
faith, and increased in number daily…….Paul's work was successful
because his first interest was in strengthening the churches……
Paul taught the Word of God at every opportunity….. It is
the Word of God that the Holy Spirit uses to make believers….. And to make new
believers into committed disciples…. Committed disciples make strong churches….
Strong churches will naturally increase in number…… without relying on marketing
and other manipulative methods….. I would like to let Paul´s letter to the Colossians
close our study today…. Turn with me to Col v10….
Colossians
3:10-17 NLT Neues Leben
10
Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and
become like him. 11 In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a
Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free.
Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.
12
Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves
with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make
allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you.
Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all,
clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15
And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of
one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
16
Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and
counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and
spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 17 And whatever you do or say, do
it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the
Father.
Colossians 3:10-17 NLT Neues Leben
10 und seid neue Menschen geworden, die ständig erneuert
werden. Dies geschieht, indem ihr Christus immer ähnlicher werdet, so wie Gott
es sich gedacht hat.
11 Es kommt in diesem neuen Leben nicht darauf an, ob ihr
Jude oder Grieche, beschnitten oder unbeschnitten seid, ob euer Volk
zivilisiert oder primitiv ist2, ob ihr versklavt oder frei seid, sondern es
kommt in allem nur auf Christus an und darauf, dass er in uns allen lebt!
12 Da Gott euch erwählt hat, zu seinen Heiligen und
Geliebten zu gehören, seid voll Mitleid und Erbarmen, Freundlichkeit, Demut,
Sanftheit und Geduld.
13 Seid nachsichtig mit den Fehlern der anderen und
vergebt denen, die euch gekränkt haben. Vergesst nicht, dass der Herr euch
vergeben hat und dass ihr deshalb auch anderen vergeben müsst.
14 Das Wichtigste aber ist die Liebe. Sie ist das Band,
das uns alle in vollkommener Einheit verbindet.
15 Euren Herzen wünschen wir den Frieden, der von
Christus kommt. Denn als Glieder des einen Leibes seid ihr alle berufen, im
Frieden miteinander zu leben. Und seid immer dankbar!
16 Gebt den Worten von Christus viel Raum3 in euren
Herzen. Gebraucht seine Worte weise, um einander zu lehren und zu ermahnen.
Singt Gott aus ganzem Herzen Psalmen, Lobgesänge und geistliche Lieder.
17 Doch alles, was auch immer ihr tut oder sagt, soll im
Namen von Jesus, dem Herrn, geschehen, durch den ihr Gott, dem Vater, danken
sollt!
Communion
Warning!
Danger!
1
Cor 11: 27-34 NKJV
27
Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy
manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man
examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For
he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to
himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30 For this reason many are weak and
sick among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would
not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we
may not be condemned with the world.
33
Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 34
But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for
judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come.
1 Cor 11:27-34
sch 2000
27 Wer also
unwürdig dieses Brot ißt oder den Kelch des Herrn trinkt, der ist schuldig am
Leib und Blut des Herrn.
28 Der Mensch prüfe aber sich selbst, und so soll er von
dem Brot essen und aus dem Kelch trinken;
29 denn wer unwürdig ißt und trinkt, der ißt und trinkt
sich selbst ein Gericht, weil er den Leib des Herrn nicht unterscheidet.
30 Deshalb sind unter euch viele Schwache und Kranke, und
eine beträchtliche Zahl sind entschlafen.
31 Denn wenn wir uns selbst richteten, würden wir nicht
gerichtet werden;
32 wenn wir aber gerichtet werden, so werden wir vom
Herrn gezüchtigt, damit wir nicht samt der Welt verurteilt werden.
33 Darum, meine Brüder, wenn ihr zum Essen zusammenkommt,
so wartet aufeinander!
34 Wenn aber jemand hungrig ist, so esse er daheim, damit
ihr nicht zum Gericht zusammenkommt. Das
übrige will ich anordnen, sobald ich komme.
1
Cor 11:23- 26 NLT
23
For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when
he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread 24 and gave thanks to God for
it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for
you. Do this to remember me.” 25 In the same way, he took the cup of wine after
supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement
confirmed with my blood. Do this to remember me as often as you drink it.” 26
For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the
Lord’s death until he comes again.
1 Cor 11:23- 26
Neues Leben
23 Das Folgende hat der Herr selbst gesagt, und ich gebe
es euch so weiter, wie ich es empfangen habe: In der Nacht, als er verraten
wurde, nahm Jesus, der Herr, einen Laib Brot,
24 und nachdem er Dank gesagt hatte, brach er ihn und
sprach: »Das ist mein Leib, der für euch hingegeben wird6. Tut das zur
Erinnerung an mich.«
25 Ebenso nahm er nach dem Abendmahl den Weinkelch und
sprach: »Dieser Kelch ist der neue Bund zwischen Gott und euch, besiegelt durch
mein Blut. Wann immer ihr daraus trinkt, tut es zur Erinnerung an mich.«
26 Denn jedes Mal, wenn ihr dieses Brot esst und aus
diesem Kelch trinkt, verkündet ihr den Tod des Herrn, bis er wiederkommt.
Let´s pray….
