Dealing With Our Differences

Acts 15

• Great things were happening through the outreach efforts of Antioch!
• Everyone should be excited – right? WRONG!
• Every Church has its issues; some are theological, some are generational, some are economic, some are mere preferences
• The struggle is not so much about the specific issues but in how those issues are handled.

Acts 15 gives us a great example of how to deal with our differences:

1. Listen carefully to the both sides of the issues
2. Define the Issues (two issues must be resolved)
   – What must one do to be saved?
   – How should a Christian live?
3. Gather the evidence
4. Search the Scriptures
5. Resolve the issues
6. Communicate the Results

Lessons we can learn:

1. Diversity within the church will always present challenges
2. Differences in our church are not a problem if they are handled properly
3. We must never compromise the Gospel
4. Freedom in the Christian life requires self-discipline