Bible Text: Acts 16 | Preacher: Pastor Ken | Series: The Solid Acts of God
1 Corinthians 9:22-23 “…I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.”
Romans 6:1-3 “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?”
Acts 16:1-5 …a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek. He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted to have him go on with him. And he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region, for they all knew that his father was Greek
Galatians 2:1-4 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and also took Titus with me. And I went up by revelation, … Yet not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. 4 And this occurred because of false brethren…
Acts 15:1-2 And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question.
Timothy was half Greek but he was also half Jewish
 
Titus was a Gentile. To circumcise him would have been to yield to the Judaizers, who said gentiles must become Jews to keep their salvation.
 
Conflict is inevitable, but that does not mean we go looking for it or create it carelessly.
Be aware of the sensibilities of those we are called to minister to
Understand the barriers that can exist
Do not act contrary to God’s word
Do what is necessary for others to focus on God’s word, the Gospel and not be offended/distracted
Do not allow our prejudice or bias become a hindrance to the gospel.
1 Corinthians 9:19-23 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; 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; 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; 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. Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.
Volunteering and serving
 
John 15:12-13 “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”
 
American/Western “Rugged independence”
 
John 16:33 “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
We are called to have Jesus’ heart
John 12:47-48 And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.
 
Luke 19:9-10 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”