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The First Internal Controversy – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 20

By

WEBCAST –

Dear RCF Sisters and Brothers,

It is unlikely that we today can overstate the amount of internal tension and strife the New Community of Jesus Followers were experiencing in 48 AD.  Although it had grown immensely in numbers and geographically in the 18 years since Jesus died, rose, and ascended into heaven, its leaders knew it was in danger of splitting into two factions.  Several years before God had helped them to settle the question that Gentiles could be saved and become equal members of the New Community by believing in Jesus as the Jewish Messiah and placing their trust in Him.  The current divisive in-house question they now faced concerned the lifestyle and religious practices of these Gentile believers.

The more theologically conservative members of the New Community, many of whom were formerly members of the Jewish sect of the Pharisees, believed that Gentile believers had to adopt Jewish religious practices.  These practices began with male circumcision and extended into living in faithful obedience to the Jewish Scriptures and lifestyle.  Salvation would require faith in Jesus plus keeping the requirements of the Old Testament (i.e. works).  Those living in the region of Judea, close to the center of orthodox Judaism, generally held to this position.

Those members of the New Community of Jesus Followers who were living 300 miles north in Antioch, as well as those believers who were not Jewish, failed to see the practical relevance of becoming a Jew to follow Jesus.  The former main Jewish persecutor of the New Community, Saul (now called Paul), was the most convinced spokesman for this position.  He had been called by God to win Gentiles to Jesus and perceived that nothing but faith in Jesus’ sacrificial death on a Roman cross was necessary to be saved.  In the past several years he had witnessed the confusion Gentile believers had about adopting Judaism and the impediment that requirement was to their trusting in Jesus.  He had documented his abhorrence to additional Jewish requirements in a letter he had sent to the New Communities in the region of Galatia.

The difference of opinion within the New Community was intensifying and had the real potential to split it into two factions – one Jewish and the other Gentile.  If you were a member of the early Church, how would you propose to resolve this matter?  Who should be involved in making this decision?  To what might believers look as an aid in this controversy?  If this dilemma was not settled soon there would be two, not one, New Communities of Jesus followers.

Join us this Sunday morning as we continue in the theme To the Remotest Part of the Earth, and our Discussion Bible Study in the History of the Early Church.  Please prepare by reading the entirety of Galatians.  This week we will examine and discuss it with the title “How the Gospel Was Almost Lost…From Grace – Part 2.  If you want to earn extra credit you can also read Acts 15.

Attached is an outline (in two sizes) of the text we will be focusing upon this Sunday morning.  Please print it ahead of time, as it will help you take part in the discussion.  We will also have copies when we gather on Sunday morning.

Here are the Table Discussion Questions for Sunday:

Do you keep any Old Testament Laws?  If so, which ones? Which Old Testament Laws do you not keep?  Why not? How do you know which Old Testament Laws to keep and those you don’t have to keep?

In this series we have already discussed the following texts and topics:

The New Era Begins: Acts 1:12-2:21
Who is to Blame for Good Friday?: Acts 2:22-23
The New Community Begins: Acts 2:24-47
The First Official Pushback Is  Pushed Back: Acts 3
The First Official Pushback Is Pushed Back –  Part 2: Acts 4
God Elevates His Purity and His Principals: Acts 5:1-11
God Elevates His Purity and His Principals – Part 2: Acts 5:12 – 6:7
The Spark That Ignited The Flames of Persecution – Part 1: Acts 6:8 – 7:43
The Spark That Ignited The Flames of Persecution – Part 2: Acts 7:44 – 8:3
The New Community’s Pearl Harbor: Acts 8:1-25
Going Global: Taking The New Community International: Acts 8:26-40
Going Global: Taking The New Community International: Acts 9:1-25
Not “E Pluribus Unum”, But “Nos, Et Nos Nos”: Acts 9:26-31
The Border Crisis:  God’s Path For Foreigners To Become Citizens: Acts 9:32-10:33
The Border Crisis:  God’s Path For Foreigners To Become Citizens – Part 2:  Acts 10:34-11:30
Uncivil Rest – Part 1: Acts 12:1-17
Uncivil Rest – Part 2: Acts 12:18-25
How The West Was Won…To Christ: Acts 13
How The West Was Won…To Christ – Part 2:  Acts 13
How The Gospel Was Almost Lost…From Grace:  Galatians

We hope that you will join us in person or online this Sunday morning at Bay Lodge at 9:00 am!

We love you all!

Jim and Jenny

Acts of the Apostles, Part 20 – Outline (PDF)

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Dear Sisters and Brothers,   Jesus’ transformation of humanity was never intended to end at the completion of His thirty-three year life.  The plan which was conceived in eternity prior to the creation of the universe was always that Jesus would come to earth and provide the complete means of mankind’s redemption.  He did that first by […]

You Could Cut Their Fear With a Knife – January 24, 2021

Dear Sisters and Brothers, After Jesus was crucified and buried, it was reasonable for Jesus’ closest male disciples to fear that the Jewish leaders might arrest and prosecute them.  If that happened they could be crucified as well.  The Sabbath which began at the time of Jesus’ burial gave them 24 hours of potential relief […]

Fearful and Flummoxed – January 17, 2021

Dear Sisters and Brothers, When Jesus was crucified and died, the hopes of the multitudes who thought that He was going to redeem Israel from Roman rule were dashed.  Thursday evening’s Passover was celebrated with expectancy as many Jews believed that Jesus was about to set them free, just as Moses did for their ancestors […]

“Perhaps We Were Wrong About Jesus the Nazarene?” – January 10, 2021

Dear Sisters and Brothers, Compared to Jesus’ public ministry the past three years, His arrest and trials were witnessed by comparatively few people.  Many of those who observed what was happening to Jesus during and after His arrest, such as the Roman officials and soldiers, had only modest personal interest in the proceedings.  The huge […]

He is Brought Before Pilate – January 3, 2021

Dear Sisters and Brothers, This coming Sunday, January 3, 2021, we will begin the new year by focussing on Our Lord’s final trial, condemnation, suffering, and death in our discussion Bible study.  We will end our time together by reflecting upon these events in the manner He instructed His disciples to, by having “The Lord’s Table”.  Therefore, please […]

The Battle Ahead – December 20, 2020

Dear Friends, Two Sundays ago we saw how people, without even knowing it, can try to derail God’s plans.   Since before the world was created God had planned that His Son would die as the Passover Lamb Who would rescue people from their bondage to sin and its penalty.  God’s timeline was in jeopardy until […]

Final Instructions – December 6, 2020

Dear Friends, If you knew that you only had only hours to live, it is likely that you would want to tell the most important people in your life the most important information they needed to know. That is true regarding Jesus’ final evening with His chosen apostles. During that final Passover evening Jesus communicated […]

The Die Is Cast – November 29, 2020

Dear Friends, Sometimes you just have to just move on.  Differences and tensions that you have experienced with others for a long time have not improved despite your best efforts to explain your perspective and position.  In fact, despite your best efforts and explanations over time the more entrenched others have become and the die is […]

There is No Convincing Some People! – November 22, 2020

Dear Friends, The current political division in the United States demonstrates that it is nearly impossible to convince people that their views may be wrong.  Because their minds are so entrenched that they are right they could never even consider that they might be wrong.  That was certainly the case with the religious leaders of […]

The Breach Becomes a Breaking Point – November 8, 2020

Dear Friends, In our discussion Bible study last Sunday we saw Jesus send three more “miracle-bombs” into Jerusalem just prior to His final entry into Jerusalem to get those in the capitol city to believe in Him as their long-promised Messiah.  “Miracle-bombs” are notable public miracles which Jesus did outside of Jerusalem which had an enormous impact within the city of […]

The Lord’s Supper and “Harmony” – November 1, 2020

Dear Friends, There are three important happenings at RCF which you need to know about for this Sunday, November 1st.   1.  Daylight Savings Time – Remember to move your clocks back.  If you don’t stay up later than normal on Saturday you get an extra hour sleep! 2.  The Lord’s Supper – We will be beginning our time together commemorating Our Lord’s sacrifice […]

Dropping “Miracle Bombs” in Jerusalem – October 25, 2020

Dear Friends, If you wanted to change a major policy in our nation today, there are two ways you could go about it. One way would be to travel widely and speak throughout the fifty states to get a majority of people to agree with your ideas. A second way would be to travel only […]

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No matter your age or background, you have a place at RCF! We are passionate about reaching people with the life-giving and life-changing message of Jesus and we’d love to meet you!

 

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Bay Lodge
492 Bradley Rd.
Bay Village, OH 44140