Sermon Tone Analysis

Acts Series #28

*Conflict - Dirty Word or Opportunity?*

*Acts 15:36-41*

 

Ok … I don't usually do this … but let me tell you a few stories I heard this week …

 

JOKE - two blondes are watching the 10:00 news … the announcer says "after this message the latest on that man standing on the ledge threatening to jump …" One blonde says "I'll bet you $20 he jumps" … 2nd blonde says "ok" … Well after the commercial … unfortunately he jumps … the girl gives her $20 but the 1st says "I can't take your money" The 2nd says "no it's yours" … the first says "no I saw that story on the 5:00 news and I knew that he jumped … so it wasn't a fair bet".

The 2nd blonde says "that's ok I saw the 5:00 new TOO but I Never thought the idiot would jump a AGAIN!

Same two Girls … They are sitting together at a restaurant and one says to the other "here's to 17 days" … the guy at the table next to them says "Congratulations, what's special about 17 days?"

The girls answer "we've spending every evening working on a Jigsaw Puzzle.

The Box says 3-5 years … but we finished it in only 17 days!"

JOKE --- a husband and wife were disagreeing and neither would give … finally the wife said "I'll admit I'm wrong if you'll admit I'm right … the Husband said "Ok, Ladies First" … "Ok said the wife, I'm wrong" … the husband smirked and said "you're right"

 

 

JOKE - I overheard two guys talking the other day … the 1st guy said "My wife and I had a HUGE fight the last night"… "How did it end" his friend asked … "Oh it ended with her crawling on her hands and knees to me" … The second guy said "really … what did she say" … The Husband said … "she said, get out from under the bed you big chicken"!

_____

 

Conflict … the word means … /fight, battle, war 2 competitive or opposing action, antagonistic state or action 3 the opposition of persons or forces that give rise to dramatic action /

 

It comes from words mean "/to strike together/"

 

 

Who LIKES conflict?

Most of us don't … Some of you do … some of you would pick a fight just for the sake of something to do

 

But MOST people Do NOT like Conflict … So … that brings us to our question for today …

Conflict … a Dirty Word or an Opportunity?

Now I've been a Pastor's son all my life and I've seen plenty of NEGATIVE conflict in church business meetings and church hallways for that matter …

 

I've known some business meetings that came to blows …

I've had my own share of negative conflict

And in churches it is to the point that what we many times is … COMPLETELY AVOID conflict …

 

We avoid going deep enough in relationships to deal with anything …

 

But is conflict a dirty word or an opportunity?

Let's read our Text in Acts 15:36-41

 

Let's make sure we know the back story here …

 

Who are these guys?  …

 

Bottom line Paul Mature Godly Anointed Apostle, a Visionary Leader and cut and dry, "tow the line" or "cut the line" kind of guy

 

Barnabas is also a Godly Mature leader, his very name meant Son of Encouragement … He had taken Paul to his side when no one trusted him and trained him and vouched for him with the young church

 

So who is Mark … he was later called "The Evangelist" … he died in Alexandria after being drug mercilessly behind horses through the city … hmmm doesn't sound like the guy that Paul says "no" about.

He was probably of both Roman descent by his Father and Jewish descent by his Mother.

His Jewish name was John and Roman name Mark or Marcus.

His Mother's name was Mary, she was a woman of means and influence and Mark may have been born in Jerusalem, at least they had a house there.

It probably was the house of the upper room, but was at least the house where they early church and disciples met.

It's where the were praying when Peter was in Prison … Peter must have been the one who led Mark to Christ because he refers to him in 1 Peter 5:13 as his "Son".

But Mark, was impetuous but not always bold.

It was probably Mark who followed Jesus and the disciples at a distance into the Garden of Gethsemane the night before his death with only a robe around him.

When he was discovered as they arrested Jesus he Ran away leaving his Clothes in their hands running away naked.

(Mark 15:51,52)

In Acts 12 Mark is taken along to help Paul and Barnabas spread the gospel.

In Chapter 13:13 though, Mark LEFT … as Paul described it, he DESERTED them … we don't know much more but from our passage today … he let Paul down.

Perhaps he left scared, perhaps he left because he didn't like the life of ministry, perhaps he left because it was too much of the Gentile world for him too soon, but he deserted them and NOW, 3 years later, … Paul says "You can't go"

 

Bottom line … well he is a young, inexperienced, immature believer, a guy who says "yes" before he is ready to, who volunteers for things he's not qualified for and at this stage, quit when the going got tough

 

And this Created a Huge Conflict Between Paul and Barnabas …

 

Paul said … "the boy is NOT going with me" … "he is NOT ready" … "he is NOT reliable"

 

Barnabas said … "he needs to go", "he needs to try again", "he needs a second chance"

 

So quickly let me make some observations about this Conflict and the conflict we face …

 

Two sections and a Conclusion … Quickly

 

*1.

Section 1 - Some Words to Learn From *

 

  *A.*

Some *Words* from *Paul* and *Barnabas*

    1.

Consternation -

      a.

it's ok to let people feel the deep frustration and even anger in a positive way and without sin …

      b.

Paul said "do not let the sun go down on your anger" -

      c.

Pent up anger does more damage than healthy disagreement and conflict

 

    2.

Condemnation -

      a.

by condemnation I'm really here talking about pronouncing a judgment or sentence for actions …

      b.

Consequences for actions are real and must be felt … we live in a world where no one wants consequences for their actions …

      c.

there are consequences often to our actions and it's ok to be held accountable and made to experience those consequences …

 

    3.

Consolation - 

      a.

While condemnation and consequences are important in conflict … so is consolation …

      b.

when you've messed up you need an encourager … You need someone to come alongside, help you get up, help you clean up your wounds, discuss your mistakes … but help you get back to business … to lift your spirits and your confidence

 

    4.

Convocation -

      a. in the midst of conflict … there was still work to be done …

      b.

BOTH sides in the conflict had to get busy … a convocation is an assembly … it is the act of convoking or calling to meeting … but it is also the official beginning of something …

      c.

These men both moved forward … assembled a team and began a mission for God

 

  *B.

Some Words from Mark's* side

 

    1.

Revelation - because of the action of Paul … Mark got a Revelation into the reality of his actions …

      a. he is made to realize … others are counting on me … I'm not just here to watch … I'm bearing part of the weight and when I left … it hurt the group …

      b. he realized … "wow, I didn't know that my actions had consequences that affected others beside just me"

 

    2.

Rejuvenation - "I may not be ready for the big leagues or the type of mission that Paul has … but that doesn't mean that I'm OUT …" There is STILL something that I can do

 

    3.

Restoration -

      a.

Because of Paul's pronouncement of consequences on Mark AND because of Barnabas' encouragement …

      b.

Mark not only got back in the game with Barnabas but he eventually got back in the game with Paul too … Col 4:10 served with Paul … 1 Peter 5:13 … Philemon 1:24 … he was serving with Paul … 2 Tim 4:11 Paul describes him as "useful"

 

    4.

Regeneration - When GOD is the center of our decisions … regenerations, reconciliation is ALWAYS the result.

Paul says that God has given us the ministry of reconciliation.

a.

that comes sure in Mark's reconciliation to the Lord in ministry, reconciliation to Paul in ministry but MORE important

      b.

PEOPLE without GOD being reconciled to God through Christ Jesus, in the Power of the Holy Spirit, by the Ministry of Faithful ministers.

c.

This resulted in GREATER presentation of the gospel.

Instead of ONE team serving in one place, we ended up with TWO teams serving in two places …

 

*2.

Section 2 - Some Principles about Conflict*

*#1 *People need to feel Disappointment and Failure and how it affects those who are depending on you

 

 

*#2 *People need to be Encouraged to Get up and Give it another Try

 

 

*#3 *Both Reprimand and Encouragement have a place in developing Character and leadership

 

 

*#4 *Division doesn't have to led to Subtraction -