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Part 1
Sermon Notes: Acts 15:1-35 – Unity in the Early Church
Introduction: The Eagerness to Maintain Unity
We’re diving into a three-part series in the book of Acts on the idea of unity. What do I know about unity? It’s something we are called to be eager to maintain in the Spirit. Last week, we talked about how to walk, or live into opportunities. Paul makes a very clear statement about your life in Ephesians 4:1-3: “I urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
So, live your life in a way that’s worthy of what Jesus has called you to, or in the way Jesus represented in His own life: with humility, gentleness, patience, and bearing with each other in love. Then Paul adds, “be eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit.” Remember the excitement and anxiety of a first date, where you tried to get everything just right? Paul is telling us that if we want to get this unity thing right, we’ve got to invest a bunch of time and energy into it. It’s hard! We agree on tons of things, but we can easily disagree on quite a few others.
Paul isn’t saying just focus on the good and put up with the bad. No, that’s not an eagerness to maintain unity. An eagerness to maintain unity says: “I will unite on the things we agree on as a foundation. AND I will, with all humility, gentleness, patience, and love, listen to others, make my position known, and find resolution.”
Many times, we’re not eager to maintain unity. We accept agreement as a given instead of making it our foundation. And instead of approaching others with humility, gentleness, patience, and love, we approach them with an “I’m right, and you need to get on board” mentality. This becomes even more divisive when we use Jesus and our knowledge of the Scriptures to make ourselves right, strengthening our position by evoking God’s name, and by default, making others wrong and casting them out. Does that sound like humility, gentleness, patience, and bearing with one another in love? No, because it’s very clearly not.
The reason this is commanded in scripture and Paul urges us to maintain it is because he has very clearly seen disunity and knows how easy it is for us to choose division over unity. It takes faith, it takes a work of the Spirit, and it takes eagerness for us to maintain unity.
Verses 1-5: The Problem
To set the stage for our discussion on unity, we get to talk about everyone’s favorite topic in the Bible: circumcision. (Lord help us… I’ve been looking forward to this just as much as I look forward to going to the dentist and getting a tooth ripped out of my mouth. But without further ado, let’s cut the tip off of this and get right to it on the count of 3! 1,2,3 foreskin! Alright, that is my final circumcision joke, for now.)
Here’s the problem the early church faces in their unity maintenance program: “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” (Acts 15:1). To clarify, this isn’t just a disagreement on a tradition; this is a disagreement on salvation! We’ve got to be so careful with our words and terms in church. Healthy traditions are good things—consistency in our spiritual rhythms and all the rest. But to claim that if you don’t do something, you cannot be saved, is a big one. They’re not saying, “we don’t like the carpets or the music”; they’re saying if you disagree with us, you are condemned to hell, the blood of Jesus has not purchased your soul, and you have no access to relationship with God or eternal life in heaven. This is the big problem in the early church! This is the big problem with their unity.
Over circumcision? What’s the big deal? In the Old Testament, circumcision was a sign and seal of God’s covenant with Abraham and his descendants. It signified a physical and spiritual commitment to God and His promises. It was carried over into the covenant with Moses and Israel as a sign of God’s chosen people living under the law. The big deal is: are these people God’s chosen people or not? Are they part of us or not? So is this a salvation issue? Absolutely! YOU MUST BE CIRCUMCISED! (So line up in the grand concourse, our elders will tend to you one at a time. No, I’m kidding.)
Why can I so boldly tell you that you must be circumcised? Because I believe wholeheartedly, every single one of us, both male and female, must be circumcised. “In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,” (Colossians 2:11). “For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and CIRCUMCISION IS A MATTER OF THE HEART, BY THE SPIRIT, not by the letter.” (Romans 2:28-29).
The reason they’re debating this in Acts 15 is because they didn’t understand the meaning of circumcision. Here is the meaning of circumcision: God has been trying to tell the world this for so long! I want your heart! I want all of you! And when you put off this world and turn to Jesus, you will be given everything!
I so crave being content with my life. Does anyone else feel that? I was talking with a dear friend, a successful businessman who, from the outside, has it made. He shared a story: he was sitting in his house on Christmas morning, up before his family, looking out the window, and for a few seconds, he was so content. He looked at me and said, “Aaron, that was 7 years ago.” I share this to say, you may be running after the things of this world thinking it will satisfy that craving. If I just had a better job, more money, more time, kids, no kids, this car, this house—it goes on and on. But the truth is, you will never be fully content or satisfied with anything on earth. What your soul longs for is heaven. You were made for eternity. You want the fullness of joy, hope, and life. To be fully content is to put your faith in Jesus, because what you are desiring here, you can get a glimpse of, but you cannot take hold of all of it until Christ takes hold of you.
When God circumcises your heart, He is preparing you for heaven, and in heaven, we will obtain the fullness of all God has for us. Thank you, Jesus! That is my hope for my life, for my marriage, for my children, for our church: Christ Jesus, the hope of glory. This is why we must all be circumcised of the heart. It is the only way to maintain unity. It’s what allows us to listen to one another even in disagreement. When we really believe we are all rowing in the same direction to the same destination, it allows us to listen to one another.
The rest of this section in verses 2 through 5, Luke, our author of Acts, does a magnificent job in showing us the us vs. them that’s happening in this problem. Those who were appointed to go to Jerusalem with Paul and Barnabas are sharing about Jesus and bringing great joy everywhere they go. They are welcomed into Jerusalem, and the people who wrongly sent these messengers to Antioch, saying they aren’t saved, are there beating their drum again like a stick in the mud. It is so obvious to see those who are not eager to maintain unity in our passage, and it is so obvious to see those who are not eager to maintain unity in the church. It’s toxic, it’s ugly, and it’s cancerous. It is so clearly not the way of Jesus that when you come together with Jesus people who are eager to maintain unity, it looks and feels off, you know what I mean? Our challenge from this passage for all of us is to ask, “God, are there parts of my life that aren’t eager to maintain unity? Show them to me, help me confess, forgive me, and help me walk worthy.“
Verses 6-11: Peter’s Final Words – What Do You Want to Be Known For?
The early church faces its first major theological crisis. How do they handle it? They gather the apostles and elders in Jerusalem to form what we now call the Jerusalem Council, a historic moment in church history. We don’t know how long the debate lasted, but Luke tells us it wasn’t a quick one. Verse 7 says there is much debate. There were arguments, confusion, passionate voices on both sides. And then, Peter stands up. This is Peter’s last recorded speech in the book of Acts. It’s his final moment of public leadership. And it’s one of his most powerful.
Here’s how Peter makes his case. Let’s break it down:
Peter’s Main Points:
- God made the choice — “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.” This wasn’t man’s idea. God started this.
- God knows the heart — “And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them…” He didn’t just look at their actions. He looked at their hearts—and what did He see?
- God gave the Holy Spirit to them, just like He gave us — No second-tier salvation, no second-class believers. Same Spirit. Same grace. Same access.
- God made no distinction — He cleansed their hearts by faith, not by circumcision. In other words: salvation has always been a heart issue, not a flesh issue.
Then Peter throws a punch—not at the people, but at the mentality behind this debate. “Why are you putting God to the test?” That line should stop us in our tracks. “Testing God,” again! That phrase echoes a major theme in Israel’s history—specifically, the Exodus. Time and again, the Israelites tested God in the wilderness. They doubted His provision. They resisted His leadership. They demanded signs instead of walking by faith. “They tested the Lord, saying, ‘Is the Lord among us or not?’” (Exodus 17:7). “They tested God again and again and provoked the Holy One of Israel” (Psalm 78:41). And now, Peter says, “You’re doing it again.” You’re questioning whether God is really at work, because it doesn’t look like what you expected. You’re taking the yoke of the Law, the very thing none of us could carry, and laying it on the necks of new believers.
And then Peter lands the plane. Let’s say this together as a church: “But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.” (Acts 15:11). Not through circumcision. Not through law-keeping. Not through tradition. Through grace. Alone. And in a moment of Spirit-filled clarity, Peter flips the script: “We believe we will be saved like them.” Not they’ll be saved like us, but we’ll be saved like them. That’s unity. That’s humility. That’s gospel clarity. He has made his position known.
Let me ask you, What Do You Want to Be Known For? This is Peter’s final recorded word in Acts. Not preaching. Not walking on water. Not cutting off ears or making declarations. Just this: a call to unity in the gospel of grace. So let me ask you: What do you want to be known for? For how loudly you argued your opinion? For how many people agreed with your position? Or for how humbly you defended the gospel of grace? Some of you are stepping into a new season. Some are walking out of old patterns. Some are nearing the end of a chapter. And here’s what matters: how you finish. You’ll be remembered not just for what you did, but how you did it. Not just for what you said, but how you treated people while saying it. Peter will forever be remembered as the one who reminded the church: “We’re all saved by grace.” Let that be true of us too. Let’s be known for our eagerness to maintain unity, for listening to the Spirit, for living and preaching the gospel of grace.
Verses 12-21: Pastor James’ Solution
Right before Pastor James speaks in verses 12-21, we have the testimony of Paul and Barnabas. Notice their names are flipped back this time to Barnabas and Paul. This is because they are back addressing Jews, and Luke makes note of it. The reason their testimony matters is because God is linking the mission of the church with the mission of Paul and Barnabas, and with Jesus’ mission here on earth, as one cohesive story through the signs and wonders of God. That matters deeply because it is another significant part of God’s strategy in unity. He will unite all things to Himself and show that this division is not necessary in His church.
Then Pastor James gets up. Now this is James, the half-brother of Jesus, who wrote the book of James and is the Pastor of the church in Jerusalem. He tells them what they heard from Peter, whom he calls Simeon here to be more diplomatic with the Jews. What they heard is this: God chose a people for His name from among the Gentiles. That’s significant because this is exactly what God did in the story of the Jews; He took a people from among the earth (Deuteronomy 7). More unity and diplomatic language from Pastor James.
Then he weaves the words of the prophets together. I can’t help but believe that James is so in tune with God through His word that God, by the Holy Spirit, reveals these words to him at this moment. Have you had that happen before? I have! I’ve gone into prayer circles, or times of fellowship with people, or even visitation in hospitals, where God just brings the right verse to mind, and you speak it and find encouragement, and so does everyone else. That same God leads James to the solution. Oh, how I labored over this verse for you, Friends Church.
James says, “For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.” Sounds cute, but what does he mean “from ancient generations”? I was stuck for a while with ideas without any commentary that would agree with me, so I couldn’t share it until I found support. Here’s the judgment and my honest view of how and why he can say this is the judgment.
The Judgment:
- Abstain from things polluted by idols. – Honor The Lord (Gen 1)
- Abstain from sexual immorality. – Honor All Humans (Gen 1:27)
- Abstain from things strangled. – Honor Creation (Gen 1:26-30)
- Abstain from blood. – Honor Life (Gen 9:4)
Even without the written law of God, we realize these 4 truths have been written on our hearts and unite us: Honor the Lord, Honor all humans, Honor creation, and honor life. Ancient generations who lived lives of faith before the patriarchs and before the written law were united in this by faith. This is the path forward that Pastor James takes to unity, and we learn a real biblical truth here: The path to unity isn’t always easy, but unity always moves toward resolution. It must. We cannot live our lives as the people of Jesus without unity. Our unity as a church should matter to us, and it does matter to Jesus. Pastor James finds a difficult path forward, which we will see through all of Paul’s letters, but it is right for the church, and it is right to desire unity even when others choose division.
Verses 22-35: The Letter and Its Reception
The letter written to the Gentile churches in verses 22 through 29 contains the same information that Pastor James shares with the congregation of the Jerusalem church, but there are a few points of consideration we’ve got to look at for the sake of unity:
- First, he says, “it seems good to the apostles, the elders, and the whole church, all of us to send this to you.” So we can rightly say that everyone is on board here in how they will approach this life in Christ together.
- Second, they send Paul and Barnabas, who are themselves members of the church in Antioch, but they also send Judas and Silas. They remind the church that these men have risked their lives for the name of Jesus Christ. These men were specifically chosen for their gifts and how they have the ability to encourage and strengthen, I’m sure of it! This will be a huge reminder of unity.
- The third thing is, we read in the body of the letter that it is not just a good thing they are doing, this isn’t just a good PR team in church, this is the Holy Spirit still fully involved in leading the decisions of the church. And this is what we are doing at Friends Church, allowing the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us. There are some best practices in 2025 church that we don’t do. Why is that? Because best practice and trends do not dictate to our leadership teams; the Holy Spirit does.
What we see in this is a beautiful model for how unity is achieved in the church and how the church is to be led. When we’re eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit, the Spirit leads, the Word speaks, and the church rejoices together.
Conclusion: Eagerness to Maintain Unity
What started as a crisis—divisive, doctrinal, and dangerous—became, by the power of the Spirit, a turning point for unity, for clarity, and for mission. I asked you, “What do you want to be known for?” earlier in this message, and I find it easy to find you all questions from the text when I try my level best to answer them myself: This is how I’ve been eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit.
Part 2
Leadership in Ministry (Acts 15:36-16:10)
Intro
In 1991, I moved to Hungary at the invitation of Greg Opean. That step of faith became the beginning of a church-planting mission in Europe. At the time, we didn’t speak any Hungarian, and very few locals spoke English. So we depended heavily on translators to simultaneously interpret during our Bible studies.
There was a small group of young believers already meeting, being discipled by a local woman. However, she didn’t feel called to pastor them, so she invited us to step into that role. This group eventually became the foundational core of the church plant. At first, she served as our translator as we began shepherding the flock.
But over time, problems emerged. We began to lead the church in a direction that didn’t align with her personal preferences. It soon became clear that she wasn’t actually translating our teaching faithfully—instead, she was modifying it to fit her own theological views. Worse, we discovered she was privately undermining our leadership among the people.
She was supportive—as long as we were heading the way she wanted to go.
It reminds me of that memorable line from My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Maria Portokalos, the mother of Toula, says, “The man is the head, but the woman is the neck. And she can turn the head any way she wants.” It’s a humorous take on influence in relationships—but it also reflects a tension we can face in leadership.
While everyone should be free to share their opinions with those in leadership, biblical leadership carries a divine responsibility: to seek and follow God’s direction, not simply human preferences. A true Christian leader listens, loves, and leads—but must ultimately make decisions based on where God is leading the church.
Outline
- Acts 15:36-41—Conflict in Leadership
- Acts 16:1-5—Sacrifice in Leadership
III. Acts 16:6-10—Direction in Leadership
I. Acts 15:36-41—Conflict in Leadership
A. The Apostles’ Complicated Relationship
- Before the Apostle Paul’s conversion, he was a fierce persecutor of the church. So when he later came to Jerusalem as a believer, the church was understandably afraid of him and hesitant to welcome him into the fellowship. It was Barnabas who stepped in—reaching out to Paul, vouching for his genuine faith, and bringing him into the community of believers (Acts 9:27).
- The Apostle Paul faced danger in Jerusalem, as the Jews were seeking to kill him. As a result, he escaped to his hometown of Tarsus. Later, when Barnabas was sent to minister to the growing church in Antioch (Acts 11:22), he recognized the need for help and went to Tarsus to find Paul. He brought him back to Antioch, where they ministered together and helped strengthen the rapidly growing church (Acts 11:25-26).
- It was in Antioch that the Holy Spirit sent them out to take the gospel to the ends of the earth!
- (Acts 13:2 ESV) While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
- A key shift in leadership soon became evident. Up to this point, Scripture consistently refers to the pair as “Barnabas and Saul.” However, in Acts 13:43, the order changes to “Paul and Barnabas,” signaling a transition. In Lystra, Paul is even identified as the chief speaker (Acts 14:12). These details suggest that a clear shift in leadership took place, with the Apostle Paul gradually stepping into the primary leadership role within their missionary team.
- One of the questions I was asked when the search committee at Friends Church interviewed me before I came was whether I would have any issue serving under Aaron, since I had mentored him at the beginning of his ministry. My honest answer is that it would be a privilege—I see him as a son in the faith, and it brings me joy to watch him lead. That said, having served as a lead pastor for thirty years, I know firsthand the weight of leadership. I’ve made countless decisions—many of them difficult—and learned that no matter what choice you make, someone is likely to be unhappy. Ultimately, a leader must follow the direction of the Lord, not public opinion. And to be completely transparent… It’s actually a bit of a relief not to be the one receiving the grief anymore—it’s his turn!
- Another incident further strained the relationship between Paul and Barnabas, and it’s recorded in Galatians chapter 2. When the Apostle Peter visited the growing church in Antioch, he openly fellowshipped and ate with the Gentile believers. But when certain men came from Jerusalem—whom Paul refers to as “the circumcision party”—Peter withdrew from the Gentiles out of fear of their judgment. The Apostle Paul recognized this behavior as hypocrisy and confronted it publicly. What made the situation even more painful was that Barnabas, Paul’s trusted ministry partner to the Gentiles, was also drawn into the hypocrisy.
- (Gal. 2:13 ESV) And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.
- This was no small matter. For Paul, who had risked so much for the inclusion of Gentiles in the gospel, Barnabas’s failure to stand firm in that moment must have been a deep disappointment. It likely introduced a significant strain into their relationship—between two men who had once stood side by side on the front lines of gospel ministry.
- The Apostle Paul, who is now the mission leader, initiated the second missionary journey.
- (Acts 15:36 ESV) And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.”
B. The Conflict Over John Mark (Acts 15:37)
- With that background being understood, it becomes clear that there were underlying tensions in the relationship between Paul and Barnabas. This came to the surface over John Mark.
- (Acts 15:39 ESV) And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other.
- Different types of conflict can arise in the church.
- Doctrine: Pastor Aaron taught on the doctrine of salvation last week concerning circumcision (Acts 15:1-35).
- Traditions: Not all traditions are created equal. There are good traditions that are permanent, grounded in Scripture, and essential to our faith—like communion and baptism. These are sacred practices that remind us of the gospel and unite us as believers across generations and cultures. But there are also good traditions that can—and should—change. Things like music style, order of service, decor, or the way we structure our gatherings. These traditions aren’t wrong—they’ve often served the church well in their time. But if we cling to them too tightly, they can become barriers instead of bridges. Healthy churches learn to honor the past while remaining flexible in the present, so they can effectively reach the future.
- Practice: How We Reach People Changes Over Time
- I remember when social media first came on the scene—the older generation was mostly hesitant, even resistant. But then something amusing happened: parents started signing up for Facebook to keep tabs on their kids… and so the kids bailed for Instagram and Snapchat. Now, ironically, the older generation is often more addicted to social media than the younger one! But early on, something clicked for me. I thought of how the Apostle Paul went where the people were. Whether it was the synagogue, the marketplace, or even the Areopagus (Acts 17), Paul positioned himself where he could meaningfully engage people with the gospel. So when I saw the younger generation migrating to social media platforms, I realized: That’s our new synagogue. That’s our digital marketplace. If we want to reach people today—especially younger generations—we must be willing to step into their spaces, not wait for them to come into ours. Social media isn’t just a distraction or a trend—it’s a potential mission field. Like any tool, it can be misused, but in the right hands, it can carry the gospel to places a pulpit never will. Now it’s Pastor Aaron’s turn to seek the Lord for direction to reach the next generation!
- People tend to become emotionally attached to traditions or specific practices in the church. This conflict between Paul and Barnabas is personal. John Mark was Barnabas’s relative (Col. 4:10-11).
- Many divisions in the church happen because something changed—or was eliminated—that someone was personally attached to. It’s not usually about doctrine. Often, it’s about preferences—a style of music, a piece of furniture, or a beloved program. These things may have deep personal meaning, but they are not essential to the mission of God. When we elevate personal attachments above gospel priorities, we risk causing division, discouragement, and distraction from the work God has called us to. Change is hard—but sometimes necessary. And when our identity is wrapped more in tradition than in truth, any change can feel like a threat. The challenge for every believer is to hold our preferences loosely and cling tightly to Christ and His mission. Unity requires humility, and sometimes that means letting go of what’s familiar for the sake of what’s fruitful.
- After they split, Barnabas went to Cyprus, where he was from (Acts 4:36). No doubt he continued his mentorship of John Mark, which had a profound impact on him.
II. Acts 16:1-5—Sacrifice in Leadership
A. Location of Derbe and Lystra (Acts 16:1)
The blue and red lines are the places that the Apostle Paul and Barnabas visited on their first journey. The yellow oval is where they were when the Apostle Paul added Timothy to his missionary team.
B. Introduction of Timothy (Acts 16:1-2)
- Timothy was an interracial child. His father was Greek, and his mother was Jewish (Acts 16:1). This kind of mixed heritage was very uncommon and likely posed significant challenges for Timothy as he was growing up—especially within Jewish communities that placed high value on religious and ethnic purity. Despite these potential difficulties, Timothy developed a strong reputation for faith and character. Scripture tells us that he was well spoken of by the believers in Lystra and Iconium, churches located in the region of Galatia (Acts 16:2). His life is a powerful example of how God can use someone from a complex background for significant Kingdom impact.
- While we know little about Timothy’s father—only that he was a Greek (Acts 16:1)—we know much more about his mother and grandmother. It was through the influence of these godly women, Eunice and Lois, that Timothy came to faith. The Apostle Paul honors their spiritual legacy:
- (2 Timothy 1:5 ESV) I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.
- Their quiet but faithful influence laid the foundation for Timothy’s future ministry. So let me take a moment to encourage you—mothers and grandmothers who may be raising children without the active spiritual involvement of a husband or father. Whether he is not a believer or simply uninvolved, you can still make a lasting difference. Just like Eunice and Lois, your sincere faith, consistent example, and spiritual guidance can shape a child’s heart for Christ and even prepare them for leadership in God’s Kingdom.
- Never underestimate the influence of a faithful woman in the home.
C. Timothy Was Circumcised.
- The Apostle Paul wanted to add Timothy to the missionary team, so he circumcised him. This was not done to make Timothy more acceptable to God for salvation; that issue was already settled in the Jerusalem council in Acts 15. It was done for practical reasons. Since Timothy’s father was a Greek, the question would come up as to whether Timothy accepted his Jewish heritage or not. By being circumcised, Timothy would have an open door to minister to the Jews as well as the Gentiles. The Apostle Paul expounds on this principle in 1 Corinthians—Becoming all things to all men (1 Cor. 9:19-23).
- Timothy’s decision to follow Paul’s request was deeply personal and sacrificial. When the Apostle Paul brought up the topic of circumcision (Acts 16:3), I can only imagine the look in Timothy’s eyes. This wasn’t a symbolic act—it was a physically painful and emotionally challenging decision, especially as a young adult. I have a friend in Europe who underwent circumcision at the age of 20. I saw him about a week after the surgery, and you could still see the pain in his face. He moved slowly, carefully—everything hurt. And yet Timothy was willing to endure this pain for one reason: the advancement of the gospel. This kind of sacrifice is what the Apostle Paul often spoke of, which is summed up:
- (Gal. 2:20 ESV) I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
- Timothy’s willingness to suffer personal pain shows us what it means to lay down comfort for the cause of Christ.
- But what do we do when change affects us personally? I always tell the same joke:
- “How many Christians does it take to change a light bulb?”
- “Change??”
- We don’t like it! We get comfortable in our routines and traditions. But here’s the thing: if we’re not careful, those routines become empty religious exercises—comfortable but spiritually stagnant. In my own life, I’ve found that God often disrupts my comfort zone to stretch me, grow me, and keep me dependent on Him. Change isn’t always easy, but it’s frequently necessary for our spiritual maturity. So the question becomes: Are we willing to embrace discomfort for the sake of growth and the gospel? Like Timothy, are we willing to say yes, even when it costs us?
D. The Fruit of the Decision (Acts 16:4-5)
- (Acts 16:6 ESV) So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.
- I think we must ask ourselves what the goal of our ministry is. Is it personal comfort? Or is it for the furtherance of His kingdom?
III. Acts 16:6-10—Direction in Leadership
A. The Apostle Paul’s Misperception.
- As we have seen, the purpose of this mission initially was to visit the churches they planted on the first missionary journey (Acts 15:36). Somewhere along the way, God had put it on his heart to expand the work. But as he stepped out in faith, the Holy Spirit forbade him from going into Asia and Bithynia. How the Holy Spirit forbade him is not recorded. The critical fact is that the missionary team realized it was the Holy Spirit. I probably would have thought it was the enemy trying to hinder the spreading of the gospel.
- At this point, you must wonder what the team was thinking.
- Maybe some thought things would’ve been different if Barnabas had remained the leader.
- Transitions in leadership are never easy—especially in the church. It’s incredibly difficult to follow in the footsteps of a beloved pastor. At Friends Church, whenever I speak with someone who has been here for many years, one name always comes up: Pastor Wayne Ikes. He is one of those rare men of God whose impact is lasting—the kind of leader whose shoes feel impossible to fill. I had the privilege of meeting him when Pastor Aaron and I were headed to a pastor’s meeting in Canton. We decided to stop by and say hello to Pastor Wayne. Two hours later, we finally left—we were late to our meeting, but we had our own pastor’s meeting with Pastor Wayne. He shared wisdom, encouragement, and a deep love for the church. I’ll never forget how he looked at Pastor Aaron and told him to lead boldly, as God directs. He acknowledged that some people might leave, but he also expressed confidence that the church would not only survive—but thrive—under Pastor Aaron’s leadership. It was a powerful moment of affirmation, reminding us that the measure of a great pastor isn’t just how well he leads, but how well he blesses those who come after him.
- Maybe some were secretly hoping the Apostle Paul would fail.
- Let’s be honest—sometimes we wrestle with those same feelings. There are moments when we secretly hope a leader stumbles—not because it’s right, but because we’re jealous, or because their decisions affected us personally. That kind of reaction doesn’t come from the Spirit—but from the flesh. And I know, because I’ve battled with jealousy in ministry. When we first went to Eastern Europe for the church planting mission, I was teamed up with two other guys. One was built like Tarzan, the other like Conan—and both were surfers, worship leaders, and seasoned ministers. They could preach, lead worship, and draw a crowd. Me? I joke that I can only play the radio. I felt like Barney Rubble trying to do kingdom work with two superheroes! But it was in that season that God taught me an important lesson: how to rejoice when others succeed. Ministry isn’t a competition—it’s a calling. And when one part of the Body thrives, we all win.
- (Rom. 12:15 ESV) Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
- Learning to celebrate others’ victories—even when they surpass us—is a mark of maturity, humility, and Christlike love.
B. The Apostle Paul’s Clarity (Acts 16:9-10)
- The Holy Spirit gave the Apostle Paul a vision at night of a man in Macedonia asking for help. This is the open door that the Lord gave them. The team sought the Lord, and they finally received the specific direction that the Apostle Paul had in his heart.
- (Rev. 3:7-8 ESV) 7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens. 8 I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut.
- This is what the Apostle Paul and the missionary team were experiencing. The Spirit was shutting one door that they couldn’t open and opening another door for them to walk through. But it was going to take faith!
- There are times when Christian leaders sense a new direction but don’t yet have all the specifics. They step out in faith, trusting the leading of the Holy Spirit—but not every step goes as planned. Some efforts may seem to fall flat or even fail. But here’s the truth: God honors faith, even when it feels uncertain. As leaders continue to seek the Lord, He is faithful to guide, correct, and realign them with the path He has prepared. We walk by faith, not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7), and sometimes the detours are just part of God’s process of shaping both the leader and the vision.
- (Eph. 3:20-21 ESV) 20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
- This truth applies both to our church and to our personal lives. God has a specific plan for Friends Church, one that we are prayerfully and patiently seeking to discover. We may not see the full picture yet, but we believe He is leading us step by step. Likewise, God has a unique plan for each individual believer. Our responsibility is to seek Him diligently, trusting that He will reveal His will in His time. As Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us,
- (Jer. 29:11 ESV) For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
