SANCTUARY: And the Work of the Lord Goes On
What are we to do when we experience conflict in the church or in personal relationships? Of course, we should seek to brainstorm and discern the best way forward together, but what are we to do if both parties are determined to go a different direction? In Acts 15, we see that the early church made adjustments to make room for the Gentiles, but when Paul and Barnabas could not come to a mutual agreement over taking John Mark on the second missionary journey, they parted ways. The results: There were now two mission teams instead of one; Paul elevates Silas to missionary partner and goes to places he had not been before; John Mark and Barnabas serve together and John Mark eventually writes the first Gospel. In the end, when Paul is imprisoned in Rome, he asks for John Mark to visit him. In short, the work of the Lord goes on! Sermon text: Acts 15:36-41