Small Shifts, Big Faith: The Argument of the Early Church (Part VII)

Sermon Title: Small Shifts, Big Faith – The Early Church Argument

Good News Statement: Jesus encourages his church to be alive

Summary: The church isn’t perfect but yet is willing to grow in faith, practice love, and be alive today and tomorrow.

Preached: Sunday, July 26^th, 2026 at Dogwood Prairie UMC & Seed Chapel UMC

Pastor Daniel G. Skelton, M.Div.

 

Scripture (NRSVUE): Acts 15:36-41 Today’s scripture passage comes from the Book of Acts. In this specific passage, Paul and Barnabas separate after a disagreement concerning Mark, who went off on his own without giving Paul a reason why. In this disagreement, we learn that even in times of argument there are new perspectives and possibilities as individuals and as a church. Our scripture reading comes from the Book of Acts Chapter Fifteen, Verses Thirty-six thru Forty-one. May the hearing and understanding of this scripture add a blessing to your life?

 

Paul and Barnabas Separate

³⁶ After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Come, let us return and visit the brothers and sisters in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” ³⁷ Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. ³⁸ But Paul decided not to take with them one who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work. ³⁹ The disagreement became so sharp that they parted company; Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. ⁴⁰ But Paul chose Silas and set out, the brothers and sisters commending him to the grace of the Lord. ⁴¹ He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

 

 

This is the Word of God for the People of God; And all God’s people said, “Thanks be to God.”

 

 

Introduction:

The ministry of Jesus Christ has been shared. Healings have been performed. The blind were able to see and the lame able to walk. Those demon possessed were set free. The chains of the oppressed were broken. People began to believe and prayed to have their “unbelief turn into belief” (Mark 9:24). Some were even raised from the dead to breathe again. And some were welcomed home after being outcast to the dark, damp, tombs outside of the city walls.

Then, after riding into Jerusalem on a never before ridden donkey and being praised as the people laid their cloaks on the ground as shouts of “Hosannas” filled the air, Jesus is turned over to the religious leaders of the day. Jesus is questioned and tortured by the Roman soldiers—beaten nearly to death—prior to receiving a crown of thorns and a purple robe as a sign of earthly mockery. He was presented to the people in the presence of Pontius Pilate, who said, “But what crime has he committed? I cannot find anything he has done to deserve death! I will have him whipped and set him free” (Luke 23:22, GNT). To which the people responded, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” (Luke 23:20, GNT). Luke 23:24 states, “So Pilate passed the sentence on Jesus that they were asking for.”

Jesus is marched from the palace to Calvary, bearing the weight of the cross—most likely the horizontal beam—as excruciating pain shot through his body with every step, as blood dripped from his head to the ground, soaking the dirty road beneath his feet, and as both cries and shouts surrounded him. On Calvary, he hung on the cross for six hours before taking his last breath and proclaiming “It is finished” (John 19:30). Then he was taken down from the cross and laid in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. Three days later he rose from the dead to prove that death does not have the last word, that a tomb sealed by a large stone could not withhold him, and that an instrument of death—the cross—is a promise of hope and salvation. And now, after 40 days of walking this earth in his resurrected form, he has ascended to heaven; but before leaving this earth, he gave his apostles and disciples a challenge: to keep the church alive.

This is where the Book of Acts comes into play. For those that are unaware, the Book of Acts (or sometimes called the Acts of the Apostles), written during the time of 33AD to 62AD, is a sequel to the Gospel of Luke. Luke was a physician back in the day and has been credited to write the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts. The theme of Luke’s writing after the ascension of Jesus Christ is focused on how the Holy Spirit empowers believers to declare the gospel among both Jews and Gentiles. In doing so they establish the church, which is the fulfillment of God’s promises from the beginning of time. Jesus states in Matthew 16:18, “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

Luke’s purpose for writing the Book of Acts—the journey and testimony of Paul and the rise and growth of the early church—was to give an orderly account of the early church after Christ’s resurrection; and to highlight the notion that keeping the church alive was not, is not, and will not be easy. But keeping the church alive is necessary. So, for the next several weeks, we are going to explore certain themes sprinkled throughout the Book of Acts which I believe remind us of how important it is to keep the church alive today for tomorrow. And the question I propose to you is this: “What are we doing and could be doing to keep our church and the whole Church—the body of Christ—alive?”

Body:

How many of you have ever found yourself in an argument or disagreement? How many of you remember who you last argued with and why you argued with them? At some point in your life, whether you want to admit this or not, you have all found yourself in some sort of argument with someone or something. I include myself in those words. I can remember numerous arguments with my siblings growing up. Some of those arguments involved the throwing of game system controllers and television remotes and charging at my siblings ready to fight them, as if my six-year-old self was going to win a fight against siblings who are eight, twelve, and fourteen years older than me. Sometimes my arguments resulted in being grounded, sent to my room. I remember during a baseball game listening to my coaches argue with the umpire over a questionable play. One of my coaches was ejected and so were some of the parents. I quickly learned while playing baseball that arguing with the coaches once in a while required one to sit on the bench for the remaining of the game. Growing up, I argued with my parents, assuming, as a teenager, that I knew everything and they didn’t know anything. Have any of you every found yourself in an argument?

A simple Google search will prove that people argue and disagree all the time. Here’s a list of six most popular topics: Inadequate Attention or Affection,[1] Jealousy and Infidelity,[2] Chores and Responsibilities,[3] Control and Dominance,[4] Future Plans and Money,[5]  and Values, Beliefs, and Attitudes.[6] The point: every single one of us here have found ourselves in some sort of argument and disagreement with a sibling, with a parent, with a significant other, with a relative, with a friend, with someone in this church, with someone in this community, with ourselves over the previously mentioned categories or something else. But the questions I invite you to ponder today are this: “How do you deal with conflict? and How does the church deal with conflict?”

 

Movement One: The Reality of “Great Church Fights”

Arguments and conflicts are not just a present day attribute of everyday living that we struggle with. They have been part of history ever since God made the heavens and the earth, ever since God made Adam and Eve. However, we often fall into the trap of thinking that those in the Bible, specifically the church, those heavily anointed—set aside—by God, never argued, never lost their temper, and never made a mistake. For some reason we forget about David’s will to steal the wife of Uriah, the excuses of Moses, the fleeing of Jonah, the doubtfulness of Jeremiah, the lack of hope of Isaiah, the fear of Ruth, the ruthlessness of Jacob to fight with God, and the less than adequate faith of the disciples. Every single prophet and disciple at some point in their walk with God encountered an argument, conflict, and disagreement that tested their faith. We are no different and neither is the church.

In Acts 15:36-41, we are presented with the very real and messy truth about the early church. Two spiritual giants, Paul and Barnabas, have what the Bible calls a “sharp disagreement”. It’s the classic “mission vs. mercy” debate. Paul is focused on the mission—he needs reliable soldiers because they are going into hostile, dangerous territory. He remembers that John Mark deserted them during their first journey as shared in Acts 13:13 and views him as a liability. Barnabas is focused on mercy and discipleship. His name literally means “Son of Encouragement,” and he wants to give the young John Mark a second chance. Neither man was inherently “evil.” Both had justifiable motives. But their approaches were so fundamentally different that they parted ways. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus, while Paul chose Silas and went through Syria and Cilicia. This great argument of the early church caused separation.

As the early church was growing, the church was also fighting pushback from certain groups such as the Pharisees and Sadducees regarding certain practices and laws. Some of the concern stemmed from circumcision, food sacrifices, what one was allowed and not allowed to eat, working on the Sabbath, and other Jewish laws related to purification. The Pharisees believed that the laws of the day—specifically the Jewish laws—were the only means to living a righteous life. Those of the early church understood the importance of these laws but they didn’t necessarily believe that the observance of these laws is what would actually allow one to be saved and forgiven of their sins. Hence, the arguments of the early church.

In Acts chapter fifteen, we see the external conflict happening—law verse belief—but we also get a glimpse of an internal conflict. We must remember that as the early church was forming and growing, it not only was fighting the world, but it was fighting itself: doing its best to reflect the love and purpose of Christ within all of its leaders. After studying this scripture, I believe this text offers us four takeaways regarding the arguments of the early church that we can harness today as we seek for our church to be alive tomorrow, especially in its conflicts. We see that godly people disagree, avoid demonizing the other side, God multiplies what we divide, and trust in the process.

 

Movement Two: Even the Godliest of People Disagree…

If you know anything about church history, you will know that the church today was not formed on a straight and narrow path. For example during the first hundred and fifty years the Methodist Movement dealt with issues surrounding slavery and racial segregation which lead to church splits forming the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Prior to those conflicts, Martin Luther established his 95 Theses opposing the Catholic Church in 1517; therefore, starting a conflict with the Pope during the Reformation period. Prior to that in 1054, theological, linguistic, and political disagreements fractured the Church into the Roman Catholic Church in the west and the Eastern Orthodox Church in the East. And prior to that in 325AD, Roman Emperor Constantine I, held the first Council of Nicaea which rejected Arianism—which argued that Jesus was a created being rather than divine—established the date of Easter to be on the first Sunday following the first moon after Spring, issued twenty canonical laws[7], and formally introduced the Nicene Creed. For over 1,700 years, the church has dealt with arguments, conflicts, and disagreements; and what each of those arguments had in common was the reality that faithful people—godly people—were involved.

It is important to understand that disagreement itself is not a sin; it is a natural part of human relationships. If you put two passionate, dedicated people in a room, you will eventually find two different opinions which is what has been happening for centuries across the spectrum of the church: Godly, faithful, people have gathered to share their opinions regarding the present nature and future hope of the church. But their disagreement doesn’t make them a sinner. It makes them passionate about what they believe in. This is what we see in our text today: two Godly and faithful people seeking to pursue what they believe in and what is best for the church in the present time so that it can have a future tomorrow.

In the original Greek text, the phrase for “sharp disagreement”—as in “[Paul and Barnabas] had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company” (Acts 15:39)—is paroxysmos (par-ox—ees-mose), from which we get our English word for a sudden outburst or fit. It implies an intense, heated, and emotional contention. It was not a quiet, polite difference of opinion between Paul and Barnabas. These two men—the fiery apostle Paul and the compassionate discipler Barnabas—locked horns. This is incredibly liberating for us to see. If the great Apostle Paul, who wrote much of the New Testament, and Barnabas, who introduced Paul to the apostles, could have a major blowout, then conflict doesn’t mean your faith is broken. It means you are human.

Again, an argument or conflict or disagreement doesn’t automatically mean you are a sinner. Going back to David, Moses, Jonah, Jacob, Jeremiah, and the disciples—all godly people and chosen by God to do wonderful things, argued with God. David fought Goliath with five stones, a sling-shot, and faith but disagreed with God’s plans when he saw Bathsheba bathing on the roof. Moses disagreed with God at first but God still chose him. Jonah tried to flee from God, but God still chose him. Jacob supposedly wrestled with God, but God still chose him. Jeremiah didn’t believe he could do what God needed him to do, but God chose him. The disciples were deemed “faithless,” but Jesus allowed them to build the early church. They all disagreed with God at some point, but they were still chosen. Their disagreement didn’t make them a sinner but rather opened the door for God to do more work in their life. Even godly people encounter disagreements.

Psychology Today says, “Arguments can be good things to have because they can be an important form of communication and a way to better understand the situation.” Paul and Barnabas, much like the church, although in disagreement, came to understand the situation: Paul wanted someone he could trust and Barnabas was willing to administer second chances. No matter how hard we attempt to avoid arguments and disagreements, they will happen. However, we can’t let those arguments dwindle our faith but remind us that they can strengthen our faith. Which is also true of the church: the church encounters disagreements not to harm the people but to understand the needs of the people and the potential of the church. Even churches, like godly people, undergo moments of disagreements to remind us of what God is calling us to do.

 

Movement Three: We Must Avoid Demonizing the Other Side…

The second lesson this text teaches us is that we must not demonize or blame the other side. Going back to my days of arguing with my siblings, I see know that most of the arguments that we had were based on one of us blaming the other of doing something wrong. There was a grounding of disagreement but the foundation was blaming. I blamed one of my brothers for not letting me play his PlayStation. I blamed my brothers for not letting me win in kickball. I blamed my sister for getting me a bike that made me fall. Truth be told, I didn’t really know the disagreement: all I knew was that it was never my fault.

When we are in a conflict, our humanness naturally wants to make the other person the “villain.” But looking closely at this text, both Paul and Barnabas had a point. Paul doesn’t agree with Mark’s behavior nor his decision of leaving for Jerusalem without telling him. Paul is quick to point out that at some point, Mark deserted the group to do his own thing and had chosen not to continue in the work at hand. Therefore, Paul doesn’t believe that Mark is worthy to help him with growing the church. Paul is blaming Mark for a failure that he doesn’t fully understand. However, Paul was right: the work was grueling, and they needed individuals who could endure suffering without looking back and walking away.

Needless to say, Barnabas was also right: people do not grow if they are never given a second chance. Barnabas understood that what Mark did wasn’t ideal, but Mark didn’t deserve to be demonized or blamed for what took place. If you noticed in our text, we aren’t told exactly why Mark departed and went his own way. What we do know is that Mark returned, was blamed, ridiculed, and ignored but was also given a second chance. We live a time where blaming is easier than listening, where blaming is easier than understanding, where blaming is preferred if it takes the attention off of us. Paul blamed Mark because Mark didn’t do what Paul wanted. Barnabas was accepting Mark for what he could do in the future.[8]

The more I think about this situation, the more I think about the possibility that Paul’s blaming is a result of his lack of trust in Mark. No matter if Mark had apologized, no matter if Mark had come to terms with his mistakes, no matter if Mark made a plea deal and promised to not do this again, Paul can’t see past his mistakes. Paul will always see Mark as the problem and never as a solution. Paul will never be willing to give Mark a second chance. Paul will always have a grudge against Mark. Paul will always blame Mark. No matter how hard Mark tried to prove himself, Paul will never trust him. It’s interesting to note that Paul lived everyday trying to correct his past—praying that people would forget about the person he used to be—and here he cannot let the past of Mark go away. Paul can’t trust Mark. What does it take for us to trust someone? How hard do we have to pursue ourselves before we are trusted? Why is it that our past is what tells someone if they can or cannot trust us?

You know, I feel sorry for Mark. Maybe what he decided to do in the past is what was needed in order to make him a better person in the present, but Paul didn’t care. Maybe he realized that he made a mistake and is looking for forgiveness, but Paul wasn’t willing to accept his apology. Maybe he longed for a second chance, but Paul wasn’t willing to extend a do over. Maybe he simply wanted to be heard and be given a chance to explain himself, but Paul didn’t want to listen. Maybe he just wanted to move on, but Paul put up a road block. Have you ever felt like Mark, wanting to move forward but someone repeatedly telling to get away? Have you ever been a Paul, not wanting to hear someone out? Do you know someone who has treated you like Paul treated Mark?

Unfortunately, churches today are filled with moments like this in addition to drama, arguments, conflicts, and disagreements and at times blaming others. The church sings “trust and obey” but based on current decisions lacks the practice of trust. But that is not the church that Jesus left for us to build. Jesus gave us a church that takes differing views into consideration, talks about issues, works through difficult times, extends the invite and practice of trust, and gives people second chances because that is what God does with us every day of our lives: He considers our views, talks to us, helps us through difficult times, trusts us, and gives us numerous chances to return to Him (Malachi 3:7). Is that the kind of church we are?

Yes, we want to be like Paul having faith that can move mountains and grow the church, but we don’t want to blame like Paul blamed. As easy as it was for me to blame my siblings, I learned very quickly that more often than not my blaming got me in more trouble than I would have been in if I considered the situation. Church, are we blaming anyone or anything today? Are we avoiding the opportunity to give people a second chance, to trust them? Are we resolving arguments without fully understanding the situation? Are we choosing to ignore certain differing views because we don’t want to make plans for the future? We have been called to understand and not to blame. We have been called to trust one another and not ignore one another.

 

Movement Four: God Multiplies What We Divide…

This leads us to our final point from this text: God multiplies what we divide. Sometimes our arguments and disagreements lead to new possibilities. This passage is often referred to by theologians as “multiplication through division.” It is a beautiful display of God’s sovereignty, of God’s plan coming to fruition. Paul and Barnabas split up, which means the missionary effort was suddenly doubled. Barnabas took Mark to Cyprus and discipled him, and Paul took Silas with him to continue his preaching. We later see that this investment paid off beautifully, as Paul himself eventually writes to Timothy, “Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry” (2 Timothy 4:11). John Mark went from being a “deserter”—a problem to the cause—to a trusted companion and the author of the Gospel of Mark. Meanwhile, Paul and Silas were commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord and went on to establish and strengthen churches throughout Syria and Cilicia. What started as a bitter, painful human split was ultimately used by God to advance the Gospel further and faster than before. There was multiplication through division.

Now to be clear, I’m not telling you to generate arguments because you want to multiply something. As a matter of fact, not too many arguments or disagreements lend themselves to positive outcomes. However, maybe the arguments and disagreements that we have—if we don’t let our anger and rage control us—could actually give us a new perspective. For a moment, reflect on an argument in your life that changed your life, which gave you a new perspective. Think about how frustrating that initial argument was, but how rewarding it is today. Consider how that disagreement caused stress and frustration, but now has given you some peace. Ponder the pain and hurt that that conflict generated, but how that pain and hurt have dissolved. Not every argument ends positively, but some do giving us a new perspective and new possibilities to live the life that God has planned for us (Jeremiah 29:11). I’m sure throughout the history of our church, arguments and disagreements have arose. Arguments over what ministries to support, how to spend money, what to invest in, what structural improvements need to be made and in what order, how much should we think about the future, and the list goes on. Some of those arguments may have brought ill-feelings and discouragement, but I’m sure a few of those arguments and disagreements have helped us become the church we are today—giving the church new perspectives and possibilities to multiply and share the message of Jesus Christ.

Here’s an example: On the road to Capernaum in Mark 9 and Luke 9, after the disciples argue about who is the greatest, Jesus sits them down and teaches that to be first, one must be “last of all and servant of all.” He then places a little child in their midst to demonstrate the humility required in the Kingdom of Heaven. This argument gave the disciples a perspective on being humble in the presence of others. In Matthew 20 and Mark 10, James and John, the “Sons of Thunder,” ask for the highest positions of authority to sit at Jesus’ left and right in his glory. The other ten disciples are indignant. Jesus explains that while earthly rulers “lord it over” people, true greatness in His kingdom is measured by service and giving one’s life as a ransom. An argument that sought personal authority turned out to be a message of putting others first. Lastly, during the Last Supper in Luke 22, a dispute breaks out among the disciples over who should be considered the greatest. Jesus again reminds them that the greatest should be like the youngest, and the leader like a servant, pointing to his own example of being among them as one who serves. Being considered the greatest or in today’s language, the GOAT—the Greatest Of All Time—is not as important as being one who serves others.

My point is not every argument or disagreement leads to anger, envy, hatred, or even disappointment; sometimes the arguments we have are actually to make us better people, better disciples, and a better church. When was the last time you allowed God to create new possibilities in your life from an argument? Paul and Mark divided but found a way to turn a negative into a positive for the sake of Christ’s message. Can we do the same in our church and in our life?

 

Conclusion:

It’s important to point out this settle moment in the start of the early church for a few reasons. First, it’s not too often that we hear of conflict happening between believers. But, we must remember that the apostles and disciples were humans with pasts, with histories, with stories, with struggles, with failures, and with different perspectives. I’m sure they fought or disagreed with each other on numerous occasions. Overcoming conflicts and disagreements are part of our faith. Second, the church not only deals with external conflicts but it also deals with internal conflicts. I would love to say that every church is perfect, but unfortunately that is not the case. Within every church there are struggles and disagreements, things and moments that not everyone agrees on. However, those moments don’t have to define the church but rather motivate the church to better execute the message and mission of Jesus Christ. Lastly, we need to remember that as believers and disciples we are all equals—not one of us is above the other, not one of us has the right to blame another, because we are all learning what it means and takes to carry our cross and follow Christ. If someone falls, we all fall. If someone rises, we all rise. If someone is in pain, we are all hurting. We are all one in Christ Jesus.           

God is able to bring good out of our honest disagreements, provided we handle them with grace and keep the mission of Christ at the forefront. Is there a relationship in your life right now that has been fractured by a difference of opinion, personality, or perspective? Are you holding onto bitterness over a disagreement from the past? Let the Holy Spirit search your heart today. Let go of the need to prove that you are entirely right and the other person is entirely wrong. Ask God to give you the wisdom of Paul to remain steadfast in the calling of truth, and the grace of Barnabas to offer second chances.

The early church encountered arguments and disagreements not because it wanted to, but because it needed to in order to find new perspectives and possibilities to share the message of Christ and to grow the church. As individuals and as a church, we will have arguments, we will encounter conflicts, and we will have disagreements. Will we let those arguments, conflicts, and disagreements stop us from doing what Christ needs us to do? Or will we use those arguments, conflicts, and disagreements to help us see a new opportunity to grow our faith and to keep the church alive tomorrow? Life is too short to argue and fight: make the most of each day and let God change your heart.

Let it be so…

 

 

Closing Prayer:

 Let us pray… Lord, we thank you for the raw honesty of your Word. We see that even the greatest leaders were flawed and faced deep interpersonal struggles. We ask for the grace to navigate our own conflicts without destroying one another. Give us the courage to extend grace, to forgive, and to trust that you can take our broken, divided situations and multiply them for your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

 

Benediction:

 Church, we can’t let our arguments, conflicts, and disagreements take us away from what God needs us to do. We can’t be defined by our arguments but rather motivated by the new possibilities that can arise from a disagreement. May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; and May the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace (Numbers 6:24-26). In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit go forth being the church God needs all of us to be. And all God’s people said, Amen. Amen. Amen.

 

 

 

[1] This can show up in a fight about one person saying “I love you” more often, a half-hearted hug, a forgotten anniversary, or failing to ask about your partner’s day or express appreciation.

[2] This can sound like arguments about crossed boundaries, eliciting feelings of fear, insecurity, anger, and sometimes betrayal.

[3] This shows up in arguments about division of labor in the household and feelings of unfairness around who does what and when, as well as who is responsible for keeping a mental note of what needs to get done and delegating it.

[4] Arguments around control, manipulation, freedom, and independence.

[5] This can lend itself to arguments around in-laws, where to live, whose career matters more, and work-life balance, just to name a few.

[6] This last category overlaps with all of the previous five but tends to revolve most around conversations such as religion, life goals, politics, and co-parenting.

[7] The council issued 20 canonical laws. These regulated the ordination of clergy, prohibited bishops from moving between dioceses, and organized the church into distinct patriarchal territories (like Alexandria, Antioch, and Rome).

[8] In our church communities and personal lives, we often face this same tension between absolute standards of truth and the grace required for restoration. The tragedy isn’t that Paul and Silas went one way and Barnabas and Mark went another. The tragedy is when we let our disagreements cause us to harbor bitterness, gossip, or division. The text doesn’t indicate that they stopped loving the Lord or each other; they just recognized that they could no longer work together in the same harness. Sometimes, the most mature thing two believers can do is to acknowledge their differing visions and respect one another’s calling, rather than tearing each other down.