Do you remember just two weeks ago when we learned that the Christian Pharisees were bringing division into the Church of Antioch? They were trying to bring extra Jewish rules for the non-Jewish Christians to follow.
However, then we witnessed the victorious moment when the leaders of the Church of Jerusalem corrected the confusion, showed love, and brought unity.
Then, the Church in Antioch was blessed and encouraged. And, they never had any problems ever again. Well, of course, all of that is true, except for the last part.
Today, we’re going to learn that division would arise in the Church in Antioch from two very unlikely sources.
You see, here’s the reality about the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ: stuff happens.
Churches are full of people, and people are weird, fickle, sensitive, offensive, scared, confused, selfish, crazy, and more.
People are also kind, loving, encouraging, generous, brave, bold, and more.
You get both, don’t you? You get the blessings of people in the church, and you also get the challenges of people in the church.
One of the best parts of church is the people. So also, one of the most challenging parts of church is the people.
So, we see some more division today in the Church of Antioch, but we also see how God worked through that division and actually multiplied the amount of ministry that would be accomplished.
Today’s sermon is entitled “Multiplication Through Division.”
Let’s go to the Lord in prayer and see how He works through this sermon today.
(prayer)
Ok, let’s look at the passage together and then see what God is saying to us.
Look at Acts 15:36–41:
After some time had passed, Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit the brothers and sisters in every town where we have preached the word of the Lord and see how they’re doing.” Barnabas wanted to take along John who was called Mark. But Paul insisted that they should not take along this man who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone on with them to the work. They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed off to Cyprus. But Paul chose Silas and departed, after being commended by the brothers and sisters to the grace of the Lord. He traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
Ok, first, let’s point out that . . .
I. The church will go through division.
Now, there are a lot of people here like me, in the sense that you have not been at this church your entire life.
I’m blessed to have been at this church for seven years next month. However, I’ve not been here forever.
Even since I’ve been here, we’ve seen some minor divisions in our church. Those of you have been a part of any church for any extended period of time know that divisions happen; disagreements happen; difficulties happen.
Some of you who have been here longer than I experienced a major division a little over eight years ago.
Division hurts, doesn’t it? Division is tough on a church, isn’t it?
However, division happens in churches from time to time.
Well, let’s talk about the division that was taking place in this passage.
We learn in verse 36 that Paul and Barnabas planned to go back to the churches in the towns where they had completed their previous missions and church planting work.
However, there was an issue: Barnabas wanted to take John Mark, and Paul did not want to take John Mark.
Now, here’s a few things to remember about the situation:
First, Paul didn’t want to take John Mark because he left their group early in the previous journey. We must remember that did, in fact, happen. We learned way back in Acts 13:13: “Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia, but John left them and went back to Jerusalem.”
Another big factor is this: we learn in Colossians 4:10 that Barnabas and John Mark were cousins.
So, Paul doesn’t want to take John Mark, but John Mark is family to Barnabas.
Of course, anytime family gets involved, it gets complicated, right?
So, we have a complication at hand, and we have some division starting to arise.
Verse 38 says, “Paul insisted that they should not take along this man . . .”
Paul wasn’t having it; he did not want to take John Mark.
Now, generally, Paul seemed to be very zealous and confident in his position. He was not one to easily compromise.
Barnabas, however, was known as the “Son of Encouragement.” Perhaps he was more understanding of John Mark’s situation.
So, the two did not agree.
Verse 39 says, “They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company . . . ”
Paul and Barnabas experienced division! Can you believe it‽
Barnabas was the one who introduced Paul to the apostles and spoke of his genuine conversion.
Barnabas and Paul traveled on multiple journeys together to speak about and defend the gospel.
Barnabas and Paul were the poster children for the missions work of the Church of Antioch.
Now, these two are experiencing division.
Church, we do not yet live in a perfect world. There will be challenges. There will be conflict. There will be division in the church.
They had division then, and churches will have division today.
Next, we learn that . . .
II. God will work through division.
This is what I mean by “multiplication through division.”
Did Paul and Barnabas simply cancel their continued missionary journey?
Absolutely not! Instead, they took two missionary journeys.
Look at the end of verse 39. It says, “Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed off to Cyprus.”
Then, we learn in verses 40 and 41, “But Paul chose Silas and departed, after being commended by the brothers and sisters to the grace of the Lord. He traveled through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.”
There was genuine conflict. There was genuine division. There was likely genuine emotions involved. Yet, there was also genuine blessing from God.
Check out this map, church: Here’s Antioch. Instead of one missionary journey, there were now two. You have Barnabas and John Mark going this way, and you have Paul and Silas going this way.
God brought multiplication through division.
Not only did God multiply their journeys, but He also multiplied the number of missionaries.
Now, Silas is involved in Paul’s missionary journeys. You may remember Silas as one of the representatives sent up from the Church in Jerusalem after the Jerusalem Council. Now, Silas is joining Paul on missionary journeys.
There was division, but God was definitely at work in the midst of the division.
You might think, “Wait a minute, Pastor Matt! How could God be at work in stuff like this? Sometimes, people do sinful things, wrong things, and crazy things. How is God working through these situations?”
Well, we must recognize that God is King over all things, even dysfunction and division. God can work through anything and everything for His glory!
God can make lemons into lemonade. God can make potatoes into potato salad. God can turn broken dishes into a beautiful mosaic. God can turn division into multiplication.
What’s beautifully crazy is that God can still do a wonderful work even when the division is difficult.
Do people make sinful choices? Absolutely. Do people make unwise decisions? Absolutely. Do people cause harm and hurt? Absolutely. Can God still work through the dysfunction? Absolutely.
Let us be encouraged by the words of the Apostle Paul elsewhere, when he said in Romans 8:28, “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”
God will work through division.
Finally, . . .
III. Time will heal division.
There are two ways that time will heal division. The first is in this life and the second is in the next life.
Those who are familiar with the story of John Mark and Paul will recall that there is evidence to indicate that Paul and John Mark later patched things up.
Consider Colossians 4:10, which I mentioned earlier. In it, Paul says, “Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you greetings, as does Mark, Barnabas’s cousin (concerning whom you have received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him).”
Further, Paul says in 2 Timothy 4:11, “Bring Mark with you, for he is useful to me in the ministry.”
Both Colossians and 2 Timothy were written after the time described here, in Acts 15. So, it appeared that through time, the division between Paul and John Mark was healed.
Also, 1 Corinthians 9:6 indicates that Paul and Barnabas later served together again as well.
So, time can heal divisions in the immediate future of this life on earth.
Our opinions may change. We may realize that we were wrong about something. Someone else may realize that they were wrong about something. Things that once mattered won’t seem to matter anymore. God may change our hearts towards people. Through time, God may heal disunity on this earth.
Some of you may be thinking right now, “Pastor Matt . . . you don’t understand! Time has not healed my hurt. Time has not healed the disunity that I’m facing. Things are not getting easier. How will time heal my situation?”
Oh, precious child of God. Have you so quickly forgotten the words of our Lord in John 14:3: “If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also.”
Or, have you forgotten the promise of Revelation 21:4: “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.”
There will come a time when Jesus will come to receive His own, and at that time, He will make all things right.
What time does not heal in this life, God will heal in the next life. That time will come when He is ready.
Be sure of this: There will be no division in God’s glorious kingdom to come. There’ll be no fights. There’ll be no gossip. There’ll be no disgruntled church members. There’ll be no lackluster pastors. There’ll be no church splits. There will only be joy, and love, and peace, and worship, and glory given to God.
Church, let this bottom line summarize what we are learning here today:
Bottom Line: Though divisions may come, the mission of God will go on.
This division we read about in Acts 15 did not stop the mission of God. In fact, as we’ve already pointed out, God multiplied the scope of the ministry of Paul and Barnabas.
Division did not stop the mission of God then, and it will not stop the mission of God today.
Evil will not prevail against the mission of God. Division will not prevail against the mission of God. Nothing will prevail against the mission of God.
To be clear, individual local churches may come and go. But the mission of God, carried out through His Church, will not fail.
Challenge yourself this week in this one way:
Weekly Challenge #1 – Stay committed to the mission.
Are you committed to the mission of God? Are you all in?
Don’t get sidetracked by division. Don’t get sidetracked by negativity, hurt, or conflict. Commit to the mission.
Ask God to help you forgive. Ask others to forgive you. Prioritize what’s most important. Help your brothers and sisters in Christ stay focused. Help your pastors stay focused.
The mission is too important, and God is too powerful for us to be sidetracked by division.
Let’s commit to the mission. Challenge yourself this week to do so.
(Gospel presentation)
(closing prayer)
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