Today we are reading Acts 15. In this chapter we read about the First Jerusalem Council. “The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “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. And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”” Acts 15:6-11 ESV Imagine you were invited to a new church. As soon as you enter, you are told that you have to change your hairstyle, diet, etc. Would you join that church?? The Jewish believers were want the Gentile converts to follow all the Jewish laws. This became a huge problem and the council was held to resolve the issue. How did those who gathered treat each other? This story is a good example of how to dialogue with those we disagree with. Who sores to mind when you think of disagreement? May God give you the courage to resolve your differences. Pastor Tim
