GIVEN TO THE LORD,

UNRESOLVED CONFLICTS PRODUCE

BLESSINGS

ACTS 15: 36 – 16: 5

THE STORY:

• Chapter 15’s Jerusalem Council concluded – letter to the non-Jewish

believers written and sent with Barnabas and Paul to Antioch and etc.

• Paul and Barnabas ready to go on their 2

Missionary Journey – CONFLICT:

Barnabas wants John Mark to go with them. Paul does not! The argument

becomes so “sharp” v39 that Barnabas takes John Mark to Cyprus and Paul

takes Silas on Paul’s 2

Journey. First conflict…unresolved…

• As they travel through Syria, they share the Jerusalem letter/decision and

the churches are greatly encouraged.

• While in Lystra, Paul & Silas

meet Timothy.

• Timothy is recognized as a

“disciple” – spiritually mature &

young leader

• Mother, Jewish, a strong

Christian

• Father, Greek, no mention of

spiritual life

• Paul circumcises Timothy – 2

conflict…

WHAT IS PAUL DOING? BEHAVIOR CONFLICTS WITH WHAT

WAS DECIDED IN JERUSALEM!?

• Two basic ways of responding to conflict: “fight” or “flight”

• Paul and Barnabas: definitely a fight that seemed unresolved

• Paul and team with Timothy: a “flight” response or a preventative

action. They knew everyone in the region knew Timothy’s dad was

Greek and the Jews were stirring “issues” against Timothy. Circumcision

opened doors for Timothy that would not have been if he remained

uncircumcised. (52ad)

• This was not circumcision for salvation, this was removing a cultural

block that opened doors for Timothy to minister freely

TIMOTHY

• I Tim 1: Lois = Grandmother and Eunice =

mother… Godly Christian women

• One of three men Paul called “spiritual son”

• I Cor 16 tells us Timothy is timid and a bit

reserved (quiet natured)

• Paul advises him to take care of his stomach

issues (“sickly”)

• Becomes the Pastor of the Church at

Ephesus

• Is stoned and beaten at 80+ years old in 97

ad in Ephesus

JOHN MARK OR MARK

• Mary (the owner of the home where Jesus had the Last Supper/

Passover Feast) – his mother

• Tradition says he is the young man/boy running in the woods when

Jesus was arrested

• This is the same home where Peter goes after the angel releases him

from prison

• Barnabas’ younger cousin

• After the argument between Paul and Barnabas, Barnabas takes John

Mark to Cyprus ( Barnabas’ home)

• Barnabas is martyred on Cyprus and John Mark goes to Ephesus

• Tradition has Peter and John Mark reuniting –

now called Mark (perhaps because the

Apostle John was also a part of the Ephesus

church)

• John Mark becomes the secretary for Peter –

the Gospel of Mark is this Mark

• In Colossians, Paul requests to have Mark join

him because he (Mark) is valuable to the

kingdom

• Ministered in N. Africa (Alexandria) where he

was dragged by a horse by the neck through

the city until he was dead… 68 ad

(approximately 2 years before Paul was

beheaded)

GIVEN TO THE LORD,

UNRESOLVED CONFLICTS PRODUCE BLESSINGS

• Did Paul and Barnabas (beloved friends/brothers) ever meet on

earth again? No… And we never hear of the men ruining each

other’s name…though unresolved…it was given to God

• Both men continued to serve the Lord in obedience – giving

their all, committed to Christ

• Timothy and John Mark were results of different options of

conflict resolution: Fight or Flight (move on)

• How you process conflicts will either bless or keep the wound

open… before the Lord: your choice…