Breaking Through by Brett DavisSample

Breakthrough Five: Order Out of Chaos

Acts 15:1–28

It’s a crowded line-up – but there are lots of waves, and if people actually waited their turn, there would be enough for everyone.

Yet order has broken down and chaos reigns! People snaking others, tempers flaring, the odd drop in… and more. Some are giving up; others are arcing up. Unless some order is restored, these beautiful waves are lost. What a shame, what a waste!

We are messy people and maintaining community is hard work. Any group will go through seasons of conflict and uncertainty. But God brings order out of the chaos that keeps people out of His family.

The early Church experienced chaos and disorder in Acts 15:1–28. When false teachers began leading people astray, Paul and Barnabas knew they had a fight on their hands…

Chaos Comes

Even after some of the localism was dealt with on one level, it returned. The new Jesus followers are now confronted with old-school rules about having to look like Jews to be God’s people. That somehow trusting Jesus alone was not enough – it became “Jesus plus." That “plus” was circumcision, and I can appreciate it was causing them some pain! But a whole lot of confusion and conflict was also emerging.

Chaos Confronted

When community is disrupted, the conflict must be dealt with – it can’t be left to fester or grow. So Paul and Barnabas took their report to the most influential leaders of the new Church. I’m sure the opposing view was also presented – that the “old school” needed to be preserved. The debate would’ve raged on. No point letting it lie – there’s too much at stake.

Chaos Resolved

It’s great that God’s approval was the deciding fact – that if God Himself had shown His support by giving His Spirit, then human leaders and structures better get behind this. A breakthrough is made! A conflict is resolved.

What a relief that the answer confirmed that Jesus was enough.

Best of all, Jesus is still enough – and always will be – for you and me today!

Thanks for surfing through some of the breakthroughs in the book of Acts through this plan. It was written to help you walk more closely with your tribe. Because, if breakthroughs in your surfing are great, even better are breakthroughs as we follow Jesus together in community.

Reflection

Are you thrown when your Christian community has conflict or differences of opinion?

What is your default when it comes to resolving conflict, and is it helpful?

What a gift it is to process the conflict rather than avoid it or blow up over it. It’s worth bringing order out of chaos, and good leaders will work on strategies to do this. Will you be part of this solution?

Jesus is enough, and we must fight for this truth and not add burdens to people. Do you believe this?

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