The document summarizes lessons from Acts about how the early church addressed internal conflicts. It describes personal, cultural, and doctrinal differences that arose and the solutions found. For personal differences regarding food distribution, the church appointed seven men to oversee the work. For cultural differences about accepting Gentiles, Peter submitted to God's vision and the Holy Spirit's work. For doctrinal disputes over circumcision, church leaders studied scripture and found salvation is through faith, not works. The early church acknowledged issues, heard all sides, consulted scripture, and sought God's leading to make decisions communicated to all.

1. Lesson 7 for November 17, 2018
Adapted From www.fustero.es
www.gmahktanjungpinang.org
Galatians 3:27,28
“For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There
is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither
male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

2. Personal differences
• Acts 6:1-7
Cultural differences
• Acts 10:1-11:24
Doctrinal differences
• Acts 15:1-22
Internal conflicts are one of the greatest dangers for unity.
The early Church faced that kind of conflicts. However, they handled
and solved them in a way that the Church was more united, and the
Gospel was spread faster than before the conflict happened.
What can we learn from the early Church
to solve our internal conflicts?

3. PERSONAL DIFFERENCES: THE PROBLEM
“Now in those days, when the number of the
disciples was multiplying, there arose a
complaint against the Hebrews by the
Hellenists, because their widows were
neglected in the daily distribution.” (Acts 6:1)
Christians shared all they had with the
Church, so every personal need was covered.
There were no poor people in the Church
(Acts 4:32-34).
However, some conflicts arose after some
time. A group of people (Jews of Greek
heritage) felt that they were attended worse
than the Jews from Judea (Hebrews) were.
The apostles decided to stop this apparent
favoritism. They understood that their
evangelistic work would be seriously reduced
if they began to deal with this kind of issues.

4. PERSONAL
DIFFERENCES:
THE SOLUTION
“Therefore, brethren, seek out from
among you seven men of good
reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and
wisdom, whom we may appoint over
this business.” (Acts 6:3)
The twelve apostles called the Church to a
meeting and suggested a solution: to divide
the work in two teams; the Ministry of the
Word and the Ministry of the Tables.
The Church appointed seven men “of good
reputation” to supervise the distribution of
the food (curiously, they were of Greek
heritage).
Now more people were involved in serving
the Church and favoritisms were avoided.
The solution was based on the next
premises:
Everyone’s opinion was heard.
Responsibilities were diversified.
The Church chose the suitable people.

5. CULTURAL DIFFERENCES: THE PROBLEM
“And when Peter came up to
Jerusalem, those of the
circumcision contended with him,
saying, ‘You went in to
uncircumcised men and ate with
them!’” (Acts 11:2-3)
The Church believed that God wanted to
save only the people of Israel. In that case,
people from other cultures would be
excluded from salvation if they didn’t
become Jewish. They even refused to mix
with the Gentiles.
God intervened by sending a vision to Peter,
to persuade him to visit a Gentile’s home.
The Church in Jerusalem thought that Peter
had to be reprimanded for that “sin.”

6. CULTURAL DIFFERENCES: THE SOLUTION
“Can anyone forbid water, that
these should not be baptized who
have received the Holy Spirit just
as we have?” (Acts 10:47)
God intervened again to persuade Peter
to accept Cornelius and his family as part
of the Church. They were baptized
although they weren’t Jews and they had
not been circumcised.
The direct intervention of the Holy Spirit.
The humble submission of the Church leaders
to the Holy Spirit.
But the Church was not ready to accept the Gentiles yet. Peter had to
explain in detail to the Church leaders what had happened at Cornelius’.
The solution was based on:

7. DOCTRINAL DIFFERENCES: THE PROBLEM
“And certain men came down from Judea
and taught the brethren, ‘Unless you are
circumcised according to the custom of
Moses, you cannot be saved.’” (Acts 15:1)
The same cultural differences as in the
previous case generated discord about
the doctrine of the circumcision.
Was physical circumcision required to
be saved? Or was the circumcision of
the heart (conversion) enough to be
saved?
The Church gathered and the
Judaizers defended their doctrine
with biblical quotes.
Peter told his experience in
Cornelius’. Paul and Barnabas
defended their point by telling the
wonders God had done among the
Gentiles.
FAITH
WORKS

8. DOCTRINAL DIFFERENCES: THE SOLUTION
“For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to
us, to lay upon you no greater burden than
these necessary things.” (Acts 15:28)
The Church needed a
paradigm shift. They
needed to discard
centuries of tradition and
to read the Scriptures
under the guidance of
the Holy Spirit.
The Church leaders gathered.
Everyone explained their standpoint.
They asked for the Holy Spirit and studied the Bible.
The decision was written down.
This was difficult problem.
Salvation had to reach everyone without exceptions.
New truths arose when they read the Scriptures with
this in mind.
The steps to the solution were:

9. A GUIDE TO CONFLICT RESOLUTION
The serious conflicts in the early Church were overcome with love, unity, trust,
and a full surrender to the Word of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
What can we learn from their experience to confront the problems in the
Church today?
Conflicts need to be acknowledged and
dealt with promptly.
One or more people were appointed to
seek a solution for the problem.
The stories and opinions of those involved
on both sides of the conflict were heard.
Scripture was considered.
Evidence of the leading of God was both
presented and sought after.
The decision was communicated, along
with the reasons for the decision.

10. “If a brother is teaching error, those who are in
responsible positions ought to know it; and if
he is teaching truth, they ought to take their
stand at his side. We should all know what is
being taught among us; for if it is truth, we
need to know it. The Sabbath school teacher
needs to know it, and every Sabbath school
scholar ought to understand it. We are all
under obligation to God to understand what He
sends us… do not be so full of prejudice that
you cannot acknowledge a point simply
because it does not agree with your ideas.”
E.G.W. (Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, cp. 10, p. 110)