Study Guide
Acts, Part 11 / Conflict / Acts 15:1-31
In Acts 15, the early church faces a significant conflict as Jewish and Gentile believers disagree about what is required for salvation. What begins as a serious theological dispute becomes an opportunity for the church to model how followers of Jesus can handle disagreement in a way that honors God and protects the unity of the church. By addressing the issue directly, seeking wise counsel, and ultimately turning to God’s Word and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the leaders arrive at a solution that preserves the truth of the gospel and strengthens the church. This passage reminds us that when conflict is handled God’s way, it can lead to deeper unity and encouragement among believers.
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Icebreakers
- If you had to replace your hands with something from the kitchen, what would you choose? (Spatulas, whisks, tongs, etc.)
- What’s one small thing from your week that brought you joy or made you smile?
Read Acts 15:1-31
Discuss It
In Acts 15, the church was faced with a difficult situation. Some people came down from Judea and claimed that in order to be a Chrisitan, you had to be circumcised. How would you figure out whether the disagreement is an ‘important issue’ that needs to be addressed, or just a matter of personal preference? What would be the best way to handle it so it doesn’t turn into a larger conflict?
Additional Thought
Imagine your church is trying to make a decision about something seemingly minor (coffee type, worship styles, Bible translations, etc.) but it turns into a bigger problem. Usually this is where disagreements escalate…when we have differing opinions and fight as though it’s the only truth. However, when we look at how Paul and Barnabas handled their problem, they took time to discern that the heart of the conflict was something much deeper than mere opinions. Discernment helps us separate what must be addressed from what we can respectfully disagree about.
Additional Scripture
Proverbs 18:13 (CSB) "Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish."
Additional Question
Looking at this scenario in Acts 15 and Proverbs 18:13, can you think of a time when you paused (or should have) to discern the real issue under the disagreement? How did understanding the heart of the problem help (or would have helped) change the situation?
Acts 15 shows the early church following several steps when conflict arose: discern the issue, address it directly, bring in wise counsel, let God’s Word guide the decision, and invite the Holy Spirit into the process. Looking at these steps, which do you think is the most important, and why? Are there any steps that seem unnecessary or that you would change the order?
Additional Thought
In this passage, Paul and Barnabas had to defend the gospel boldly, yet they did so with care and respect. Truth without grace can be harsh and divisive, while grace without truth can drift into compromise. Healthy, Spirit-led conflict resolution requires both: truth to protect the gospel and grace to protect relationships. The early church models how both are essential for keeping unity and remaining a faithful witness.
Additional Scripture
Ephesians 4:15 (CSB) “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.”
Additional Question
Speaking truth and modeling grace are both essential in resolving conflict. Which do you think is harder for you to practice in conflict and why? Can you imagine a situation where leaning too much toward one over the other could actually harm God’s people or witness?
If we view Jesus as the perfect example of what it means to live peaceably with God and our neighbors, then He also serves as the ultimate model for how to handle conflict with others. Can you think of any examples of Jesus in conflict with others? What can we learn from Him on how he modeled it for us?
Additional Thought
Jesus also entered into the ultimate conflict between God and humanity, because of sin, by bringing peace through His own sacrifice on the cross. Every time we take communion, we proclaim together God’s willingness to resolve conflict by taking the first step to restore what was broken by our own missteps.
Additional Scripture
Read Acts 11:23-26 (NIV)
Additional Question
How does communion speak to God’s willingness to resolve our conflict with Him? How do both the juice and the bread speak to the different aspects of our broken relationship with Him?
Apply It
Acts 15:30-31
Conflict is inevitable but how we respond matters. Acts 15 shows us how to step into conflict with intentionality, discernment and grace. Paul and Barnabas didn’t avoid the conflict but they also didn’t come in "guns blazing.” They sought wise counsel and relied on God’s Word to help find a solution. The solution was unity, joy and one that ultimately honored God and His church.
Identify one conflict in your life, ministry, or group (big or small) that you’ve been tempted to avoid or “just get through.” Take one intentional step to handle it God’s way. Step into the conflict with purpose, and watch God use it to bring peace and encouragement instead of division.
Pray
How can we be praying for you this week?
About the Current Sermon Series
The book of Acts tells the story of how the exalted Christ sends His Spirit to empower His people to continue His work in the world. Through the Spirit’s power, ordinary believers boldly proclaim the gospel, witness miraculous works, and form vibrant communities that embody God’s welcome to all people. Acts traces how the church’s witness, energized by the Spirit, extends from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth, revealing Christ’s ongoing work through His people and the Spirit’s leading in every new challenge and opportunity.