The epitaph of Ruth Graham, wife of Billy Graham reads “end of construction–thank you for your patience.” She saw her entire journey on earth with God as one always under construction.

The first century church has always been the reference point on how to do church the way God intended us to. In the book of Acts, we read about the phenomenal growth of the church. How united and dedicated they were to Christ’s mandate to preach the good news. Under the severest of persecution, they scattered and went everywhere but kept preaching the Gospel with signs and wonders accompanying the preaching of God’s word. We also see how they cared for each other and the poor among them. The early christians have been our north star, the apostles have been our role models. Rightfully so.

The Bible however, doesn’t portray only the good and sanitized version of the early church. Luke in his presentation of the early church provides us an honest and true account of the church he was part of – the good as well as the messy bits. Acts chapter 15 is one such example.

Acts 15:1-2 (NKJV) 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.” Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question.

Imagine some visiting speakers creating a scene in your local church on a Sunday morning. What would we think of our leadership if they were involved in what Luke called “no small dissension and dispute”. What would our opinion be about our leaders. I frequently hear christians speak about their disappointment with the church and church leaders. Many of them have stopped attending church due to certain actions of these said leaders. I am not condoning bad behavior among church leadership. As leaders we are called to be role models. The church is called to be a city on a hill, to stand out as a beacon for the world. If we are honest we have fallen short many times. We aren’t alone though. The early church was not a perfect church and the New Testament presents the Bride of Christ warts and all.

Warts and all

When we read the New Testament, we see an honest portrayal of the apostles and the early christians. There was a deliberate intention of the writers to portray themselves and the events around them as transparently and honestly as they could. They quarrelled, they had disputes, they misbehaved. The New Testament is honest and transparent even about the giants of our faith. In the midst of unity, individual leaders still had very strong disagreements. Here are two recorded “before and after” examples of conflicts in Paul’s early years in ministry. If we notice the language used by these men who were involved in these incidents, both during and after each conflict, we get some insight on how they grew through the years in their christian walk.

Paul and Peter

→ BEFORE: “I withstood him to his face”

Galatians 2:11-13 (NKJV) Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.

This incident probably happened earlier on in Paul’s ministry. Paul probably wrote the book of Galatians before the great council in Jerusalem (Acts 15), where the pillars of our faith sat together and made a monumental decision that separated the church from Judaistic ritual practices, into the faith based Gospel that added no further requirement apart from repentance and faith in Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross.

In this particular passage in Galatians, Paul seems to speak of a public disagreement he had with Peter. Look at the strong words used in his letter – “I withstood him to his face”, “he was to be blamed”, “played the hypocrite”. Here the apostle Paul outs his fellow apostles Peter and Barnabas, not just on that day the incident happened but also later, recording it in writing as he writes to the Galatian church once he returned to Antioch. Peter was grappling with his response on how to continue to fellowship with the Gentile believers who did not keep the dietary laws of Moses and yet be faithful to the interpretation of those Mosaic laws prescribed by the Pharisees of his day. This dispute continued among the Jews in Antioch (Acts 15:1-2) until a decision was made by the leadership at Antioch to send Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem so they could have a wider conversation with the rest of the apostles and come to an agreement about the place Jewish rituals and practices had among gentile believers in the New Testament church.

→ AFTER: “our beloved brother Paul”

2 Peter 3:15-16 (NKJV) and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.

About 18 years after the incident in Galatia, we see Peter writing to the churches in Asia Minor. By this time, Paul had written all his letters we have in the New Testament accept for his last letter to Timothy – 2 Timothy. Both apostles were probably in prison or about to be imprisoned prior to their execution. In this second letter of Peter, we hear a tone of love and mutual respect to his fellow apostle. He calls Paul “our beloved brother”. He speaks highly of Paul’s wisdom and places his letters in par with “the rest of the Scriptures”.

I wonder how we might have responded if we were in Peter’s place. Wasn’t Paul the one who publicly called him out for his inconsistent behaviour? Didn’t Paul reiterate in writing his failings and refer to Peter as one who was playing the hypocrite? How would we look at

Paul and John Mark

→ BEFORE: Sharp contention – parted from one another

Acts 15:36-41 (NKJV) Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.” Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

The backdrop to this incident is Paul and Barnabas’ first missionary journey. Very early into the mission, John Mark decided to return to Jerusalem, where his mother lived. We are not told why he left the mission field all we are told is that as soon as Paul and his team arrived in Perga, John Mark left – “departing from them, returned to Jerusalem” (Acts 13:13). Three years later, Paul and Barnabas decide to make a second trip to visit the churches they had planted during the first journey. The sharp contention arose because of John Mark.

Barnabas being a natural encourager (after all he is known as the “son of encouragement”), saw something in John Mark that was worth investing into and chose to give him a second chance. Paul on the other hand, on face value seems to suggest he was a “one strike and you’re out” kind of man, strongly disagreed. They parted ways.

→ AFTER: “he is useful to me”

2 Timothy 4:11 (NKJV) Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.

Fifteen to twenty years later, writing his final letter to Timothy from prison while awaiting execution he writes fondly about this same John Mark. This time he commends him as useful to the ministry. What changed?

What changed? John Mark changed. We are not given any information and whatever little we piece together we can only make an informed guess. John Mark was mentored by Barnabas from the time they sailed to Cyprus till about twelve years later when we see his name appear in Paul’s letter to the Colossian church. It would seem that John Mark was by then part of Paul’s travelling team once again. John would become a useful member of Paul’s team and would later travel to Rome where he spent some time with the apostle Peter. It is during this time, prior to Peter’s martyrdom that John Mark would pen the Gospel of Mark.

What changed? Paul changed. From the seemingly task oriented young power evangelist in the early years of his missionary journeys, Paul seemed to have grown into a spiritual father. We see a change in the tone of Paul’s letters as he shepherds the flock of Christ all across the then known world as a father nurtures and nourishes his own.

I thank God for the honest portrayals of our forefathers of the New Testament church. the early christians were flawed just like us but they didn’t remain that way. Underlying their faith in Christ was the assurance that God accepted them as they were but loved them too much to leave them as they were. The Holy Spirit worked in them and through them shaping the body of Christ in the New Testament to become more and more like Jesus.

Our Christian life is a life of constant change. We are never to remain stagnant. We are always being made more and more like Christ. We are always under construction. Three things to remember about our christian journey:

The goal of our christian life is to be transformed into christ’s image

God accepts us as we are – warts and all. He however will not leave us as we are. He calls us to be disciples and make disciples that live like Jesus, talk like Jesus, love like Jesus and treat others the way Jesus did. To that extent we are to accept everyone as they are, warts and all, but as disciples of Christ we are all committed become like Jesus.

2 Corinthians 3:18 (NKJV) But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Our transformation becomes god’s prime example

The transforming work of God in a Christian’s life is a display of His amazing grace. None of us are changed by our own effort. It is by grace and grace alone. Any change that occurs in our lives is a testimony of what God can do to one who is willing to let Him have his way. The apostle Paul highlights this by using his own life as a prime example.

1 Timothy 1:15-16 (NLT) This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.

The environment for divine transformation is TLC

1 Thessalonians 5:14 (NLT) Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.

The only way we are going to see true Christian transformation occur in the church is if we all begin to practice true christian love. Paul encourages us to respond to everyone according to their needs. Some may need a warning as they make choices that may have dangerous consequences. Some may need encouragement, while others may require tended care. But always to all people we are to be patient.

The church is a place where everyone is under construction. Maybe we need to have a sign that says “works ahead – please slow down”.

If we want to take the church to the community, we better learn to treat each other with tender loving care. That means changing – not to be a better version of ourselves – but changing to be like Christ.

Remember:

The goal of our christian life is to be transformed into Christ’s image. To look like Jesus, to talk like Jesus, to treat each other and others like Jesus did.

The purpose of our transformation is to become examples for others. People look up to those they admire. Jesus’ qualities are very attractive. When someone experiences such transformation they become a living testimony – “if God can change me, He can change you too”.

The environment for divine transformation is tender, loving, care. Warn, encourage, take tender care – but always be patient with everyone.

We are all under construction – thank you for your patience.

Our text this week is Acts 8:4.

Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.

This was the entire history of the early church. They were scattered and went everywhere. Today we have a tendency to huddle. We like gathering in our little groups. We enjoy being with those similar to us. We tend to settle, to get into our comfort zones.

God’s purpose for His people however has always been to have us scattered. In Genesis, God said “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth”. Man decided he will do the exact opposite.

Genesis 11:4 (NKJV) And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.”

The church through the ages has had to battle this same temptation to ignore the instruction of our Lord and fall into the thinking patterns of the people at the Tower of Babel. I can’t get away from the similarities in some of our thinking today.

Protecting from being scattered

Just like the Tower of Babel, churches tend to speak the same language, build cities and towers and make a name for ourselves – “lest we be scattered”.

The context of the story of the Tower of Babel was that they all spoke one language at that time. Don’t we do that in our churches? We create an atmosphere where we all speak the same thing, have the same ideas and create a uniformity that makes us feel comfortable. We don’t like those who rock the boat. We use language like “church culture” or “the way we do things here”. This “one language” environment does not accommodate other opinions or ideas. There is no room for conversations around trying something new. The trend is to get everyone to conform to a uniformed way of speaking and behaving in church.

We “build ourselves a city”. A place we can settle and call home. A place where we are comfortable doing things our way. We sing the songs we love. The very “city” we build ensures that those who come and join us are comfortable with the way we do things – if not there are other “cities” they can go to where they may feel more comfortable. If the music is too loud, we move. If the music is not contemporary enough we move. If the preacher does not hit the sweet spot we move. If the sermon is too long we move. If folk aren’t warm enough we move. If people are too involved in our lives we move.

Once we build our “city”, we ensure we keep this way of doing church protected. We build a “tower” to protect ourselves from any outside influence. We promote a culture and maintain that culture by ensuring every person who identifies with us knows what our church culture is. Sometimes our beliefs and ways of doing things have become “towers” as high as the heavens, keeping God outside and unable to influence us.

So pleased with our “cities” and “towers”, we enshrine them by making “a name for ourselves”. We lock ourselves into “isms” and “ists” secure and free from change. All this we do because we fear one thing – lest we be scattered.

We are commissioned to go everywhere

The Head of the church has a different idea for His church. He gave us a single purpose and focus. We even call it the Great Commission.

Matthew 28:19 (NKJV) Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…

Again we see similar instructions from our Lord in the book of Acts.

Acts 1:8 (NKJV) But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Go, scatter yourself – and make disciples – everywhere you go. The early church was obedient to that great commission. Wherever they were scattered they preached the word.

Acts 8:4-8 (NKJV) Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.

The story of the early church was a progressive movement out of Jerusalem:

• From the upper room to the streets of Jerusalem – Acts 2. The temptation to stay and enjoy the atmosphere in the Upper Room that day would have been so great. Cuddle up together, speak in tongues all day and keep warm in the fire of the Holy Spirit. They however scurried down to the streets of Jerusalem to tell others the good news.

• From the Hebrew-speaking Jewish community to the Greek-speaking diaspora – Acts 6. All their lives they lived comfortably with the prejudice that Hebrew speaking Jews were superior to the Jews who did not speak or read Hebrew. How could someone possibly know God as well as us when they only read a translation of the Scriptures from an unholy and vulgar greek language. Bigotry however well concealed will eventually come out through our actions. The early church had to deal with that. They were finding that those ministering to the needs of the poor among them were showing partiality towards the Hebrew speaking poor. The choice was clear. They had to “scatter” from the deep rooted prejudice into a God pleasing love for all brethren.

• From Jerusalem to Samaria – Acts 8. Go everywhere means everywhere. Including among the Samaritans whom they have never mixed with for generations. For generations they have been successful in avoiding these half cast people, even to the point of diverting their travel to avoid the region. Now they found themselves scattered to Samaria.

• From Jerusalem to God fearing Gentiles – Acts 10. Peter could not possibly ignore the command of God coming through vision and the voice of the Spirit. Some may say at least it was to God fearing Gentiles. But the scattering didn’t stop there.

• From Jerusalem to Antioch – Acts 11:20. Some unnamed believers got a little more extreme. You could say that it was not part of the church’s mission statement, but revival broke out among the Gentiles in Antioch. The scattering began to snow ball.

• From Antioch to the then known world – Acts 13–28. God’s plan and purpose for the church had become quite clear by this time. Go means go – everywhere means everywhere – uttermost part of the world means the entire then known world.

The movement was not strategic but organic. It wasn’t like the apostle sat down the day after Pentecost and planned a 10 year mission plan. They didn’t run a Mission conference on how to reach the world by 77AD – The Vision 77 project. It just happened out of life circumstances. In response to a supernatural experience in Acts 2, they had to go down and explain to the crowd. Three thousand people come to Christ that day. Out of a practical necessity to care beyond partiality (Acts 6) they breakdown barriers that may have split the believing community. you can’t be Christlike and allow impartial treatment of the poor – so change.

Being forced out due to persecution (Acts 8) they scatter but it doesn’t change anything. They stay the course and stick to the plan – preach the gospel everywhere. In obedience to a heavenly vision (Acts 10) Peter steps into the house of a Gentile for the first time in his entire life and Cornelius’ household is saved.

Seeking safer cities due to continued persecution (Acts 11), Christians continue the Great Commission – different venue, same plan. In obedience to the prophetic word coming from a time of fasting and prayer (Acts 13), Paul and Barnabus are sent out from Antioch. Missionary journeys were made out of the need to visit christians spread out all across the world (Acts 13-28). Throughout the entire book of Acts, the church was constantly scattered but kept to the same mission – go, preach the gospel, make disciples.

The Great Commission co-existing with the Great Commandment

What was it that kept the church effective even though they were consistently being scattered. These men and women were guided by another life principle – the Great Commandment of God.

Ingrained in them was this understanding that resting on all the laws that guide a person to live a godly life was two great laws. If they lived their lives governed by these “two commandments” they would be fulfilling the law and the prophets.

Matthew 22:37-40 (NKJV) Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

in the midst of all the scattering the early church was experiencing, they held closely to these two guiding principles. The Great Commission and the Great Commandment. They embraced the circumstances that required them to go, but in the going they kept preaching the Gospel. Not only did they preach the gospel, they lived the gospel by expressing it through love. Love for God and love for their neighbour.

Love your neighbour

One thing was clarified for these disciples earlier on when Jesus was still on the earth. This question – “who is my neighbour?” The parable is set in the context of a conversation Jesus had with an expert of the Mosaic law. When Jesus had spoken of the two fold commandment where all other laws hinge on, the lawyer asked the question “who is my neighbour?”

Luke 10:28-29 (NKJV) And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.” But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Using the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus responds to the question. The answer though didn’t really address the lawyer’s question. Jesus seem to be saying , “Don’t look for a neighbour become a neighbour”. We spend all our lives looking for our neighbour. We won’t find a neighbour until we become a neighbour.

I want to look at the parable briefly, to focus on this theme – becoming a neighbour. From the parable we can see two things that hinder us from becoming a neighbour and one very important response that will shape us into the neighbour God is calling us to be.

Things that hinder us from becoming a neighbour

A legalistic mind as seen in the expert of the Jewish law

As a legal expert he knew where to get the definition of a neighbour – Leviticus 19:18 & Lev 19:34

Leviticus 19:18 (NKJV) You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.

Leviticus 19:34 (NKJV) The stranger who dwells among you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.

Both these passages seem to suggest that our “neighbour” is a fellow believer and also the stranger who is “dwelling among” us. It should be clear that everyone is your neighbour. If you read these passages with a legalistic mind you may interpret it as those who practice the laws of God and foreigners who have decided to conform to the laws of Israel. The situation in Israel during Jesus time had become more complicated. Israel was not just occupied by Jews. It had become a melting pot of Jews and Gentiles and as far as many religious leaders were concerned most of Israel were not living according to the laws of Moses. The lawyer seems to suggest that the lines have been blurred and it has become difficult to discern who would fall under the definitions given by Moses in the book of Leviticus. You can’t possibly love your neighbour if you don’t know who your neighbour is.

A legalistic mind cannot see beyond the behaviour of people. Instead of seeing the needs of others, they focus on the deeds of others. When all we see are are the sins of those around us, we become preoccupied with laws that have been broken and the impending judgement that is to come. The Gospel is presented through these lenses. Instead of being a neighbour we become both judge and jury.

A religious mind as seen in the priest and the levite

The behaviour of the two religious leaders may seem bazaar to the non Jewish listener but to the audience that first heard the parable I wonder if there were some sympathizers. The levitical laws did give very strict guidelines on the handling of dead bodies. If the victim of the violent assault was indeed dead, the two temple staff would have a dilemma when they touched the body. The law was clear.

Lev 21:1 (NLT) “A priest must not make himself ceremonially unclean by touching the dead body of a relative.

Numbers 19:11 (NLT)“All those who touch a dead human body will be ceremonially unclean for seven days.

Surely one can understand the challenge the priest and levite had. Stay ceremonially clean or go check if the person is dead. Isn’t keeping oneself pure of utmost importance. A religious mind has a skewed idea of “purity” towards God. The zeal for purity justifies a life free from those who do not share the same “pure” living as they do. The apostle Paul showed us that holiness towards God must include a life lived among all men.

1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (NLT) Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ. When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law. When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ. When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.

A religious mindset will separate us from the world we have been called to reach. It will prevent us from becoming a neighbour.

Becoming a neighbour

The one way of life that will shape us into good neighbours is seen in the life of the good Samaritan. It is a heart of compassion.

Luke 10:33 (NKJV) But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion.

Notice these words – the Samaritan came where he was, he saw, he had compassion. The samaritan wasn’t looking for a neighbour, he came as a neighbour. He lived his life being a neighbour, so when he stumbled on the victim on his journey, it was natural to see the man as his neighbour.

Luke 10:36-37 (NKJV) So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

Jesus’ answer to the question “who is my neighbour” was to ask a more pertinent question – “who was neighbour” to man in need? Jesus did not define a neighbour. He showed us that the only way we will discover who our neighbours are, is to first become a neighbour. When you live your life as a neighbour, then everyone around you is a neighbour. DON’T LOOK FOR A NEIGHBOUR BECOME A NEIGHBOUR.

A neighbour shows mercy – “kindness towards the afflicted, joined with a desire to help them”. The mandate to go and make disciples assumes that the believer loves God and loves his neighbour. When one lives their life being a neighbour to all, then wherever we find ourselves scattered for the day, we will come across a neighbour to love as ourselves.

WE SPEND ALL OUR LIVES LOOKING FOR OUR NEIGHBOUR. WE WON’T FIND A NEIGHBOUR UNTIL WE BECOME A NEIGHBOUR.

BE A NEIGHBOUR. BE KIND, BE MERCIFUL, ALWAYS READY TO HELP ANYONE, EVERYWHERE. YOUR NEIGHBOUR WILL TURN UP.

DON’T LOOK FOR A NEIGHBOUR – BE A NEIGHBOUR.