How should we handle disagreements between brethren?

1. W E L C O M E T O T H E
J A C K S O N S T R E E T C H U R C H O F C H R I S T
P L E A S E T U R N O F F C E L L P H O N E S

2. Ephesians 4:1-3 I, therefore, the
prisoner of the Lord, beseech
you to walk worthy of the calling
with which you were called, 2
with all lowliness and
gentleness, with longsuffering,
bearing with one another in love,
3 endeavoring to keep the unity
of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

3. WHEN
BRETHREN
DISAGREE?

4. WHEN BRETHREN DISAGREE?
A.Acts 15:37-40 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.

5. WHEN BRETHREN DISAGREE?
B. Paul and Barnabas had a disagreement
about Mark.
C. Paul chose to separate from Barnabas and
take Silas.
D. Did Paul make the right choice?
E. Note what happened later - 2 Timothy 4:11
Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring
him with you, for he is useful to me for
ministry.
F. How should we handle disagreements in
the church?

6. I. IS THIS
DISAGREEMENT
OVER SOMETHING
THAT WILL AFFECT
THEIR SALVATION?

7. I. AFFECT THEIR SALVATION?
A. If yes, teach them your understanding of
the bible truth. - Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a
man is overtaken in any trespass, you who
are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit
of gentleness, considering yourself lest
you also be tempted.
1. Well I just don’t believe ___________ is
right?
2. Can I point to book, chapter and verse
where this sin will cause them to be
lost?

8. I. AFFECT THEIR SALVATION?
THE ERRING
Think gently of the erring; You know not of the power
With which the dark temptation came In some unguarded hour;
You may not know how earnestly They struggled, or how well,
Until the hour of weakness came And sadly thus they fell.
Think gently of the erring; Oh, do not now forget
However darkly stained by sin, He is your brother yet;
Heir of the self-same heritage, Child of the self-same God.
He has but stumbled in the path Which you in weakness trod.
Speak gently to the erring; You yet may lead them back,
With holy words and tones of love, From misery’s thorny track;
Forget not you have sometimes sinned, And sinful yet may be;
Deal gently with the erring, then, As God has dealt with thee.
J.A. Fletcher, “Grace at Work”

9. I. AFFECT THEIR SALVATION?
B. If not, just accept the fact that you have differing
opinions. - Romans 14:2-6 One man has faith that
he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats
vegetables only. Let not him who eats regard with
contempt him who does not eat, and let not him
who does not eat judge him who eats, for God has
accepted him. Who are you to judge the servant of
another? To his own master he stands or falls; and
stand he will, for the Lord is able to make him
stand. One man regards one day above another,
another regards every day alike. Let each man be
fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes
the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats,
does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God;
and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat,
and gives thanks to God.

10. II. IS THE
DISAGREEMENT
OVER SOMETHING
THAT WILL AFFECT
MY SALVATION?

11. II. AFFECT MY SALVATION?
A.Does this person’s belief cause me to join
in what I consider sin or questionable?
1. Something involving the assembly:
Instrumental music, not taking the Lord’s
Supper, having a chorus rather than
congregational singing etc.
2. Would I be participating is something I
considered to be sin and thus violate my
conscience?

12. II. AFFECT MY SALVATION?
B. Does what this person believes or practices only
affect his own actions and salvation?
1.We may have great sorrow over their sin. - Luke
19:41 Now as He drew near, He saw the city and
wept over it,
2.They ultimately are responsible for their own
soul. - Ezekiel 18:20 The soul who sins shall
die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the
father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son.
The righteousness of the righteous shall be
upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked
shall be upon himself.

13. III. IS THE
DISAGREEMENT
JUST A MATTER
OF OPINION?

14. III. A MATTER OF OPINION?
A.Had you rather be right than to be united?
B.Most church divisions are over differences of
opinion. Churches are divided over a desire
to be right. - 3 John 1:9-10 I wrote to the
church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have
the preeminence among them, does not
receive us. Therefore, if I come, I will call to
mind his deeds which he does, prating
against us with malicious words. And not
content with that, he himself does not receive
the brethren, and forbids those who wish to,
putting them out of the church.

15. III. A MATTER OF OPINION?
C. Once a decision has been made by the
elders/men/congregation then the whole body
needs to accept and follow that decision.
1. Remodel restroom or add time between class
and worship. One suggesting add more time
was there on the workday to remodel.
2. Cut down tree in parking lot. One opposed was
first one there to cut it down
D. If it is a matter of conscience to you, you don’t
have to participate.
1. Singing religious song with piano in home.
2. Singing religious songs about birth of Jesus at
Christmas time.
3. Having a tree, lights, gifts etc. at Christmas.
4. Not eating in the church building.
5. Not having separate bible classes.

16. IV. IS THE DISAGREEMENT
OVER A BELIEF OR
PRACTICE THAT THE
BIBLE SAYS WE SHOULD
NOT HAVE FELLOWSHIP
WITH PEOPLE WHO DO
SUCH THINGS?

17. IV. SHOULD NOT HAVE FELLOWSHIP?
A.ONE WHO SINS AGAINST A BROTHER WHICH IS
BROUGHT TO THE CHURCH AND REFUSES TO
REPENT - Matthew 18:15-17 … But if he refuses
even to hear the church, let him be to you like a
heathen and a tax collector.”
B.THOSE WHO ARE SEXUALLY IMMORAL - 1 Cor. 5:1-
13 It is actually reported that there is sexual
imorality among you, … he who has done this deed
might be taken away from among you. … purge out
the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, … not
to keep company with sexually immoral people. …
not to keep company with anyone named a brother,
who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater,
or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner--not
even to eat with such a person. … "put away from
yourselves the evil person."

18. IV. SHOULD NOT HAVE FELLOWSHIP?
C. THOSE UNWILLING TO WORK TO SUPPORT
THEMSELVES - 2 Thes. 3:6-15 … withdraw from
every brother who walks disorderly and not
according to the tradition which he received from
us. …some who walk among you in a disorderly
manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. … if
anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note
that person and do not keep company with him,
D. THOSE WHO ARE DIVISIVE AND USE GODLINESS
AS A MEANS TO GAIN - 1 Tim. 6:3-5 … From such
withdraw yourself.
E. THOSE WHO ARE DIVISIVE - Romans 16:17-18 …
note those who cause divisions and offenses,
contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and
avoid them.

19. IV. SHOULD NOT HAVE FELLOWSHIP?
F. THOSE WHO VIOLATE THE PRINCIPLES IN PAUL’S
WARNINGS OF THE LAST DAYS - 2 Tim. 3:1-5 But
know this, that in the last days perilous times will
come: [2] For men will be lovers of themselves,
lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers,
disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, [3]
unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-
control, brutal, despisers of good, [4] traitors,
headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than
lovers of God, [5] having a form of godliness but
denying its power. And from such people turn
away!
G. THOSE WHO ARE DIVISIVE - Titus 3:9-11 …Reject a
divisive man after the first and second admonition,

20. IV. SHOULD NOT HAVE FELLOWSHIP?
H. THOSE WHO DENY THAT JESUS CAME IN
THE FLESH - 2 John 1:7-11 For many
deceivers have gone out into the world
who do not confess Jesus Christ as
coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and
an antichrist. … [10] If anyone comes to
you and does not bring this doctrine, do
not receive him into your house nor greet
him; [11] for he who greets him shares in
his evil deeds.

21. WHEN BRETHREN DISAGREE?
A.How do you deal with disagreements with
brethren?
B.Are you committed to unity in spite of
disagreements? - 1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I
plead with you, brethren, by the name of
our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak
the same thing, and that there be no
divisions among you, but that you be
perfectly joined together in the same mind
and in the same judgment.

23. TONIGHT’S SERMON
THE ABUNDANT LIFE - CHALLENGE