responsibilities in living. Difficult conversations are the very essence of love, intimacy, and generosity.

“Having difficult conversations is one of your fundamental

Brian Sharp

wasting your precious life, failing in your responsibilities to others, and acting out of cowardice.”

“And every time you postpone or avoid one out of fear, you are

Brian Sharp

Series Verse

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a

friend.Proverbs 27:17 (NLT)

A Good Rule

“Reprove thy friend privately; commend him

publicly”Solon of Athens

Paul and PeterActs 15;

Gal. 2:11-14Confronting a

Brother Publicly

First Point

Broad conflict creates a climate for narrower

confrontations.

Acts 151 But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

Acts 152 And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question.

Acts 153 So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers.

Acts 154 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them.

Acts 155 But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.”

Jerusalem to Antioch

Dow

n

Important Principle

Getting into a conflict is a downhill ride. It’s

easy to get into a conflict.

Antioch to Jerusalem

Up

Important Principle

Getting out of a conflict is an uphill struggle. It’s hard work to resolve a

conflict.

Second Point

When a serious affront is made before many, the confrontation may need

to be made publicly.

Galatians 211 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.

Galatians 212 For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party.

Galatians 213 And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.

Galatians 214 But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”

Comparison of Acts 15 and Gal. 2•Paul is accompanied to Jerusalem by Barnabas and other(s).•The point at issue is Gentiles and the Law, specifically circumcision.Dr. Mark

Goodacre

Comparison of Acts 15 and Gal. 2•There is discussion with the chief apostles about the future for the Gentile mission.

Dr. Mark Goodacre

Comparison of Acts 15 and Gal. 2•These chief apostles are identified, in both, as Peter and James. (Paul also names John).

Dr. Mark Goodacre

Comparison of Acts 15 and Gal. 2•Both accounts assume the presence of others who are inimical to Paul and Barnabas.

Dr. Mark Goodacre

Comparison of Acts 15 and Gal. 2•In both, Paul (and Barnabas) make report of their mission.•In both, there is agreement between Paul and Barnabas and the Jerusalem apostles.Dr. Mark

Goodacre

Comparison of Acts 15 and Gal. 2•In both, the account is followed by a split between Paul and Barnabas in Antioch (Acts 15.33-41, Gal. 2.11-20).

Dr. Mark Goodacre

Galatians 212 For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party.

Galatians 213 And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.

Galatians 214 But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”

Third Point

A public confrontation, when warranted, can

lead to a sweeping correction.

Acts 156 The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. 7a And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them,

Acts 157b “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.

Acts 158 And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, 9 and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.

Acts 1510 Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?

Acts 15

11 But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”