Tag: Antioch

Living in the Image of God

Managing Disagreement in an Alliance

Living in the Image of God M05S11

The breakup of the Gospel alliance of Paul and Barnabas provides insights based on understanding options for satisfying competing interests in a disagreement within an alliance. If the options are compatible, the disagreement could be resolved by implementing measures to satisfy the competing interests simultaneously. If the options are incompatible, then a path to resolution could be to seek an amicable breakup that would satisfy the competing interests. In any case, the parties need to understand how their interests would be satisfied through the available options.

Managing Disagreement in an Alliance 18:36

This bible study discusses the breakup of the Gospel alliance of Paul and Barnabas to provide insights for managing disagreements within an alliance. The alliance could be for a Christian mission directly or for other aspects of living. The alliance of Paul and Barnabas began with their collaboration in growing the church at Antioch and blossomed through the First Missionary Journey, when they established several churches in southern Europe and laid foundation for the growth of Christianity worldwide.

The alliance broke up as they discussed plans for the second missionary journey, because of a disagreement regarding their relationships with a younger apostle named John Mark, now better known as the author of the Gospel according to Mark. At that time, Barnabas wanted to work with John Mark to mentor him and proposed taking him along. In contrast, Paul was concerned that John Mark would not serve the mission well, because of a previous experience with him. He had abandoned them early in the First Missionary Journey and had not worked with them thereafter [Acts 15:37–38]: “Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work.”

Paul and Barnabas broke up and did not proceed together to the second missionary journey [Acts 15:39–40]: “They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord.” Their breakup, however, led to two separate and successful Gospel ministries.

Additionally, the breakup provides insights for managing disagreements in an alliance, based on understanding the options for satisfying competing interests. If the options are compatible, the disagreement could be resolved by implementing measures to satisfy the competing interests simultaneously. If the options are incompatible, such as in the Paul-Barnabas example, then a path to resolution could be to seek an amicable breakup that would satisfy the competing interests. In any case, to find an amicable path to resolution, the parties need to understand how their interests would be satisfied through the available options.

Continue reading “Managing Disagreement in an Alliance” →
Living in the Image of God

Leader-Follower Relationships Paul-Barnabas Example

Living in the Image of God M05S08

First of a two-part study of relationships among leaders and followers, when two or more organize to execute a mission or project. The study is based in part on the partnership of Paul and Barnabas and in part on the call of four disciples on Lake Galilee. God called Paul and Barnabas to a Gospel mission, chose Paul as leader, and did not explain the choice. He can call people to a mission by choosing a leader and providing others opportunity to join as followers. Also, he can assign a mission to a group of people and guide them to choose a leader. In the case of Paul and Barnabas, he called them to the mission and guided them to choose Paul as leader. The choice became evident through their interactions with Elymas in Paphos and at a synagogue in Pisidian Antioch. When God calls people to a mission, he assigns them responsibilities as leaders or followers, choosing leadership based on intrinsic qualities that are understood better as they perform the responsibilities. Also, as we see in Part 2 of the study, he values leaders and followers alike.

Leader-Follower Relationships: Paul-Barnabas Example 17:37

This is the first of a two-part bible study on understanding relationships among leaders and followers, when two or more organize to execute a mission, for the advancement of worship directly or indirectly through other aspects of living. The first part of the study is based on the partnership of Paul and Barnabas. The second part is based on Christ teaching through interactions during his call of four disciples on Lake Galilee.

The partnership of Paul and Barnabas began with Barnabas re-introducing Paul (then known as Saul) to the disciples in Jerusalem. The partnership continued in Antioch when Barnabas brought Paul to collaborate with him in planting a church. Later, the church they planted in Antioch commissioned them to a mission of international evangelism, to propagate the Gospel among Gentiles (i.e., non-Jews). The bible does not discuss their choosing a leader, but shows Paul providing leadership early in the mission, through interactions with Elymas in Paphos and at a synagogue in Pisidian Antioch.

The two-part study leads to understanding that the choice of a leader often is based on intrinsic qualities that may not be clear at the beginning but are understood better as the leaders and followers perform their individual responsibilities to the mission or project. When God calls people to a mission, he assigns them responsibilities as leaders or followers, choosing leadership based on his assessment of the people and mission requirements. Also, as will be discussed in Part 2 of the study, he values leaders and followers alike and rewards each mission participant based on their capacity, irrespective of serving as leader or follower.

Continue reading “Leader-Follower Relationships Paul-Barnabas Example” →
The Apostles

Case Study of Successful Alliance: Paul and Barnabas

In Alliance for the Gospel

DOWNLOAD AUDIO                 DOWNLOAD PDF

© Grafxart | Dreamstime.com - Duck Partnership Photo
© Grafxart | Dreamstime.com – Duck Partnership Photo

Paul and Barnabas teamed up to spread the gospel, shortly after Saul’s conversion to Christ. From their base church in Antioch, which they helped develop, they collaborated on the First Missionary Journey, through which they won numerous converts and established several churches in Europe and Asia and laid the foundation for growth of Christianity worldwide. However, their alliance ended abruptly as they tried to embark on a second missionary journey. In this bible study, we try to learn from their successful alliance and its abrupt termination.

Continue reading “Case Study of Successful Alliance: Paul and Barnabas” →