In this series we examine some of the top reasons Christians give up on their appointed ministry assignment.

Today we examine the problems of team discord and personality conflicts.

God has created us with different personalities and strengths. In His wisdom He has orchestrated       different backgrounds so we have different approaches to ministry, different positions in spiritual growth and different attitudes.

Our Biblical example in this study is the relationship of Paul and Barnabas

Who was Barnabas?

1) Acts 4:

³⁶ And Joseph, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,

³⁷ Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

2) Barnabas assisted Paul and spoke well of Paul

Acts 9:

²⁶ And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.

²⁷ But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

3) Barnabas stood with Paul

Acts 11:

²² Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.(90 miles)

²³ Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.

²⁴ For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.

²⁵ Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:

²⁶ And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

Who was Paul?

1) An apostle according to Romans 11:

¹³ For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

2) Saw the risen Jesus and was converted from a Christian killer to a Christian seeker-Acts 9

3) Wrote 13 NT books, 14 if you count Hebrews

4) Suffered for Jesus-2 Corinthians 11:

²⁴ Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.

²⁵ Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

²⁶ In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

²⁷ In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

²⁸ Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

²⁹ Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?

³⁰ If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities

Paul & Barnabas served together on Paul’s first missionary journey lasting two years in Acts 13

Paul, Barnabas and John Mark started at Seleucia, the seaport of Antioch sailed across to Cyprus, some 80 miles to the south-west. After landing at Salamis, and proclaiming The Word of God in the
synagogues, they traveled along the entire southern coast of the island of Cyprus until they reached Paphos. From Paphos they sailed north up to the Asian mainland in what is today Turkey. They traveled the short distance up the river Cestrus to Perga in Pamphylia , where Mark left them and returned to Jerusalem.

Paul and Barnabas then continued inland for about 100 miles, up to Pisidian Antioch.. After being expelled from the region, “they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium. From there they continued southward to Lystra . After preaching the good news in Derbe, they then returned back along their entire route, through Lystra, Iconium and Antioch then continued southward through the regions of Pisidia and Pamphylia until they arrived at the seaport of Attalia. From there, they boarded a ship and sailed back home to Antioch, where they had began 2 years before.

The problem and what Barnabas did (set Paul free)

Acts 15:

³⁵ Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

³⁶ And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do.

³⁷ And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.

³⁸ But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.

³⁹ And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;

Notice the church’s reaction: Acts 15:

⁴⁰ And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.

⁴¹ And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.

Did Barnabas leave during the night and alone except for John Mark?

Did the church snub Barnabas?

The Holy Spirit deemed it unnecessary for us to know. Nothing else is recorded of

Barnabas in the scripture. But we see evidence of his ministry with John Mark

2 Tim 4: (approx. AD 67 before Paul’s death)

¹¹ Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.

Solutions to team conflict:

• Remember we are all human- none has yet arrived,      even Paul said that Phil 3:

¹² Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

¹³ Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

¹⁴ I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Remember your goal to please Jesus not others

Take the initiative to settle disagreements

Be generous in seeking to understand another’s point of view

Trust God-Ephesians 1:

¹¹ In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

• Take action according to Jesus’ prayer-what do      these words mean to you? John 17:

¹⁸As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

¹⁹ And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

²⁰ Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

²¹ That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

²² And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

²³ I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

Where are you today? Are your circumstances difficult? I encourage you not to give up but to keep your eyes on Jesus and meeting Him at the finish line of your race. May the Lord richly bless you and encourage you!

Hebrews 12:

¹Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Let us run with patience the race Jesus has set before us,

Coach Patti