#soap # Acts 15 ## Title: We All Still Have Growing To Do ## Scripture: (Acts 15:37-39) “Barnabas wanted to bring John called Mark along with them too, but Paul insisted that they should not take along this one who had left them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work. They had a sharp disagreement, so that they parted company. Barnabas took along Mark and sailed away to Cyprus,” (NET) ## Observation: This was during a time of extremes. The Holy Spirit had descended and the church was being born. The gospel was reaching people who had never heard. Paul and Barnabas had given their lives to spread the Good News everywhere. It was also a time when they were all still figuring it out. The disagreement rose because of John Mark. We do not know exactly why Paul did not want Mark to go, but it could be that Mark had left them on an earlier journey. Perhaps Paul was not ready to risk Mark leaving again. Barnabas seemed willing to take that chance. No matter, it is refreshing to see that these men were still human. They did not have it all figured out yet. They still needed grace from each other. When we don’t get things right, we can sometimes feel like there is something uniquely wrong with us. Praise the Lord for passages like this. If Paul and Barnabas were still figuring it out, it’s okay for us to still be working on things too. ## Application: Don’t get discouraged. Just keep taking steps. ## Prayer: Thank You, Jesus, for being with us through every season of growing and change.