Week 22 (25 - 31 May): Learning, Unlearning, and Discerning Together

As I reflected on Acts 15:1–35, I was struck by how relevant this passage remains for the church today. The early believers were facing a difficult and potentially divisive issue: must Gentile believers follow Jewish customs in order to be saved?

What impressed me was not just the decision they eventually reached, but the process they went through to get there.

Acts 15 shows us that the journey of discernment begins with honest conversation (Acts 15:1–5), grows through humility and learning (Acts 15:6–11), and matures as God’s people seek the Holy Spirit together (Acts 15:12–35).

When We Judge by Human Standards

The tension in Acts 15 began because some believers insisted that Gentiles needed to be circumcised and follow Jewish customs before they could truly belong to God’s family.

At its heart, this was a question about acceptance and identity. It revealed how easily people can judge others according to human standards rather than God’s grace.

As I reflected on this, I realised I have been guilty of the same thing.

There was a time when I judged other believers because their style of worship was different from mine. Practices such as speaking in tongues or being slain in the Spirit felt unfamiliar and uncomfortable. To be honest, I sometimes viewed them with suspicion and wondered if they were excessive or even cult-like.

Over time, however, God challenged my assumptions. As I learned more, observed faithful believers, and grew in my understanding of Scripture, I began to realise that not every believer’s relationship with God will look the same. While discernment remains important, God often works in ways that are different from our expectations.

Peter’s Journey of Unlearning

One of the most powerful aspects of this chapter is Peter’s testimony in Acts 15:6–11.

Peter reminded the church how God had welcomed the Gentiles and given them the Holy Spirit just as He had given Him to Jewish believers. Through his experience with Cornelius, Peter had learned that God shows no favouritism and that salvation comes through grace, not through religious traditions or cultural expectations.

What stands out to me is that Peter had to unlearn something he had believed for much of his life.

Spiritual maturity is not only about learning new truths. Sometimes it requires us to let go of assumptions, biases, and perspectives that no longer align with God’s heart.

Peter’s willingness to learn and unlearn allowed him to recognise what God was doing beyond the boundaries he had previously accepted.

Unity in Diversity

Another theme that stood out to me is the remarkable unity displayed by the early church.

Despite their differing backgrounds and viewpoints, the believers did not allow disagreement to divide them. Instead, they listened carefully, discussed openly, and sought God’s direction together.

Acts 15:22 says: “Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided…”

The phrase “with the whole church” particularly caught my attention.

The decision was not imposed by a small group of leaders acting independently. There was intentional participation, discussion, and collective discernment. The church valued unity without demanding uniformity.

In a world where disagreements can quickly lead to division, the example of the early church reminds us that it is possible to hold different perspectives while remaining committed to one another and to God’s purposes.

“It Seemed Good to the Holy Spirit and to Us”

Of all the verses in this passage, Acts 15:28 impacted me the most:

“It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us…”

This simple statement beautifully captures the heart of biblical discernment.

The leaders did not say, “This is what we prefer.”

Neither did they rely solely on their own wisdom.

Instead, they listened to testimonies, examined the Scriptures, prayed, discussed, and paid attention to what God was already doing. Through that process, they arrived at a shared conviction that reflected the leading of the Holy Spirit.

This verse challenges me to rethink how I make decisions.

Too often, I find myself asking, “What do I want?” or “What seems best to me?”

Acts 15 invites a different question:

“What seems good to the Holy Spirit?”

Whether in ministry, family life, relationships, or personal decisions, discernment involves more than personal preference. It requires humility, prayer, wisdom, and a willingness to listen.

Encouragement Strengthens People

After reaching their decision, the church leaders took great care in how they communicated it. They sent a letter, appointed trusted messengers, and ensured that the believers received encouragement along with instruction.

Their goal was not simply to deliver information but to strengthen the faith of those who would receive it.

This reminds me that encouragement is an essential part of Christian leadership and community.

People do not only need guidance; they also need reassurance, affirmation, and support. Clear communication, coupled with encouragement, helps build trust and unity.

Silas’ example caused me to reflect on my own responses toward others. There are times when I see someone do something I disagree with, or when I feel that a person, ministry, or community has handled something poorly. In those moments, it is easy to slip into criticism or speak negatively about them. Yet Silas chose a different path—he used his words to encourage and strengthen. This reminds me that as followers of Christ, we have a choice. We can contribute to division through criticism, or we can contribute to growth through encouragement. While truth should never be compromised, the way we speak can either build people up or tear them down.

Final Reflections

Acts 15:1–35 is a powerful reminder that God’s people are called to discern together.

The early church faced disagreement, cultural differences, and deeply held convictions, yet they remained committed to seeking God’s will above personal preferences.

As I reflect on this passage, I am challenged to be more humble in my judgments, more willing to learn and unlearn, and more intentional about listening to both God’s Spirit and God’s people.

Most of all, I want to cultivate a heart that asks not, “Do they worship like me?” or “Do they think like me?” but rather, “Is God at work in them?”

May we learn from the example of the early church and become people who can genuinely say:

“It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us.”