DON’T FOLD UNDER PRESSURE
Galatians 2:11–21
Pastor Calvary deJong
June 1, 2025
Introduction: When Doing the Right Thing Costs You Something
Some years ago, I was new in ministry leadership when a tension surfaced in our group. A guy named Mike had started attending our young adults ministry to support his friend Andy, a young adult who had muscular dystrophy. Andy couldn’t drive, so Mike—who was in his 40s—would pick him up, help him transfer in and out of his wheelchair, and even assist with personal needs like going to the bathroom. He wasn’t a professional caregiver, but he was a caring friend who made it possible for Andy to participate.
Then one night, another young adult pulled me aside and said, “I don’t like that Mike is here. He’s older. It’s awkward. If they’re coming... I’m not.” In that moment, I had a choice to make. I knew that including Andy meant Mike needed to be there too. And I also knew I wouldn’t win any popularity points with this young adult who thought their presence made the group less cool. But the goal wasn’t being cool—it was embodying love. So I told him, “You’re welcome to stay—but so are Andy and Mike.” It wasn’t a public confrontation. But it cost something. Doing the right thing under pressure usually does. When fear drives our decisions, we don’t just risk hurting people—we risk distorting the gospel.
Peter Folded — Galatians 2:11–13
In Galatians, Paul recounts a dramatic moment: “When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.” Peter—bold Peter, who preached at Pentecost and declared Jesus the Christ—folded under pressure. He had been eating with Gentile believers, affirming their full inclusion in God’s family. But when “certain men from James” arrived—who taught that Gentiles must adopt Jewish customs—Peter backed away out of fear. His retreat wasn’t based on theological convictions. Rather, it was an example of caving to social pressure. And silence in moments like these sends a message louder than words.
Peter’s hypocrisy fractured the unity of the church. Though the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15) had already affirmed that Gentiles were saved by grace alone, Peter’s withdrawal contradicted the gospel in practice. Even Barnabas—the encourager, Paul’s missionary partner—got swept up in the fear. That’s the power of silently going along with the crowd: it sends a louder message than we realize.
Paul Stood Firm — Galatians 2:14–16
Paul knew this wasn’t just a social misstep or a cultural faux pas—it was a gospel issue. When Peter withdrew from eating with Gentile believers because of pressure from the group that argued following Jewish traditions was necessary for salvation, Paul didn’t stay silent. He confronted Peter publicly and directly: “They were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel.” This wasn’t about etiquette or hurt feelings—it was about faithfulness to the gospel. The gospel is not Jesus plus—not Jesus plus tradition, not Jesus plus cultural conformity, not Jesus plus religious performance. It is grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
When unity around that truth is at stake—when fear or favoritism threatens the integrity of the gospel—we must speak clearly and act courageously. Like Paul, we’re called to stand firm, not for our opinions, but for the truth that sets people free.
It’s Not About You or Me, It’s About Jesus
Sometimes we can be tempted to start treating our church like it’s our birthday—as if we’re king or queen for the day. As part of the family celebration for my grandmother’s 80th birthday—alongside the usual dinner, cake, and presents—she had one special request: a hymn-sing featuring lots of songs by her favourite hymn writer, Fanny Crosby. So, on her birthday, what Grandma wants, Grandma gets! I think we sang nearly a dozen Fanny Crosby hymns that evening. It was a beautiful way to honour her.
That’s all very wonderful for a birthday party where you want to make that person the centre of attention—but it’s not how a local church is meant to function. Church doesn’t exist to cater to our personal preferences. It’s not about your preferences or even my preferences—it’s meant to be about Jesus. Our church exists to glorify Jesus and make disciples. That means the focus isn’t on what makes us most comfortable—but on what helps others encounter Christ. When we keep that mission front and centre, we’re willing to lay down some of our personal preferences so that others can be built up in faith.
When Churches Cling to Preference, They Can Miss Their Moment
A ministry friend of mine, Marco Bessa, became the pastor of the Portuguese church his dad had pastored for many years. Seeing that younger generations no longer spoke Portuguese, he led a careful shift towards hosting services in English to reach the next generation and their community. Theologically, nothing had changed. But some key long-time members saw this shift as a betrayal of their identity. A split followed. And sadly, the church eventually closed.
There is a redemptive arc to the story. Marco told me that a few years later, his aunt—the one who had led the charge to oppose him—reached out in repentance. Reconciliation happened. He forgave, their relationship was restored, and grace had the last word in their family. But it remains a cautionary tale of what can happen when personal preferences eclipse Jesus’ mission for the church.
Takeaway: Hold Tight to Jesus. Hold Loose to Everything Else
Not every disagreement is a gospel issue. But when someone’s belonging in Christ’s body is threatened, we must stand firm—in love. When the gospel is clear, silence is not faithfulness—it’s compromise.
So here’s the challenge:
- When it comes to the gospel, hold tight.
- When it comes to preference, be openhanded.
Let’s ensure Jesus is Lord of the church—not our tastes or preferences.
Prayer
Lord Jesus,
Thank You for the truth of the gospel—grace alone through faith alone.
Forgive us for the times we’ve folded under pressure.
Grant us wisdom to discern what truly matters,
Courage to speak when unity is at stake,
And humility to let go of our preferences for the sake of Your mission.
May we be a church that reflects Your welcome and Your truth.
Amen.
WHY MAKE IT HARDER THAN IT NEEDS TO BE
Acts 15:1–29
Pastor Calvary deJong
May 25, 2025
Introduction: Pushing with the Brake On
During my Bible college years, a few friends and I set out on an epic road trip. The plan was ambitious: head to Portland, drive the Pacific Coast Highway, visit the Grand Canyon, and circle back to Winnipeg—all without a map. But somewhere around Great Falls, Montana, the dream hit a snag. My friend’s Audi broke down in the middle of the night.
A state trooper told us we couldn’t leave the car on the highway, so we got it towed into town. The next morning, we found out the repair shop we’d been towed to didn’t work on imports. Fortunately, another shop was just down the street. Determined to save the cost of a second tow, we decided to push the car there ourselves.
What followed was pure agony: three sweaty guys straining and gasping, struggling to move a car that seemed to weigh a ton. When we finally made it, we collapsed into the front seats—only to discover the emergency brake had been on the whole time!
Sometimes in life, and even in the church, we find ourselves pushing hard—working with all our might—without realizing we’re making it harder than it needs to be. That’s what was happening in Acts 15. The early church was at risk of putting spiritual brakes on people trying to come to Jesus.
The Jerusalem Council: The Early Church Gets Together
Acts 15 recounts a defining moment. Some believers, out of deep reverence for the covenant of Moses, insisted that Gentile believers must be circumcised to be saved. This was no minor debate—it struck at the very heart of the gospel. Was faith in Jesus alone enough, or did salvation require additional cultural and religious practices?
To resolve this, the apostles and elders gathered in Jerusalem. They didn’t resort to backroom decisions or sweeping dissenters aside. Instead, they created space for discussion, welcomed both perspectives, and worked toward clarity with humility. Their approach offers us a model for discerning difficult questions. They used four lenses to guide their discernment:
- Tradition: The first voices appealed to the covenant customs of Moses. These weren’t meaningless rituals—they were identity markers. But sincere reverence for tradition had begun to obscure the gospel of grace.
- Experience: Peter recounted how the Holy Spirit had come upon Cornelius and his household—Gentiles who believed in Jesus but weren’t circumcised. Likewise, Paul and Barnabas told stories of miracles among Gentile believers. These testimonies showed that God had already welcomed them.
- Reason: “After much discussion,” the church reasoned together. There was no rushing, no dominance, no manipulation. They thought carefully, listened well, and submitted to one another in love.
- Scripture: Finally, James grounded everything in the Word. He quoted Amos 9:11–12, which foretold the inclusion of Gentiles. Scripture wasn’t used to end the conversation, but to anchor it. God had always intended to rebuild David’s tent so that “the rest of humanity may seek the Lord—even all the Gentiles who bear my name.”
This pattern is instructive for us today. The Spirit and the Word were in full agreement. Experience didn’t override Scripture—Scripture interpreted experience. Reason and tradition were considered, but Scripture had the final say. The result? Clarity and consensus. The church declared that Gentiles should not be burdened with requirements that God never gave. Grace cleared the way, and love offered pastoral guidance: abstain from idolatry and immorality, not as entrance requirements, but as a way to promote fellowship and holiness.
Application: Becoming a Church That Clears the Way
There’s a modern echo of this story in the life of a small Italian Pentecostal church in Winnipeg. By the early 2000s, their congregation had dwindled. Services were still in Italian, but the younger generations were no longer attending. Rather than fade quietly, the remaining members decided to take a risk.
They invited a young seminary graduate named Dustin Funk to begin preaching at their church through an interpreter. Though not Italian himself, Dustin stepped into their world and spent a lot of time with them, building a relationship of deep trust. After a while, he gently asked them to consider the question: “What would it look like for us to become a church your children and grandchildren would love to attend and encounter Jesus?”
How did that congregation of Italians respond? They didn’t throw away their heritage. Instead, they began holding services in English while also maintaining a fellowship group in Italian. They moved from their old building, which had some limitations, to a rented school where they set up and tore down for services every Sunday. They eventually renamed their church and welcomed newcomers from all backgrounds.
And today? That church has grown into a vibrant, multiethnic congregation of over a thousand people. Their story didn’t end—it expanded. They’re still reaching Italian speakers through their Italian fellowship ministry. They didn’t lose their identity; they simply reimagined it so that others could find life in Christ. Like the church in Acts 15, they chose to remove barriers rather than build them. And that’s the invitation for us today, too!
A Prayer for Discernment and Grace
Lord Jesus,
We confess that sometimes we’ve made it harder for people to come to Jesus than it needs to be.
Help us not to place burdens on others that you never asked them to carry.
Give us humility to discern your truth together, as the early church did.
Teach us to listen—honestly, prayerfully, humbly—to tradition, experience, reason, and above all, to your Word.
Tear down the walls we’ve built. Clear the path for those who are seeking you.
May our church be a place where grace is abundant, where the gospel is unhindered, and where your love makes a home for all.
In your name we pray,
Amen.
BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST: NO ONE LEFT BEHIND
Acts 8:26–40 Pastor Calvary deJong
May 11th, 2025
Introduction: Loitering with Gospel Intention
When I started in campus ministry, I asked my national coordinator how to best connect with students. His advice? “Don’t sit in your office — get out on campus and loiter with intent.” I laughed at first. Loitering usually brings to mind teens hanging out by a convenience store. But he meant something deeper: loitering with gospel intention — being present, attentive, and open to the Spirit’s leading to serve others in Jesus’ name. That idea stuck with me. And it’s exactly what Philip does in Acts 8. The Spirit doesn’t send him to a stadium of seekers but to a single man on a desert road — someone who had long wondered if there was a place for someone like him. The eunuch wasn’t just curious; his background, body, and beliefs had left him on the margins. Yet the Spirit was already working in both lives — prompting Philip to go and stirring the eunuch to seek. All Philip had to do was show up and sit beside him.
1. The Spirit Sends Us from the Crowd to the One - (Acts 8:26–29)
Philip is in the middle of a thriving ministry in Samaria when God calls him away — not to more crowds, but to a quiet desert road. Not to many, but to one. It’s a reminder that the gospel doesn’t depend on crowds. It flourishes in conversation. It moves through everyday people who listen and obey the Spirit’s promptings. We often think in terms of reach and numbers. But God’s mission moves at the speed of relationship. He chooses presence over spectacle — sending us to the one, not just the many.
2. The Gospel Meets People Where They Are - (Acts 8:30–33)
The Ethiopian eunuch is a person of status — educated and influential — yet still an outsider:
•Racially distinct — a Black African from Ethiopia.
•Physically altered — a eunuch, likely castrated for royal service.
•Religiously excluded — barred from entering the temple’s inner courts.
Though he had gone to Jerusalem to worship, he remained on the edges. On his way home, he’s reading Isaiah 53 — a passage about one cut off, denied justice, left without descendants. It mirrors his own story of exclusion. And he’s reading not the Hebrew Scriptures but the Septuagint — the Greek translation commonly used by outsiders. He hears God’s Word not in the language of the temple, but in a language he understands.
That’s the beauty of the gospel. God doesn’t wait for us to change our language, culture, or condition. He meets us where we are — and speaks in the language of our lives.
3. Jesus Is the Suffering Servant Who Makes Us Family - (Acts 8:34–38)
When the eunuch asks, “Who is the prophet talking about?” Philip shares the good news of Jesus.
Jesus, too, was cut off. He bore shame. He died without descendants — yet through His resurrection, He became the firstborn of a new family. For the eunuch — a man with no lineage, no children, and no temple access — this is deeply personal. Because Jesus was excluded, I can be included. Because He died without a family, I can belong to one. Then the eunuch sees water and says, “What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” The answer is simple: nothing. The barriers are gone. And so, he is baptized — a visible sign of his welcome into God’s family.
Application: Widening the Circle
This story invites us to widen the circle. We live in a diverse city where people carry stories and identities that don’t always fit our categories. Acts 8 reminds us: people don’t need to fit before they’re met. As a church, we’re called to stay rooted in our identity while remaining radically open in posture. RJC offers a powerful example. For much of its history, it was a Mennonite school for Mennonite families. But as fewer families enrolled their children, the school had to ask: What if we opened our doors wider — not by leaving our roots, but by reimagining our reach?
Today, RJC is an Anabaptist school for the world. Students come from across the globe — many with no faith background — and are encountering Jesus in community. RJC didn’t lose its identity. It clarified its mission. That’s our calling, too.
Questions to Consider:
•Who are the spiritual outsiders in your life?
•Who needs someone to walk beside them?
•What barriers — theological, cultural, or relational — can we help lower?
The Spirit still sends us — not just to the familiar, but to the forgotten. Will we follow?
Reflection: What Stands in the Way?
The eunuch asks, “What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” For most of his life, the answer had been: everything — his race, his body, his religious status. But in Jesus, those walls come down. Maybe you’ve asked the same question. Maybe you’ve stood on the edge of faith, unsure if there’s room for you. The gospel answer is clear: because of Jesus nothing stands in the way anymore.
Gospel Invitation: A New Family, A New Name
In Isaiah 56, God promises: “To the eunuchs who keep my covenant… I will give them a name better than sons and daughters — an everlasting name that will not be cut off.” That promise is fulfilled in Jesus. Baptism is not a box to check. It’s an invitation to belong — to be named, known, and welcomed into the family of God. If you believe Jesus is the Suffering Servant and risen Lord — who died for your sin and rose to give you new life — and you’ve never been baptized, come. The invitation is open. Jesus still welcomes outsiders. And He still sends insiders to find them. And when they meet Him — they never walk away the same.
Prayer of Response
Lord Jesus, thank You for welcoming those the world often leaves out. Thank You for meeting us where we are and calling us into Your family. Help us to follow Your Spirit to those who feel forgotten. Make us a church that widens the circle, just like You do.
Amen.
