Church Council Case Study Assignment Instructions

Overview

Acts 15 is a critical turning point in the advancement of the gospel. In this passage, the leaders of the church come together to discuss whether Gentile converts to Christianity must submit to the Mosaic law. One side demands that all converts be circumcised, according to the Law of Moses. The other side declares that salvation is by the grace of God alone, and not through any work. After discussion, a determination is made and a letter is circulated to the churches to disclose the verdict.

Instructions

Consider a situation in your church or a hypothetical church that would be similar to this debate we see in Acts 15. Recreate Acts 15, but substitute the issue that you have selected. Offer a defense for both sides of the argument, render a judgment, and then create a letter that declares the decision made by your recreated “Acts 15 Council.”

Please see the sample case study for an example of how to complete this assignment.CHURCH COUNCIL CASE STUDY EXAMPLE

OVERVIEW
Bob and Sally have been married for ten years and are in their early thirties. They have three
small children. They are both member of the church and he is in a men’s small group. They both
recently began serving at the church and he is an apprentice leader in his small group with hopes
of leading his own men’s group. He is successful at work and loves his family. They both appear
to be a growing Christians.
Bob got saved in his early twenties (10 years ago) and before that was involved in several
physical relationships. In fact, Bob’s wife does not even know the extent of his past issues with
promiscuity and lust. He saw it as a “before Christ” issue that still lingered but prided himself
that he had never cheated on his wife. He started viewing pornography when he was 11 years
old. He would stop for periods but when “partying” or after break ups it would increase. This
subsided after his salvation, but he never overcame the temptation to view pornography. In the
last two years he has been in a down slide. His wife noticed he would shut down the computer
screen and be protective of his time on the computer around that time.
Recently he started a long-distance internet relationship with a woman he met online. It all blew
up a month ago when his wife caught him viewing porn. He came clean about the long-term
problem of viewing porn on the computer and in counseling with you he admitted to the
inappropriate contact with a woman. He seems repentant. His wife is upset, and he is
embarrassed
Bob did go back to his group and confessed he has a “problem with lust.” He seemed reluctant
to have someone from the group come with him to counseling as an advocate. He is willing but
feels this will change the way he is looked at in the group. He stepped down from being an
apprentice with regret but no resistance. He came to counseling ashamed but still
underestimating the dangers and effects of his sin.
In your review of his life story, you were able to discern some patterns. Bob has significant
issues in his family of origin. He is still estranged from his father. He is closer to his mother but
seems to feel sorrier for her than being respectful of her. In hopes of winning approval from his
dad, he made attempts to perform well in athletics and at school. He becomes animated and even
angry when he talks about how nothing was ever good enough.
In the life story physical or sexual abuse was never mentioned. He later realized his dad had an
affair for years that he kept secret until Bob was out of college. He found out from his mother
who suspected for years but never confronted her husband until a family friend forced the issue.
Bob seemed to escape into his relationships with girls by junior year of high school but never let
anyone get too close. He met Sally as a senior in college and “fell hard for the first time.”

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Sally was the first person that Bob really let in. They would have long talks while they were
dating, and he felt he found his “soul mate.” He respected her sincere faith and gentle but strong
manner. Sometimes he found himself intimidated and insecure because he felt he could not
“measure up to her goodness.” In fact, Sally comes from a conservative Baptist family and had a
fairly “event free” childhood. She idolized her father growing up and while Bob felt closer to
him than his own father, he hated the feeling of Sally subtly comparing him to her father. Sally
was quick to point out that her background was a bit legalistic and that while she does respect her
father, she sees some of the imbalance in her upbringing.
The recent crisis of Bob’s getting caught and confessing has Sally against the ropes. She seemed
stunned and embarrassed that she did not see this coming. She feels betrayed and deeply hurt.
She sees her dreams of a good marriage fading into the horizon. She is “clinging to her faith” but
does not know if she can “ever trust Bob again.” She wonders if it is all out on the table. She
understands the battle with lust but felt the deception was almost unforgiveable.
BOB’S PERSPECTIVE
Here is where you would develop what Bob might be thinking.
SALLY’S PERSPECTIVE
Here is where you would develop what Sally might be thinking.
RENDERING
Here is where you would offer your final analysis of the situation and write a letter following the
pattern of Acts 15.