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♪ theme music ♪
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(Derek) Welcome to Hope Sabbath School,
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an in-depth, interactive study
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of the Word of God.
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I'm glad you joined us
we're in the middle
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of a series on "The gospel in Galatians."
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Actually, we just started,
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but we're already learning amazing lessons
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for our lives today,
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The precious Good News,
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and how when we try to share it,
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sometimes people resist the truth
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as it is in Jesus.
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Our topic today: Paul's Authority
and Gospel,
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and there are amazing lessons for us.
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So we're glad you joined us
for Hope Sabbath School.
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And hello to the team;
we're back again.
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The Gospel in Galatians,
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what did we learn
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from the first part of our series
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about Paul being transformed?
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What was the most important
takeaway lesson for you?
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Well, we'll share that as we study today.
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I hope you were with us.
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If you missed the first part
of this series,
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you can go to our website:
hopetv.org/hopess.
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You can watch part one
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of "The Gospel in Galatians."
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And we're always happy to hear from you.
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You can write to us at sshope@hopetv.org.
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Here are just a few emails.
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You know, we know of 150 countries.
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You say, "Derek, how do you know?"
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Well, we have one Android app
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that's being used in 150 countries,
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so there's a lot of people joining us
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for Hope Sabbath School.
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And we've got an Apple app.
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By the way, for those of you
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who have an iPhone or an iPad,
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you can download Hope Sabbath School.
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It's free, and you can access the program.
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Got an email just a few weeks ago
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from someone who in China watched
one program,
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went back and watched 100 hours
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of interactive Bible studies
in our archives.
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So it's there for you.
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Here are a few notes.
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One from Albert in Namibia,
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that's former German West Africa,
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you know, just north of South Africa,
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and Albert writes, "It's so edifying
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to watch and listen
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to you explain the Bible so clearly.
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My wife and I enjoy
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your Bible study every Friday evening
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in preparation for the Sabbath.
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I am a teacher, and I gain
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a lot of knowledge from your classes,
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which I apply during my class," good?
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That's what we want, download the outline.
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"What I want to know is
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whether your class is consisting
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of all student pastors
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because you all seem to know the Bible."
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I guess you could tell, Albert, by the way
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that everybody laughed
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that they're not all student pastors.
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"May the Good Lord continue blessing
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and giving you spiritual wisdom
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as you share the Good News
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with the whole world," amen?
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(Team) Amen.
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(Derek) So what's the takeaway there?
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And the answer is,
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we can all do something for Jesus, right?
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Whether we're teachers or counselors
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or physicians or homemakers
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or construction workers or pastors, right?
Bible teachers.
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We can all do something for Jesus.
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Thanks for writing to us, Albert.
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Here's a note from Kwasi in Ghana.
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Anyone with Ghanaian roots?
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Oh, Joshua! Ghanaian roots, all right.
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Have a little wave here for Kwasi. Okay.
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"I live in Accra," he writes.
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"Your Sabbath School discussion
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has made me an extraordinary Christian
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and has blessed me.
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It's built my personal relationship
with Jesus."
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(Team) Amen.
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(Derek) "It's made me a Bible student!"
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This is all good, isn't it?
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"It's helped me organize
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some children in my community
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to share the Word of God with them."
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It gets better and better,
doesn't it, Mario?
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"Every Sunday morning we do exercise
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with the children also
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to strengthen our physical bodies."
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It sounds like a pretty holistic approach,
right?
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Teach the Word of God,
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help them to be healthy.
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"It's my desire that the Hope
Sabbath School discussion
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will be translated
into different languages
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around the world; the program is amazing."
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Well, I want to tell you
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that it's already happening
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in different part of the world,
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that Hope Sabbath School
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is being broadcast in other languages,
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also with closed captioning,
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but you pray for us, Kwasi,
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because we're praying it could go
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to every nation, kindred, tongue,
and people.
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Thanks for being part of the miracle.
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Here's a note from Ludwig in Peru.
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He's written to us before.
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Ludwig says, "I'm always instructed
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by your Friday evening Bible study.
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I thank God for all of you.
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This program is so didactic
and instructive."
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I think he looked up a few words there
for us.
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"Big hug to all of you,
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and God bless you all," amen?
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(Team) Amen.
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(Derek) Thanks for writing.
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I know, Ludwig, you said
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you've been learning
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a lot of English, too,
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while you've been watching the broadcast.
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Here's a note from Tammy in New Jersey
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in the United States of America.
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She says, "Thank you so much
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for what you do; it's an encouragement.
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I love Hope Sabbath School.
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I watched the first episode
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of Hope Sabbath School in December 2016
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during a Sabbath school breakfast
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I'd planned for our church.
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I'd heard of Hope Channel,
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but not having a television,
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I'd never seen it before
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and never seen Hope Sabbath School.
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Well, I loved it, and I was thrilled
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when I found out you could get it online."
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It's easy; you can get the app,
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or you can watch it online,
hopetv.org/hopess.
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And she concludes, "May God
continue abundantly
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to bless your ministry.
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Thank you, thank you, thank you!
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I love being a member
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of Hope Sabbath School."
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(Team) Amen.
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(Derek) All right, and by the way,
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she's involved in a children's ministry
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there in New Jersey,
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and so she can do
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an interactive Bible study with us
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as part of Hope Sabbath School.
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One last note, from Trinidad and Tobago.
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That's in the beautiful Caribbean.
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Just a short note, Leslie Ann writes
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and says, "I'm from the island
of Trinidad and Tobago."
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I guess that's considered one country,
isn't it?
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"I enjoy watching and doing the lesson.
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I also enjoy watching Jason
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sing the Scripture songs."
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Well, Jason, why don't you wave
to Leslie Ann,
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and we're going to sing
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the Scripture song right now, actually.
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We've got a brand new song for this series
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from the gospel in Galatians.
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It's taken from Galatians, chapter 2,
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which says, "I have been crucified
with Christ,
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and I no longer live,
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but Christ lives in me," it's a miracle.
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If you haven't learned the song,
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go to our website, download the song,
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the sheet music, so you can sing along.
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We're going to sing it right now.
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♪ music ♪
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(Derek) There's so much included
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in that one verse in Galatians 2:20,21.
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The Son of God loves you
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and gave Himself for you;
isn't that awesome?!
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I just want to pray
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that Jesus would be lifted up today
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as we study the gospel in Galatians.
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Father in Heaven, thank You.
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Thank You that God so loved the world
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that You sent Your one and only Son
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that whoever believes in Him
should not perish
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but have everlasting life.
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We see sickness and death all around us.
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We know that sin
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brings death and destruction,
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but I thank You
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that You've given us hope in Your Word
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even today, hope in Jesus.
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And I pray as we study
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the Gospel in Galatians,
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as we study Paul's authority and gospel,
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that You would work in supernatural ways
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in each of our hearts,
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Hope Sabbath School members
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all around the world.
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May lives be blessed today
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to bring honor to Your name.
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I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
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(Team) Amen.
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(Derek) Now before we go
into Paul authority,
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I want to go back
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to our previous study, Nicole.
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How could it be
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that God could take a rebel
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who was forcing people
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to blaspheme and wreaking havoc
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(you remember that word?)
in the church
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and call him "My chosen servant"
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to be an ambassador
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for the Gospel message?
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How can that happen?
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(Nicole) Because God loves each and every
one of us and wants us all to be saved.
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And so He uses us wherever we are to
spread His Word to those He wants to save.
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In terms of this case, He knew he was
a Zealot, even if it was a Zealot
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in the time before he was transformed,
and he was doing evil things.
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God knew that he was a Zealot
and when he was actually changed,
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he'd be a Zealot for Him.
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And so God was like, "I know the end
from the beginning, and so, therefore,
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this person's going to be the person
I need at this time to bring my Word
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to those who need it."
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(Derek) Is that encouraging?
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That God sees the potential
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even in the midst of all our stumblings?
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We're going to talk about Paul
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as he writes now.
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Many think this was
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one of the earliest documents
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that we have in what we call
the New Testament,
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about 49-50 A.D.
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And it's written because of a problem
in the church,
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but by then, even at that time,
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we're going to see
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that the Christian church recognized
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the Holy Spirit working in this man,
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name changed from Saul of Tarsus to...?
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(Team) Paul.
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(Derek) Paul the Apostle.
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So let's start in 2 Peter, chapter 3.
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We're going to come back
to Galatians here,
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but Jonathan, would you read for us
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2 Peter 3, verses 15 and 16.
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I want you to listen carefully as Peter,
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in some ways a little humorous,
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he says, "Paul is not always easy
to understand,"
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but there's a testimony
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about the authority of his work.
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(Jonathan) I'm reading
from the New International Version:
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(Derek) So, I've always read that
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and though, "Oh, it's not always easy
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to understand Paul," which is true.
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Sometimes I read a text, and I go,
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"What does that mean?"
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Maybe I need to come
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to Hope Sabbath School
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and get a little help
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from sisters and brothers.
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But there were a couple
of little phrases there
270
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that showed that Peter,
271
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
one of the church leaders and apostle,
272
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recognized the work of the Apostle Paul
273
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as being from God.
274
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
What did you hear?
275
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Laurel, did you hear something
276
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that caught your attention?
277
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Laurel) It just was amazing that Peter,
278
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who was part of the original 12
with Jesus,
279
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
recognized that Paul was also called,
280
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even though he wasn't with Christ
281
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when He was physically on Earth.
282
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(Derek) That's right; He wasn't
283
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
one of the twelve, right?
284
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
So he has seen something in his ministry.
285
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Didn't Jesus say, "By their fruit..."
286
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek, Team) "...you shall know them."
287
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
So he had seen something
288
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
from the fruit of his ministry
289
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that said, "He's an apostle."
290
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
What does apostle mean, by the way?
Do you know?
291
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
One who's sent out, right?
292
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"He's an apostle of Jesus Christ," okay?
293
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
What else, even in the wording
of the passage,
294
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
did you see something?
295
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Christine and then Marcus.
296
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Christine) It says here in verse 15
297
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that God gave Paul the wisdom
and the knowledge...
298
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Aha, wisdom, I think the way
Jonathan read it,
299
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
wisdom comes from God, all right?
300
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Anywhere else, a little clue, Jason?
301
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Jason) In verse 16, he talks about those
302
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
who twist and distort the meaning,
303
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and he's saying they do it
304
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
to their own destruction.
305
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And so, you can deduce from that,
306
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
if you understand it correctly,
307
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that's the way to salvation.
308
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
He's preaching the message of God.
309
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) That's an interesting thought,
310
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and actually there's another phrase
attached to there
311
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
which is important, too.
312
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Did you notice it, Peter?
313
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Peter) It says, "as the rest
of the Scripture."
314
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Okay, so he's including
Paul's testimonies,
315
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
not only as a wisdom from God
like Christine said
316
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but as part of Scripture, God breathed.
317
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
It's Peter who says all Scripture
318
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
is God breathed, right?
319
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
No private interpretation,
320
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
321
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
All right, but that's interesting.
322
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Also, implicitly he's saying,
323
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"If you listen, it's for your salvation,"
324
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that gives it authority.
325
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"If you twist it,
326
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
it's for your destruction."
327
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
All right, so Paul is recognized
328
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
by at least Peter, but I think
329
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
we could say by the Christian community.
330
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
God's at work in him,
331
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and God is speaking through him.
332
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
We're going to look at one of his letters
in this series,
333
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
the gospel to the Galatians.
334
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
The standard format of a letter...
335
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
did you find this from your study?
336
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
What's the standard format of a letter
337
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
back in those times, Tricia Lee?
338
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Tricia Lee) I don't know about back then,
339
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but I do know like when you're
in grammar school,
340
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
you're taught that you start
with a greeting...
341
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Okay.
342
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Tricia Lee) ...or some type
of salutation,
343
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and then you have who it's to
344
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and then the subject of the message,
345
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and you kind of end off with some type of,
you know...
346
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Farewell or closing remark or?
347
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Is that pretty much, Jason,
348
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
the way it looked in these letters
349
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
during the New Testament era?
350
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Jason) Largely yes, and you generally
351
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
start with the positive, too.
352
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
So you'll say, "Oh, you guys,
353
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
this is a nice thing about you,"
354
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
whether you're writing a letter now
355
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
or these letters of Paul.
356
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
They're always saying,
357
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"This is a good thing that you have,"
358
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"This is what I like about you."
359
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) That would probably
360
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
still work today, right?
361
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
If you've got a problem with someone,
362
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
you can say, "Here's some things
363
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I really appreciate about you, but,"
364
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and talk about a problem.
365
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And that's pretty much standard format,
366
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
greeting, some word of thanksgiving,
367
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
body of the letter,
368
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and then some closing remark,
369
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and typically with Paul
370
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
it would include, "the grace of the Lord
371
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
be with you," right, something like that.
372
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Let's see how he begins
373
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
the letter to the Galatians.
374
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Galatians, chapter 1, verses 1 and 2,
375
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and, Alyssa, if you'd read that for us,
376
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and then we'll compare that.
377
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
If someone could find
Ephesians 1, verse 1,
378
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and Colossians 1, verse 1,
379
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
let's see if they're similar
380
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
or if there are some differences.
381
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
By the way, all of those letters
382
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
were written by the Apostle Paul.
383
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Alyssa) In the New International Version
it says:
384
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Okay, that's his greeting there.
385
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Keep that in mind.
386
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Does someone have Ephesians?
387
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Joshua, chapter 1 and verse 1.
388
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Joshua) I'll be reading from the New
King James Version.
389
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
The Bible says:
390
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) All right, so that's to the church
in Ephesus,
391
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
then he writes to the church in Colossae,
392
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
we call that Colossians, Marcus, verse 1.
393
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Marcus) I'll be reading from the King
James Version:
394
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) So what did they have in common,
395
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
those three opening salutations?
396
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
What did they have in common?
397
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Team Member) He's an apostle.
398
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Okay so, Paul, an apostle,
gives his name
399
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
like we do even today, right?
400
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Gives the name and says
401
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
he's an apostle of Jesus.
402
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
What was different, Mario?
403
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
What did you see different
404
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
in the Galatian intro?
405
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Mario) He expounds on that.
406
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
He says not by the will of man
407
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but of God, you know.
408
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
So you can tell
409
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that he needs to clarify something.
410
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Why would he have to do that,
anybody?
411
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
He didn't do it to Ephesus or to Colossae.
412
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Why would he have to do that for Galatia,
Alyssa?
413
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Alyssa) This is still early.
414
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Remember, he had to go to all those places
415
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and represent himself anew
416
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
to each new church,
417
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
so maybe he was still kind of having
to defend
418
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that God did call him.
419
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Possibly, of course we haven't
420
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
read the letter yet, have we?
421
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
That is a possibility, though.
422
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
He's like, "You may not know me,"
423
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but actually there's something else
424
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
going on here. Nicole?
425
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Nicole) His letter talks
about false teachings,
426
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
so in this case he's saying, "Listen,
I'm from God.
427
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I'm an apostle of God.
428
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I'm bringing you the truth and the Word
429
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that you need to hear,
430
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and I want you all to be careful
431
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
of what else is going on around you
432
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that may draw you away from Christ."
433
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) And implied (stay with me now),
434
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
implied is that these people
435
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
who are giving these false teachings
436
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
are saying what about Paul?
437
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Team) That he's not from God.
438
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) He's not a true apostle, right?
439
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Or he's sent by man and not sent by God.
Jonathan?
440
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Jonathan) It seems like multiple times
throughout this that he's
441
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
emphasizing this, that, "My authority
doesn't come
442
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
based on other people; it's God."
443
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
It's the truth that matters
and not the people.
444
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Well let's take a look
445
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
as we read on in Galatians.
446
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Jason, if you could read
447
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
the first six verses,
448
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
it will include the initial salutation
that we read,
449
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
verses 1 through 6.
450
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
He's going to go pass
451
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
saying thank you about anything,
452
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and he's going to come right to the issue
at hand.
453
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Let's take a look, Galatians 1:1-6.
454
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Jason) I'll be reading
455
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
from the New King James Version,
456
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Galatians, chapter 1, verses 1 through 6:
457
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Whoa! So something's up here.
458
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
We're going to get right to it,
459
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but he has kind of given us
the gospel message
460
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
right in those first few verses.
461
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
How would you summarize
the gospel message
462
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
from those verses? Peter.
463
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Peter) The salutation
that he gives there, grace and peace,
464
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
is very interesting to me,
465
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and is actually used
466
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
almost in every letter,
467
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and Peter uses it,
468
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"Grace and peace to you."
469
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
""Grace and peace to you."
470
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And it's almost like, the heart of God,
471
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
full of grace, brings something
472
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
to our hearts, peace,
473
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and He does that through forgiveness,
474
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and this is given to all men.
475
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) So even in the greeting
you're seeing a message.
476
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Many Bible scholars would say
477
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
grace would be a more typical
New Testament,
478
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and shalom, or peace,
479
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
would be more from the Hebrew heritage,
480
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but we're bringing both
481
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
in Christ Jesus, right?
482
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
What's the message?
483
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
What did you hear
484
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
in the first six verses, anybody?
Yes, Alyssa?
485
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Alyssa) Christ died for us,
486
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but in accordance that God
the whole Trinity is working together.
487
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Also he mentions that when we've been
transformed by that message,
488
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
we give glory back to Him.
489
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Yeah, "He gave Himself
for our sins,"
490
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
is the way my Bible translates it,
491
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"that he might deliver us from..."?
492
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Team) Evil.
493
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) "...this present evil age,
494
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
according to the will of our God
and Father,
495
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
to whom be glory,"
496
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and then he, like, "God is awesome."
497
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
You know, he kind of ends
498
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
his little statement there.
499
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
But he up front says,
500
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"This is God's plan of salvation,
through Jesus," right?
501
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"...to deliver us
from the present evil age.
502
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
What is wrong with you?!"
(Thank you, Nicole.)
503
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"Where did you get some other gospel?"
504
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Some other...what does
the word gospel mean, do you know?
505
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Team) Good News.
506
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) "Where do you find some other news
507
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that isn't good news at all?"
508
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
So he obviously is dealing immediately
with a challenge.
509
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Now before we go into that,
510
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
a revelation about the Good News
511
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
was not only given to him, right?
512
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Let's go back; in our first study
in this series,
513
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
we looked at that amazing
concise statement by Peter.
514
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Do you remember that?
515
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Guided by the Holy Spirit.
516
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
In Acts 10, verses 34 to 43.
517
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I want to hear that again.
518
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I'm always amazed, Nicole,
519
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
if you could it for us...
520
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I'm always amazed at the brilliance
521
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
of this concise statement
522
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
about the Gospel message.
523
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And we know it's not because Peter says,
524
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"Well, I'm a great scholar."
525
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
No, no, he was a fisherman
526
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
who wholly surrendered his life to God,
527
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and by the Spirit he's speaking.
528
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
So let's hear his testimony.
529
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Nicole) I'm reading Acts 10,
verses 34 through 43,
530
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and I'm reading from the New
International Version, and it says:
531
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) I love that;
it's so powerful, isn't it?
532
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And by the way, when he says,
"as all the prophets,"
533
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
he kind of says that it's the testimony
534
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
of the whole Scripture.
535
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
It reminds me of a Bible study
that Jesus gave.
536
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Do you remember when that was,
Tricia Lee?
537
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Tricia Lee) When they were
walking to Emmaus.
538
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Right, first to Cleopas
539
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and the other disciple
540
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
on the road to Emmaus,
541
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but then with the disciples
542
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
in the Upper Room.
543
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And He said all of these prophecies,
544
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
all of the Scriptures, what?
545
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Team) "Testify about Me."
546
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Yeah, they "testify about Me,
547
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and not only about Me
548
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but that I had to suffer." Why?
549
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
He suffered for our sins, right?
550
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
He bore our sins that He might...?
551
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
What was that wonderful word?
552
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Team Member) Deliver us.
553
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Deliver us
from this present evil age.
554
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Wonderful news, but all of that...
555
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
You say, "That's a great summary;
556
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I'm going to write it down, Acts 10:34-43.
557
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
If anybody non-Christian come and says,
558
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
'Could you give it to me
559
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
in like just a couple of minutes?'"
560
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
You say, "Well, let me read to you
561
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
what the Holy Spirit said through Peter."
562
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
But we could get even more concise
than that.
563
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Someone have John 3:16,
564
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
would read it for us?
565
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Anybody have John 3:16?
566
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
You say, "I'd like to repeat it."
567
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
John 3:16, got a volunteer?
568
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Jason, read it for us, please.
569
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Jason) I'll be reading from the New
King James Version, John 3:16:
570
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Well that challenges
571
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
the whole idea that it's
572
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
just for the Jews, right?
573
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
It says "whoever."
574
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
God so loved the...?
575
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Team) World.
576
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) I mean it's right there
577
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
in that very simple statement.
578
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
So, I have a question for you, Mario.
579
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Why do people make the Gospel message,
580
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
the Good News about what God has done
581
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
for us in Jesus,
582
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
why do people make it so complicated?
583
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Mario) Oh, wow, we have something
inside of us
584
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that wants to give out steps or processes
to accomplish things.
585
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I mean, in our jobs and in school,
586
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
there's this system that tells us,
you know,
587
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
you have to do this and this and this,
588
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and then you can get what you want.
589
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
So it's hard for us to conceive
590
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that a God can love us
591
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and give something to us
592
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
without us having to do something
to earn it,
593
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but that it is a gift
594
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
if we would just submit to His will...
595
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Now the New Testament
596
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and especially the writings of Paul
597
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
are all about a new creation.
598
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
They're all about deliverance
599
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
from the present evil age,
600
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but that is the fruit
601
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
of accepting the Gospel message.
602
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Somehow we try to make it
603
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
more complicated than "whoever believes
in Him."
604
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
We've got several hands.
605
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Let's take a moment to reflect on this.
606
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Harold) One way, and we have
seen this, actually,
607
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
throughout the New Testament,
608
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
what we studied last time, traditions.
609
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
At times we fall into a routine,
610
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
as Tricia Lee mentioned
in a previous study,
611
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that at times we are so ingrained...
612
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
we get so comfortable that we believe
613
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that that's the way to go to be saved.
614
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) That's maybe even
615
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
what the Bible teaches, right?
616
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Because we've done it for so long,
617
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
or what our religious teacher told us.
618
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Harold) Yes, and Jesus even rebuked
the Pharisees
619
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
because, "You come to Me,"
620
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
you know, with your mouth;
621
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
you're worshiping with your mouth
and everything.
622
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
But yet you come to Me
623
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
by the commandments of men."
624
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And this is found in Matthew,
chapter 15.
625
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Right, so that could happen
626
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
for us, too, right? Tricia Lee?
627
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Tricia Lee) He's reminding us
that we're in an evil age.
628
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
The devil is out there
trying to deceive us.
629
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
From the garden he said,
"Did God really say?"
630
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And when we have simple truths
about salvation, that doubt comes
631
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
into our minds like, is it really
that easy to be saved through Christ?
632
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
You can hang your doubts on anything,
but it's just like, we have to believe
633
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
the true Word that God says
and not question this simple path
634
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that God already laid out.
635
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) I guess there's two approaches
that the devil could bring.
636
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
One would be to say
637
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
it's not that simple, right?
It's more complicated,
638
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
or it's not even true.
639
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
This is not true,
640
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but it's not that simple, you know?
641
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Tricia Lee) Is He really
going to forgive you if you ask Him?
642
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Or maybe it's for someone else,
643
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but would it really be for you?
644
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Anybody else, why do we make it
so complicated, Jonathan?
645
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Jonathan) I think sometimes we really
want it to be...
646
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
It's an issue of pride.
647
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I mean like, if I can make all these
so wonderful thoughts and ideas,
648
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
then it becomes about me and about what
I'm doing or what I'm thinking
649
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
or having the right knowledge, but this is
so simple, like a child can understand.
650
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Didn't Jesus say something
about we need to become as little children
651
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
if we would enter the Kingdom?
652
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Jonathan) That's humbling.
653
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) It requires humility?
Yes, Peter?
654
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Peter) I was thinking, too,
655
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that sometimes maybe...
can God be that good?
656
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Can it be that good?
657
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) You mean a distorted picture
658
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
of the character of God
659
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
could hold me back
660
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
from believing that God could be
661
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that good to me.
662
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Peter) Right, right.
663
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Part of the reason
664
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
we study the Bible
665
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
is to find out the truth about God, right?
Joshua?
666
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Joshua) I believe it was along the lines
667
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
of what Jonathan said.
668
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
He mentioned that, you know,
669
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
the Gospel is even for little children,
670
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
as easy that they can understand it.
671
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And I remember as a child
672
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I always saw the Gospel
673
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
as something that was easy to digest,
674
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
like Jesus loves me,
675
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
He wants to save us from our sins,
676
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
we're going to Heaven one day,
677
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and it was that simple.
678
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
But then as I got older,
679
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
things started to become more and more
and more complicated.
680
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
People are like, "Oh! This prophecy,
that prophecy."
681
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"We have to be saved through this."
682
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"If you do this,
this is going to happen to you."
683
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And your mind just has
684
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
this, for some people,
a spiritual breakdown.
685
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Like, "Whoa, it takes all of that now?
686
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Every move that I make now,
687
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I have to be worried if God is
688
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
going to like me or not like me?
689
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Is He going to strike me from Heaven?"
690
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And I think that we lose touch
691
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
of that real essence of who Christ is,
692
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
making things complicated,
as we've been discussing.
693
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) "Whoever believes in Him
694
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
should not perish."
695
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
But of course we need Scripture
696
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
to know how He is.
697
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Otherwise we could
make up some Jesus, right?
698
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
The Bible is crucial,
699
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and Jesus, when He said, "Baptize
700
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
in the name of the Father, Son
and Holy Spirit,"
701
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
He did say, "Teach them
702
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
to observe all things I've commanded you."
703
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
But all of that is an outgrowth
704
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
of my relationship with Him
705
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
as my Savior, right?
706
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Well let's go back
707
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
to the letter of Galatians,
708
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and, Laurel, could you read
709
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Galatians 1, verses 6 through 9?
710
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Like we noticed in the first part
711
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(we read verse 6 already,
712
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but read it again),
713
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
he skips over, "I'm really thankful
714
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
for so much about you,"
715
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and comes in - boom!
716
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"We've got a problem here."
717
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Let's read verses 6 through 9
of Galatians 1.
718
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Alyssa) I'll be reading from the New
King James Version:
719
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Now that word accursed,
720
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I've got in my margin there
721
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
is the word anathema.
722
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I mean, it's not like,
723
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"That's not a good thing to do."
724
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
It's like really strong language.
725
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Why is Paul...and someone could say,
726
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"Well, that's your perspective;
727
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
this is my perspective"...
728
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
why is he so intense about people...
729
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"You cannot preach some other gospel
730
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
other than what was manifested
through Jesus," Marcus?
731
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Marcus) Because that would portray
a false Christ.
732
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Just like you said earlier as well,
733
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
you said that it's not the same Christ
734
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
if you pervert the gospel,
735
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and this is the early church.
736
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
So, what comes out of this
737
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
may affect future churches
in the next generation.
738
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) So it's not so much
739
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that, "You don't like my teaching,"
740
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
as "You're saying something about God
that isn't true!"
741
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Team) Yes.
742
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) And...? And what?
743
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
What's the implication of that?
744
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Destruction for people!
745
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
This is life and death!
746
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
It's not just, "Do you like your sermon
or your sermon?"
747
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
This is life and death;
748
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
we're talking about how people can be
749
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
set right with God, right?
Yes, Mario.
750
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Mario) I just feel like
751
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I need to highlight
752
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
the same applies to us today.
753
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
This is about the character of Christ
754
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
as perceived in someone else's eyes
through our testimony,
755
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and we get hung up on our doctrine
756
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
as a means to salvation.
757
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And there are so many things that we try
758
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
to hang the hat of salvation on,
759
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but we've got to preach Christ
760
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and Him crucified, as Paul said, you know,
761
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and we have to be careful about that.
762
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Now some people might get
763
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
a little offended with Paul.
764
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
They'd say, "Paul, that's a little,"
765
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(we have an expression in English),
766
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"over the top. Please."
767
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
But let's look at a couple of places
768
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
where Jesus was fairly (what could I say)
direct
769
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
when He felt the same issue,
770
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"You're getting in the way
771
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
of people learning the truth about God."
772
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Mark, chapter 9, verse 42,
773
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Harold, do you have that?
774
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Again I do believe that Jesus,
775
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
He spoke with love in His heart.
776
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I don't like if He's portrayed
777
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
as some kind of angry Savior,
778
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but He spoke strongly here, didn't He?
Mark 5:42?
779
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Harold) I'll be reading from the New
King James Version:
780
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Now, Bible students have discussed
781
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
whether the little ones He's talking about
782
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
are children or new believers.
783
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
What do you think?
784
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Team) Both.
785
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Multiple choice, right?
786
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"All of the above," right?
787
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
If you cause a child to stumble
788
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that they can't, as children do,
789
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
just say, "Jesus, I trust You,
790
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and I want You to save me,
791
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and I want to be with You forever,"
792
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and the Savior says, "Amen," right?
793
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
But also the new believer?
794
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Team) Yes.
795
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) So, we want the new believers
to learn everything
796
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that Jesus taught, right?
797
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
So, how do we do that
798
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
without making a stumbling block for them?
799
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
What is crucially important
800
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
when we're teaching them all those things?
801
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Are you stretching your fingers, Nicole?
Yes, tell me.
802
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Nicole) I think that it starts with us
praying and asking for the Spirit
803
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
to fill us with what we need in order
to reach those that we're dealing with.
804
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And so we don't become a stumbling block
ourselves, we have to have
805
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that connection with Christ to lead us
the right way.
806
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Okay, but we want to teach them
807
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
to observe all things.
808
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
So how do we do that without
(what's the word)
809
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
damaging the gospel or mutating the gospel
810
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
or proclaiming some other gospel?
811
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
How do we do that, Alyssa?
812
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Alyssa) Well, first, everything
813
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
has to come from Scripture.
814
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Don't try to show them anything
that isn't here.
815
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And also, if they're not secure yet
in their salvation,
816
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
first things have to come first.
817
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) So I believe in Bible prophecy,
it's wonderful.
818
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
By the way, I met many people who believe
819
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
in the authenticity of the Bible
by Bible prophecy,
820
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but you're saying, "I'm going
821
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
to tell them about Jesus
822
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and how to have
823
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
a living connection with Him,"
824
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and then we talk about how do we live
as a Christian
825
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
rather than, "Here's the list of things
826
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that can maybe earn God's love and favor
827
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
or maybe earn your way to Heaven."
828
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Tricia Lee) It's a great question,
and I think that churches struggle
829
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
with how to disciple and how to teach
our new believers.
830
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
We should never be afraid of teaching
what the Bible says or what Jesus says,
831
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but there's a big difference between
teaching what Jesus taught and lived
832
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and then now trying to force people
to make those changes and believing
833
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that we somehow now take on the role
of the Holy Spirit in converting people.
834
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I can teach you and show you, and I should
never hide what the Bible says,
835
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but I have to understand my role is
to teach; my role is not to convert.
836
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I cannot force someone to make a change
that it might have taken me many years
837
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
to come to myself.
838
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
So we have to have patience and humility
and realize that we are only
839
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
pointing people to the Bible teachings
and allowing the Holy Spirit to work
840
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that miracle in their life just like
He worked in our lives.
841
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
But we shouldn't be afraid to show
somebody what the Bible says
842
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
just because it might be too much; maybe
we should hide it from them now - no.
843
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
The Bible teaches all these things;
it's okay to teach it, but we should never
844
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
feel like we have to force someone to make
the same change just like we have.
845
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) And would it be okay to say
we always need to remind them
846
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
what the foundation of our faith...
where it is?
847
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
It's in Jesus, right?
Our Savior
848
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Saved by His grace through faith?
849
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Let's talk about healthful living,
850
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
or let's talk about...
851
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
you could name something else...
852
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
how Jesus is coming back,
853
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but first I have to talk
about the gospel message, right?
854
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And the assurance of salvation.
855
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Several hands raised, Peter?
856
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Peter) I was just going to say
857
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
when we talk about like we're saying
doctrine or anything, living,
858
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Jesus sits for His portrait
859
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and how we present the teachings
of the Bible.
860
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And what portrait of Jesus
861
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
are you painting in your doctrine,
862
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
in your lifestyle that you're coaching,
863
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
whatever it is, X, Y, Z - fill it in -
864
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
what portrait of Jesus are you painting?
865
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) First I have to know
866
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
the truth about Jesus and who He was.
Jonathan.
867
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Jonathan) I was thinking how,
in a musical, you can have the same notes,
868
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
even in the same order, but if you change,
like maybe if you start
869
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
with a different emphasis, or if you put
it in a different bass note or something,
870
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
the music totally changes.
871
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
You can be saying the same things,
but if you're emphasizing
872
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
without that foundation of who God is,
His love for us, as in salvation,
873
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
then you're communicating
a different song, a different tone.
874
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) One other text
875
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
where Jesus spoke rather strongly,
876
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
in Matthew 23:13,14, He was saying,
877
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"Don't get in the way of people
878
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
knowing the truth about Me."
879
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Christine, do you have Matthew 23,
verses 13 and 14?
880
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Christine) I'll be reading from the New
King James Version,
881
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Matthew, chapter 23, verses 13 and 14;
it says:
882
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) And what does it say at the end?
883
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"You will receive" what?
884
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek, Team) A greater condemnation.
885
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
You know, you will be held accountable.
886
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Isn't that what it's saying?
887
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
For getting in the way
888
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
of people knowing the truth.
889
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Now I don't know about you,
890
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but we're here, and this is
891
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
an in-depth, interactive study;
892
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
we've got a lot of people watching this.
893
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
That would cause me to be praying,
894
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"Oh, Lord, help us
895
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
to tell the truth about You," right?
896
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"To tell the truth about Your gospel,
897
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
to tell the truth about the Christian life
898
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
in response to the grace
899
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that's been shown to us," and all of that.
900
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
We want to go now
901
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and look at where Paul gets his message
902
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
because, as someone pointed out
903
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Laurel, I think you mentioned earlier),
904
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
he wasn't one of the 12 Disciples.
905
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
So where does he get his message?
906
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Well let's take a look
907
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
at his own testimony,
908
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and we're looking in Galatians,
909
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
chapter 1, verses 11 through 17,
910
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and then we'll read on in the chapter
911
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and also testimony from his letter
to the Corinthians.
912
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
But first, Galatians, chapter 1,
913
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and, Peter, if you could read that for us,
914
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
verses 11 through 17.
915
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Peter) I'm reading Galatians, chapter 1,
verses 11 to 17,
916
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
in the New King James Version:
917
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) What's he saying?
918
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Harold) He was called
through God's grace.
919
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) He was called
through God's grace,
920
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but more than that, what's he saying?
921
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
This revelation...?
922
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Nicole) Is not from man.
923
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) "...is not from man.
924
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I didn't learn it from anyone
except Jesus!"
925
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
In that sense he's saying,
926
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"I may not have walked with Him
927
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
when He was here on Earth,
928
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but I've walked with Him
929
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
since He ascended to Heaven."
930
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
That's a startling claim, isn't it?
931
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
But that's what he's saying,
932
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"The way I received the message."
933
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Let's keep reading; Mario,
if you could read,
934
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
as he continues now,
in verses 18 through 24.
935
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Again, they're saying, "You're not
a real apostle."
936
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"You weren't one of the twelve," right?
937
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"You weren't there; in fact, your history
938
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
shows you've been fighting against
the truth."
939
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Because, by the way, these Judaizers
940
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
are believers in Jesus.
941
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
So they're not just like those
942
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
who are opposed to Jesus,
943
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but they're saying, "But there's more,
944
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and you're not telling the whole story."
945
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Paul says, "I got it from Jesus."
946
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Reading on, verses 18, is it?
947
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Mario) Through 24, reading Galatians,
948
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
chapter 1, 18 through 24,
949
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
in the New King James Version:
950
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) That's his testimony,
"I've been changed."
951
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Now let's look at one example
952
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
of a revelation given to him,
1 Corinthians 11.
953
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
He's talking here about the beginning
954
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
of what we call the Lord's Supper
955
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
or the Communion service.
956
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Now again, obvious question,
957
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but was he there in the Upper Room?
958
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek, Team) No.
959
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) So, how is he
960
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
going to tell the believers about that?
961
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Well, let's see what he says.
962
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
1 Corinthians 11:23-26, Joshua.
963
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Joshua) The Bible says:
964
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) That's very specific, isn't it?
965
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
It's not like, "Well, and there was
966
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
this little service in the Upper Room
967
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
before Jesus was crucified."
968
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
It's actually quoting Jesus, what He said,
969
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and explaining what it meant.
970
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
So I have a question for you.
971
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
He says, "I received it from the Lord."
972
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
How did Jesus reveal that to him?
973
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Did He appear to him
974
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
like on the Damascus road?
975
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Did He give him a vision?
976
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
You know, a vision, he's still awake,
977
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but he receives a message from Heaven.
978
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Or a dream, we think of like,
979
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
dreams were given to prophets, too?
980
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
How did Jesus reveal that to him,
981
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
what happened in the Upper Room?
982
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
The answer is?
983
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek, Team) We don't know.
984
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Could it have been
985
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
any one of those?
986
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Team) Yes.
987
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Could the Lord Himself have come
988
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
like He did on the Damascus road?
989
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Or have given him a vision?
990
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
But what is Paul
absolutely convinced about?
991
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Team) That it's from Christ.
992
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) That it's a revelation
from Jesus, right?
993
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
So, both that little piece
994
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
of what happened in the Upper Room,
995
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but actually the entire message
he's proclaiming,
996
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
he said, "This doesn't come from me;
997
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
it comes from God."
998
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
So why is that so important
999
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
as he's about to speak to the Galatians
1000
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
who were listening to false teaching?
1001
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Why is it important that he asserts
1002
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
the source of his message?
1003
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Wouldn't it be enough to say,
1004
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"I learned it from the apostles"?
1005
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Jason, what do you think?
1006
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Jason) Because he's being attacked
1007
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
as not being connected with Jesus,
1008
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
as not being part of that origin.
1009
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
They're saying, "You came in
after the fact,
1010
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and you're trying to proclaim to us
this stuff
1011
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
even though you haven't experienced it
yourself.
1012
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
In fact, you were even one
of our persecutors,
1013
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
so how do we know
1014
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that you're actually genuine?"
1015
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And they're basically challenging him
1016
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
by bringing this other gospel in.
1017
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And he's saying, "Look, this is
from Jesus,
1018
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and here's the evidence for it."
1019
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) We're going to study
1020
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
about the whole Conflict and the message
1021
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
in the gospel to the Galatians,
1022
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but I just want to pause and ask,
1023
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
does it startle you
1024
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that Jesus would call someone
1025
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
who'd been such a fierce opponent?
1026
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Would it be fair to say to almost become
a primary witness?
1027
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I mean, how many books
1028
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
of the New Testament
1029
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
did - let's choose some of the Apostles -
Peter.
1030
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
How many books of the New Testament
did Peter write?
1031
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Well we've got 1 and 2 Peter, right?
1032
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
That's the clue, right?
1033
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Give me another Apostle.
1034
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek, Team) John.
1035
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Okay, how many books
1036
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
of the New Testament
did John write?
1037
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Five? Okay, you've got
1038
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
the Gospel of John,
1039
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
1 John, 2 John, 3 John, and?
1040
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Team) Revelation.
1041
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) He says, the Revelation
of Jesus Christ
1042
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
through His servant John."
1043
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Okay, so you've got five there.
1044
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Give me another Apostle
besides Peter and John.
1045
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Not Timothy, he was not an Apostle, right?
1046
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
But Matthew was...Matthew, how many
did he write?
1047
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Team) One.
1048
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) One that bears his name,
1049
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
an important Gospel, right?
1050
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Give me another Apostle.
1051
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Philip? How many did he write?
1052
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek, Team) None.
1053
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Give me another one.
1054
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
James, the brother of John,
1055
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that's not the one who wrote
1056
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
the book of James, right?
1057
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
So, many of the Apostles
1058
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
didn't write any books
1059
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
of the New Testament, right?
1060
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And how many did you say again
1061
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write?
1062
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Team) Thirteen.
1063
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Doesn't it startle you?
1064
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
What does that tell you about God?
1065
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Not just about Paul.
1066
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
You say, "He was obviously a changed man."
1067
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
What does that tell you about God?
Christine.
1068
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Christine) That God can use anyone
1069
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
to get them to proclaim the message.
1070
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) He can use anyone.
1071
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Can we complete that sentence, Tricia Lee?
1072
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Tricia Lee) Even me.
1073
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Okay, yeah.
1074
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
God can use anyone, even me.
1075
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I still need a little qualifier
in there, Nicole?
1076
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) God can use anyone, even me...?
1077
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Nicole) If you're willing...
if you're willing to be used.
1078
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) If I'm willing.
1079
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And how is that willingness revealed?
1080
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
How is that willingness revealed?
1081
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
How is it apparent that I am willing
1082
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
to be used by God, even me,
1083
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
to proclaim the Good News about Jesus?
1084
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Joshua) By doing the work.
1085
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) I think before I do the work, no?
1086
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Nicole) It's choosing.
1087
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Tricia Lee) Believing.
1088
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Choosing, believing.
1089
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Team Member) Responding to the call.
1090
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) How do I respond to the call?
1091
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I listen?
1092
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Team Member) Repent first.
1093
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) I repent. I...?
1094
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Nicole) Pray?
1095
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Pray. I surrender.
1096
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I humble myself before God.
1097
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
This message is not about me;
it's about Jesus.
1098
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"And God, You're going to have to work
supernaturally
1099
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
because I don't want to mess that up."
1100
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I certainly don't want to proclaim
1101
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
a false gospel, right?
1102
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I humble myself...So, I'm willing,
1103
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
surrender? Even me?
1104
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
That Paul could do that?
1105
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And God could use him in such
an amazing way? Joshua?
1106
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Joshua) This is helping me to think
1107
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
because if you think about the most
well-known pastors and evangelists
1108
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that you hear about
1109
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
throughout the Christian church,
1110
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
many of them were not raised
as Christians.
1111
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Yeah.
1112
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Joshua) Many of them actually converted
to Christianity,
1113
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and through the experience
1114
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that they had with Jesus,
1115
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
they just went full force,
1116
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and that goes across the board.
1117
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And I think it just goes to show
1118
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that when we have that true conversion,
1119
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
our past is no longer a priority.
1120
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Our past is just a shadow of who we were,
1121
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and we are now new in Christ.
1122
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Doesn't Paul say somewhere,
1123
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"I consider all of that..."
1124
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
What was the word he used?
1125
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I think a literal translation
is "cow dung,"
1126
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but "rubbish" would be a little more...
1127
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
It's garbage compared to the excellency
of knowing Christ.
1128
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Not just knowing about Him, right?
1129
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
But knowing Him.
1130
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
It's like he can't keep quiet.
1131
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And if we're willing...even me? Even me.
1132
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
So in the last few minutes we've got,
1133
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I want you to give a testimony
1134
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
of how you have been blessed,
1135
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
not only to know Jesus
1136
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and have that relationship,
1137
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but you've been blessed
1138
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that God would use you
1139
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
to share the truth about Jesus
1140
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
with someone else, okay?
1141
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And you may share a specific instance.
1142
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
You may share something
1143
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that's happening to you right now.
1144
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
So let's talk about that.
1145
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
We can't share what we don't know, right?
1146
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
So, coming to know Him and sharing.
1147
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Who can share a testimony of being blessed
1148
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
as a result of that?
1149
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
We'll start with you, Harold.
1150
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Harold) One day I was going
to Radio Shack
1151
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(that's like an electronics store),
1152
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and they were closing down.
1153
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
The thought came, "Well, since it's
closing down,
1154
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
there's some people who are there,"
1155
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and I'm a type that I like
to talk one-on-one.
1156
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And usually the store's kind of empty.
1157
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
There was this lady,
1158
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and I had this material,
1159
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and I started talking to her,
1160
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
like saying, "Hey, I have this material
for you,
1161
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
if you're interested."
1162
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) So this was something
about the Bible?
1163
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Harold) Yeah, all about the Bible.
1164
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Actually that lasted like an hour or more,
the conversation.
1165
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) It must have been a quiet day
at the store.
1166
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Harold) No, it was interesting.
1167
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
There were more customers coming in.
1168
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
It was so inspiring
1169
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that I started even asking,
1170
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"Hey, customers, would you be interested?"
1171
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I was not afraid; I was really so blessed
1172
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
because the lady was asking
so many questions,
1173
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
even asked for material
1174
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that I had at home; this was interesting.
1175
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I purchased the material
1176
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
thinking that I would read it,
1177
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and then she mentioned to me,
1178
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"I remember reading this book
1179
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
back in the day by this person."
1180
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And I'm like, "Wow, interesting!"
1181
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I have this book at home,
1182
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and I just bought one,
1183
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
thinking that I would use it,
1184
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and I brought it for her.
1185
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
She was so blessed and was acknowledging
1186
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
all the truth that was being shared
1187
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that I felt blessed.
1188
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
It was like, wow, somebody received
God's truth today,
1189
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
even the people who were
around us listening
1190
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
or even receiving the material.
1191
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
That made my day,
1192
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and I thank God for that.
1193
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) For those of you
1194
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
in the second row,
1195
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
you couldn't see he was smiling.
1196
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
He was blessed to be used
1197
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
to bless someone else,
1198
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and it sounds like God was at work
1199
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
even in him getting that book
1200
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that they wanted to read,
1201
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and it was already there.
1202
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
In some ways you might think,
1203
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"Well, that's not as dramatic as
the Damascus road."
1204
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
But it was dramatic for you, wasn't it?
1205
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Anybody else, being blessed? Joshua.
1206
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Joshua) Years ago I was
1207
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
in Antigua visiting family,
1208
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and I was sitting in my Aunt Nola's house,
1209
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and I saw Hope Sabbath School
1210
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
for the first time.
1211
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
As I watched the people...
1212
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Was that before you ever became
a participant?
1213
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Joshua) Oh, yeah, this was before that.
1214
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I was watching the show, and I said,
1215
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"I can't really relate to these people;
1216
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
they look too holy."
1217
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And I said, "You know what?
1218
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
They're going into all these deep things
about the Bible,"
1219
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
so I just kept watching it.
1220
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I had no idea that God was ever
1221
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
going to put me on this show
1222
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
to do this same exact work.
1223
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And now I know that we're not all perfect
1224
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and that through media God can reach
1225
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
so many people across the world.
1226
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I'm very thankful to be here,
1227
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and I met my wife on this show.
1228
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Oh, you did,
1229
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and she's not here,
1230
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
just in case the viewers are trying
1231
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
to guess which one it is.
1232
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
But back to what you said, Tricia Lee,
1233
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"Even me," "Even me."
Isn't that amazing?
1234
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Surrendered to God, you're watching
the show,
1235
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and, you know, our producer Elroy,
1236
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
when he was in grad school,
1237
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
he said, "I wish I could...,"
1238
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
He was watching Hope Sabbath School,
1239
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and he was really blessed.
1240
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
He was saying, "I wish I could
1241
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
produce a program like that,"
1242
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and today he's our producer.
1243
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Isn't that awesome!
1244
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Team) Yes.
1245
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) That's the kind of people
1246
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
we want to be a part of the team, right?
1247
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
That we believe God is working
in miraculous ways.
1248
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
One last testimony, yes, Nicole.
1249
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Nicole) I would continue what Joshua said
in saying I'm blessed to be
1250
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
on this program also, and it's funny
because I met you
1251
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
at a church here locally, and I hadn't
really heard of Hope Sabbath School,
1252
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and you actually talked about it
in church.
1253
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I was like, "Let me see what he's
talking about," and I watched
1254
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
this program a couple of times.
1255
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I just think that the Lord really led me
to that church,
1256
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
led me to meet with you that day, and put
me in this program, and it's just been
1257
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
a blessing because I'm meeting people
who have seen the programs, and they're
1258
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
very blessed by the program.
1259
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And so it's this great blessing to me
that I can be a part of this ministry.
1260
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) I think that's why the Apostle
Paul was so passionate, because he's like,
1261
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"It's not just about me being saved;
1262
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
it's about sharing that blessing,
1263
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
the grace of God I've come to know
and experience.
1264
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I want to share that with everybody,
1265
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
even if they try to kill me,"
1266
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
which, by the way, happened
quite frequently
1267
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
for the Apostle Paul.
1268
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And when people tried to distort
1269
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
the truth of the Gospel,
1270
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
he got really upset
1271
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
because he wanted people to know
1272
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
the true character of God and God's plan.
1273
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I want to share the truth
1274
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
about Jesus, too, don't you?
1275
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Let's pray that he'll work in us
in wonderful ways.
1276
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Father in Heaven, thank You
1277
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
for the beautiful truth of the Gospel.
1278
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Forgive us if we've made it complicated
1279
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
or a stumbling block put in the way
of someone
1280
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
so they don't hear the truth.
1281
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Help us to continue to study Your Word,
1282
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
to learn the truth of the Gospel
1283
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
to be able to share it in a way
1284
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that will bless many lives,
including ours.
1285
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
In the name of Jesus. Amen.
1286
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Team) Amen.
1287
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Well, thanks for joining us
1288
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
for Hope Sabbath School.
1289
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
We have so much to learn, but you know?
1290
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
God loves us, and He will be withe us
1291
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
each step of the journey.
1292
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Take what you're learning
1293
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and be a blessing to those around you.
1294
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
♪ theme music ♪