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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,
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 you've been
learning 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 from 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's 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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99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
But there were a couple
of little phrases there

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99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that showed that Peter,

268
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
one of the church leaders and apostle,

269
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
recognized the work of the Apostle Paul

270
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as being from God.

271
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What did you hear?

272
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Laurel, did you hear something

273
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that caught your attention?

274
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Laurel) It just was amazing that Peter,

275
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
who was part of the original 12
with Jesus,

276
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
recognized that Paul was also called,

277
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
even though he wasn't with Christ

278
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
when He was physically on Earth.

279
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) That's right; He wasn't

280
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
one of the twelve, right?

281
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
So he has seen something in his ministry.

282
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Didn't Jesus say, "By their fruit..."

283
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek, Team) "...you shall know them."

284
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
So he had seen something

285
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
from the fruit of his ministry

286
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that said, "He's an apostle."

287
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
What does <i>apostle</i> mean, by the way?
Do you know?

288
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
One who's sent out, right?

289
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"He's an apostle of Jesus Christ," okay?

290
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
What else, even in the wording
of the passage,

291
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
did you see something?

292
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Christine and then Marcus.

293
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Christine) It says here in verse 15

294
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that God gave Paul the wisdom
and the knowledge...

295
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Aha, wisdom, I think the way
Jonathan read it,

296
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
wisdom comes from God, all right?

297
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Anywhere else, a little clue, Jason?

298
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Jason) In verse 16, he talks about those

299
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
who twist and distort the meaning,

300
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and he's saying they do it

301
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
to their own destruction.

302
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And so, you can deduce from that,

303
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
if you understand it correctly,

304
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that's the way to salvation.

305
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
He's preaching the message of God.

306
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) That's an interesting thought,

307
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and actually there's another phrase
attached to there

308
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
which is important, too.

309
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Did you notice it, Peter?

310
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Peter) It says, "as the rest
of the Scripture."

311
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Okay, so he's including
Paul's testimonies,

312
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
not only as a wisdom from God
like Christine said

313
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but as part of Scripture, God breathed.

314
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
It's Peter who says all Scripture

315
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
is God breathed, right?

316
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
No private interpretation,

317
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

318
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
All right, but that's interesting.

319
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Also, implicitly he's saying,

320
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"If you listen, it's for your salvation,"

321
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that gives it authority.

322
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"If you twist it,

323
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
it's for your destruction."

324
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
All right, so Paul is recognized

325
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
by at least Peter, but I think

326
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
we could say by the Christian community.

327
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
God's at work in him,

328
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and God is speaking through him.

329
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
We're going to look at one of his letters
in this series,

330
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
the gospel to the Galatians.

331
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
The standard format of a letter...

332
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
did you find this from your study?

333
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
What's the standard format of a letter

334
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
back in those times, Tricia Lee?

335
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Tricia Lee) I don't know about back then,

336
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but I do know like when you're
in grammar school,

337
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
you're taught that you start
with a greeting...

338
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Okay.

339
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Tricia Lee) ...or some type
of salutation,

340
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and then you have who it's to

341
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and then the subject of the message,

342
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and you kind of end off with some type of,
you know...

343
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Farewell or closing remark or?

344
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Is that pretty much, Jason,

345
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
the way it looked in these letters

346
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
during the New Testament era?

347
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Jason) Largely yes, and you generally

348
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
start with the positive, too.

349
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
So you'll say, "Oh, you guys,

350
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
this is a nice thing about you,"

351
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
whether you're writing a letter now

352
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
or these letters of Paul.

353
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
They're always saying,

354
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"This is a good thing that you have,"

355
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"This is what I like about you."

356
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) That would probably

357
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
still work today, right?

358
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
If you've got a problem with someone,

359
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
you can say, "Here's some things

360
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I really appreciate about you, but,"

361
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and talk about a problem.

362
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And that's pretty much standard format,

363
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
greeting, some word of thanksgiving,

364
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
body of the letter,

365
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and then some closing remark,

366
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and typically with Paul

367
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
it would include, "the grace of the Lord

368
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
be with you," right, something like that.

369
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Let's see how he begins

370
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
the letter to the Galatians.

371
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Galatians, chapter 1, verses 1 and 2,

372
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and, Alyssa, if you'd read that for us,

373
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and then we'll compare that.

374
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
If someone could find
Ephesians 1, verse 1,

375
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and Colossians 1, verse 1,

376
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
let's see if they're similar

377
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
or if there are some differences.

378
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
By the way, all of those letters

379
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
were written by the Apostle Paul.

380
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Alyssa) In the New International Version
it says:

381
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Okay, that's his greeting there.

382
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Keep that in mind.

383
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Does someone have Ephesians?

384
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Joshua, chapter 1 and verse 1.

385
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Joshua) I'll be reading from the New
King James Version.

386
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
The Bible says:

387
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) All right, so that's to the church
in Ephesus,

388
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
then he writes to the church in Colossae,

389
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
we call that Colossians, Marcus, verse 1.

390
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Marcus) I'll be reading from the King
James Version:

391
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) So what did they have in common,

392
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
those three opening salutations?

393
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
What did they have in common?

394
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Team Member) He's an apostle.

395
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Okay so, Paul, an apostle,
gives his name

396
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
like we do even today, right?

397
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Gives the name and says

398
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
he's an apostle of Jesus.

399
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
What was different, Mario?

400
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
What did you see different

401
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
in the Galatian intro?

402
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Mario) He expounds on that.

403
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
He says not by the will of man

404
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but of God, you know.

405
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
So you can tell

406
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that he needs to clarify something.

407
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Why would he have to do that,
anybody?

408
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
He didn't do it to Ephesus or to Colossae.

409
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Why would he have to do that for Galatia,
Alyssa?

410
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Alyssa) This is still early.

411
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Remember, he had to go to all those places

412
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and represent himself anew

413
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
to each new church,

414
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
so maybe he was still kind of having
to defend

415
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that God did call him.

416
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Possibly, of course we haven't

417
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
read the letter yet, have we?

418
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
That is a possibility, though.

419
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
He's like, "You may not know me,"

420
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but actually there's something else

421
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
going on here. Nicole?

422
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Nicole) His letter talks
about false teachings,

423
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
so in this case he's saying, "Listen,
I'm from God.

424
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I'm an apostle of God.

425
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I'm bringing you the truth and the Word

426
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that you need to hear,

427
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and I want you all to be careful

428
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
of what else is going on around you

429
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that may draw you away from Christ."

430
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) And implied (stay with me now),

431
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
implied is that these people

432
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
who are giving these false teachings

433
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
are saying what about Paul?

434
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Team) That he's not from God.

435
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) He's not a true apostle, right?

436
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Or he's sent by man and not sent by God.
Jonathan?

437
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Jonathan) It seems like multiple times
throughout this that he's

438
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
emphasizing this, that, "My authority
doesn't come

439
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
based on other people; it's God."

440
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
It's the truth that matters
and not the people.

441
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Well let's take a look

442
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
as we read on in Galatians.

443
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Jason, if you could read

444
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
the first six verses,

445
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
it will include the initial salutation
that we read,

446
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
verses 1 through 6.

447
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
He's going to go pass

448
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
saying thank you about anything,

449
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and he's going to come right to the issue
at hand.

450
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Let's take a look, Galatians 1:1-6.

451
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Jason) I'll be reading

452
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
from the New King James Version,

453
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Galatians, chapter 1, verses 1 through 6:

454
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Whoa! So something's up here.

455
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
We're going to get right to it,

456
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but he has kind of given us
the gospel message

457
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
right in those first few verses.

458
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
How would you summarize
the gospel message

459
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
from those verses? Peter.

460
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Peter) The salutation
that he gives there, grace and peace,

461
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
is very interesting to me,

462
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and is actually used

463
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
almost in every letter,

464
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and Peter uses it,

465
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"Grace and peace to you."

466
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
""Grace and peace to you."

467
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And it's almost like, the heart of God,

468
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
full of grace, brings something

469
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
to our hearts, peace,

470
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and He does that through forgiveness,

471
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and this is given to all men.

472
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) So even in the greeting
you're seeing a message.

473
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Many Bible scholars would say

474
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
grace would be a more typical
New Testament,

475
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and shalom, or peace,

476
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
would be more from the Hebrew heritage,

477
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but we're bringing both

478
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
in Christ Jesus, right?

479
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
What's the message?

480
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
What did you hear

481
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
in the first six verses, anybody?
Yes, Alyssa?

482
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Alyssa) Christ died for us,

483
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but in accordance that God
the whole Trinity is working together.

484
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Also he mentions that when we've been
transformed by that message,

485
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
we give glory back to Him.

486
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Yeah, "He gave Himself
for our sins,"

487
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
is the way my Bible translates it,

488
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"that he might deliver us from..."?

489
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Team) Evil.

490
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) "...this present evil age,

491
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
according to the will of our God
and Father,

492
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
to whom be glory,"

493
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and then he, like, "God is awesome."

494
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
You know, he kind of ends

495
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
his little statement there.

496
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
But he up front says,

497
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"This is God's plan of salvation,
through Jesus," right?

498
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"...to deliver us
from the present evil age.

499
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
What is wrong with you?!"
(Thank you, Nicole.)

500
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"Where did you get some other gospel?"

501
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Some other...what does
the word <i>gospel</i> mean, do you know?

502
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Team) Good News.

503
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) "Where do you find some other news

504
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that isn't good news at all?"

505
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
So he obviously is dealing immediately
with a challenge.

506
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Now before we go into that,

507
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
a revelation about the Good News

508
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
was not only given to him, right?

509
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Let's go back; in our first study
in this series,

510
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
we looked at that amazing
concise statement by Peter.

511
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Do you remember that?

512
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Guided by the Holy Spirit.

513
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
In Acts 10, verses 34 to 43.

514
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I want to hear that again.

515
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I'm always amazed, Nicole,

516
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
if you could it for us...

517
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I'm always amazed at the brilliance

518
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
of this concise statement

519
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
about the Gospel message.

520
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And we know it's not because Peter says,

521
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"Well, I'm a great scholar."

522
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
No, no, he was a fisherman

523
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
who wholly surrendered his life to God,

524
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and by the Spirit he's speaking.

525
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
So let's hear his testimony.

526
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Nicole) I'm reading Acts 10,
verses 34 through 43,

527
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and I'm reading from the New
International Version, and it says:

528
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) I love that;
it's so powerful, isn't it?

529
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And by the way, when he says,
"as all the prophets,"

530
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
he kind of says that it's the testimony

531
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
of the whole Scripture.

532
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
It reminds me of a Bible study
that Jesus gave.

533
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Do you remember when that was,
Tricia Lee?

534
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Tricia Lee) When they were
walking to Emmaus.

535
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Right, first to Cleopas

536
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and the other disciple

537
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
on the road to Emmaus,

538
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but then with the disciples

539
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
in the Upper Room.

540
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And He said all of these prophecies,

541
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
all of the Scriptures, what?

542
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Team) "Testify about Me."

543
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Yeah, they "testify about Me,

544
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and not only about Me

545
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but that I had to suffer." Why?

546
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
He suffered for our sins, right?

547
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
He bore our sins that He might...?

548
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
What was that wonderful word?

549
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Team Member) Deliver us.

550
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Deliver us
from this present evil age.

551
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Wonderful news, but all of that...

552
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
You say, "That's a great summary;

553
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I'm going to write it down, Acts 10:34-43.

554
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
If anybody non-Christian come and says,

555
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
'Could you give it to me

556
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
in like just a couple of minutes?'"

557
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
You say, "Well, let me read to you

558
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
what the Holy Spirit said through Peter."

559
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
But we could get even more concise
than that.

560
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Someone have John 3:16,

561
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
would read it for us?

562
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Anybody have John 3:16?

563
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
You say, "I'd like to repeat it."

564
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
John 3:16, got a volunteer?

565
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Jason, read it for us, please.

566
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Jason) I'll be reading from the New
King James Version, John 3:16:

567
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Well that challenges

568
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
the whole idea that it's

569
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
just for the Jews, right?

570
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
It says "whoever."

571
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
God so loved the...?

572
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Team) World.

573
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) I mean it's right there

574
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
in that very simple statement.

575
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
So, I have a question for you, Mario.

576
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Why do people make the Gospel message,

577
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
the Good News about what God has done

578
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
for us in Jesus,

579
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
why do people make it so complicated?

580
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Mario) Oh, wow, we have something
inside of us

581
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that wants to give out steps or processes
to accomplish things.

582
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I mean, in our jobs and in school,

583
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
there's this system that tells us,
you know,

584
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
you have to do this and this and this,

585
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and then you can get what you want.

586
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
So it's hard for us to conceive

587
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that a God can love us

588
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and give something to us

589
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
without us having to do something
to earn it,

590
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but that it is a gift

591
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
if we would just submit to His will...

592
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Now the New Testament

593
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and especially the writings of Paul

594
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
are all about a new creation.

595
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
They're all about deliverance

596
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
from the present evil age,

597
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but that is the <i>fruit</i>

598
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
of accepting the Gospel message.

599
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Somehow we try to make it

600
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
more complicated than "whoever believes
in Him."

601
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
We've got several hands.

602
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Let's take a moment to reflect on this.

603
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Harold) One way, and we have
seen this, actually,

604
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
throughout the New Testament,

605
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
what we studied last time, traditions.

606
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
At times we fall into a routine,

607
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
as Tricia Lee mentioned
in a previous study,

608
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that at times we are so ingrained...

609
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
we get so comfortable that we believe

610
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that that's the way to go to be saved.

611
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) That's maybe even

612
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
what the Bible teaches, right?

613
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Because we've done it for so long,

614
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
or what our religious teacher told us.

615
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Harold) Yes, and Jesus even rebuked
the Pharisees

616
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
because, "You come to Me,"

617
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
you know, with your mouth;

618
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
you're worshiping with your mouth
and everything.

619
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
But yet you come to Me

620
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
by the commandments of men."

621
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And this is found in Matthew,
chapter 15.

622
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Right, so that could happen

623
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
for us, too, right? Tricia Lee?

624
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Tricia Lee) He's reminding us
that we're in an evil age.

625
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
The devil is out there
trying to deceive us.

626
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
From the garden he said,
"Did God really say?"

627
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And when we have simple truths
about salvation, that doubt comes

628
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
into our minds like, is it really
that easy to be saved through Christ?

629
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
You can hang your doubts on anything,
but it's just like, we have to believe

630
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
the true Word that God says
and not question this simple path

631
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that God already laid out.

632
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) I guess there's two approaches
that the devil could bring.

633
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
One would be to say

634
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
it's not that simple, right?
It's more complicated,

635
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
or it's not even true.

636
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
This is not true,

637
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but it's not that simple, you know?

638
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Tricia Lee) Is He really
going to forgive you if you ask Him?

639
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Or maybe it's for someone else,

640
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but would it really be for you?

641
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Anybody else, why do we make it
so complicated, Jonathan?

642
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Jonathan) I think sometimes we really
want it to be...

643
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
It's an issue of pride.

644
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I mean like, if I can make all these
so wonderful thoughts and ideas,

645
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
then it becomes about me and about what
I'm doing or what I'm thinking

646
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
or having the right knowledge, but this is
so simple, like a child can understand.

647
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Didn't Jesus say something
about we need to become as little children

648
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
if we would enter the Kingdom?

649
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Jonathan) That's humbling.

650
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) It requires humility?
Yes, Peter?

651
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Peter) I was thinking, too,

652
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that sometimes maybe...
can God be that good?

653
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Can it be that good?

654
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) You mean a distorted picture

655
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
of the character of God

656
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
could hold me back

657
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
from believing that God could be

658
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that good to me.

659
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Peter) Right, right.

660
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Part of the reason

661
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
we study the Bible

662
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
is to find out the truth about God, right?
Joshua?

663
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Joshua) I believe it was along the lines

664
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
of what Jonathan said.

665
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
He mentioned that, you know,

666
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
the Gospel is even for little children,

667
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
as easy that they can understand it.

668
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And I remember as a child

669
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I always saw the Gospel

670
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
as something that was easy to digest,

671
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
like Jesus loves me,

672
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
He wants to save us from our sins,

673
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
we're going to Heaven one day,

674
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and it was that simple.

675
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
But then as I got older,

676
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
things started to become more and more
and more complicated.

677
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
People are like, "Oh! This prophecy,
that prophecy."

678
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"We have to be saved through this."

679
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"If you do this,
this is going to happen to you."

680
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And your mind just has

681
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
this, for some people,
a spiritual breakdown.

682
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Like, "Whoa, it takes all of that now?

683
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Every move that I make now,

684
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I have to be worried if God is

685
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
going to like me or not like me?

686
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Is He going to strike me from Heaven?"

687
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And I think that we lose touch

688
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
of that real essence of who Christ is,

689
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
making things complicated,
as we've been discussing.

690
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) "Whoever believes in Him

691
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
should not perish."

692
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
But of course we need Scripture

693
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
to know how He is.

694
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Otherwise we could
make up some Jesus, right?

695
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
The Bible is crucial,

696
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and Jesus, when He said, "Baptize

697
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
in the name of the Father, Son
and Holy Spirit,"

698
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
He did say, "Teach them

699
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
to observe all things I've commanded you."

700
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
But all of that is an outgrowth

701
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
of my relationship with Him

702
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
as my Savior, right?

703
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Well let's go back

704
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
to the letter of Galatians,

705
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and, Laurel, could you read

706
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Galatians 1, verses 6 through 9?

707
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Like we noticed in the first part

708
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(we read verse 6 already,

709
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but read it again),

710
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
he skips over, "I'm really thankful

711
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
for so much about you,"

712
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and comes in - boom!

713
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"We've got a problem here."

714
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Let's read verses 6 through 9
of Galatians 1.

715
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Alyssa) I'll be reading from the New
King James Version:

716
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Now that word <i>accursed</i>,

717
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I've got in my margin there

718
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
is the word <i>anathema</i>.

719
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I mean, it's not like,

720
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"That's not a good thing to do."

721
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
It's like really strong language.

722
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Why is Paul...and someone could say,

723
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"Well, that's your perspective;

724
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
this is my perspective"...

725
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
why is he so intense about people...

726
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"You cannot preach some other gospel

727
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
other than what was manifested
through Jesus," Marcus?

728
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Marcus) Because that would portray
a false Christ.

729
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Just like you said earlier as well,

730
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
you said that it's not the same Christ

731
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
if you pervert the gospel,

732
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and this is the early church.

733
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
So, what comes out of this

734
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
may affect future churches
in the next generation.

735
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) So it's not so much

736
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that, "You don't like my teaching,"

737
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
as "You're saying something about God
that isn't true!"

738
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Team) Yes.

739
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) And...? And what?

740
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
What's the implication of that?

741
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Destruction for people!

742
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
This is life and death!

743
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
It's not just, "Do you like your sermon
or your sermon?"

744
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
This is life and death;

745
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
we're talking about how people can be

746
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
set right with God, right?
Yes, Mario.

747
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Mario) I just feel like

748
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I need to highlight

749
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
the same applies to us today.

750
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
This is about the character of Christ

751
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
as perceived in someone else's eyes
through our testimony,

752
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and we get hung up on our doctrine

753
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
as a means to salvation.

754
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And there are so many things that we try

755
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
to hang the hat of salvation on,

756
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but we've got to preach Christ

757
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and Him crucified, as Paul said, you know,

758
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and we have to be careful about that.

759
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Now some people might get

760
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
a little offended with Paul.

761
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
They'd say, "Paul, that's a little,"

762
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(we have an expression in English),

763
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"over the top. Please."

764
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
But let's look at a couple of places

765
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
where Jesus was fairly (what could I say)
direct

766
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
when He felt the same issue,

767
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"You're getting in the way

768
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
of people learning the truth about God."

769
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Mark, chapter 9, verse 42,

770
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Harold, do you have that?

771
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Again I do believe that Jesus,

772
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
He spoke with love in His heart.

773
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I don't like if He's portrayed

774
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
as some kind of angry Savior,

775
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but He spoke strongly here, didn't He?
Mark 5:42?

776
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Harold) I'll be reading from the New
King James Version:

777
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Now, Bible students have discussed

778
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
whether the little ones He's talking about

779
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
are children or new believers.

780
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
What do you think?

781
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Team) Both.

782
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Multiple choice, right?

783
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"All of the above," right?

784
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
If you cause a child to stumble

785
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that they can't, as children do,

786
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
just say, "Jesus, I trust You,

787
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and I want You to save me,

788
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and I want to be with You forever,"

789
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and the Savior says, "Amen," right?

790
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
But also the new believer?

791
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Team) Yes.

792
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) So, we want the new believers
to learn everything

793
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that Jesus taught, right?

794
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
So, how do we do that

795
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
without making a stumbling block for them?

796
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
What is crucially important

797
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
when we're teaching them all those things?

798
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Are you stretching your fingers, Nicole?
Yes, tell me.

799
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Nicole) I think that it starts with us
praying and asking for the Spirit

800
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.

801
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And so we don't become a stumbling block
ourselves, we have to have

802
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that connection with Christ to lead us
the right way.

803
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Okay, but we want to teach them

804
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
to observe all things.

805
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
So how do we do that without
(what's the word)

806
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
damaging the gospel or mutating the gospel

807
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
or proclaiming some other gospel?

808
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
How do we do that, Alyssa?

809
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Alyssa) Well, first, everything

810
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
has to come from Scripture.

811
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Don't try to show them anything
that isn't here.

812
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And also, if they're not secure yet
in their salvation,

813
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
first things have to come first.

814
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) So I believe in Bible prophecy,
it's wonderful.

815
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
By the way, I met many people who believe

816
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
in the authenticity of the Bible
by Bible prophecy,

817
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but you're saying, "I'm going

818
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
to tell them about Jesus

819
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and how to have

820
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
a living connection with Him,"

821
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and then we talk about how do we live
as a Christian

822
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
rather than, "Here's the list of things

823
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that can maybe earn God's love and favor

824
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
or maybe earn your way to Heaven."

825
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Tricia Lee) It's a great question,
and I think that churches struggle

826
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
with how to disciple and how to teach
our new believers.

827
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
We should never be afraid of teaching
what the Bible says or what Jesus says,

828
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but there's a big difference between
teaching what Jesus taught and lived

829
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and then now trying to force people
to make those changes and believing

830
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that we somehow now take on the role
of the Holy Spirit in converting people.

831
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I can teach you and show you, and I should
never hide what the Bible says,

832
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but I have to understand my role is
to teach; my role is not to convert.

833
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I cannot force someone to make a change
that it might have taken me many years

834
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
to come to myself.

835
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
So we have to have patience and humility
and realize that we are only

836
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
pointing people to the Bible teachings
and allowing the Holy Spirit to work

837
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that miracle in their life just like
He worked in our lives.

838
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
But we shouldn't be afraid to show
somebody what the Bible says

839
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
just because it might be too much; maybe
we should hide it from them now - no.

840
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
The Bible teaches all these things;
it's okay to teach it, but we should never

841
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
feel like we have to force someone to make
the same change just like we have.

842
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) And would it be okay to say
we always need to remind them

843
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
what the foundation of our faith...
where it is?

844
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
It's in Jesus, right?
Our Savior

845
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Saved by His grace through faith?

846
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Let's talk about healthful living,

847
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
or let's talk about...

848
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
you could name something else...

849
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
how Jesus is coming back,

850
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but first I have to talk
about the gospel message, right?

851
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And the assurance of salvation.

852
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Several hands raised, Peter?

853
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Peter) I was just going to say

854
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
when we talk about like we're saying
doctrine or anything, living,

855
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Jesus sits for His portrait

856
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and how we present the teachings
of the Bible.

857
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And what portrait of Jesus

858
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
are you painting in your doctrine,

859
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
in your lifestyle that you're coaching,

860
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
whatever it is, X, Y, Z - fill it in -

861
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
what portrait of Jesus are you painting?

862
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) First I have to know

863
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
the truth about Jesus and who He was.
Jonathan.

864
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Jonathan) I was thinking how,
in a musical, you can have the same notes,

865
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
even in the same order, but if you change,
like maybe if you start

866
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
with a different emphasis, or if you put
it in a different bass note or something,

867
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
the music totally changes.

868
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
You can be saying the same things,
but if you're emphasizing

869
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
without that foundation of who God is,
His love for us, as in salvation,

870
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
then you're communicating
a different song, a different tone.

871
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) One other text

872
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
where Jesus spoke rather strongly,

873
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
in Matthew 23:13,14, He was saying,

874
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"Don't get in the way of people

875
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
knowing the truth about Me."

876
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Christine, do you have Matthew 23,
verses 13 and 14?

877
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Christine) I'll be reading from the New
King James Version,

878
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Matthew, chapter 23, verses 13 and 14;
it says:

879
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) And what does it say at the end?

880
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"You will receive" what?

881
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek, Team) A greater condemnation.

882
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
You know, you will be held accountable.

883
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Isn't that what it's saying?

884
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
For getting in the way

885
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
of people knowing the truth.

886
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Now I don't know about you,

887
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but we're here, and this is

888
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
an in-depth, interactive study;

889
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
we've got a lot of people watching this.

890
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
That would cause me to be praying,

891
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"Oh, Lord, help us

892
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
to tell the truth about You," right?

893
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"To tell the truth about Your gospel,

894
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
to tell the truth about the Christian life

895
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
in response to the grace

896
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that's been shown to us," and all of that.

897
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
We want to go now

898
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and look at where Paul gets his message

899
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
because, as someone pointed out

900
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Laurel, I think you mentioned earlier),

901
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
he wasn't one of the 12 Disciples.

902
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
So where does he get his message?

903
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Well let's take a look

904
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
at his own testimony,

905
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and we're looking in Galatians,

906
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
chapter 1, verses 11 through 17,

907
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and then we'll read on in the chapter

908
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and also testimony from his letter
to the Corinthians.

909
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
But first, Galatians, chapter 1,

910
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and, Peter, if you could read that for us,

911
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
verses 11 through 17.

912
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Peter) I'm reading Galatians, chapter 1,
verses 11 to 17,

913
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
in the New King James Version:

914
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) What's he saying?

915
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Harold) He was called
through God's grace.

916
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) He was called
through God's grace,

917
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but more than that, what's he saying?

918
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
This revelation...?

919
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Nicole) Is not from man.

920
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) "...is not from man.

921
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I didn't learn it from anyone
except Jesus!"

922
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
In that sense he's saying,

923
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"I may not have walked with Him

924
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
when He was here on Earth,

925
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but I've walked with Him

926
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
since He ascended to Heaven."

927
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
That's a startling claim, isn't it?

928
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
But that's what he's saying,

929
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"The way I received the message."

930
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Let's keep reading; Mario,
if you could read,

931
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
as he continues now,
in verses 18 through 24.

932
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Again, they're saying, "You're not
a real apostle."

933
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"You weren't one of the twelve," right?

934
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"You weren't there; in fact, your history

935
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
shows you've been fighting against
the truth."

936
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Because, by the way, these Judaizers

937
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
are believers in Jesus.

938
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
So they're not just like those

939
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
who are opposed to Jesus,

940
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but they're saying, "But there's more,

941
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and you're not telling the whole story."

942
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Paul says, "I got it from Jesus."

943
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Reading on, verses 18, is it?

944
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Mario) Through 24, reading Galatians,

945
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
chapter 1, 18 through 24,

946
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
in the New King James Version:

947
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) That's his testimony,
"I've been changed."

948
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Now let's look at one example

949
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
of a revelation given to him,
1 Corinthians 11.

950
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
He's talking here about the beginning

951
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
of what we call the Lord's Supper

952
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
or the Communion service.

953
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Now again, obvious question,

954
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but was he there in the Upper Room?

955
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek, Team) No.

956
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) So, how is he

957
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
going to tell the believers about that?

958
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Well, let's see what he says.

959
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
1 Corinthians 11:23-26, Joshua.

960
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Joshua) The Bible says:

961
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) That's very specific, isn't it?

962
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
It's not like, "Well, and there was

963
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
this little service in the Upper Room

964
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
before Jesus was crucified."

965
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
It's actually quoting Jesus, what He said,

966
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and explaining what it meant.

967
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
So I have a question for you.

968
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
He says, "I received it from the Lord."

969
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
How did Jesus reveal that to him?

970
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Did He appear to him

971
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
like on the Damascus road?

972
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Did He give him a vision?

973
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
You know, a vision, he's still awake,

974
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but he receives a message from Heaven.

975
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Or a dream, we think of like,

976
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
dreams were given to prophets, too?

977
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
How did Jesus reveal that to him,

978
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
what happened in the Upper Room?

979
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
The answer is?

980
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek, Team) We don't know.

981
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Could it have been

982
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
any one of those?

983
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Team) Yes.

984
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Could the Lord Himself have come

985
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
like He did on the Damascus road?

986
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Or have given him a vision?

987
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
But what is Paul
absolutely convinced about?

988
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Team) That it's from Christ.

989
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) That it's a revelation
from Jesus, right?

990
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
So, both that little piece

991
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
of what happened in the Upper Room,

992
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but actually the entire message
he's proclaiming,

993
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
he said, "This doesn't come from me;

994
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
it comes from God."

995
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
So why is that so important

996
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
as he's about to speak to the Galatians

997
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
who were listening to false teaching?

998
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Why is it important that he asserts

999
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
the source of his message?

1000
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Wouldn't it be enough to say,

1001
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"I learned it from the apostles"?

1002
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Jason, what do you think?

1003
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Jason) Because he's being attacked

1004
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
as not being connected with Jesus,

1005
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
as not being part of that origin.

1006
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
They're saying, "You came in
after the fact,

1007
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and you're trying to proclaim to us
this stuff

1008
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
even though you haven't experienced it
yourself.

1009
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
In fact, you were even one
of our persecutors,

1010
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
so how do we know

1011
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that you're actually genuine?"

1012
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And they're basically challenging him

1013
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
by bringing this other gospel in.

1014
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And he's saying, "Look, this is
from Jesus,

1015
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and here's the evidence for it."

1016
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) We're going to study

1017
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
about the whole Conflict and the message

1018
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
in the gospel to the Galatians,

1019
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but I just want to pause and ask,

1020
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
does it startle you

1021
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that Jesus would call someone

1022
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
who'd been such a fierce opponent?

1023
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Would it be fair to say to almost become
a primary witness?

1024
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I mean, how many books

1025
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
of the New Testament

1026
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
did - let's choose some of the Apostles -
Peter.

1027
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
How many books of the New Testament
did Peter write?

1028
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Well we've got 1 and 2 Peter, right?

1029
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
That's the clue, right?

1030
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Give me another Apostle.

1031
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek, Team) John.

1032
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Okay, how many books

1033
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
of the New Testament
did John write?

1034
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Five? Okay, you've got

1035
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
the Gospel of John,

1036
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
1 John, 2 John, 3 John, and?

1037
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Team) Revelation.

1038
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) He says, the Revelation
of Jesus Christ

1039
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
through His servant John."

1040
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Okay, so you've got five there.

1041
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Give me another Apostle
besides Peter and John.

1042
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Not Timothy, he was not an Apostle, right?

1043
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
But Matthew was...Matthew, how many
did he write?

1044
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Team) One.

1045
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) One that bears his name,

1046
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
an important Gospel, right?

1047
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Give me another Apostle.

1048
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Philip? How many did he write?

1049
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek, Team) None.

1050
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Give me another one.

1051
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
James, the brother of John,

1052
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that's not the one who wrote

1053
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
the book of James, right?

1054
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
So, many of the Apostles

1055
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
didn't write any books

1056
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
of the New Testament, right?

1057
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And how many did you say again

1058
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write?

1059
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Team) Thirteen.

1060
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Doesn't it startle you?

1061
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
What does that tell you about God?

1062
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Not just about Paul.

1063
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
You say, "He was obviously a changed man."

1064
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
What does that tell you about God?
Christine.

1065
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Christine) That God can use anyone

1066
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
to get them to proclaim the message.

1067
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) He can use anyone.

1068
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Can we complete that sentence, Tricia Lee?

1069
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Tricia Lee) Even me.

1070
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Okay, yeah.

1071
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
God can use anyone, even me.

1072
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I still need a little qualifier
in there, Nicole?

1073
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) God can use anyone, even me...?

1074
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Nicole) If you're willing...
if you're willing to be used.

1075
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) If I'm willing.

1076
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And how is that willingness revealed?

1077
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
How is that willingness revealed?

1078
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
How is it apparent that I am willing

1079
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
to be used by God, even me,

1080
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
to proclaim the Good News about Jesus?

1081
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Joshua) By doing the work.

1082
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) I think before I do the work, no?

1083
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Nicole) It's choosing.

1084
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Tricia Lee) Believing.

1085
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Choosing, believing.

1086
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Team Member) Responding to the call.

1087
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) How do I respond to the call?

1088
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I listen?

1089
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Team Member) Repent first.

1090
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) I repent. I...?

1091
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Nicole) Pray?

1092
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Pray. I surrender.

1093
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I humble myself before God.

1094
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
This message is not about me;
it's about Jesus.

1095
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"And God, You're going to have to work
supernaturally

1096
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
because I don't want to mess that up."

1097
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I certainly don't want to proclaim

1098
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
a false gospel, right?

1099
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I humble myself...So, I'm willing,

1100
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
surrender? Even me?

1101
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
That Paul could do that?

1102
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And God could use him in such
an amazing way? Joshua?

1103
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Joshua) This is helping me to think

1104
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
because if you think about the most
well-known pastors and evangelists

1105
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that you hear about

1106
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
throughout the Christian church,

1107
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
many of them were not raised
as Christians.

1108
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Yeah.

1109
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Joshua) Many of them actually converted
to Christianity,

1110
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and through the experience

1111
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that they had with Jesus,

1112
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
they just went full force,

1113
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and that goes across the board.

1114
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And I think it just goes to show

1115
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that when we have that true conversion,

1116
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
our past is no longer a priority.

1117
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Our past is just a shadow of who we were,

1118
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and we are now new in Christ.

1119
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Doesn't Paul say somewhere,

1120
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"I consider all of that..."

1121
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
What was the word he used?

1122
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I think a literal translation
is "cow dung,"

1123
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but "rubbish" would be a little more...

1124
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
It's garbage compared to the excellency
of knowing Christ.

1125
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Not just knowing about Him, right?

1126
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
But <i>knowing</i> Him.

1127
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
It's like he can't keep quiet.

1128
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And if we're willing...even me? Even me.

1129
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
So in the last few minutes we've got,

1130
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I want you to give a testimony

1131
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
of how you have been blessed,

1132
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
not only to know Jesus

1133
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and have that relationship,

1134
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
but you've been blessed

1135
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that God would use you

1136
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
to share the truth about Jesus

1137
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
with someone else, okay?

1138
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And you may share a specific instance.

1139
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
You may share something

1140
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that's happening to you right now.

1141
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
So let's talk about that.

1142
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
We can't share what we don't know, right?

1143
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
So, coming to know Him and sharing.

1144
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Who can share a testimony of being blessed

1145
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
as a result of that?

1146
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
We'll start with you, Harold.

1147
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Harold) One day I was going
to Radio Shack

1148
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(that's like an electronics store),

1149
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and they were closing down.

1150
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
The thought came, "Well, since it's
closing down,

1151
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
there's some people who are there,"

1152
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and I'm a type that I like
to talk one-on-one.

1153
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And usually the store's kind of empty.

1154
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
There was this lady,

1155
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and I had this material,

1156
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and I started talking to her,

1157
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
like saying, "Hey, I have this material
for you,

1158
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
if you're interested."

1159
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) So this was something
about the Bible?

1160
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Harold) Yeah, all about the Bible.

1161
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Actually that lasted like an hour or more,
the conversation.

1162
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) It must have been a quiet day
at the store.

1163
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Harold) No, it was interesting.

1164
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
There were more customers coming in.

1165
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
It was so inspiring

1166
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that I started even asking,

1167
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"Hey, customers, would you be interested?"

1168
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I was not afraid; I was really so blessed

1169
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
because the lady was asking
so many questions,

1170
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
even asked for material

1171
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that I had at home; this was interesting.

1172
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I purchased the material

1173
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
thinking that I would read it,

1174
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and then she mentioned to me,

1175
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"I remember reading this book

1176
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
back in the day by this person."

1177
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And I'm like, "Wow, interesting!"

1178
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I have this book at home,

1179
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and I just bought one,

1180
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
thinking that I would use it,

1181
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and I brought it for her.

1182
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
She was so blessed and was acknowledging

1183
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
all the truth that was being shared

1184
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that I felt blessed.

1185
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
It was like, wow, somebody received
God's truth today,

1186
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
even the people who were
around us listening

1187
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
or even receiving the material.

1188
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
That made my day,

1189
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and I thank God for that.

1190
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) For those of you

1191
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
in the second row,

1192
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
you couldn't see he was smiling.

1193
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
He was blessed to be used

1194
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
to bless someone else,

1195
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and it sounds like God was at work

1196
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
even in him getting that book

1197
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that they wanted to read,

1198
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and it was already there.

1199
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
In some ways you might think,

1200
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"Well, that's not as dramatic as
the Damascus road."

1201
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
But it was dramatic for you, wasn't it?

1202
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Anybody else, being blessed? Joshua.

1203
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Joshua) Years ago I was

1204
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
in Antigua visiting family,

1205
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and I was sitting in my Aunt Nola's house,

1206
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and I saw Hope Sabbath School

1207
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
for the first time.

1208
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
As I watched the people...

1209
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Was that before you ever became
a participant?

1210
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Joshua) Oh, yeah, this was before that.

1211
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I was watching the show, and I said,

1212
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"I can't really relate to these people;

1213
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
they look too holy."

1214
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And I said, "You know what?

1215
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
They're going into all these deep things
about the Bible,"

1216
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
so I just kept watching it.

1217
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I had no idea that God was ever

1218
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
going to put me on this show

1219
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
to do this same exact work.

1220
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And now I know that we're not all perfect

1221
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and that through media God can reach

1222
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
so many people across the world.

1223
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I'm very thankful to be here,

1224
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and I met my wife on this show.

1225
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Oh, you did,

1226
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and she's not here,

1227
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
just in case the viewers are trying

1228
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
to guess which one it is.

1229
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
But back to what you said, Tricia Lee,

1230
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"Even me," "Even me."
Isn't that amazing?

1231
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Surrendered to God, you're watching
the show,

1232
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and, you know, our producer Elroy,

1233
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
when he was in grad school,

1234
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
he said, "I wish I could...,"

1235
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
He was watching Hope Sabbath School,

1236
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and he was really blessed.

1237
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
He was saying, "I wish I could

1238
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
produce a program like that,"

1239
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and today he's our producer.

1240
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Isn't that awesome!

1241
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Team) Yes.

1242
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) That's the kind of people

1243
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
we want to be a part of the team, right?

1244
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
That we believe God is working
in miraculous ways.

1245
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
One last testimony, yes, Nicole.

1246
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Nicole) I would continue what Joshua said
in saying I'm blessed to be

1247
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
on this program also, and it's funny
because I met you

1248
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
at a church here locally, and I hadn't
really heard of Hope Sabbath School,

1249
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and you actually talked about it
in church.

1250
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I was like, "Let me see what he's
talking about," and I watched

1251
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
this program a couple of times.

1252
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I just think that the Lord really led me
to that church,

1253
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

1254
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
a blessing because I'm meeting people
who have seen the programs, and they're

1255
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
very blessed by the program.

1256
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.

1257
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) I think that's why the Apostle
Paul was so passionate, because he's like,

1258
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
"It's not just about me being saved;

1259
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
it's about sharing that blessing,

1260
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
the grace of God I've come to know
and experience.

1261
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I want to share that with everybody,

1262
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
even if they try to kill me,"

1263
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
which, by the way, happened
quite frequently

1264
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
for the Apostle Paul.

1265
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
And when people tried to distort

1266
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
the truth of the Gospel,

1267
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
he got really upset

1268
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
because he wanted people to know

1269
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
the true character of God and God's plan.

1270
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
I want to share the truth

1271
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
about Jesus, too, don't you?

1272
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Let's pray that he'll work in us
in wonderful ways.

1273
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Father in Heaven, thank You

1274
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
for the beautiful truth of the Gospel.

1275
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Forgive us if we've made it complicated

1276
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
or a stumbling block put in the way
of someone

1277
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
so they don't hear the truth.

1278
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Help us to continue to study Your Word,

1279
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
to learn the truth of the Gospel

1280
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
to be able to share it in a way

1281
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
that will bless many lives,
including ours.

1282
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
In the name of Jesus. Amen.

1283
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Team) Amen.

1284
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
(Derek) Well, thanks for joining us

1285
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
for Hope Sabbath School.

1286
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
We have so much to learn, but you know?

1287
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
God loves us, and He will be withe us

1288
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
each step of the journey.

1289
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
Take what you're learning

1290
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
and be a blessing to those around you.

1291
99:59:59,999 --> 99:59:59,999
♪ theme music ♪