♪ theme music ♪
(Derek) Welcome to Hope Sabbath School,
an in-depth, interactive study
of the Word of God.
I'm glad you joined us
we're in the middle
of a series on "The gospel in Galatians."
Actually, we just started,
but we're already learning amazing lessons
for our lives today,
The precious Good News,
and how when we try to share it,
sometimes people resist the truth
as it is in Jesus.
Our topic today: Paul's Authority
and Gospel,
and there are amazing lessons for us.
So we're glad you joined us
for Hope Sabbath School.
And hello to the team;
we're back again.
The Gospel in Galatians,
what did we learn
from the first part of our series
about Paul being transformed?
What was the most important
takeaway lesson for you?
Well, we'll share that as we study today.
I hope you were with us.
If you missed the first part
of this series,
you can go to our website:
hopetv.org/hopess.
You can watch part one
of "The Gospel in Galatians."
And we're always happy to hear from you.
You can write to us at sshope@hopetv.org.
Here are just a few emails.
You know, we know of 150 countries.
You say, "Derek, how do you know?"
Well, we have one Android app
that's being used in 150 countries,
so there's a lot of people joining us
for Hope Sabbath School.
And we've got an Apple app.
By the way, for those of you
who have an iPhone or an iPad,
you can download Hope Sabbath School.
It's free, and you can access the program.
Got an email just a few weeks ago
from someone who in China watched
one program,
went back and watched 100 hours
of interactive Bible studies
in our archives.
So it's there for you.
Here are a few notes.
One from Albert in Namibia,
that's former German West Africa,
you know, just north of South Africa,
and Albert writes, "It's so edifying
to watch and listen
to you explain the Bible so clearly.
My wife and I enjoy
your Bible study every Friday evening
in preparation for the Sabbath.
I am a teacher, and I gain
a lot of knowledge from your classes,
which I apply during my class," good?
That's what we want, download the outline.
"What I want to know is
whether your class is consisting
of all student pastors
because you all seem to know the Bible."
I guess you could tell, Albert, by the way
that everybody laughed
that they're not all student pastors.
"May the Good Lord continue blessing
and giving you spiritual wisdom
as you share the Good News
with the whole world," amen?
(Team) Amen.
(Derek) So what's the takeaway there?
And the answer is,
we can all do something for Jesus, right?
Whether we're teachers or counselors
or physicians or homemakers
or construction workers or pastors, right?
Bible teachers.
We can all do something for Jesus.
Thanks for writing to us, Albert.
Here's a note from Kwasi in Ghana.
Anyone with Ghanaian roots?
Oh, Joshua! Ghanaian roots, all right.
Have a little wave here for Kwasi. Okay.
"I live in Accra," he writes.
"Your Sabbath School discussion
has made me an extraordinary Christian
and has blessed me.
It's built my personal relationship
with Jesus."
(Team) Amen.
(Derek) "It's made me a Bible student!"
This is all good, isn't it?
"It's helped me organize
some children in my community
to share the Word of God with them."
It gets better and better,
doesn't it, Mario?
"Every Sunday morning we do exercise
with the children also
to strengthen our physical bodies."
It sounds like a pretty holistic approach,
right?
Teach the Word of God,
help them to be healthy.
"It's my desire that the Hope
Sabbath School discussion
will be translated
into different languages
around the world; the program is amazing."
Well, I want to tell you
that it's already happening
in different part of the world,
that Hope Sabbath School
is being broadcast in other languages,
also with closed captioning,
but you pray for us, Kwasi,
because we're praying it could go
to every nation, kindred, tongue,
and people.
Thanks for being part of the miracle.
Here's a note from Ludwig in Peru.
He's written to us before.
Ludwig says, "I'm always instructed
by your Friday evening Bible study.
I thank God for all of you.
This program is so didactic
and instructive."
I think he looked up a few words there
for us.
"Big hug to all of you,
and God bless you all," amen?
(Team) Amen.
(Derek) Thanks for writing.
I know, Ludwig, you said
you've been learning
a lot of English, too,
while you've been watching the broadcast.
Here's a note from Tammy in New Jersey
in the United States of America.
She says, "Thank you so much
for what you do; it's an encouragement.
I love Hope Sabbath School.
I watched the first episode
of Hope Sabbath School in December 2016
during a Sabbath school breakfast
I'd planned for our church.
I'd heard of Hope Channel,
but not having a television,
I'd never seen it before
and never seen Hope Sabbath School.
Well, I loved it, and I was thrilled
when I found out you could get it online."
It's easy; you can get the app,
or you can watch it online,
hopetv.org/hopess.
And she concludes, "May God
continue abundantly
to bless your ministry.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I love being a member
of Hope Sabbath School."
(Team) Amen.
(Derek) All right, and by the way,
she's involved in a children's ministry
there in New Jersey,
and so she can do
an interactive Bible study with us
as part of Hope Sabbath School.
One last note, from Trinidad and Tobago.
That's in the beautiful Caribbean.
Just a short note, Leslie Ann writes
and says, "I'm from the island
of Trinidad and Tobago."
I guess that's considered one country,
isn't it?
"I enjoy watching and doing the lesson.
I also enjoy watching Jason
sing the Scripture songs."
Well, Jason, why don't you wave
to Leslie Ann,
and we're going to sing
the Scripture song right now, actually.
We've got a brand new song for this series
from the gospel in Galatians.
It's taken from Galatians, chapter 2,
which says, "I have been crucified
with Christ,
and I no longer live,
but Christ lives in me," it's a miracle.
If you haven't learned the song,
go to our website, download the song,
the sheet music, so you can sing along.
We're going to sing it right now.
♪ music ♪
(Derek)