Central Gathering -- May 24, 2015 -- WELCOME TO Summer is a great opportunity to jump into a New...

Central Gathering

-- May 24, 2015 --

WELCOME TO

Summer is a great opportunity to jump into a New Hope small group (we call them LIFE Groups). Our Groups continue to meet during the summer months. We have two groups on Monday nights, one on Tuesdays, one on Wednesdays, and two on Thursdays. You’re very welcome to visit as many groups as you’d like before deciding one which you’d like to plug into. Grab a LIFE Groups sheet back on the Welcome Table today.

LIFE GroupsSummer Plans

College StudentHome-Cooked Meal

College students! Are you planning on being around Manhattan this summer? Do you want to have a home-cooked meal? New Hope families would love to have you over for free food and to get to know you a little better. If you’d like to get to know a NH family this way this summer, please let us know via your Welcome Card or email. Feelfree to coordinate with a few of your friends and go to dinner together! Just indicate that on your signups.

Central Gathering

-- May 24, 2015 --

WELCOME TO

Ancient Mediterranean Map

10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man's gospel. 12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. 14 And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, 16 was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.

GALATIANS 1:10-2:10 (ESV)

18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother. 20 (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!)21 Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they glorified God because of me.

2 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. 2 I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those who seemed influential) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain. 3 But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek. 4 Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery— 5 to them we


did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. 6 And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me. 7 On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised 8 (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), 9 and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.


PROOF #1: PAUL’S LIFE CHANGE

Galatians 1:11-14: 11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man's gospel. 12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. 14 And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers.


Acts 7:58, 8:1,3 -- Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. … 8:1 And Saul approved of his execution. … 3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.



Acts 9:1-2 -- But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.




Acts 3:4-6 -- If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.




Philippians 3:4-6 -- If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

Philippians 3:7 -- But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.


1 Timothy 1:15 -- The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.



1 Corinthians 15:9 -- For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain.



1 Corinthians 15:9 -- For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain.

Galatians 1:15-16: 15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, 16 was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone;


PROOF #2: MESSAGE WAS INDEPENDENT

Galatians 1:1, 11-12, 15-19, 2:1: 1:1Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father…

11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man's gospel. 12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. …

15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, 16 was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. 18 Then after three years I went up to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days.19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother.…

2:1 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem …


Galatians 1:1, 11-12, 15-19, 2:1: 1:1Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father…

11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man's gospel. 12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. …

15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, 16 was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. 18 Then after three years I went up to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days.19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother.…

2:1 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem …


historēsai

PROOF #3: MESSAGE WAS IDENTICAL

Galatians 1:18-21, 2:1-2: 1:18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother. 20 (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!) 21 Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. …

2:1 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me.


Galatians 1:18-21, 2:1-2: 1:18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother. 20 (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!) 21 Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. …

2:1 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. …

3 But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek…. 6 And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me.


Galatians 2:3-9: 3 But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised, though he was a Greek…. 6 And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me. 7 On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised 8 (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), 9 and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me…


APPLICATIONS & TAKE-AWAYS:

APPLICATIONS & TAKE-AWAYS: 1. The Gospel of Grace

is God’s idea.


is God’s idea.

2. We can be confident in our firm foundation in the Gospel of Grace.


is God’s idea.

2. We can be confident in our firm foundation in the Gospel of Grace.

3. Beware your tendency to add law to the Gospel.

Central Gathering -- May 24, 2015 -- WELCOME TO Summer is a great opportunity to jump into a New...

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