Gal. 1:11-24: Paul’s Journey With Jesus

Intro:

Did you have a chance to share your “One Word” last week? BRING “DELIVERED”

Lots going on a the church house these days! Please, I encourage you to seek how you can be involved and participate in a growth group or ministry that is going on. If you are looking for something as a family I encourage the whole family to come out on Wednesday nights. I am facilitating a growth group called Epic Chapters of the Bible, you will need to do some reading throughout the week, but come and join me, Wednesday at 6:30

Who you journey with in life really makes a big difference.

Summary of the Chapter:

Don’t desert the only gospel that turns Sinners into Saints

Memory verse of the Chapter:

Galatians 1:6 “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—”

Outline:

Self-Sufficient Saint: “Advancing in Judaism” (vs. 11-17)

Delivered Sinner: “Preaching the Faith he Once Tried to Destroy” (vs. 18-24)

Illustration: What has been some of the most memorable journeys in your life? What happened, where did you go? Who did you go with? What happened?

Wade- said in a conversation that is it often the trips and journies where things do not go according to plan that are the most memorable.

Prayer:

Self-Sufficent Saint: “Advancing in Judaism” (vs. 11-17)

Not man’s gospel (vs. 11-12)

For I would have you know

brothers- these are people of like-mind and like-faith, they belong to the family of God

that the gospel that was preached by me- when he was there during his missionary journey

is not man’s gospel- “Man-made religions emphasize human merit and the necessity of human works for salvation. Paul’s message did not.”

Donald K. Campbell, “Galatians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 591.

Galatians 1:1 “Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—”

Galatians 1:10 “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.”

Paul is really trying to get the readers attention, both in Galatia and ours. Don’t desert who God is and do not distort the good news of deliverance through Jesus.

For I did not receive it from any man

nor was I taught it- Paul had sat under a lot of teaching and received a lot of understanding and qualifications in his life thus far.

but I received it

through a revelation of Jesus Christ- the risen Christ! Best teacher ever!!

Even our world recognizes this, they might not agree that he was the Son of God, but they would all say He was a great teacher!

Life before the Gospel (vs. 13-14)

For you have heard of my former life in Judaism:

how I persecuted the church of God- “ediwkon” imper, act, ind, 1st, sg, to cause to suffer. This was not a one time thing

Acts 9:4–5 “And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.”

Acts 22:8 “And I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’”

Acts 26:9-11 gives an even deeper look as Paul stood before Herod Agrippa II

violently- some of us in this room have acted violently towards others or ourselves.

and tried to destroy it- “eporthoun” imper, act, ind, 1st, sg, to destroy completely, damage irreparably

and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many- “proekopton” imper, act, ind, 1st, sg, to advance, to develope further.

of my own age

among my people- Paul was actively building himself up in the eyes of those around him. In other words, he was seeking the approval of man!

Why do you work so hard or so little? Who are you trying to please? What are you trying to prove?

so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers- Paul was actively, violently seeking to destroy anything and anyone that pointed to Jesus by passionately seeking to advance himself and what he wanted. This is everyone without Christ, and temptation for those who are in Christ. This is turning to a different gospel, a new saviour.

Jesus revealed (vs. 15-17)

BUT when he

who had set me apart- “aphorisas” aor, act, part, nom, masc, sg, to separate or isolate something and place in a group apart from others

before I was born- before he caused suffering, before he destroyed, before he built himself up in the eyes of those around him, before he was zealous…

and who called me:“kalesas” aor, act, part, nom, masc, sg, to authoritatively communiate a demand for the presence or participation of

by his grace-

was pleased to reveal his Son to me

in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles- wait a minute, the Gentiles are completely different than his advancement in Judaism.

I did not immediately consult with anyone

nor did I go up to Jerusalem

to those who were apostles before me

but I went away into Arabia (MAP)

and returned again to Damascus- So, on his way to Damascus he meets Jesus, goes to Damascus

Application/Implications:

Renew the Mind (the Scriptures):

What caught your attention in this section?

Which verses or words would you like to study a little more this week?

Engage the Heart (humility vs. pride):

What about your journey with Jesus? What was your former life like? Who were you seeking to inflict suffering on? In what ways were you running from Jesus?

What were you against?

What were you striving for?

What were you passionate about?

Why do you work so hard or so little? Who are you trying to please? What are you trying to prove? I believe it comes down to two reasons, please myself, please God.Because pleasing others is usually a smoke screen for pleasing myself.

Enlist the Body (faith steps):

How do the words “But God” provide hope for you today? Christian, what is it in your life right now that you think is too complex, too overwhelming, too hurtful, too hard…”But God”!… Yeah Pastor Jeremy, but you don’t understand, this has been going on for so long, I have tried so hard to deal with this, no one knows what it is like to deal with this…BUT GOD!!! You don’t know how many people I have hurt, you don’t know how many people have hurt me, just give me more time and I will figure it out, I just need to work a little harder to get this figured out…BUT GOD!!! Here is the crazy thing, Paul did not need to repent of list of the “bad” things he did as much as he needed to repent of all the “good” things he was doing.

Timothy Keller, “To find God we must repent of the things we have done wrong, but if that is all you do you may remain just an elder brother. To truly become Christians we must also repent of the reasons we ever did anything right.

Transitional phrase: Don’t desert the only gospel that turns Sinners into Saints…and Saints into Sinners.

Delivered Sinner: “Preaching the Faith He Once Tried to Destroy” (vs. 18-24)

Moving Geographically (vs. 18-20)

Then after 3 years

I went up to (elevation) Jerusalem to visit Cephas- personal visit, not a theological disertation

and remainded with him 15 days

But I saw none of the other apostles except

James the Lord’s brother- I got to spend some time with your brother!

In what I am writing to you

before God

I do not lie!

Acts 9:29 “And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him.”

Moving Spiritually (vs. 21-24)

Then I went into the regions of

Syria

and Cilicia (MAP)

and I was still unknown in person to the chuch of Judea (Jerusalem) (MAP)

that are in Christ

They only were hearing it said

he who used to persecute us

is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy

and they glorified God because of me

Application/Implications:

Renew the Mind (the Scriptures):

What caught your attention in this section?

Which verses or words would you like to study a little more this week?

Engage the Heart (humility vs. pride):

Is there someone that you would like to get together with to share of what Jesus is doing in your life? Maybe someone you know, maybe a neightbour, family member, etc

May those be the words that are said of you and me, “he/she who used to…is now living for and talking about Jesus”.

what about that last phrase, “and they glorified God because of me”. Wow, that says it all. May that be what others say of us. What a fitting end to the last verse in chapter one…

Enlist the Body (faith steps):

The most important thing about our journey in life is that we do it with Jesus!

Summary of the Chapter:

Don’t desert the only gospel that turns Sinners into Saints and preceived Self-sufficient Saints into delivered sinners.

Memory verse of the Chapter:

Galatians 1:6 “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—”

Discussion Starters:

What has been the most memorable part of my journey with Jesus lately?

In what ways am I passionately seeking to advance myself more than Jesus?

What might it sound/look like for others to glorify God because of me?

Song: Once again- help us to wonder at and marvel at Jesus with fresh eyes and hearts…

Next Week’s Sermon: Gal. 2:1-10 “Jerusalem: Slippery Spies of Slavery”

Benediction/Looking ahead: INVITE PEOPLE TO THE CAFE