Sermon Tone Analysis

Good morning, everyone,

Today we are diving deep into the second chapter of the Letter to the Galatians.

It has been a few weeks, so let us review and get our thinking caps on.

First, we learned that Pastors and Teachers are not paper but pencils.

They do not create the word of God, but it is their job to teach and educate the word of God to others.

Even the Apostle Paul did not create the Gospel but was the giant megaphone for our Heavenly Father to spread it throughout the region and the world.

However, we also learned that people could change.

I know that this is shocking, but we live in a world where your life is entirely over if you are sent to prison.

That one crime you committed will follow you for the rest of your life, and you will always be that person who broke the law, no matter if it was something as substantial as murder or as low as a crime that carries only a few years in prison.

We must look at it from another way; for example, the Apostle Paul was killing Christians and the next, he was learning at the foot of Jesus about his Heavenly Father.

He changed entirely because he thought he was doing the right thing, but he did the opposite.

There was a transformation in his life from killing Christians to teaching and Growing Christians.

Next, we learned that we must check where our ambition is?

Are we fired up for God, or are we like old stale fruit loops that are under the seat of your car?

Of Course, all parents and Grandparents understand this point.

When were we first believers?

We did everything we could to learn and grow for our Heavenly Father?

Just like a new job where you are fired up for your new company?

Are we fired up for our Eternal Father and doing this for the supreme being that has done everything for us?

We do not deserve what we have been given.

We were given grace and mercy for all our transgressions, and no matter what we do, we do not earn the gift we have received.

The title for this morning's Sermon is to be true to God's word.

We are called to follow God's word because he is the creator and the sustainer of the Earth.

Every word that is written in Scripture is meant to be there.

There was not even one extra word that was put into Scripture.

Just like commas and periods have a place in a sentence.

Something that in the past I have struggled with.

Hey, 89-word sentences are good right?

let”s dive in

​Galatians 2.1-2

(in-fluent-ial)

The Apostle Paul Returns to Jerusalem after 14 years and from his first Missionary journey.

He Brings Barnabas and Titus along with him to hang out.

He shows that he is a part of the larger Church and has the Mission that God has sent him on.

Now Barnabas, who was always encouraging, and I am sure had a bubbly personality, opens the door so that he can get into the fellowship of the Churches in Jerusalem.

We know this from

Acts 9.26-28

Barnabas was the one that provided the proof and allowed him into the places that he needed to be to do the Mission of God.

He was kinda like an ID card for the situation.

Next, we have the word Revelation, and no, not the last book of the Bible.

Do you remember how Pastor Rich mentioned a few weeks ago that God might have the Holy Spirit telling you one thing and having someone else tell you something different?

He was being led away to Reach out to the Gentiles or the uncircumcised.

The Apostle Paul receives a Revelation or a tugging from the Holy Spirit that he needs to go to Jerusalem.

The events that were going on there were causing some significant issues.

The Jewish leaders told the Gentiles that they had to become circumcised or follow the Torah to become faithful followers of God.

Slide with Legalistic Church

The Jewish people took what God was trying to tell them in the Old Testament and taught them to the extreme.

God did not give them commandments and laws to make them legalistic but to realize that they will fall short and need their Heavenly Father.

No matter what they and we do, we will not earn our Salvation.

We cannot follow the 613 laws of the Circumcised or even the Christianity plus that we deal with in our current culture.

We have some Denominations or groups of Christians that believe and follow that you are not saved unless you are Baptized 1,2, or 3 times.

I know that this is a significant debate in Christianity because of what man has decided to add to the equation.

Additionally, we have some that think that if you go to Church, you must wear a suit and tie or a dress.

Do your clothes prevent you from having a relationship with your Heavenly Father, or is this something that man has decided that they are going to do Christianity plus?

Church Dress code slide?

I constantly tell people that we do not care what you wear to Church but care about your relationship with your Heavenly Father.

What does the Bible Say?

The Apostle Paul keeps reinforcing that you do not have to be Circumcised to be a Believer.

No matter what the Church says or what anyone at the pulpit says.

What is our Heavenly Father saying and telling us?

Pastors' jobs are to teach the word of God.

Not add what they think or want it to say, but what is God telling us?

It is God's word.

Its not Brian's, nor pastor Rich, Mr. Chuck, or even some Biblical Scholars that I follow.

It’s is our Heavenly father word.

However, we have another Jewel inside this passage that the Apostle Paul mentions.

We see in the second verse that the words Run in vain.

I know that this seems like something that is not a big deal, but we must dive deep into what is being mentioned.

Galatians 2.2 slide

This saying running in vain has some background and we have to understand this to follow what the Apostle Paul means.

The saying relates to the Isthmian (Is-Th-main) Games that were going on.

They were held every two years, and exile Jews would attend.

This particular festival was dedicated to Poseidon and was a part of the four significant festivals conducted to honor the Gods.

Olympia, Nemain and Delphi.

(Del-phi)

These Festivals had athletic games like Foot races, horse races, jumping, javelin, boxing, and discus.

Yes, the Roman sport where they roll a disc and see how far it would go.

However, these games were massive events like the Olympics that required temporary housing with people coming from all over the place to see and participate in the games.

This was like a pig in the mud because the Apostle Paul was a tentmaker during the day and used this reference to show that he was in the world but not of the world.

He was not going to put on a show for the Gentiles that he would reach.

He was being genuine or authentic.

Biblical teachers are thought to be perfect, but we all have struggles.

We are constantly facing attacks by Satan, just like those listening online and sitting in our Auditorium.

You do not hear about the ones that we win but the ones that have overcome us.

Look at the many Biblical Teachers in the past 50 years who were involved in a scandal or something that goes against our faith.

We went down this giant sidetrack hippo trail because the Apostle Paul was not putting up a show or going through the motions.

He told everyone that he was not going through the motions of Being a Follower of Christ.

He would not be fake and would be honest no matter what the issues were.

​Galatians 2.3

Titus is the evidence of everything that the Apostle Paul is telling the Gentiles.

We know that there was a fight with the Jerusalem council in Acts 15.

He was the physical evidence of everything that he told them.

He was not circumcised and showed everyone that it was not a requirement to be a Christ Follower.

Galatians 2.4

So, who Remembers the show As the World Turns?

This was a significant turn because Apostle Paul says that because of False Brothers or Informants brought in.

They were spies placed there by Satan trying to cause issues at the very foundation of the Church.

There will always be attacks on the Church and Believers.

The more we do for his kingdom, the more we will have these attacks.

Spies