rosegarden

Q3. Why is it so hard to take the gospel to different peoples without wrapping it in our own cultural practices? Can you think of examples of this in Church history? What is the danger? How can we avoid such cultural faux pas in our church’s missionary enterprises? 3.a. It is hard because we are steeped in our own culture. We are to pray and rely on the Holy Spirit to help us when we witness. b.& c. I was going to a church where they tried to impose their culture on me stating that it was sinful for wear lipstick, shortsleeved blouses, earrings, not buying bread on Sunday, etc. but then again, there was no freedom to worship, only ending up in bondage. d. By giving them the true Gospel, the Word of God, and allowing them to worhip God in their own cultural way.

Q2. (Galatians 2:14) Why do you think Paul confronted Peter publicly rather than privately? Do you expect Paul had talked with Peter about this previously? How did a public discussion of this benefit the Jewish Christians? How did it benefit the Gentile Christians? What kind of pressure do you think this put on Paul? 2.a. Paul needed to confront the situation openly because the Jewish Christian Circumcision party from Jerusalem didn't really understand the gospel to the Gentiles and their influence was very strong and if he didn't confront them the mission to the Gentiles would shrivel up and die. b. Yes, I believe he did talk with Peter previously and that he had to confront it publicly to get everyone in agreement. c. It helped the Jewish Christians to know that God accepted the Gentiles by their faith in Jesus Christ and not by the works of the law (circumcision). d. It benefited the Gentile Christians in that the Gospel preached to them by Paul was right and that they were saved by faith in Jesus Christ and that they did not have to be circumcised. e. A lot of pressure. It was Paul against them all. He had to argue his case He stuck to his beliefs and he could not be shaken and won out in the end.

Q1. (Galatians 2:11-14) Why do you think Peter first embraced the Gentile believers in Antioch and later withdrew from them to eat only with Jews? What does this tell us about his character? Why should he have known better? What does this tell us about Barnabas? What does it tell us about the political clout of the visitors from Jerusalem? Have you ever acted like a hypocrite to impress others? What should you do when you recover your senses? 1.a. He had first experienced a vision of God's acceptance of the Gentiles, but withdrew from them to eat only with the Jews because he was afraid of those who belonged to the "circumcision group". b. Peter shifted back and forth in his thinking, not being strong in his beliefs. c. He should have known better because he experienced a vision of God's acceptance of the Gentiles, d. Barnabas too should have know better but he too was led astray. He looked at the reputation of the men who were zealous law-keepers and not at the principle at stake. e. The political clout of the visitors from Jerusalem were a very strong influence. f. Yes, I too have acted like a hypocrite to impress others. g. I will tell the truth.

Q4. (Galatians 2:1-10) Why do you think Paul seems to distance himself from the leaders of the Jerusalem church (2:2, 6, 9)? Why does he at the same time write of their approval of his ministry? How does this further his argument to the Galatians in this letter? 4.a. Because his opponents in Galatia were claiming that their authority came from leaders in Jerusalem, when Paul knew his authority and revelation came from Jesus Christ. b. Because he wanted the Galatians to know of their approval of his ministry. The apostles saw Paul and Barnabas as entrusted by God with a ministry to the Gentiles and as recipients of God's grace in the mission. c. They finally were in agreement. Paul and the Apostles were recognized as equals in different fields. Peter to the Jews and Paul to the Gentiles. The offered each other the right hand of fellowship and agreed to take care of the poor.

Q3. (Galatians 2:1-3) Paul is arguing that the Jerusalem leaders support his position on circumcision, rather than that of the Judaizers. What is the significance of Paul’s mention that Titus was not required to be circumcised? 3. Titus was a test case. He took him along in order to prove that grace was equally sufficient for both Gentiles and Jews, whether in circumcision or uncircumcision. Salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ, not by the works of the law.

Q2. (Galatians 1:13-16) What factors in Paul's background made him an ideal apostle to the Gentiles? How did God use his being different from others? To ponder: How has your unique background fitted you for ministry? What uniqueness has God given you? What will it take to see that uniqueness as a God-given strength rather than as an embarrassment? 2. a. Because he persecuted the church of Jesus Christ he possessed boldness and stuck to what he believed. God gave him a complete turn around by revealing His son Jesus to Paul and called him to preach to the Gentiles the truth that you are not saved by obeying the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. b. God used his boldness to teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He got the truth and did not waver in teaching the truth. c, d, & e, I was shy and not very friendly, but I pushed myself and with God's help I started to greet people as they came into church and I feel God has given me the gift of encouragement,. I always need to encourage myself in the Lord and to keep using the gift which God has given

Q1. (Galatians 1:11-12) What is the source of Paul’s gospel? How do we know that it is a true revelation? How does it conform to our other foundational sources of Christian teaching? What is the danger of taking the teaching of contemporary leaders as our doctrinal basis without checking it with the Scripture? 1. a. The source of Paul's gospel was by revelation of Jesus Christ. b. It is a true revelations because it agrees with the Holy Scriptures. Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him as righteousness. The just shall live by faith. By grace are you saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. c. It agrees with the Word of God. d. The danger of taking the teaching of contemporary leaders is that they get into false teaching that does not agree with the Word of God and through their charisma can sway many to be deceived. That is why we always have to make sure the teaching agrees with the Word of God. We need to study to show ourselves approved, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.

Q2. Paul called the Judaizers’ message as a “different gospel,” a perversion of the true gospel. How is this dangerous to the Galatian believers? How do twisted gospels (or an unbalanced interpretation of the gospel) affect Christians in our day? - This was dangerous to the Galatian believers because it put them in confusion and in believing the perverted gospel in thinking they could be saved by the works of the law and not by faith in Jesus Christ and what He accomplished on the cross at Calvary for their salvation. - Twisted gospels affect Christians in our day because is causes them to fall away from the truth and believe another gospel which is not of God. We need to continually test to see if it really agrees with the Word of God and is not a false doctrine.

3. a. I find seven (7). b. We are to sing, shout, dance for joy, thank and extol him with music and song. We re to bow down in worship and kneel before Him. c. These actions are appropriate for he is the Great God and the Great King above all the gods, our Maker, our God and the one who cares and shepherds us. He is our creator, savior, the maker of heaven and earth and all that is therein.

1. a.b.c. The significance of the star was that it signaled the birth of the Christ-Child. (Jesus is the Star of Bethlehem) The star that guided them to where the child was. When they saw the child they knew the prophecy was fulfilled of that which the prophet Micah spoke, that from you Bethlehem will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel. The Magi were curious and probably knew of this prophecy and now here it was coming to pass. They bowed down and worshiped Him. The Savior of the World!

2. a. He has all rights as Creator, Maker and Potter. We are made in the image of God for His purposes. He upholds all things by the word of His power. He knew us before we were formed in our mother's womb. He knows our every thought, what we will say before we say it, or do before we do it. What an awesome God, what a Creator, Maker, Potter, Savior. b.Our lives are effected because he made us and breathed into us the breath of life when we were born again and filled with the Holy Spirit, our self image knowing that He loves us, is with us and he has a plan and purpose for our life.

1.a. Because the Potter is the creator of the pot and he knows exactly what he wants to make of the pot and what use he has for the pot. Who are we to tell the Potter how to make the pot. He knows what is in His minds eye and how he wants to form it and what purpose he has for it. b. Sometimes we are unhappy how he made us and we wish we had someonelse's ministry, looks or personality. He formed us just the way he wanted us and knows exactly what is right for us. c. We are to know that His ways and plans are perfect. We are to trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not to our own understanding and in all our ways acknowledge Him and He will direct our path. In everything, give thanks for this is the will of God. We are to spend time in His presence and encourage ourselves in the Lord and hear from Him and when we do this we will find contentment, peace and joy.

4. a. David knew his God and had confidence in Him. He knew that the God who had previously rescued him from the claws of the lion and the bear would rescue him from this uncircumcised Philistine. David loved and had faith in his God. With righteous anger he replied to Goliath..."You come to me with sword, spear and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven's Armies...the God of the Armies of Israel, whom you have defied. Today the Lord will conquer you and I will cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and the wild animals and all the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. This is the Lord's battle, and he will give you to us. b. If we give up and turn our backs on all we've learned, all we've been given, all the truth we know now, we repudiate Christ's sacrifice and are left on our own to face the judgment - and a mighty fierce judgment it will be. "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."

3. a. He is the beginning and the end. He always was and always will be. He is the first and the last, the only God. The Alpha and Omega. He which was and is and evermore shall be. There is no other God before Him and there never will be after Him. b. I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. I AM THAT I AM. I was in the beginning and I will be in the end. I will always be with you. I am the faithful God. I am God eternal.

2. a.b. Can't imagine what it would be like to live in eternity. It is forever, never getting old., or sick or tired or sad. It's wonderful to imagine a world without sin, spot, blemish or wrinkle. To be pure and holy forever with no wrong thoughts .. Awesome! To have fellowship with the eternal, everlasting, holy God who created the heavens and the earth and all that is in them and who had a plan for my life to spend eternity with Him and to love Him with all my heart, soul, mind and strength. To have all knowledge and understanding ...we would have a lot to talk about and have eternity to do it. I never traveled a lot, but feel that he might even let me fly around in the spirit to see all the world that he created. Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard the things that God has prepared for them that love Him. c. I would be filled with joy, peace, comfort, exhilerated , life, contentment, etc. It would be the happiest time ever to be with my first love and to live eternally with Him.

1. a. God's name Yahweh reveals that he is the great I AM, the Eternal Everlasting God. The one who lives forever. The God who is, who was and who is to come. The God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. I will be with you always. b. Yahweh, the Eternal Everlasting God, who is Almighty, Immortal, Invisible, the one who lives forever -vs- Idols - dead, made of wood and stone, no power, worthless.

5. Joy, praise and amazement - In Him choosing me to experience Him, His presence and all His wonders. I think of that song "Who Ami I". Thank you Lord for coming into my life and giving me the faith to believe. Thoughtful meditation on His Word and getting to know Him more by spending time in His presence. I need to work more on telling others and doing these Bible studies gets me more focused on God and gets me excited about Him that I will be more filled with Him and telling others will just flow from me. That is my prayer.

4. a. The three titles given Jesus by the angels are Messiah/Savior, Christ, The Lord. b. Messiah/Savior - He came to save his people from their sins. Christ - Anointed One. The Lord - Owner, Lord, Master. c. He is the Messiah - Christ the Lord, Son of God, He came to save his people from their sins and to give His life as a ransom for many, He came to seek and save the lost.

3. a. The message of Jesus' birth came to shepherds because Jesus came for the sinners and shepherds were dishonest and thieving. They saw God's glory that night and were changed forever. From that experience they became witnesses and traveled from place to place telling the good news of what they saw and what the angel's good news message was that a savior was born for all the people; He is Christ the Lord. b. Jesus was born in a stable in the manger because he came as a servant. He humbled himself, made himself nothing and took the lowest place for he came not to be served but to serve and preach the good news to the poor, those needy for Him, those who needed a savior. c. God is making a point that we need to be more like Jesus, humbling ourselves, serving, giving, loving one another and preaching the good news of salvation.

2. a. The journey was difficult for Mary because she was in the last month of her pregnancy and had four days of travel to get to Bethlehem and who knows what kind of difficulties they encountered, being tired, hungry, thirsty and thinking where they would live and what would people think. b. No, pleasure is not an indication that we are in God's will or not. Peace is. The Word says, "In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have over come the world". c. 1. Yes, About 15 yrs. ago I had a heart attack ( that was not to pleasurable) but God was with me. I had minimal damage and have had no problems since. 2. I was going through some hard times financially and started to declare out loud what His Word said, "For my God shall supply all my needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus". He knew I had bills and I wanted to give to my church Christmas Offering this year and buy some gifts for my family. Two days later I got a letter from the bank telling me that the IRS regulations require me to take an annual distribution from my retirement account before the year is up and failure to take a minimum distribution would result is substantial IRS penalties. I went to the bank and they put over $1,000 in my checking account. I was able to give to the Christmas offering, tithe and pay on my credit card. Praise God!! He always comes through. We can't out give God. d. Yes, we do have more hardships but we have the Lord to help us through them. The devil is always trying to trip us up (he is a defeated foe), but thank God we have God's Word to declare, just as Jesus did when he was in the wilderness. God's Word is powerful. We have to say it out loud till faith comes. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.

1. a. Luke name the rulers because he wanted readers to know that Jesus was a person of history and that he was born and lived during this time period when these rulers existed. b. He wanted them to know that Jesus was real and not a myth.

5. a. Knowing that the battle is the Lord's I approach life with the confidence and trust in the Lord to be with me in my battles, when I call upon Him for help because I cannot do it in my own strength. He goes before me and makes a way where there is no way. b. Timidity gets it wrong because we are not to be fearful or weak, we are to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Brashness gets it wrong because we can get bold and confident in ourselves. He is the Mighty Warrior and not us. c. He will not fight for our battles if we are living in sin, not trusting Him or asking Him to help us.

4. a. Moses rod was like a signal pole in this battle because he was honoring God in lifting up his hands and trusting God to win the battle. When his hands dropped down they were battling in their own strength and losing the battle. b. The Lord is our banner in the battles we face because as long as we exalt Him, trust Him, declare His Word and count on Him to win our battles and not in our own strength we win the victory.

3. a. Jesus did not call on the heavenly host this time, because this battle he had to fight alone, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God. The reason that He came in the flesh to this earth, a holy God with Holy Blood to pay for our sins (The Perfect Sacrifice). b. Jesus comes back the Rider - Faithful & True to judge and make war dressed in a robe soaked in blood addressed as the Word of God, the armies of heaven following him,coming as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.