Galatians Week 3: A Grace-Filled Gospel Greeting, Pam Larson

Galatians 1:1-5 | A Grace-Filled Gospel Greeting

Pam Larson, October 9, 2019

Paul’s grace-filled greeting introduces us to the gospel that is from God and for God’s glory.

• 1-greeting ……..v1-2….. BELIEVE the MESSENGER, who is NOT from man Paul’s grace-filled greeting introduces us.. (this is the FROM/TO section)
• 2-gospel ……v3-4…...BELIEVE the MESSAGE: Grace to you and peace the gospel that is from God
• 3-glory …….. v5……..Closing for God’s glory.

Galatians Week 2: Jacque Boldt Overview

Jacque Boldt helped us to have a clear, working knowledge of the main point of the book of Galatians. She said, “Our destination is understanding the main point of Galatians.  To get there, we will travel through three stops: Background information, What does the text say?, and What does the text mean?” 

Here is how Jacque helped us to get there:: 

1. Used Google Earth to help us see the terrain of the region of Galatia in Paul’s day, which is in modern-day central Turkey.  
2. Brought us in on the method that the teaching team has been using to analyze and process the text, and gave us a chance to practice it.

Genre: The type of literature--Galatians is an epistle, or letter

Literary Context: The passages immediately before and after the passage you are studying

Biblical Context: Citations and allusions from Scripture, and historical connections to other books of the Bible

Historical Context: The circumstances of the audience

Melodic Line: The main theme of the book, which distinguishes it from all other books in the Bible. It is like a thread woven through the book, which each section helps to “unpack.”

Welcome to Galatians! Week 1 Introduction and Panel Discussion with Teaching Team

On Wednesday, Sept 25, Pam Larson introduced our Women’s Ministry theme for this year, “No Other Gospel,” which comes from Galatians 1: 6-7 followed by a panel discussion with our Wednesday morning Women's Bible Study teaching team: Pam Larson, Jacque Boldt and Julia Dembeck.

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— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.

This wonderful gospel of grace is sweet and precious and unique. One-of-a-kind good news. The wonderfully liberating news of the gospel is that Christ alone has performed perfectly for us! 

• We are not saved by what we do, but by what Jesus has done for us. 
• We are not saved by making promises to God (which we fail to keep) but by believing His promises. 

Adding any requirements to what Jesus has already done, on the Cross,  to save us, robs him of glory and robs us of the freedom his precious blood bought for us. Galatians reminds us to embrace and follow the true gospel message and not allow ourselves to be misled by the ‘false gospels,’ of our day. 

Our prayer for all of us this year is that we: 

• will fall more deeply in love with Jesus, 
• see more clearly the true wonders of grace, 
• and more readily recognize false teaching when we hear it. 

No Other Gospel: North Women’s Fall Kickoff and Panel Discussion

Bethlehem North Women's Ministry Kickoff ... our theme for the coming year is, “No Other Gospel,” based on Galatians 1:6–7.

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—not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.

In this media-heavy age, we face a barrage of messages every day. Some are wholly and obviously untrue, but many more contain a confusing mix of truth and error. We have a crafty adversary constantly luring us with deceptively appealing and persuasive ideas, and the need for careful, biblical discernment is crucial.

Pam Larson opened the evening, introducing Women's Ministry at the North Campus and also introduced our theme, "No Other Gospel."  A panel of North women from across the generations discussed this theme, with Abigail Dodds as moderator, and four women from four generations on the panel, each offering her unique perspective on the issue:

• Adrien Segal

• Liz Stein

• Jenni Naselli

• Addalai Nowlin

*Note: this was recorded from the audience, using a phone, so the quality is not great.

John 14 Sam Crabtree

Pastor Sam Crabtree preached this memorial service message March 14, 2019 for Lyle Johnson, at Bethlehem Baptist Church, North Campus. Shared with permission from the family.

John 20 Pam Larson

John 20

My aim: is for you to SEE (the truth) and BELIEVE Jesus and have radical new life in believing in Him, our risen Savior.

4 characters/groups have one thing in common: the emotion of grief

• Mary

• Peter/John

• Disciples

• Thomas

For each, ask:

• How does the progression of sight and belief tie into the aim of the whole book? And how do the senses play a role--seeing, hearing, touching….
• HOW were each of them transformed by Jesus’ resurrection?

John 19 Jacque Boldt

So we know, heading into Chapter 18 from last week, and Chapter 19 this week, that Jesus’ suffering and death are motivated by two things: the glory of the Father and the Son being made known, and the Father’s love for the Son being given to his own, who will be united to him by faith.

Last week, Amy led us through Chapter 18, which ended with Jesus in Pilate’s custody.  We saw Jesus betrayed by Judas, the contrast of Peter’s fear which resulted in his denial of Jesus, Jesus’ trial before Caiaphas, the high priest, and finally, Jesus’ trial before Pilate, who, seemingly out of the blue, asks Jesus if he is the King of the Jews.  

But of course, if we remember what the Jewish people had called Jesus just a few days earlier, it’s not so out of the blue.  When Jesus entered Jerusalem in Chapter 12, what did the people say? “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!’”  

As a Roman governor, it makes sense that Pilate would be concerned about someone claiming to be a King.  But, Jesus tells Pilate that his kingdom is not of this world, and that he came to bear witness to the truth.  Pilate was satisfied that he was not guilty of a crime deserving death, not a threat to Rome, but to placate the Jewish leaders, he offers them a customary Passover release.  He offers these religious leaders a religious king, but they reject this king for a criminal instead.

So, at the end of Ch. 18, we are mid-trial, at Pilate’s headquarters, the praetorium.  Jesus’ hour of glorification has arrived. We are looking for glory and love.

So, let’s look at our outline for this week’s chapter, chapter 19:

The Glory of the King of Israel

• 19:1-16a: Pilate and the Jewish leaders debate the fate of the King
• 19:16b-37: The King becomes the Lamb, according to the Scriptures
• 19:38-42: The burial of the King

John 18 Amy Katterson

Chapters 1-12 unfolded the public ministry of Jesus, as He revealed Himself in words and works from the Father, over 3 years’ time.  Then, in chapters 13-17, the lens focused in on one single evening, as Jesus comforts and prepares the hearts of His disciples for the great climax of His ministry and life. He serves them, teaches them, and prays for them. And now, as we turn to John 18, the action rolls forward as Jesus moves to the moment of glory and agony that He has prepared them for. As we walk through the sections of this chapter, I’m going to periodically insert a brief reading from the Old Testament, primarily from the psalms of lament. As Jesus, the Lamb of God, goes to His death, He is loving His own to the end. I hope that you will hear in the emotion and ache of these laments the deep, unstoppable love of God as Jesus is poured out so that He might take you in.

1. Betrayed: Jesus meets His betrayer in the garden (1-3)
2. Unprotected: Jesus delivers His followers and refuses deliverance (4-11)
3. Tried: Trials 1 and 2: Jesus before the Jews (12-14, 19-24)
4. Denied: Peter denies Jesus three times (15-18, 25-27)
5. Tried: Trial 3: Jesus before the Romans (28-38a)
6. Exchanged: Pilate offers release; the people choose Barabbas (38b-40)

John 17 Jacque Boldt

Jesus has finished his Farewell Discourse, which took place from the last 8 verses of chapter 13 to the end of chapter 16.  Some commentators think that Jesus and his disciples left the Upper Room at the end of chapter 14, and that Jesus led his disciples through Jerusalem, while teaching them chapters 15 and 16, to the path along the city wall that leads to the brook Kidron, where they will cross to the Garden of Gethsemane at the foot of the Mount of Olives in 18:1.

It’s along this path that Jesus will pray, and our outline will follow the petitions that he makes of the Father.

• 17:1-5: Jesus Prays for Himself: Father, Glorify Me
• 17:6-19: Jesus Prays for His Disciples: Father, Keep and Sanctify Them
• 17:20-26: Jesus Prays for Those Who Will Believe: Father, Make Them One and Let Them See My Glory

Jesus has just told his disciples, “Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone.  Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:32-33).  Now let’s pick up with them on the path to the garden where Jesus prays aloud.

John 15 & 16 Pam Larson

Abiding is being connected to Jesus through faith. Are you abiding in Jesus?

1- Our relationship to Christ, a METAPHOR (15:1-11)

We saw that true faith abides in Jesus and produces fruit.

2- Our relationship with believers, a COMMAND (15:12-17)

We learned that faith produces fruit of love and obedience, too.

3- Our relationship with the world, a WARNING (15:18-16:4)

We discovered that faith in Jesus brings on hatred from the world and also handles the world’s

hatred … how? We are encouraged that it is only through the power of the Spirit, our HELPER.

4- Our relationship with the Spirit, a HELP(ER) (15:26-16:15)

• Faith’s power comes from the Spirit.
• Helping us SEE (16:16-19) and turning Sorrow to JOY! (16:20-24)

5- Jesus is our Overcomer and source of PEACE (16:25-33) when we have faith in our Overcomer...we find peace in Him

Do we imagine that we are abiding in Jesus because we are better or smarter? We have no grounds for pride or boasting. Jesus chose us and set us apart -- appointed us. To do what? Jesus commands us to love one another as He has loved us. That is sacrificial, laying-down-your-life kind of love. How can we possibly do that? Only by ASKING for His help! When the Father gives us this fruit, our love will be an evidence of our abiding and an example to the world….and the world will hate us-- guaranteed by Jesus who the world hated first.