W ? ? ________________________ ? ? ? ? ? ?
Eliminating Hypocrisy Within Ourselves
?
l.evoon Scripture:
Galabans 2:11-21
Lmnni Aims: To under
stand the motivation behind the
Galauans epistle; to recogiuzc
that ail believers make up one
body in Chnst ami to weed out
any hypocns\ in our lives by
the aid of the Holy Spirit,
Background: The new
communit) (church) founded
by Jesus, the Chnsi is an organ
ism and not an organization
The implication here is growth
and change, whereas an organi
zation is static and very often
exclusive. After the Day of
Pentecost, this new community
expanded rapidly. Peter
preached Jesus as Lord and
Christ to those present (Acl>
2:6-36). Upon hearing Peter,
three thousand were saved thus
taking the "Good News" back
to their homes. In following
Christ, a believer had to serve
not be served. Only the Holy
Spirit can empower the individ
ual to do this. Paul and
Barnabas (raveled to the island
?>l Crete and mut (tie central part
(Galatiai ol Asia Mum* on the
lirs( missionary tnp Right on
their heels were die Judai/rrs
teaching false doctrine and dis
crediting Paul's authority The
iudaixers were Jewish converts
who wanted the Gentiles to
adhere to the Mosaic Law. Even
though Jews and Gentiles con
verted, the wall that divided
them in every aspect of their
lives remained Simply put.
prejudice was alive and well
The false teachers sparked con
fusion for the Gentile converts
Paul learned about the false
teachings and wrote this letter
to correct the problem.
Lesson: Paul writes this
epistle around AD 49. He
quickly affirms his apostleship
and refutes the Judai/^rs' moral
accusations in chapter one The
apOMle informs them about the
Jerusalem Council (Acts 15)
some fourteen years earlier. He
does this to authenticate his title
and what he is preaching. The
pillars of the Jerusalem church;
Peter, James, and John recog
nize God's grace upon Paul and
Barnabas by giving the right
hand of fellowship asking only
that they remember the poor
there . The Gentiles are to ignore
the claims of the Judders.
They don't have to be circum
cised or follow dietary laws to
be saved. It is important that the
believers realize that prejudice
can't coexist with Christ. Paul
then shares an incident that hap
Mildred
Peppers
Sunday
School Lesson
pened earlier ifr Antioch.
Paul confronts Peter when
he comes to the city to investi
gate the church for the
Jerusalem leaders. Peter sepa
rates himself from the Gentile
believers as if they were
unclean. His actions are so
influential that Barnabas and
others do the same thing.
Disappointed, Paul calls him
out rather harshly. Paul raises
the issue of Legalism (the
Judiazers' teachings) to Peter.
The key point here is that no
one could keep the Law thus
Jesus is needed It is faith in
Him that saves not obedience,
ritual or sacrifice! Peter's
hypocrisy is obvious. Peter
knows better, read Acts 10.
Within this confrontation, Paul
uses the absurd to drive home a
point. Read verse 17 carefully.
The Law defines sin therefore
keeping It (which no one can)
doesn't bring salvation. Paul
states that he has been crucified
with Christ and the new person
doesn't see life the same way.
Think of the symbolism of bap
tism. The new life represents
one of faith acknowledging that
God extends His grace to all . To
remain caught up in the Law
implies two things: first, you
can keep the Law and secondly,
there is no need for Jesus! The
Law has a place but not in sal
vation.
Application: Conflict will
come in the community, do you
know how to handle it? So
exactly what is Paul sayift^? If
you believe in Jesus, the Christ,
prejudice must be wiped out.
Believing in Him and clinging
to prejudice will not fit It's like
oil and water it doesn t mix
The Law condemns but it can't
save. Don't use It to make your
self superior to others; you are
only fooling yourself' Whetr we
cling to the old way of thinking.
God is disappointed with our
behavior If His grace is given
to us, can't it also be given to
people who are different?
Legalism divides! Don't get
caught up in that!
Righteousness is a stale of
being that gives us new motives
and new ideas for our new life
as individuals and as a commu
nity. If you continue to cling to
the old ways - check yourself!
Your citizenship may not be in
the new community. Echoes
Adult Teacher Commentary
says "grace takes many and
makes one body in Christ.
Christ met us where we were
and transformed us breaking
down all divisions through His
sacrifice." Amen!!!
Calendar
from page BIO
church is located at 1033
Jsigwbirth Dr.. in East Be rut For
WBfeonal information, call
336-699-3583.
Starting Nov. 10
Revival
Solid Rock Missionary
Baptist Church will hold its
"Revived For The Harvest"
Fall Revival Nov. 10-12
with guest revivalist the Rev.
Ronnie Williams. Services will
be at 7 p.m. each night. The
church is located at 3010
Carver School Road.
Nov. 11
Teleseminar
There will be a free tele
seminar for ministry leaders try
ing; to stretch their outreach
budget on Tuesday. Nov. 11 at
noon. Hosted by Awesome
Insight, a resource of Beyond
Marketing Group Inc., will
offer some practical solutions to
today's ministry budget con
cern. Go to www.awesomein
sight.com for more information
or call (336) 722-6270.
Starting Nov. 12
Pastoral anniversary
celebration
Restoration Christian
Fellowship. 1931 Vargrave
St . .will observe the 8th Pastoral
Anniversary of Pastors Hubert
and Rochelle Richardson from
Nov. 12-16. The speakers and
events are. Pastor Reginald
Holiday of Bethany Fellowship
Church of Greensboro on Nov.
12 at 7 p.m.. There will be a 7
p.m. Pound Party and Friends
and Family Celebration on
Thursday. Nov. 12. On Friday,
Nov. 14 at 7 p.m., the speaker
will be Bishop Alfred Owens of
Greater Mount Calvary Holy
Church of Washington. D.C.
The 10 a.m. speaker on Sunday,
Nov. 16 will be Apostle Steve
Deitz of Resurrection
International Church of
Hickory. Bishop Daniel
Coleman of True Victory
Ministries will close the cele
bration at 6 p.m. on Sunday,
Nov. 16. For more information,
call 336-995-1650 or 336-725
4888.
o
Nov. 14
Food for sale
St. Stephen's Episcopal
Church will sponsor a Fall Food
Festival on Nov. 14. Lunch will
be served from 11 a.m. - 2:30
p.m. and dinner from 4:30 -
7:30 p.m. Chitterlings plate are
$8; fish plates are $7 and chick
en pot pie (homemade) is $8.
Bake goods will be for sale as
well. The church is at 810 N.
Highland Avenue.
Gospel Jazz
An Evening of Elegance of
Gospel Jazz will be held Friday,
Nov. 14 at 8 p.m. at Saints
Home United Methodist
Church, 1390 Thurmond St.
The special guest will be
Independent National Gospel
Jazz Recording Artist Jenesis
and Friends. Tickets are $10
and $18 for couples.
Heavy hors d'oeuvres will be
served. The church's pastor is
the Rev. Effie McClain. Call
336-767-4823 for more infor
mation.
Fall Bazaar
The 2nd Annual Fall
Festival Bazaar will be held on
Friday Nov. 14 from 1 l<a.m. to
5 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 15
from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Goler
Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church
Education and Enrichment
Center, 630 N. Patterson
Avenue. The public is invited to
attend. The vendor fee is $40,
which includes one table and
one space. The deadline for reg
istration is Monday, Nov. 10.
For more information, contact
Joyce Henry at 336-724-9411,
ext 215.
Nov. 16
Deaconess Board anniversary
The Deaconess Board of
Mt. Olive Baptist Church will
celebrate its 48th Anniversary
on Sunday. Nov. 16 at 4 p.m.
The guest speaker will be Rev.
Prince Rivers of United
Metropolitan Church. The host
pastor is Dr. Charles E. Gray,
and the church is located at
1301 C. E. Gray Drive.
Anniversary events
The Pilgrim Rest
Missionary Baptist Church will
have a Third Anniversary
Celebration for Pastor Paul W
Hart on Nov. 16 during the 11
a.m. worship hour. The guest
speaker will be Minister Velma
McCloud. associate minister at
Piney Grove Baptist Church
and a lifelong friend of Pastor
Hart. The speaker at the 4 p.m.
program will be Pastor Keith
McDaniel and his church fami
ly from First Elon Baptist
Church in Elon. The church is
at 1905 N. Jackson Avenue. For
more information, call 336
761-1351.
Churches will worship together
Rev. Mack H. L. McConnel
and members of St. James
Missionary Baptist Church of
Winston-Salem will fellowship
with New Liberty Baptist
Ministry Inc. ,101 North Broad
St. on Nov. 16 at 4 pjn. The
Rev. Dr. Linda M. Beal is the
host pastor. The public is wel
come to attend the service.
Macedonia Holiness Church Of God
Of The Apostolic Faith. Inc.
Sunday Services
Sunday School 9:45 a.m.
Morning Worship 11:00 a.m.
M.Y.P.U 6:30 p.m
Wednesday Services
Prayer & Bible Study
7:30 p.m.
4111 Whitfield Drive
Bis*opRI.*K,Sr. / Phone: 336-767-3700
DJ)^S.TJ).-/,ajtor Fax: 336-767-7006
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