Further Thought: For further study on the issue of unity and diversity in the church, read Ellen G. White, “Investigation of New Light,” pp. 45, 47, in Counsels to Writers and Editors; “An Explanation of Early Statements”, p. 75, in Selected Messages, book 1;“Tactfulness,” pages. 117-119, in Gospel Workers; and “Manuscript Release 898,” pgs. 1092, 1093, in 1888 … Continue reading –>
The situation in Antioch surely was tense: Paul and Peter, two leaders in the church, were in open conflict. And Paul holds nothing back as he calls Peter to account for his behavior. What reasons does Paul give for publicly confronting Peter? Gal. 2:11-14. As Paul saw it, the problem was not that Peter had decided to … Continue reading –>
Monday’s lesson, mentions circumcision, and if the Gentiles ever needed to be circumcised. Some have wondered why in the world God wanted the penis involved in a sign of loyalty. Some atheists have made fun of Christianity and the Bible over this topic. What we need to understand is, the penis was the part of … Continue reading –>
You can view an in-depth discussion of “The Unity of the Gospel” in the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris. (Adobe Flash Player version.) A Youtube version of this week’s lesson at Hope Sabbath School is below. You can download the video, the MP3 audio, and the lesson outline from the HopeTV … Continue reading –>
Some time after Paul’s consultation in Jerusalem, Peter made a visit to Antioch in Syria, the location of the first Gentile church and the base of Paul’s missionary activities described in Acts. While there, Peter ate freely with the Gentile Christians, but when a group of Jewish Christians arrived from James, Peter — fearful of … Continue reading –>
1. Paul’s wish. Our lesson begins with this stunning question, after extolling the value of harmony in God’s church: Should unity be preserved at the cost of truth? Do we sometimes debate issues on the basis of who agrees with us (or them) rather than on the merits of a given position? 2. The importance … Continue reading –>
Our Sabbath afternoon introduction to this weeks’ lesson has: Hymn 518, “Standing on the Promises”, and Hymn 610, “Stand Like the Brave” ringing in my ears. To these we may add: Hymn 618, “Stand Up! Stand Up for Jesus!”. Martin Luther stood firm and as Ellen White says “his unwavering firmness was the means of … Continue reading –>
Read Galatians 2:1-10. Paul says that the false brothers “slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery” (Gal. 2:4, ESV). What are Christians free from? Read John 8:31-36; Rom. 6:6-7; Rom. 8:2-3; Gal. 3:23-25; Gal. 4:7-8; Heb. 2:14-15. How do we experience for ourselves the reality of this freedom? Freedom, as a … Continue reading –>
Why was circumcision such a focal point in the dispute between Paul and certain Jewish Christians? See Gen. 17:1-22; Gal. 2:3-5; Gal. 5:2, Gal. 5:6; Acts 15:1, Acts 15:5. Why is it not that hard to understand how some could have believed that even the Gentiles needed to undergo it? Circumcision was the sign of the covenant relationship that God established with Abraham, … Continue reading –>
Key Thought: The early church was in danger of losing its understanding of the gospel by depending on Jewish traditions that led them away from faith in Christ’s work. Lesson 3, July 15, 2017 1. Have a volunteer read I Corinthians 1:10-13. a. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important … Continue reading –>
Read 1 Corinthians 1:10-13. What does this passage tell us about how important Paul believed unity in the church was? Having refuted the allegations that his gospel was not God-given, Paul directs his attention in Galatians 2:1-2 to another charge being made against him. The false teachers in Galatia claimed that Paul’s gospel was not in harmony with … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Gal. 2:1-14, 1 Cor. 1:10-13, Gen. 17:1-21, John 8:31-36, Col. 3:11. Memory Text: “Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind”(Philippians 2:2, ESV). Protestant reformer John Calvin believed that disunity and division were the devil’s chief device against the church, and he warned … Continue reading –>
