There Can Only Be One

The true gospel

Scriptures: Galatians 1:1-12 and Galatians 2:15-21

Objectives: (From the D6 Fusion Sunday School Lesson book)

Know: The true gospel is salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

Think: Live with the assurance that I have eternal life through faith in Christ.

Do: Trust in Christ alone for salvation, and share the true gospel with others.

Notes and questions:

B1 False Gospels:

C1 Gospel of the Kingdom: repentance, baptism, faith that Jesus is Messiah and keep Moses’ Law. Source: here, here, and here. This is similar, if not the same, as the Judaism that Paul rebuked the Galatians and others.

C2 Faith plus works. Many believe this. There are the 3 sources above.

C3 Faith plus baptism, even just baptism.

C4 Being moral.

C5 The prosperity gospel, Social justice gospel, Unity gospel, All ways lead to heaven gospel, Self help, positive gospel, Mystical gospel. See the link for explanation.

C6 If someone believes into these gospels, they will end up in hell.

B2 Gospel Explained

C1 Only through Jesus Christ

D1 John 3:17 NRSV Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

D2 Acts 4:12 (MEV) There is no salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

D3 1 Timothy 2:5 (MEV) There is one God and one mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.

C2 After God initiates salvation and opens the heart of any human, they must request salvation: Acts 2:21 (MEV) And whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

C3 Must believe God: Acts 16:31 NRSV They answered, Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.

C4 Through the shed blood of Jesus Christ: Romans 5:9 NRSV Much more surely then, now that we have been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God.

C5 Through the resurrection (we must believe it) and life of Jesus Christ: Romans 5:10 NRSV For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life.

C6 After believing and being saved, we want to proclaim it: Romans 10:9-11 NRSV Because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (10) For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. (11) The scripture says, "No one who believes in him will be put to shame.

D1 Matthew 10:32 NKJV Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.

D2 1 John 4:15 NKJV Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

C7 Ask: Romans 10:13 NRSV For, Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

C8 John 20:31 NRSV But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

C9 An angel of God during the Tribulation also preaches the Gospel: Revelation 14:6-7 NRSV Then I saw another angel flying in midheaven, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation and tribe and language and people. (7) He said in a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, for the hour of his judgment has come; and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.

B3 Only one Gospel. There are no multiple gospels

C1 Example 1—Abraham

D1 Moses wrote about it: Genesis 15:6 NKJV And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.

D2 Paul wrote to the Romans about it: Romans 4:3 NRSV For what does the scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.

D3 Paul wrote to the Galatians about it: Galatians 3:6 NRSV Just as Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.

D4 James wrote about it: James 2:23 NRSV Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness," and he was called the friend of God.

C2 Example 2—Calling

D1 Joel writes: Joel 2:32 NKJV And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, As the Lord has said, Among the remnant whom the Lord calls.

D2 Peter preached: Acts 2:21 NKJV And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

D3 Paul writes: Romans 10:13 NKJV For Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

C3 Paul wrote: 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 NRSV Now I would remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, (2) through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you—unless you have come to believe in vain. (3) For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, (4) and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures.

B4 Galatians 1:1-12,

C1 Is faith really all a person needs to be saved?

C2 Galatians 1:3-5 NKJV Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

D1 Our Lord Jesus Christ

E1 Ours—believers

E2 Lord—King of kings and Lord of lords. We have submitted to Him.

E3 Jesus—the Jesus who is spoken of in the Bible.

E4 Christ—Messiah. He always has been Messiah and always will be.

E5 How should this affect us?

D2 Who gave Himself for our sins

E1 What does the word gave signify?

E2 Why is it important that it was Himself that He gave?

E3 What was His purpose?

D3 That He might deliver us from this present evil age

E1 What is the condition of our present age?

E2 Why should we be delivered from it?

D4 Why would God want this?

D5 Can anyone not glorify God?

C3 Galatians 1:6-12,

D1 What would be some reasons the Galatians are turning to another gospel?

D2 How do people distort the gospel?

D3 Why would they?

D4 What is God’s opinion of those who preach a false gospel?

D5 How does Paul know he preaches the correct gospel?

D6 How do we know what the true gospel is?

D7 What is the source of false doctrine?

B5 Galatians 2:15-21,

C1 Is the law written by Moses, who received it from God Himself, good?

C2 Can anyone keep the law? (James 2:10 GW If someone obeys all of God's laws except one, that person is guilty of breaking all of them). Breaking God’s law can be in thoughts, desires, words, and/or deeds.

C3 What important points of doctrine can we learn from Galatians 2:16?

C4 Do people sin after becoming Christians?

C5 If we start trying to live by the law, what does that do to us?

D1 Consider this translation: Galatians 2:18-19 GNB92 If I start to rebuild the system of Law that I tore down, then I show myself to be someone who breaks the Law. So far as the Law is concerned, however, I am dead—killed by the Law itself—in order that I might live for God. I have been put to death with Christ on his cross.

D2 Adam Clarke on this passage: For if I build again the things which I destroyed] If I act like a Jew, and enjoin the observance of the law on the Gentiles, which I have repeatedly asserted and proved to be abolished by the death of Christ, then I build up what I destroyed, and thus make myself a transgressor, by not observing the law in that way in which I appear to enjoin the observance of it upon others.

D3 If someone wants to follow the law, do so, but if in doing you think it is necessary for salvation, you are a heretic. If you keep the law and think you are more spiritual than others, you are in grave error. And, you will be judged by God on the basis of keeping that Law, so you will fail.

D4 So called, Torah following Christians, feel it is important, necessary to follow God’s (Mosaic) Law. They do not, of course, but feel they are more spiritual and enlightened than others. But, Paul, the Apostle, stated that this Law is what condemned him to spiritual death, which is why he exclaims, “Galatians 2:20-21 WPNT I have been crucified with Christ, so it is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me; what I now live in this body I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself in my place. I do not nullify the grace of God; for if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nothing!”

D5 2 Corinthians 3:6-9 NKJV who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 7 But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, 8 how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? 9 For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory.

C6 Galatians 2:21 NKJV “I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”

D1 Is anyone more spiritual trying to keep the Law?

D2 Does righteousness come through the Law?

D3 Can we be more spiritual doing these works?

D4 Paul is not condemning the Law. Paul is saying that no one can be justified by keeping the Law. The Law condemns. The Law made Paul realize that he was a sinner and could not be justified by keeping the Law.

B6 Next week:

C1 It’s always been faith

C2 Theme: Justified by faith

C3 Scriptures: Galatians 3:1-29

Making Up the Differences

Theme: Adoptive Discipleship

Scriptures:

Titus 2

1 Samuel 3:1-10

2 Timothy 2:2

Acts 8:26-40

Acts 18:24-28

Objectives: (From the D6 Fusion Sunday School Lesson book)

Know: Other believers can make up the difference when children do not have Christian parents to disciple them.

Think: I can pass along to others what I am learning in the faith.

Do: Be ready to step in to mentor and disciples those less mature in the faith.

Notes and questions:

B1 1 Timothy 4:13 NKJV Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

C1 Obviously, this passage is not just for pastors.

C2 It is for all of us.

C3 When we become Christians, we are ignorant. God wants to correct this.

C4 We can apply this to ourselves and our ministry to each other.

C5 Why is reading the Bible so important?

C6 Why do we need to encourage (exhort, preaching) each other in the faith?

C7 Why is teaching doctrine important?

C8 Why are these 3 things frequently neglected?

B2 Fellowship with God

C1 What is fellowship with God?

D1 Fellowship is partnership, togetherness, sharing, etc.

D2 God wants this. He enjoys this.

D3 God talks to us with the words of the Scripture. We talk to God in prayer. There is no voice, meditation, silence, emptiness. We are to be active in our faith, not in a passive state. 1 Peter 5:8

D4 The devil wants to separate and devour: 1 Peter 5:8 NKJV Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

D5 God wants to gather and bless

E1 Matthew 9:36 NKJV But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.

E2 Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

E3 Luke 13:34 NKJV "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing!

E4 He sought Adam: Genesis 3:9 NKJV Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, "Where are you?"

C2 Why does God want fellowship with us?

D1 He does not NEED fellowship with us.

D2 He wants fellowship with us; it is His character.

D3 Before conversion:

E1 Luke 19:9-10 NKJV And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; 10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."

E2 John 10:10 NKJV The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

D4 God is a missionary. It is seen in the Old and New Testaments.

D5 John 16:8 HCSB When He comes, He will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment.

E1 The He is the Holy Spirit.

E2 He initiates salvation.

E3 After opening our hearts and minds, then he commands us, invites us to believe: Matthew 11:28 NKJV Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

C3 What role does God’s love have in regards to fellowship?

C4 Mateen Elass notes: One of the colossal differences between Christianity and Islam has to do with the “knowability” of God. Islam asserts that Allah is so transcendent and lofty that human beings cannot know him personally — indeed, that Allah is not interested in being personally known. And The biblical God, on the other hand, is one who from start to finish desires personal relationship with His human creatures. From the time of Eden, He is pictured as walking with Adam and Eve in the cool of the garden. Even after the rupture of relationship through the Fall, God is at work planning the restoration of harmony between heaven and earth. He reveals Himself to Abraham and promises to work for the blessing of all the earth through Abraham’s descendents (SIC).

B3 Two important concepts to discipling anyone.

C1 Truth

D1 Correspondence theory, that is, reality.

D2 God deals with reality, not necessarily with philosophy.

C2 Interpreting the Bible in its plain, normal sense.

D1 Don’t use systems of interpretation.

D2 Don’t interpret by doctrinal beliefs.

D3 Understand the passage in context and the grammatico-historical background.

B4 Titus 2,

C1 Outline

D1 Titus 2:1-2 Older men

D2 Titus 2:3-5 Older women

D3 Titus 2:6-8 Young men

D4 Titus 2:9-10 Slaves and masters

D5 Titus 2:11 God wants all to be saved

D6 Titus 2:12-15 Preach godliness

C2 Titus is instructed to teach all Christians some principles of Christian living. Why would Titus need to do this?

C3 Titus is instructed to teach that we are to live a godly lifestyle. How are people to know what a godly lifestyle is?

C4 Titus is to teach to look forward to the return of the Lord Jesus. Jesus is our Great God and Savior. Rejoice!

B5 1 Samuel 3:1-12,

C1 Why did God give His message to Samuel? Shouldn’t it have been given to Eli?

C2 What trait is Samuel showing at his young age in 1 Samuel 3:4-5?

C3 How would you interpret 1 Samuel 3:7?

C4 Why did Eli receive God’s judgment?

B6 2 Timothy 2:2,

C1 2 Timothy 2:2 WEB The things which you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit the same to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.

C2 Paul was taught and passed the information on. Timothy was taught and was encouraged to pass the information on. So it has come to us, and we must pass it on. Why is this important? How do we know it is the same information?

C3 What are the best ways to teach children this information?

C4 Is the method different for different age groups? If so, how?

B7 Acts 8:26-40,

C1 What is the importance of Scripture in conviction and acceptance of Jesus as our personal Messiah?

C2 Deacon Philip knew the Scriptures and doctrine. What would have been the result of his interaction with the Ethiopian Eunuch if he did not?

C3 Acts 8:38 NKJV So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. Should a new convert be baptized quickly after conversion or later?

B8 Acts 18:24-28,

C1 Acts 18:25 NKJV This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John.

D1 Note the importance of the words had been instructed. If it was important to be instructed, why do some people today say it is not important anymore.

D2 He taught accurately. Paul, the Apostle, would know the true way and approved of Apollos’ teaching.

D3 What part of the gospel was Apollos lacking?

C2 Acts 18:26 NKJV So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. How does this show the importance of knowing the Scripture and doctrine?

B9 Next week:

C1 There can only be one

C2 The true gospel

C3 Scriptures

D1 Galatians 1:1-12

D2 Galatians 2:15-21

New Theme

Because of the way Blogger handles Gdocs, I've changed the theme. Because of the theme change, past posts are hard to read. I don't know how to change past post's font color without going to every post, but I'll keep trying. If you want to read a past post, please copy it, then paste it in your text editor. Thanks for understanding. If you know how to change past post's font color, let me know.

Len

Pass It On

Pass it on

Theme: Generational Discipleship

Scriptures: Deuteronomy 6:5-9, Ephesians 4:11-13, and Galatians 5:22-23

Objectives: (From the D6 Fusion Sunday School Lesson book)

Know: Parents are to disciple their children. They can draw help and support for this from their own parents, and from their church family.

Think: One of my greatest priorities is living out God’s Word and teaching it to my children, and the next generation.

Do: Love God, obey His Word, and teach my children and others to do the same.

Notes and questions:

B1 Bonding

C1 In bonding with our children, eye contact is one of the most important. This includes the child with the parent and the parent with the child.

C2 Response to the child vocalizing needs.

C3 Vocalization between parent and child.

C4 Both enjoying contact (the physical contact between infant and parent, especially the mother, is vitally important.

C5 Initiating and maintaining affection and comfort.

C6 Bilateral empathy.

C7 Parent sets age appropriate limits.

C8 Age appropriate response to separation.

C9 A general joyfulness when together.

C10 Parents respond appropriately to child’s fears.

C11 Can listen.

C12 Eye contact with family and others (especially school age).

C13 Further information here and here.

C14 Some people worry about spoiling the child with too much time together. Life should be in moderation, but in general, parents need to spend more time with their children until the children leave home. At that point, a new type of balance needs to be achieved. Child independence should increase as they get older.

C15 Without adequate bonding, a child grows up with many difficulties. Some of these are addressed in the second link above.

C16 Not necessarily with Christian principles, these articles may be helpful.

B2 Love (review)

C1 Is a choice.

C2 It is seen and experienced by the following characteristics:

D1 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Love is very patient and kind; love is not envious; love doesn't brag about itself, is not haughty, Doesn't behave improperly, is not self-seeking; love isn't easily aggravated, doesn’t keep a list of wrongs, Doesn't rejoice in injustice, but rejoices with the truth, Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends...

D2 Patience

D3 Kindness

D4 Not envious

D5 Not boastful

D6 Not conceited

D7 Not rude

D8 Not selfish

D9 Not easily provoked

D10 Not keeping a list of wrongs (also understood as not assuming someone in an evil way)

D11 No happiness with unrighteousness

D12 Rejoices in truth

D13 Forbearing

D14 Believes (always keep just a little skepticism)

D15 Hopes

D16 Endures

D17 Does not end

B3 Guidelines for raising children

C1 One author summarizes 

D1 Message (Begin with the Gospel)

D2 Mission (Matthew 28:18-20 & Acts 1:6-11)

D3 Motive (Mark 12:28-34 & 1 Corinthians 13:1-13)

D4 Knowledge (Proverbs 2:1-6 & Philippians 3:8-14 together)

D5 Character (Galatians 5:6-26 & Philippians 4:4-9)

D6 Conduct (Mark 4:1-20 & Mark 9:33-41)

C2 Love them

D1 Love is not showering them with gifts and activities.

D2 Love is not letting them do what they want without guidance.

D3 Love is setting limits. God does this with us. We do not have unlimited, sovereign freedom. If possible, it is good to teach them how to sit still at 2 years old. This mom tells us how she did (I can’t vouch for the website, as I haven’t checked it out. I only read the article). The pasture illustration.

D4 Love is spending time with them.

D5 Love is consistency.

D6 Love is steadfastness.

D7 Love is letting them have some freedom. Don’t be a helicopter parent. Some information can be found here—Let Grow. A program followed by a school is here.

C3 Listen to them

C4 Practice what you preach. This is showing a good example.

C5 Give them ideals.

C6 Let them fail. Let them try things. Support them, not oppress them.

C7 Live and enjoy life as a family unit, not as separate individuals just living in the same house.

C8 Be a Christian.

D1 Teach them what a Christian is and why.

D2 Show them there are answers to hard questions.

D3 Tell them the gospel.

D4 Live the gospel.

D5 Pray with them.

D6 Confess and ask forgiveness.

D7 Love your spouse openly with kindness, respect, compassion, helpfulness, etc.

D8 Let them see you reading and studying the Bible.

D9 Live by the Bible’s concepts.

D10 Defend the faith.

D11 Show them the greatest fulfillment is loving God, and that the only way to love God is obey Him, and that the New Testament teachings are the voice of God.

D12 Show them by thoughts, desires, words, and deeds that being a Bible believing Christian is very important.

D13 Go to church.

D14 Make it a point to have your close friends be Christians.

D15 Serve and help others as much as possible.

C9 Emphasize empathy.

C10 Praise them for traits and attitudes. Do not praise them for natural talents or beauty.

C11 How does this passage apply or not apply to the above? Deuteronomy 6:6-7 NKJV And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.

D1 How do we keep God’s words in our heart?

D2 Is it enough to have God’s words in our heart or do we have to live them?

D3 What is the best way to teach children?

D4 Why is talking about God’s word instructive to children?

D5 How do we know the meaning of these words?

D6 How much time every day are we to teach our children?

D7 How can the church help the family teach the children?

D8 Is it only the Pastor’s job?

B4 How do we keep our children in the faith? We and they need:

C1 Knowledge

D1 Bible knowledge

D2 Doctrine

D3 Life issues

E1 Temptation

E2 Sin

E3 Forgiveness

E4 Assurance

E5 God’s standards

E6 Prophecy

D4 How to grow in the faith

E1 Bible reading

E2 Bible study

E3 Fellowship

E4 Prayer

E5 Suffering

C2 Character

D1 In thoughts, desires, words, and deeds

D2 Time to grow (need experience)

D3 Truth

D4 Confession of sin

D5 Trust

C3 Apologetics

D1 Bible reliability

D2 Jesus

D3 Hard questions

E1 Problem of evil

E2 Creation

E3 Noah’s flood

D4 Issues of society

B5 Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  23  gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

C1 How does God teach us the fruit of the Spirit?

C2 How does living the fruits help our family, our children, and our grandchildren?

C3 How can we learn more about these fruits and grow in them?

B6 2 Peter 3:18 NKJV But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

B7 Next week:

C1 Making up the differences

C2 Theme: Adoptive Discipleship

C3 Scriptures: Titus 2, 1 Samuel 3:1-10, 2 Timothy 2:2, Acts 8:26-40, and Acts 18:24-28