PAUL: APOSTLE TO THE GENTILES
Visit this site for the related images used here: http://lionandlambministry.com/index.php/message-for-today/440-the-words-of-jesus-and-the-words-from-paul?tmpl=component&print=1&page=
Here's Pastor Doug Batchelor from www.amazingfacts.org with the Sacramento church
To study the lesson with Dr Derek Norris of the Lake Forest church, click on the following link:
http://downloads.forestlakechurch.org/media/hopeclass/20111001/The%20Gospel%20in%20Galatians%20-%20Part%201.pdf
To study the lesson with Dr Derek Norris of the Lake Forest church, click on the following link:
http://media.forestlakechurch.org/content/media/2011q410-01-paul-apostle-gentiles
Dr Derek Norris Study Plan
http://downloads.forestlakechurch.org/media/hopeclass/20111001/The%20Gospel%20in%20Galatians%20-%20Part%201.pdf
The Standard Lesson
The Experential Approach of the Lesson
www.cqbiblestudy.org
Memory
Text:
“When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, ‘Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life’” (Acts 11:18, NKJV). |
Introduction
Paradigm shift, transformation, conversion, miracles, those are the words that come to mind when studying the lesson this week, the reigning God, the love of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit. All of that manifested in the life of Paul and in the life of the early church. And clearly God is the boss, and we need to follow His leads, step by step, and not rely on our own interpretation of His will. He will make sure of that if we don't resist.
The Idea
God has plans for us, and even if He reveals some of the early steps, we need to be ready to execute His orders, and we need to listen and not build on what He has revealed to us in order to make up our own blueprint. God is in charge, and He will guide us, and He will accomplish great miracles in our lives and the lives of others, by using us at His will. We are humble disciples...
The lesson
This is the story of the lesson following the subtitles from the standard lesson at www.ssnet.org and the experiential approach of the lesson at www.cqbiblestudy.org, the first and the last are from the experiential approah at www.cqbiblestudy.org. Otherwise the subtitles from the standard approach www.ssnet.org are first, followed by those from the experiential approach at www.cqbiblestudy.org.
1)Ambassadors
for Christ, 2) Persecutor of Christians; Paul’s Journey, Our Example 3)
Saul’s Conversion; Restored in a Moment 4) Saul in Damascus; Paul’s
Authoritative Pronouncement
5)
The Gospel Goes to the Gentiles; Step Outside Your Walls! 6) Conflict
Within the Church; The Great Debate 7) Life-Changing Encounter
The Emotion
Whatever happens in our lives will work for the benefit of our growing in Christ. There will be wild rides, but Jesus is carrying us, and we are safe in the hands of God and with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Paul felt that nothing was worth his encounter with his loving master, and he was resolved to dwell with Jesus. And the early church also depended on Christ for blossoming into a powerful yet humble ministry toward their fellow humans, gentiles included. And they learned throughout these experiences to appreciate the plans of God and the loving care of the Holy Spirit.
Application in our lives
We have to be careful about prejudices, and let God lead us. We have to be "cautious like serpents and innocents like doves" . If we are sincere, God will reveal the way to us. And even when we are not that sincere, He tries His best to reach out to us. So we need to have an open heart and invite our loving Master Jesus Christ to live with us, as He is knocking at the door. He is willing to accomplish great things with us, and he is working with us, we have to get used to depend on the Holy Spirit and always look up to God the Father, as He will provide for us in the tender care of Jesus. God is focused on spiritually growing us individually and the whole church as He has done with the early church.
Outwitted
- by Edwin Markham
He drew a circle that shut me out —
Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout (Meaning: Openly disregard).
But Love and I had the wit to win:
We drew a circle that took him in!