This year in 4:TWELVE Student Ministries we are studying the books of Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians.  We hope the recaps of the lessons will provide parents with an opportunity for follow-up conversations.  Please use this tool wisely.

Galatians 4:8–20 (NASB95)

⁸ However at that time, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those which by nature are no gods. ⁹ But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again? ¹⁰ You observe days and months and seasons and years. ¹¹ I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain.

 ¹² I beg of you, brethren, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have done me no wrong; ¹³ but you know that it was because of a bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the first time; ¹⁴ and that which was a trial to you in my bodily condition you did not despise or loathe, but you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself. ¹⁵ Where then is that sense of blessing you had? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me. ¹⁶ So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth? ¹⁷ They eagerly seek you, not commendably, but they wish to shut you out so that you will seek them. ¹⁸ But it is good always to be eagerly sought in a commendable manner, and not only when I am present with you. ¹⁹ My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you— ²⁰ but I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.

1. Two very different religions (8-11)
   1. The idolatry of Biblical religion.
      1. They use to be slaves to those which by nature are no gods (8).
         1. It used to be that they were slaves to religions in the pagan temples.
         2. They regularly partook in the systemic worship of gods that were not gods.
         3. They worshipped idols that they had created.
            1. Isaiah 40:18–20 To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare with Him? 19 As for the idol, a craftsman casts it, A goldsmith plates it with gold, And a silversmith fashions chains of silver. 20 He who is too impoverished for such an offering Selects a tree that does not rot; He seeks out for himself a skillful craftsman To prepare an idol that will not totter.
         4. Now that they were known by God (they had been saved) they had gone back to the process of worship just like they had done as idol worshippers.
            1. Galatians 2:14–16 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews? 15 “We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles; 16 nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.
            2. It was now about the ritual of trying to please God, which was just as useless as trying to serve false idols.
               1. “Paul is saying that earning one’s own salvation through scrupulous biblical morality and religion is just as much enslavement to idols as outright paganism and all its immoral practices! In the end, the religious person is as lost and enslaved as the irreligious person.  Why? Both are trying to be their own savior and lord, but in different ways.” – Timothy Keller
            3. They were trying to use the basic principles of the world.
               1. We worship what we believe will save us.
                  1. Money
                  2. Relationships
                  3. Nature
                  4. Morality
                  5. Purity
                  6. Working to achieve righteousness.
               2. Illustration
                  1. Prodigal Son
                  2. Luke 15
                     1. They both wanted the same thing…their Father’s money.
                     2. One wanted it right away.
                     3. The other wanted to play the slow game.
                     4. They both did not want their father they wanted his stuff.
                     5. The younger son repented and returned to His Father.
                     6. The older son never desired his father and was angry at the restoration of the younger son.
               3. “If anything, the idolatry and slavery of religion is more dangerous than the idolatry and slavery of irreligion, because it is less obvious. The irreligious person knows he is far away from God, but the religious person does not.” – Timothy Keller
      2. Knowing God and being known by God
         1. Verse 9 points out the silliness of the idolatry of biblical religion by pointing out we have known God.
            1. We know the real deal.
         2. Paul seems to correct himself and says or we are known Him.
            1. It is less about how you know God and more about Him knowing you.
            2. 1 Corinthians 8:1–3 Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies. 2 If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know; 3 but if anyone loves God, he is known by Him.
            3. “Christians who are no longer sure that God loves and accepts them in Jesus, apart from their present spiritual achievements, are subconsciously radically insecure persons, much less secure than non-Christians, because of the constant bulletins they receive from their Christian environment about the holiness of God and the righteousness they are supposed to have. Their insecurity shows itself in pride, a fierce defensive assertion of their own righteousness and defensive criticism of others.  They cling desperately to legal, pharisaical righteousness, but envy and jealousy and other … sin grow our of their fundamental insecurity.” – Richard Lovelace
            4. We become more secure in us knowing God than God knowing us in Christ.
               1. 1 Corinthians 4:3–4 But to me it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you, or by any human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself. 4 For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord.
      3. Discussion:
         1. What are the idols you are most likely to serve?
         2. How is there rest in knowing that it is not about you knowing God, but rather Him knowing you?
2. Ministry from the GOSPEL
   1. A few notes on the ministry that Paul had to the Galatians (This is an excerpt from Galatians for You.
      1. “Ministry is culturally flexible”
         1. I became like you (12)
         2. This is never flexible with the Gospel. The Gospel is never changing, but the teaching surrounding the Gospel is flexible.
            1. For a long time things like missions were actually colonization because culture was taught just as much as the Gospel.
         3. For us to be effective in ministry we have to be willing to understand the culture we are ministering in.
            1. Live among them.
            2. Eat with them.
            3. Have fun with them.
            4. Understand their problems
            5. Understand their struggles
            6. Hopes
            7. Fears
      2. “Ministry is transparent”
         1. Become like me (12)
         2. The words you say are never as loud as the words you live.
         3. Let others see you living consistently with one who is known by God.
            1. What are your struggles and how you handle them
            2. How you handle disappointment
            3. Relationships
            4. Feel
            5. Act
            6. “Generally, we find faith mainly through relationships with joyful, flawed – but – hones, loving Christians, not through arguments, information and books.” – Keller
         4. “This is not arrogance. If Paul had only said: ‘Be like me’ without becoming ‘like them’, then this would be an indicator of pride.  But Paul is not urging them to be right as he is, but as joyful as he is.” – Keller
      3. “Ministry looks for opportunities in hardship”
         1. It was because of of a bodily illness that I preached the Gospel to you the first time. (13)
         2. Look to do ministry when things aren’t perfect.
   2. Their attitude toward Paul had changed.
      1. They first accepted him well (14)
      2. Now they had no more desire to be a blessing (15)
      3. Now they view him as an enemy because they have been listening to false teachers (16)
   3. Two different motivations for ministry.
      1. False teachers
         1. Seek others to love them.
            1. Better translation of verse 17
               1. They are flattering and making much of you, so that you will flatter and make much of them.
            2. In the sharing of the Gospel there is no need for others to love you. Instead they should love Christ in spite of you.
      2. Biblical motivations
         1. Paul is in agony until Christ is formed in them (19)
            1. The goal in biblically motivated ministry is to get others to follow God.
         2. Care so much about others that you will say the hard things that may even anger others.
            1. Speak it in love for them.
            2. Emphasize the love of Christ
            3. Point them to their need.
         3. Discuss it.
            1. Why do we find it appealing to have others love us?
            2. Is your motivation for ministry to gain the approval of others?
            3. Is your motivation to have others see you as the key to good things?

The post What is your religion (lesson review) appeared first on 4:Twelve - Student Ministries Blog.

This school year in 4:TWELVE Student Ministries we are working our way through the books of Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians. We have titled this series, In Christ. All of these books will teach some deep lessons about the application of the Gospel in our lives.
      We want our parents to be able to track along with our lessons and be able to discuss the topics we are covering with your teens. We will include the follow-up discussion questions that were discussed in small groups so you can hear your teen discuss these questions. Please use this tool as we seek to assist parents in raising their teens in the way of the Lord.

This week we turned to Galatians 3:15-25 and discussed the way the law points us to Christ.

Galatians 3:15–25 (NASB95)

¹⁵ Brethren, I speak in terms of human relations: even though it is only a man’s covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds conditions to it. ¹⁶ Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “And to your seed,” that is, Christ. ¹⁷ What I am saying is this: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise. ¹⁸ For if the inheritance is based on law, it is no longer based on a promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.

¹⁹ Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made. ²⁰ Now a mediator is not for one party only; whereas God is only one. ²¹ Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law. ²² But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. ²³ But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. ²⁴ Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. ²⁵ But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

1. The Law and the Covenant (15-18)
   1. Why is there so much attention being made to the law and its place in the salvation process?
      1. The belief that the law had somehow become the means of God keeping His covenants with Abraham.
      2. So they mistakenly thought the only way to earn God’s favor for salvation was to follow the law of Moses.
   2. The issue is that the Law came 430 years after the covenant was made. (17)
   3. The law cannot set aside the covenant and make the promise of land, seed, and blessing void.
   4. So the law cannot take away the power of the covenant, because the covenant is from God. God is faithful too His promises.
   5. Verse 18 is teaching us that salvation either comes by grace or works. It either comes by “the giver’s promise or the receiver’s performance.” – Keller
   6. “This is worth reflecting on. For a promise to bring a result, it needs only to be believed, but for a law to bring a result, it has to be obeyed.  For example, if I say to you: My uncle Jack wants to meet you and give you $10 million dollars, the only way you can probably fail to receive the $10 million is to fail to believe the claim.  If you just laugh and go home, rather than going to see Uncle Jack, you may never get the money.  But if, on the other hand, I say to you: My Uncle Jack is willing to leave you his inheritance of $10 million dollars, but you have to go live with him and take care of him in his old age, then you to fulfill the requirement and condition if you are to get the money.A gift-promise needs only to be believed to be received, but a law-wage must be obeyed to be received.” – Keller
   7. Application to us.
      1. At the cross when God promises if I believe and repent of my sin I am made right with God, that is a covenant that is not broken.

      2. “It is common for believers to begin their Christian lives by looking beyond themselves at “Christ … clearly … crucified”, relying on God’s promise that Christ has taken our curse and given us His blessing. But, as we go on, it is tempting, and easy, to look within ourselves at our own “human effort”, resting in our own performance to give us our sense of acceptability before God.  Doing this makes us radically insecure – it cuts away our assurance, and prompts us to despair or pride.” – Keller

   8. Discuss it:
      1. When are you most tempted to look at your own achievements to make yourself acceptable in God’s eyes?
      2. How can knowing the record of God’s promise-keeping be an encouragement to you regarding your salvation?
2. The Purpose of the Law (19-25)
   1. Why were we given the law?
      1. Because we are sinners (19)
      2. To show us we are sinners (21-22)
   2. The law shows us that we can never make ourselves right with God on our strength.

      1. “This is the purpose of the law. It shows us that we do not just ‘fall short’ of God’s will, requiring some extra effort to do better, but that we are completely under sin’s power, requiring a rescue.” – Keller

   3. 2 metaphors to describe the law.
      1. A guard (23)
         1. It holds us as a prisoner.
      2. A tutor (24)
         1. It teaches us we are not good enough.
      3. If I am a believer then the law has already done its job. Do I still need to obey the law?

         1. “The law shows us as we really are. And so the law points us to see Christ as He really is: our Savior, the one who obeyed the law on our behalf and then died in our place so that we might receive the promised blessing.  The law allows us to love Jesus, and enables us to show our love in grateful obedience to Him.” – Keller

   4. Discuss it:
      1. How does knowing the law cause you to be thankful for Christ?
      2. Why do you obey God’s law?
      3. Are there wrong reasons why people obey God’s law?

The post The Law Points Us to Christ appeared first on 4:Twelve - Student Ministries Blog.

This school year in 4:TWELVE Student Ministries we are working our way through the books of Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians. We have titled this series, In Christ. All of these books will teach some deep lessons about the application of the Gospel in our lives.
      We want our parents to be able to track along with our lessons and be able to discuss the topics we are covering with your teens. We will include the follow-up discussion questions that were discussed in small groups so you can hear your teen discuss these questions. Please use this tool as we seek to assist parents in raising their teens in the way of the Lord.

This week we turned to Galatians 3:1-14 as we discussed that faith in Christ is the only means for righteous living.

Galatians 3:1–14 (NASB95)

¹ You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? ² This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? ³ Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? ⁴ Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? ⁵ So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?

⁶ Even so Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. ⁷ Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham. ⁸ The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “All the nations will be blessed in you.” ⁹ So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer. ¹⁰ For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, to perform them.”

¹¹ Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “The righteous man shall live by faith.” ¹² However, the Law is not of faith; on the contrary, “He who practices them shall live by them.” ¹³ Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”— ¹⁴ in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Review of Galatians 1 and 2

1. Paul has defended his position on the Gospel as being from God and being true.
2. Paul has emphasized the Gospel saves and not our works.
3. Paul has refused to share the church with those who are against the pure Gospel.
4. Paul has confronted Peter for not being consistent.

1. Is the GOSPEL is for just salvation! (1-5)
   1. A series of questions
      1. You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?
         1. By calling them foolish he was not implying that they were stupid when it came to the intellect.
            1. Read chapter 2 again and see that he was writing in a very intellectual way to them.
         2. He was implying that they were spiritually foolish.
         3. He was not calling them names, but rather challenging them.
            1. He calls them his children.
            2. He was close to them.
         4. Paul was challenging them with their lack of connecting solid theology with their worship. (Who has bewitched you?)
            1. An important reminder for all of us.
               1. “One of the most dangerous dichotomies in the Christian life is for the spiritual to be divorced from the doctrinal, experience from theology.”^[1]
               2. Your spiritual life must be rooted in solid theology or you will be led astray.
            2. Jesus Christ was crucified for all to see. It was out in the open to make the way for us to be made right with God.
               1. Why did Christ die?
                  1. To save us.
                  2. Because our works could never make us right with God.
         5. Christs sacrifice sealed our possible redemption.
            1. 1 Corinthians 2:1–5 (NASB95)1 And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, 4 and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.

            2. “A Christian is not someone who knows about Jesus, but one who has “seen” Him on the cross. Our hearts are moved when we see not just that He died, but that He died for us. We see the meaning of His work for us.  We are saved by a rationally clear and heart-moving presentation of Christ’s work on our behalf.” – Tim Keller

   2. Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
      1. It is impossible to receive the Holy Spirit through your works.
      2. You receive the Holy Spirit because of the Gospel.
      3. How are we given new birth?
         1. John 3:5
         2. James 1:18
         3. 1 Peter 1:23
         4. “This is why Jesus can say that we are given new birth through the Spirit (John 3:5), yet James (James 1:18) and Peter (1 Peter 1:23) can say we are given new birth through the word of God. They are indivisibly linked.  The Spirit does not work apart from the Gospel.” – Keller
   3. Are you so foolish?
      1. Again you are not connecting your theology with your worship.
   4. Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?
      1. Do you really think that you get saved because the Gospel, but you grow by doing works?

      2. “Christians think that we are saved by the Gospel, but then we grow by applying biblical principles to every area of life. But we are not just saved by the Gospel, we grow by applying the Gospel to every area of life.” – Dick Kaufmann

   5. Did you suffer so many things in vain – if indeed it was in vain?
      1. There is reason to believe that there was persecution in Galatia by the Romans for those who accepted Christ.
      2. So did they believe and suffer persecution for something they could have avoided by just doing good deeds?
   6. Does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
      1. The same question as 4 only in reverse. So same answer applies.
2. How was Abraham Saved? (6-9)
   1. Abraham believed in God and that is what was credited to him for righteousness.
      1. Genesis 15:6 (NASB95) Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.
      2. What does it mean that if was reckoned (or credited) to Him as righteousness?
      3. “Of course faith in God’s Word and promise results in righteousness! If we believe God exists, and that we owe Him our obedience and worship, then out of that will flow righteous living.” – Keller
   2. There is something deeper here when we consider that it was credited to him as righteousness.
      1. “If we compare other verses in which the same grammatical conclusion … that the crediting of Abram’s faith as righteousness means ‘to account him a righteousness that does not inherently belong to Him’.” – Douglas Moo
   3. This is a legal term.
      1. Justification
         1. The righteousness of Christ covers your sin.
         2. You are no longer condemned for your acts.
         3. You are righteous because Christ is righteous.
         4. Abraham was not justified by his works earning righteousness, but by the righteousness of Christ.
   4. The real children of Abraham are those who have faith in Christ alone. (6-9)
      1. This would have been shocking to the Judaizers.
      2. This would have made them upset.
3. Christ Overcame the Curse of the Law (10-14)
   1. Those who try to achieve righteousness by the works of the Law are cursed because it is impossible to follow the whole law (10-12)

      1. “This means that, psychologically, everyone who is seeking to save themselves by their own performance will experience a curse subjectively. At the very least, attempting to be saved by works will lead to profound anxiety and insecurity, because you can never be sure that you are living up to your standards sufficiently, whatever they may be.  This makes you over-sensitive to criticism, envious and intimidated by others who outshine you.  It makes you nervous and timid (because you are unsure of where you stand) or else swaggering and boastful (because you are trying to convince yourself of where you stand).  Either way, you live with a sense of curse and condemnation.” – Keller

   2. Christ died the death of the cursed ones so we can be free from the curse. (13-14)
      1. When a person had violated the law in a way that required capital punishment in the Old Testament they were stoned and then their body was hung on a tree as a reminder that they had violated the law.
      2. Christ was hung on a cross (tree) because He took the violation of the laws that we all did on himself.
      3. 2 Corinthians 5:21

      4. “Salvation means much more than forgiveness. We do not simply have our slate wiped clean; we also become perfect in God’s sight.  And we stay perfect in God’s sight.  We do not begin by trusting in Christ’s curse-becoming, blessing-giving death for us, and then continue ‘by human effort’, as though we must now earn ongoing blessing.  That is foolish.  We go on as we began, having our hearts melted and molded by knowing and trusting Christ crucified.  We never move on from the gospel – we never can, and never need to.” – Keller

4. The Gospel not just for justification, but also for sanctification. (Application)

   1. There are 2 competing systems that were being discussed for salvation.
      1. Works based
      2. Gospel based
   2. In our spiritual lives there are 2 competing systems for living for Christ.
      1. Works based
         1. I must do the hard work of the Christian walk. I need to do more.
         2. I work in a certain way to prevent sins.
         3. I work to stop these sins.
         4. I am the way to righteous living.
      2. Gospel based
         1. This is based on repentance.
         2. My sins are not removed by good deeds or my own effort.
         3. My sins are removed by the finished work of Christ on the cross.
         4. I repent.
      3. How to deal with our sin in a Gospel based way.
         1. “So we should never say: Lord, I have a problem with anger. Please remove it by your power! Give me the power to forgive.  Rather, we should apply the gospel to ourselves at that point.  Paul would tell us that uncontrolled bitterness is a result of not living in line with the gospel.  It means that though we began with Jesus as Savior, something has now become our functional savior in place of Jesus.  Instead of believing that Christ is our hope and goodness, we are looking to something else as a hope, to some other way to make us feel good and complete.” – Keller
            1. So all of our sins become a god we are trying to find our comfort, approval or control from.
            2. We need to repent of these gods trying to take the place of God in our lives.
            3. We need to turn to the righteousness of God to cover these rebellions and gods in our life.
            4. There is no hope in your effort for salvation.
            5. There is no hope in your effort for God-honoring living.

5. Discussion
   1. Why is it easy to forget that the Gospel ensures our acceptance by God even once we are saved?
   2. How does justification change our Christian lives?
   3. How does trying to live by works cause the curse of insecurity on those who are living by works?

^[1] Timothy George, Galatians, vol. 30, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1994), 206.

The post Faith Brings Righteousness appeared first on 4:Twelve - Student Ministries Blog.

 This school year in 4:TWELVE Student Ministries we are working our way through the books of Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians. We have titled this series, In Christ. All of these books will teach some deep lessons about the application of the Gospel in our lives.
      We want our parents to be able to track along with our lessons and be able to discuss the topics we are covering with your teens. We will include the follow-up discussion questions that were discussed in small groups so you can hear your teen discuss these questions. Please use this tool as we seek to assist parents in raising their teens in the way of the Lord.

This week we turned to Galatians 2 where we discussed what it means that we are crucified with Christ.

1. The True Gospel Unites Believers (1-10)
   1. Paul took a trip to Jerusalem. (1-2)
      1. Paul was not concerned that his message was wrong, but needed the other Apostles and teachers in Jerusalem to verify his message.
         1. Remember his Gospel came from God (1:12)
         2. Paul returned after 14 years of preaching this same Gospel, so he is pretty confident in the authenticity of his message.
         3. Paul had already stated that if his preaching did not match Scripture they should get rid of him. (1:18)
      2. He needed to be able to silence his critics.
         1. There were people teaching that Paul was merely preaching easy believism.
         2. There were no works needed to prove your spirituality so it must be false.
         3. In other words, it wasn’t Jewish enough.
         4. “On the one side of this dispute, we have Paul, who is saying: The Gospel of faith in Christ is for people of all cultures. On the other hand, we have his opponents, claiming: Not all Jewish people are Christians, but all Christians must become Jewish.” – Tim Keller
      3. The Apostles in Jerusalem had not worked through the extent of the Gospel for Gentiles
         1. The other apostles had stayed in Jerusalem and had not taken the Gospel to the Gentiles.
         2. Paul needed to confront this teaching of Judaism is required for the Gospel.
            1. The freedom in Christ was under attack (4)
            2. The truth of the Gospel was being threatened (5)
         3. Paul’s argument
            1. He took Titus with him. (1)
               1. Titus was a Greek (3)
               2. Titus was uncircumcised
               3. There were false teachers who said circumcision was a requirement (4)
            2. The response from the apostles at Jerusalem (6-10)
               1. They added nothing to Paul’s message (6)
                  1. They agreed that the Gospel hinges on faith in Christ, not on any other acts.
                  2. The law
                     1. It was given to show us that we cannot achieve the perfection required of God.
                     2. The law was to point us to a need for Christ.
                     3. The false teachers were trying to add the law to the Gospel.
                     4. The false teachers missed the point entirely.
                  3. The mistake of adding to the requirements of the Gospel is a common one.
                     1. The New Testament refers to it a lot.
                     2. “The acceptance of Titus by Jewish believers was a vivid illustration of this principle, that an individual becomes spiritually clean and acceptable through Christ, and not through deeds or rituals.” – Tim Keller
                  4. Our works do not give us the Gospel, the Gospel gives the freedom to pursue the holiness of God.
                     1. It isn’t do this to please God and earn salvation.
                     2. It is be more like God because he has freed you.

• Our motivation is to be more like the one who frees us from the bondage of sin.
  1. “If I hate sin because of the punishment, I have not repented of my sin, I merely regret that God is just.” – Charles Spurgeon

1. Modern struggles that creep into the purity of the Gospel.
   1. Denominational symbolism
   2. Requiring things that complete the process of salvation.
      1. Baptism
      2. Works of the Holy Spirit

• Remember Paul refused to share the church with those who added to the Gospel. You need to be wise and not allow those that teach another Gospel to have influence.

1. Discussion:
   1. What are some ways we can start thinking our performance counts toward our salvation?
   2. What are some things from your upbringing that you could find yourself adding on to others as an expectation of salvation?

• What are some of the problems that come from viewing your actions as being overly important in your salvation? (God will reject me if, no security, etc.)

1. Paul confronts Peter for not living consistently with the Gospel (11-19)
   1. What Peter did wrong (11-14)
      1. He used to associate with all believers (especially the Gentiles), but when those who were claiming that circumcision was required came around he started withdrawing from fellowship with the Gentiles. (11-12)
      2. He was reacting out of fear.
   2. The result of Peter’s wrong (13-14)
      1. The rest of the Jewish believers followed this false teaching.
      2. Even Barnabas was trapped in this.

• “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?” (14)

1. Paul explains the Gospel versus works (15-19)
   1. We are justified through faith in Christ’s work because our works could never justify us. (15-16)
   2. Understanding verses 17-18 read this translation of these verses by Tim Keller.

      1. “If someone who knows they are justified by faith sins, is it because justification-by-faith-in-Christ promotes sin? Not at all! But if someone who professes faith in Christ keeps on with the same sinful lifestyle, rebuilding the sinfulness that Christ died to destroy the penalty for, making no effort to change, then it proves that this person never really grasped the gospel but was just looking for an excuse to live in disobedience to God!” – Tim Keller

      2. A follower of Christ will not want to live for themselves but will be free to live for God.

• Before Christ, Paul lived in bondage in the law, but now he lives for Christ. (19)
  1. Keller’s paraphrase of verse 19 is super helpful.
     1. “The law itself showed me that I could never make myself acceptable through it. So I stopped ‘living to it’. I died to it as my savior. Through I obeyed God before, it was simply to get something from Him; it was for my own sake, Now I obey Him simply to please Him. I now live for Him.” – Tim Keller

• I Am Crucified with Christ! (20-21)
  1. Our own righteousness is no longer needed because I am crucified with Christ. (20)
     1. This means I have been justified because of Christ’s sinlessness.
        1. Just as if I never sinned
        2. Just as if I have always been righteous.
        3. It doesn’t matter if I keep the law or not, because Christ did.
        4. It doesn’t matter if we are keeping a list of rules and regulations our position is secured in Christ.
        5. This frees us up to live in an effort to be holy like he is holy.
     2. I now live my life in the memory of what Christ did for me. (21)
        1. If my righteousness came through the obedience to the Law, then Christ did not need to die.
        2. Instead, my obedience comes from my appreciation for what Christ did.

           1. “If we could save ourselves, Christ’s death is pointless and means nothing. If we realize we cannot save ourselves, Christ’s death will mean everything to us.  And we will spend the life that He has given us in joyful service of Him, bringing our whole lives into line with the Gospel.” – Tim Keller

        3. Discussion
           1. How does Christ’s death change your affection for Him and service for Him?
           2. What is the difference between living a moral life and living a life of good works so God will accept you?

The post I Am Crucified with Christ appeared first on 4:Twelve - Student Ministries Blog.

     This school year in 4:TWELVE Student Ministries we are working our way through the books of Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians. We have titled this series, In Christ. All of these books will teach some deep lessons about the application of the Gospel in our lives.
      We want our parents to be able to track along with our lessons and be able to discuss the topics we are covering with your teens. We will include the follow-up discussion questions that were discussed in small groups so you can hear your teen discuss these questions. Please use this tool as we seek to assist parents in raising their teens in the way of the Lord.

This week we discussed Galatians 1:10 – 24 and focused on The Amazing Transformation of the Gospel at Work in our lives.

Paul: An Amazing Transformation

In these verses, Paul is intent on shutting down some of the attacks that are being sent against him.  He addresses them as quickly as possible, but for the second time in this chapter, he feels the need to address them.

Paul did not receive the teaching of the Gospel from any other place but from God (12).  He did not receive it from man, so there is no secret agenda to his presentation of the Gospel.  He was not taught the Gospel, he received it from God.  Paul even emphasizes that his religious education led him to persecute the church.  Paul was insistent that he received the Gospel from the Lord on the road to Damascus (see Acts 9).

Paul goes on to let the Galatian believers know that he did not consult with others to develop the Gospel message he was teaching.  He showed them there was a 3-year gap from his conversion to his first trip to Jerusalem (18-19).  Paul was not advancing some denominational message, it was the Gospel given to Him by God.  Paul’s message was consistent with the teaching of other Apostles and the churches in Judea (18-22).

Paul is changed by the Gospel!

    Paul was a persecutor of the church.  He made it his goal to destroy the church (13).  We are told that Paul was ravaging the church (Acts 8:3).  He made it his goal to try to snuff out the followers of Christ.  Paul did this because he was super spiritual as a Jew.

“Before conversion, Paul was a great religious rule-keeper – and he knew it.  He was filled with pride.  And yet, despite all this, he was not only saved by Christ, but also called to be a preacher and leader of the faith.  His testimony is a powerful witness to the beating heart of Christianity – the Gospel of Grace.” – Tim Keller

So Paul was a deeply religious person.  He followed all the rules of his religion.  He was devout.  He grew up in religion.  He lived religion.  He was on fire for his religion.  The problem is that He was following religion and not pursuing a relationship with God.  His religion was leading him against the truth.  His passion was seeking to destroy the only way he could be made right with God.

God was working in Paul’s life to prepare him to build the very church he was initially seeking to destroy.  Paul was educated in the Old Testament.  Paul had a passion and that passion would lead him to be a builder of the church.  “God had been working all along to use Paul to establish the very faith he had opposed (Tim Keller).”

God prepared Paul so that in the end it would be God who was being glorified. It became obvious that Paul was not the great one, it was God who was the great one.  God changed Paul.  Paul did not change Paul.  God is the one who was receiving the praise.

“I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea which were in Christ; but only, they kept hearing. ‘He who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith which he once tried to destroy.’ And they were glorifying God because of me.” (Galatians 1:22-24)

What the Grace of God Does in Our Lives!

In verse 10, Paul points out that the Gospel makes so we are no longer pleasing people, but are seeking to please God.  There is an obvious struggle in all of our lives to desire to seek the approval of others.  We want other people to like us.  We want to be worshipped.  So we turn our attention to our own exaltation.

Sin at its very root is seeking to exalt our desires over God.  Every time we sin we are saying we know better than God.  Every time we sin we are picking our status up to the level of God.  And here is a little truth: you make a bad God!

The freedom that comes from our restoration to God is the greatest freedom we can ever have.  We are now free to live a life committed to God.  We are now free to begin the process of being transformed into the purpose God has for us.  Our salvation should trigger our change. Our lives should be in a constant state of becoming more and more like Christ.

“Your works have nothing to do with your salvation, but your salvation should certainly affect your works”

Every time the Gospel changes a life it is the most amazing act of transformation that could ever happen.  It does not matter if your testimony is one of the unique situations like the Apostle Paul’s or if it is one of a 6-year-old who is saved from their sin.  The Gospel has transformed us.  We are being changed.

Notice in Paul’s story he makes God be the hero of the story.  In our testimony, we must also make God the hero of the story.  It isn’t about how bad we were and how amazing we are.  It is always about God providing the way for us to be restored.  God is the hero!

“Christianity must be from God, for who else could have thought it up?” – C. S. Lewis

Questions for Discussion

1. How does the Gospel free you from pride and guilt?
2. What are your thoughts about this quote from Tim Keller when it comes to our testimony? “If we emphasize dramatic, gory, or other details, we may only be sending the message: Look at what an amazing case I am!… We are not sharing our story for ourselves, but to help others understand and find Christ; to point others to the amazing gospel of grace which has changed our lives, and which we know can change theirs, too.”
3. How could you use your testimony so others will praise and seek God?

The post The Amazing Transformation of the Gospel appeared first on 4:Twelve - Student Ministries Blog.

     This school year in 4:TWELVE Student Ministries we are working our way through the books of Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians. We have titled this series, In Christ. All of these books will teach some deep lessons about the application of the Gospel in our lives.
      We want our parents to be able to track along with our lessons and be able to discuss the topics we are covering with your teens. We will include the follow-up discussion questions that were discussed in small groups so you can hear your teen discuss these questions. Please use this tool as we seek to assist parents in raising their teens in the way of the Lord.

This week we discussed Galatians 1:1-9 and focused on the need to Reject Any Perversion of the Gospel.

Introduction to the book of Galatians

In verses 1 and 2 we have the introduction to the book of Galatians. The book is written by the Apostle Paul, “who was sent not from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead.” Paul was specifically selected by God to help start the church. Paul was passionate in his preaching of God’s Word,  Paul was quick to point out that he was sent by God and not for any other reason. Some in that day were trying to claim he was not a true Apostle but someone who was seeking gain because of the church. Some were concerned about his authenticity because of his previous task as a persecutor of the church.

Paul was writing this book to a group of churches in Galatia, which is known as Turkey today. There was specifically a group of 4 churches there (Antioch of Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe).

Traditionally the introductions to Epistles of Paul start with a greeting and a section of verses thanking God for the church to whom he is writing. However, in the book of Galatians, he jumps right in with teaching. He makes statements like, “I am astonished (6)”, “you are taking hold of a gospel that isn’t the Gospel (7)”, “you are in confusion (7)”, and he condemns those who are trying to pervert the Gospel (9).

This book is going to address the issue of how the Gospel should impact every part of life. The Gospel is not just to save us, but should also shape our response to all of life.

What is the Gospel as told by Paul in Galatians 1:1-9?

The Apostle Paul is going to address the need to keep the pure Gospel, so he needs to define what the Gospel is. Here is a recap of the Gospel according to Paul in these verses.
1. We are helpless and lost in need of rescuing (4).
2. Jesus rescued us (He gave Himself for our sins 4).
3. God accepted the work of Christ (God raised Jesus from the dead – 1; gave us grace and peace – 3)
4. God did this by His grace (according to the will of our God and Father  4; Christ came to rescue us by His grace 6)

It is super important for us to recognize that the Gospel involves our helplessness because in our pride we try to make our salvation be all about us. However, we are rescued by the work of God through Christ, and it has nothing to do with us.

The Perversion of the Gospel – Any Change to the Gospel Makes It No Gospel At All.

According to Scripture, it was God who called us and not us who called God. This means that the Gospel cannot be added to because it was given to us by God and not created by man (6). The Jewish believers in Galatia were insisting that the Gentile believers start practicing the traditional ways of the Jews. They were saying that following Christ requires more than what God says is needed. They were adding extra work to the Gospel. Any teaching that makes us give God something in order to be accepted by God is a false Gospel (6-7).
It is important not to get wrapped up into any teaching of the Gospel that says anything beyond what God clearly says in His Word. So we must reject any teaching that says the Gospel plus works equals the Gospel. We must reject the teachings that try to bring traditions into equal bearing with the Gospel.

“There is no middle ground between Christian righteousness and works-righteousness. There is no other alternative to Christian righteousness but works righteousness; if you do not build your confidence on the work of Christ, you must build your confidence on your own work.” – Martin Luther

Others try to say that it does not matter what you believe about Christ as long as you are sincere and want to do good. This is the perversion of the Gospel because it makes Jesus death and grace unneeded.

There are so many perversions of the Gospel that are being put in front of us all the time. There are perversions that claim salvation brings us earthly prosperity. There are perversions that say that God does not love if He wants us to change from our sinful state.

It is important that we be constantly on guard for any additions or subtractions to the Gospel because they are not the Gospel at all.

Ignore the Teaching of Anyone Who Is Teaching Anything Beyond What the Bible Clearly Says About the Gospel.

The only standard of truth is the Word of God. Our feelings do not define truth. Our opinions do not define truth. When your opinions or feelings disagree with the Bible, the Bible is always right! Every single time the Bible is right!

Follow-up Questions!

a. What are some of the ways you have seen the Gospel be poisoned by false teaching?

b. Do you agree that the Bible is the standard of truth and all other truths must agree with the Bible?

c. Why is it important to check the purity of all Gospel teaching?

d. Do you need to make adjustments to the influences you allow to speak into your life? Where are some areas we       may need to look to see this false teaching creeping in?

The post Avoid the Perversion of the Gospel appeared first on 4:Twelve - Student Ministries Blog.

This year in our Sunday School we are doing a series of sermons through the book of Hebrews.  The book of Hebrews has a very clear theme, Jesus is Better!  As a part of this series we will be doing a series of testimony videos from our youth leaders on the areas in their life where they have realized that Jesus is Better than anything else in their life.

It is our hope that this series of videos will allow our parents and teens an opportunity to get to know our leaders better as well as an opportunity to be encouraged with any struggles they may have in their life.

Jon Greiner is one of our Impact small group leaders.  We are very thankful for the way Jon cares for the teens in his small group.

The post Jesus is Better Than Drinking appeared first on 4:Twelve - Student Ministries Blog.

This year in our Sunday School we are doing a series of sermons through the book of Hebrews.  The book of Hebrews has a very clear theme, Jesus is Better!  As a part of this series we will be doing a series of testimony videos from our youth leaders on the areas in their life where they have realized that Jesus is Better than anything else in their life.

It is our hope that this series of videos will allow our parents and teens an opportunity to get to know our leaders better as well as an opportunity to be encouraged with any struggles they may have in their life.

The post Jesus is Better Than Fear of Death appeared first on 4:Twelve - Student Ministries Blog.

This year in our Sunday School we are doing a series of sermons through the book of Hebrews.  The book of Hebrews has a very clear theme, Jesus is Better!  As a part of this series we will be doing a series of testimony videos from our youth leaders on the areas in their life where they have realized that Jesus is Better than anything else in their life.

It is our hope that this series of videos will allow our parents and teens an opportunity to get to know our leaders better as well as an opportunity to be encouraged with any struggles they may have in their life.

Jason Hume is the Key Leader for our Journey (Junior High Group).  We are very thankful for his faithful service over the last 16 years in the Junior High.  God has blessed us to give us a faithful man like Jason Hume.

The post Jesus is Better Than Grades appeared first on 4:Twelve - Student Ministries Blog.

This year in our Sunday School we are doing a series of sermons through the book of Hebrews.  The book of Hebrews has a very clear theme, Jesus is Better!  As a part of this series we will be doing a series of testimony videos from our youth leaders on the areas in their life where they have realized that Jesus is Better than anything else in their life.

It is our hope that this series of videos will allow our parents and teens an opportunity to get to know our leaders better as well as an opportunity to be encouraged with any struggles they may have in their life.

Matt Hull is a Pastoral Intern at Faith Church.  We are thankful for all the ways Matt serves in our youth group including overseeing our Faith West Youth Group.

The post Jesus is Better Than Video Games appeared first on 4:Twelve - Student Ministries Blog.