Pray for our Youth and Their Chaperones/Leaders

Galatians: Starting Over {Yet Again} Start Right Where…

You matter beyond yourself "God exists to do for you" "God blesses by doing Through you for others To his ultimate glory"

You have a Call on your life That began Before you were born A circle was drawn It's about more than just you

Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation…

…that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation

With the Call comes evidence Of God's great love To show a watching world

No other gospel…accursed… If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ

For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man's gospel

For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it

"This Good News that You received is not from man No man told me it No man taught it to me But I know it well nonetheless"

Insane Statement

For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ

400 Silent Years

Jesus spoke to me Jesus taught me Jesus told me what to say After he ascended into heaven= Craziness!

Insane: I'm a Christian Because I believed in Jesus…

Insane: I'm a Christian Because I believed in Jesus… And I'm now an adopted child Of the Creator

And God says it's exclusive "No other name…by which we must be saved…"- Acts "No one comes to the Father but by me"- Jesus

What's the proof That any of it Is the least bit true?

You have evidence Of God's great love To show a watching world

For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ

For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it Scorched earth/lay waste

And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers

I was in violent opposition To the church of Jesus Christ And completely sold on Purifying the Jewish Religion

Every reason in the world To continue until the church Disappears from the earth

But when he who had set me apart before I was born… - Divinely appointed for a Specific Purpose - To draw a circle around With a Destiny

In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will - Eph. 1

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers- Romans 8

There is no Call of God Without a Purpose of God That began before you ever Knew God

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them - Eph. 2:10

Every Call of God Contains the Purpose of God And it will always be about More than just me (reconciling)

Therefore, it is important To submit to God and To seek God for his will As we follow him daily

But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me Make plain what is hidden

Total Depravity… Unless God reveals the Truth We can't perceive it

So Grace precedes faith And is activated by faith It's all God's doing- no one brags We humbly worship our King

…when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me

...in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles The Call has a purpose That involves reconciliation

Insane Assertion: "The gospel didn't come from man. But Jesus spoke to me and told me what to preach"

Insane Assertion: "The gospel didn't come from man. But Jesus spoke to me and told me what to preach" Proof: My changed life

You have proof Of God's great love To show a watching world

From destroying the Church To giving his life to bring The Gospel of Reconciliation To unclean Gentiles

You were set apart from before You were born You have a Calling, a Destiny God revealed Jesus to you In order that you might…?

Jesus died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised… Changed life

Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation…

…that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation

You were set apart from before You were born You have a Calling, a Destiny God revealed Jesus to you In order that you might…?

Be a minister of Reconciliation People with God You have a Calling With eternity in view

And your greatest evidence Of this insane belief in Jesus Is your changed life

Changed, not Perfect - Authentic - Real - Struggles, pain and hardship - And a God who is Present in it

Your greatest evidence Of this insane belief in Jesus Is your changed life Even if you grew up Knowing Jesus

I did not immediately consult with anyone

...nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus

Arabia= alone time with God Damascus= back to the people Whom he wanted to destroy Great danger

But that's where He began following Jesus

Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days Former friends, former victims Risks disfellowship and death

But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother. (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!)

Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia Tarsus= Home Anger, mocking, rejection… The Call to Ministry

And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ

They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy” Changed life=…?

And they glorified God because of me - Galatians 1:11-24

A circle was drawn around you With a Destiny- before birth You have the Call to be a Minister of Reconciliation

Your greatest evidence is…?

Your greatest evidence is…? Your changed life should no longer live for themselves

What I want to hear: "God will help you achieve your dreams" What I need to hear: "Die to self and live for God"

- Personal struggles - God's blessings - Your Relationships

Your Call is not Somewhere else It begins right here, right now Before it ever goes Over there, at that time

Will I live authentically - Warts and all- In front of the people God has placed in my life for His Glory, my Calling, their blessing?

When we live in unity And authenticity as a church Forsaking man's religion And following Jesus We evidence the Truth of our Faith

Questions, Comments Disagreements

Baptism Layman Family

iMarriage