1.“Rejoice in the Lord.” What are some specific things about God that you are GLAD about? 2.“This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it.” What are some specific things about today that you are GLAD about?

Do EVERYTHING without COMPLAINING and ARGUING.

I have to get rid of the Joy Killers in my life and replace them with Joy Builders.. Paul tells us how to do this. Are you interested?

While Paul and Barnabas were at Antioch of Syria, some men from Judea arrived and began to teach the believers: “Unless you are circumcised as required by the law of Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2 Paul and Barnabas disagreed with them, arguing vehemently.

Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith. 2 Watch out for those dogs, those people who do evil, those mutilators who say you must be circumcised to be saved. 3 For we who worship by the Spirit of God are the ones who are truly circumcised. We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort, 4 though I could have confidence in my own effort if anyone could. Indeed, if others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more!

5 I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin—a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law. 6 I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault. 7 I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. 8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ 9 and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. 10 I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, 11 so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!

“I no longer count on my own goodness or my ability to obey God’s law…” “…but I trust Christ to save me. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.” False gospel True gospel

..but also transformed.

“For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation— the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.” Philippians 1:10-11 NLT “ I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.” Philippians 3:12 NLT Not arrivedBut being radically changed

..we can say with Paul:

“ Brothers and sisters, imitate me, and pay attention to those who live by the example we have given you.”

 We are saved, not by following a list of do’s & don’ts, but by Christ through faith.  Faith, though, is not just:  Believing Jesus is who he said he was, or  Asking Jesus into my heart or to forgive my sins.  Faith is entrusting my whole life to God, making doing God’s will the #1 goal of my life. (“Take up your cross daily and follow me.”)  The evidence of that kind of faith—true faith—is a life that is being obviously transformed into Christlikeness.

1.What do you think so many people find attractive about the idea that they can be “good enough” by following a certain set of rules? 2.The Jews about whom Paul was writing thought they were better than non-Jews. Do Christians ever feel like they are better than non-Christians? What do you think Paul would say to people who feel that way? 3.Do you ever feel like you are a better person than other people? If so, in what areas do you sometimes feel this way?