Living the Gospel -- Shaped by Community Galatians 2:1-10

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1 Living the Gospel -- Shaped by Community Galatians 2:1-10 Bethany Bible Church May 14, 2017 Dr. Ted Wueste Our experience of God s grace and presence should be shaped in.... in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain. (vv. 2:1-2) Our understanding of grace is in the way we treat others. Even Titus, who was with me, was not forced... (v. 2:3) Our understanding of grace is when we surrender our freedom.... we did not yield in submission even for a moment... (v. 2:4-5) grace as we to focus on the outward appearance.... God shows no partiality... (v. 2:6) 2. the grace of God in others.... he who worked through Peter... also worked through me... (vv. 2:7-8) 3. those who are different into our lives.... we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. (v. 2:9)

2 4. to care for each other s needs.... remember the poor... (v. 2:10) Nurturing Community In order for us to grow, grace must be nurtured under the right conditions. Relationships are the soil in which grace arises. Relationships give us the opportunity to practice grace. What is true of the life of Christ in us becomes tangible in community. The goodness of who we are in Christ is released in relationships. We must consider ourselves as beloved of God in order to extend grace and forgiveness to others. Three things help us grow in our sense of being beloved of God: 1) Getting real about the nature of the world around us. 2) Gathering with others who remind us about our identity in Christ. 3) Giving thanks about our identity in Christ over and over again. Questions for Discussion and Further Reflection 1. Why do relationships give us the best opportunity to practice grace? 2. Why is anyone truly free only in Christ and in nothing or no one else? 3. In what practical ways can you not focus on outward appearances but still observe God s grace at work in those around you? 4. Is it easy or difficult for you to extend grace to someone who is different from you? When was the last time you extended grace to someone who was different from you? 5. What two ways can you personally reflect God s grace by specifically applying the truth from Galatians (who, what, when, how)?

3 5/11/2017 I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ. Philemon 6 Our experience of God s grace and presence should be shaped in community. in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain. vv. 2:1-2 Our understanding of grace is reflected in the way we treat others. Even Titus, who was with me, was not forced v. 2:3 Our understanding of grace is clouded when we surrender our freedom. we did not yield in submission even for a moment vv. 2:4-5 1

4 5/11/2017 Good and bad are like black and white, convenient dichotomies. They are neat and easy ways of stepping around disorder, contradictions, and people and things that just refuse to fit neatly into the mold that our minds create for them. But they are not helpful constructions in coming to terms with the big issues: God, life, death, infinity, faith, justice, and mercy. Br. Robert L'Esperance 2. recognize the grace of God in others. he who worked through Peter also worked through me vv. 2: receive those who are different into our lives. we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised v. 2:9 1. refuse to focus on the outward appearance. God shows no partiality v. 2:6 4. remember to care for each other s needs. remember the poor v. 2:10 2

5 5/11/2017 "Giving needs not be confined to money or material gifts, but I would like more people to give their hands to serve and their hearts to love - to recognize the poor in their own homes, towns and countries, and to reach out to them in love and compassion." 1. Get real about the nature of the world around you. Mother Teresa of Calcutta "We may see that to live as Jesus did is to experience what it means to be beloved sons and daughters of God. The more we know our belovedness, the more freely we may live by the measure of Jesus' own example in the power of loving humility and transforming mercy. Here lie the spiritual roots of forgiveness and reconciliation. 1. Get real about the nature of the world around you. 2. Gather with others who will remind you of your identity as the beloved of God. "But the positivity of forgiveness and reconciliation can be as difficult to embrace as the notion of our belovedness." Marjorie J. Thompson 1. Get real about the nature of the world around you. 2. Gather with others who will remind you of your identity as the beloved of God. 3. Give thanks for your identity over and over. 3

6 5/11/2017 I will personally reflect God s grace by List two ways that you will specifically apply the truth from Galatians: who, what, when, how 4