Our passage today details an account of Paul having to publicly confront Peter, who, out of fear of man, had divided himself from the Gentiles after being unified with them. Last week, we saw one way this passage encourages us to live in step with the gospel: by uniting under it. Today we’ll explore two more ways to live in step with the gospel.
Read moreArchival Post: How I Teach Good Friday Services
Each week, the Calvary Monterey church staff meets for Bible study, worship, and prayer. Right now, we are making our way through the books of Acts. Recently we inspected Paul’s conversion (Acts 9). We gleaned a handful of principles from his story which would help us in modern-day ministry work. What follows are those points:
Read moreJournal Entry of Adiel, Temple Priest (May 24, 33 AD)
A historical fiction based on the events of Acts 2 and the theology of the Bible, perpared for a recent Worship Night at Calvary Monterey.
Read moreLive in Step with the Gospel: Part 1 (Galatians 2:11-16)
Paul wanted the Galatians—and us—to fly up into a life of freedom and love, and he knew that the gospel message could take us there (Gal. 5:13). But as we’ve seen, the Galatians were in danger of destroying the gospel message by adding to it, so Paul wrote this letter to defend the message of the gospel of grace. Today’s passage details a third, less peaceful interaction of defending his message.
Read moreArchival Post: Gleanings From Paul's Conversion Account (Acts 9)
Each week, the Calvary Monterey church staff meets for Bible study, worship, and prayer. Right now, we are making our way through the books of Acts. Recently we inspected Paul’s conversion (Acts 9). We gleaned a handful of principles from his story which would help us in modern-day ministry work. What follows are those points:
Read moreThe Gospel Is Versatile, Not Rigid (Galatians 2:6-10)
In our final segment of Galatians 2:1-10, we learn that the beautiful, acceptable gospel is versatile, not rigid.
Read moreArchival Post: Samson And The Good Shepherd (Judges 16:30)
In his younger years, he never would have said it. Samson, though gifted and called by God, was a self-willed as they come.
Read moreThe Gospel Brings Divine Freedom, not Human Control (Galatians 2:4-5)
Last week, in Galatians 2, we saw how the gospel is received, not earned. The next movement of this passage reminds us that the beautiful, acceptable gospel brings divine freedom, not human control. While Paul was in Jerusalem, false brothers were secretly brought in, perhaps even into his meeting with the apostles!
Read moreArchival Post: Released From The Law (Romans 7:1-6)
Paul demonstrated how the word of God is meant to interact with the body of Christ to build it up for a life of ministry. Much of this ministry is to one another. How long will this Christ-designed method continue? “Until we all attain,” is how Paul puts it, listing various elements which ought to grow within the church. The word must interact with us until these elements are realized.
Read moreThe Gospel Is Received, not Earned (Galatians 2:1-3)
Our text today details the second time Paul visited Jerusalem as a Christian, fourteen years after his conversion (1). It took Paul three years from his conversion to finally make his first trip to Jerusalem to meet Peter and James (1:18-19). But after that visit, it took another eleven years or so for him to go back.
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