A Ministry Questioned Series

Introduction:

I. Has your integrity ever been questioned by someone?

A. Has your motivation been questioned?

B. Has your drive been questioned?

C. Purpose?

D. Reason for action?

E. Life?

F. Ministry?

II. You’re not alone – the Apostle Paul’s ministry was questioned?

A. That is right, the Apostle Paul was thought to be a false teacher by a church which he had brought the good news of Jesus Christ

1. Paul had been a great missionary that had visited multiple metropolises throughout the known world.

2. One of those regions was the Galatian Region

3. Their he taught the gospel of Jesus Christ to everyone that would listen.

4. Now years later the church is questioning that message.

B. What has happened over this time period.

1. A group of Christians known as Judaizers has entered the Galatian church

2. A great disturbance has been caused by this group, questioning the very message of the gospel.

3. They taught that men must first follow the Judaism before becoming a Christian, and must continue to be legally bound by the other law.

C. When Paul heard about this mess, he decided to pen a letter to the Galatian church.

III. In this letter he defends himself. (Galatians 1:10-12)

A. The gospel message was neither invention nor tradition but revelation.

Body: (From this point the sermon should be preached in the first person)

I. The Gospel Message was not an Invention. (Galatians 1:13-24)

A. Don’t you remember my previous life?

1. I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my age

a. I was circumcised on the eighth day

b. I was a Hebrew of Hebrew

c. In regard to the law, a Pharisee

d. As for zeal, persecutor of the church

e. As for legalistic righteousness, faultless

2. I was zealous for the traditions of my fathers

a. I was their giving approval for the stoning of Stephen

b. I went on house to house persecuting other Christians

c. I even went to the extent of a getting a legal document to provide for my innocence in persecuting Christians.

d. I believed in my cause.

B. Then I was blinded by the Lord on the road to Damascus.

1. A faithful follower of the Way, Ananias, came to teach me.

a. I can remember still to this day the blinding white light, my life changed from that day forward.

b. From what I understand, Ananias even had to receive a revelation from God to come to me.

2. Then on the Road to Damascus I repented of my old life, leaving Judaism behind.

a. When we found a suitable water hole, I was immersed into the family of God reenacting the death, burial and ressurrection of Jesus Christ.

b. From that day forward my life has changed.

3. But never did I receive an invented message from any man, nor did I create the message.

C. Then from my conversion in Damascus, I immediately went to Arabia and later returned to Damascus

1. It was not until three years later did I go Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter.

2. While their fifteen days, I saw James the Lord’s brother.

3. Then went to Syria and Cilicia and was still unknown to the Judean churches

4. So how is that anyone could claim that the Judean church and I could ever make up such a story.

5. Never would I without the direct revelation of God would I have even followed the gospel of Jesus.

6. And yet that is not the only way that you say I have lied to you, the Galatians.

II. The Gospel Message was not a Tradition. (Galatians 2:1-6)

A. Well I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it. (cf. 1:12)

1. There has not been some great scheme to create a new message by myself or others.

2. Matter of fact I have proof.

B. (Read Galatians 2:1-6) Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas and Titus.

1. At that time I needed some affirmation by the claimed pillars of the message I was preaching across the world.

2. There I was sitting before 3 respected men of the brotherhood, and they listened to the message I teach across the world and they added nothing to my message.

3. The group whom you Judaizers look towards, saw and agreed that my message was complete.

4. They didn’t end their they gave me the right hand of fellowship and sent me to teach the message to the Gentiles.

III. The Gospel Message was a Revelation. (Galatians 2:7-10)

A. Remember I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, rather I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ (v.12)

1. You ,Judaizers of Galatia may claim that the message was tampered by others and then it was taught to me, but it was not.