How do I know I am on God’s side?

A True Servant of Christ…

- Proclaims a God-breathed gospel (v.11-15)

- Prioritizes a God-given mission (v. 16-21)

- Produces a God-glorifying disciple (v. 22-24)

How do we test our fidelity to the Gospel of grace?

- The Purity Test (6,7), “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him…they want to distort the gospel of Christ.” (6,7)

- The Popularity Test (8,9), “…even if an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed” (9)

- The People-Pleasing Test (10), “…If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ…” (10)

What motivates someone to walk in the gospel of grace?

- Our Gospel Confession, “…through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead" (1)

- Our Gospel Companions, “…and all the brothers who are with me…churches of Galatia” (2)

- Our Gospel Commission, “…who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from this present evil age…” (3-5)

What's so important about the Church and why is it powerful?

- Confession of the Christ (16:13-16)

- Keys of the Kingdom (16:17-20)

- Power of Prayer & Presence (18:18-20)

Why does Jesus bring his peace to our lives?

- Jesus’ Assignment: To Deliver the Lost (10-15), “…he shall speak peace to the nations, his rule shall be from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth…” (10)

- Jesus’ Aim: To Display God’s Glory (16-17), “…On that day the Lord their God will save them…for how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty…” (16,17)

What does the Bible say about the Devil?

- Who is he? (1 Peter 5:8; Eph. 2:2)

- What does he do? (2 Cor. 4:4; 2 Cor. 11:3)

- How will he be defeated? (1 John 3:8; Heb. 2:14)

Is God ok with our pride?

- God Opposes the Proud (1-8), “…Behold, the Lord will strip her of her possessions and strike down her power on the sea, and she shall be devoured by fire…I will cut off the pride of Philistia…” (4,6)

- God Gives Grace to the Humble (9; Jam. 4:10), “…your King is coming to you…humble and mounted on a donkey; Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you” (9; Jam. 4:10)

How does God use our waiting?

- God Trains You in the Waiting (1-17), “Thus says the Lord of Hosts, I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy…” (2,4,6,9,11)

- God Transforms You in the Waiting (18-23), “…The fast…shall be to the house of Judah seasons of joy and gladness and cheerful feasts. Therefore, love truth and peace” (19)

Is your heart in it?

- When the Heart is Wrong, the Worship is Wrong (1-7), “…when you fasted and mourned…was it for me that you fasted?…” (5)

- When the Heart is Right, the Worship is Right (7-14), “…but they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder…stopped their ears and they made their hearts diamond hard…” (11,12a)

How can we stay anchored to truth in a world full of distraction and deconstruction?

- Be Humbled by the Generosity of the Gospel vs1-3…such a great salvation…was declared.

- Be Convinced of the Exclusivity of the Gospel vs1, 3…what we have heard…lest we drift away from it…how shall we escape?

- Be Confident in the Reliability of the Gospel vs 2-4…declared by the Lord…attested by those who heard…God also bore witness.