Imagine that all of it is great.
All with a massive stage,
and on that stage are two Steinway grand pianos,
about 10 yards apart, one stage right, the other is stage left.
An eight-year-old walks on the stage,
and she draws herself close to one of those Steinways,
the Steinway stage right.
She surveys all the 88 keys,
and with her right index finger,
she strikes middle C.
And everyone is amazed,
because Steinway on stage left resonates middle C back.
When you strike middle C,
on one piano,
it resonates middle C in an unmanned piano.
I'm no pianist,
but I know middle C is central and vital to any song played on a piano.
The gospel is to the church,
as middle C is to a piano and playing music.
And this morning, we're going to look at a historic meeting,
in which the Apostle Paul journeys to Jerusalem,
and he strikes the middle C of the gospel,
surrounded by men of influence.
James, and Cephas, and John.
And he strikes middle C to see what happens,
and it resonates with these three men.
wholehearted gospel resonance.
This morning, I want to make a case for you,
that the gospel of Jesus Christ
must be what unites us as a church
above all else.
It's what unites us.
The gospel is our middle C as a church
in which we play all of our music.
So here's, I'm going to walk us through it.
I'm going to walk you through Galatians chapter 2,
1 through 10.
It's a historic account.
And so what I'm going to want you to see is
the kind of the historic background
to this meeting that took place.
And then I want you to show you
a courtroom drama
that takes place at that meeting.
Paul has a star witness.
And then I want you to see
how this courtroom drama
unfolds in the extending
of the right hand of fellowship.
It is this snapshot with words
that needs to be in your minds.
So I'm going to walk you through it.
I'm going to make a point,
and I'm going to try to apply this
in four ways if I've got time.
So let's look at the background
of this historic meeting.
And it's in verses 1 and 2
of Galatians chapter 2.
We read first,
then after 14 years,
I went up again to Jerusalem.
14 years.
14 years after his conversion.
And so earlier in chapter 1,
we learned that Paul was dramatically
converted by Christ
on the road to Damascus.
It was something that God,
Christ had done.
And then three years after that,
he goes up to Jerusalem
for the first time
for an informal visit
with Peter
for just over two weeks.
And then there's this
passage of time.
Ten plus years
until Paul goes back
to Jerusalem.
And when he goes back
to Jerusalem,
he's not traveling alone.
Which brings me
to the next thing
I want you to see.
He brings Barnabas
with him.
And he takes Titus
along with him.
It's the makings
of a good joke.
It would go like this.
Have you heard the one
about the apostle
who brings a circumcised Jew
and an uncircumcised Gentile
to Jerusalem
to talk to a bunch
of other apostles?
But what you need
to understand is
this is no joke.
This is strategic.
We'll come back to that
in a little bit.
But what you need to see is
Paul has a mixed
traveling group
going to Jerusalem
14 years after
his conversion.
And then we see
why Paul went.
Verse 2
I went up
because of a
revelation.
God had directly
disclosed
to the apostle Paul
I want you
going to Jerusalem
now.
Now we're not told
here in Galatians 2
what that revelation
actually was.
So it could be
a revelation
that is unrecorded
for us.
It's something
that was distinct
that happened to Paul.
Or it could be
something that's
revealed to us.
And my hunch
is that this is
actually a reference
to a prophecy
recorded in Acts
chapter 11
verses 27 through 30.
There's this prophet
who comes down
from Jerusalem.
His name is Agabus.
And Agabus comes
to the church
in Antioch
where Paul
and Barnabas were.
The church of Antioch
was primarily
a Gentile church.
And this prophet
comes down
and he reveals
something to this church
that there was a famine
coming.
And the response
of this church
these Gentiles
converted to Christ
was to gather
financial help
and send it
with Barnabas
and Paul
to Jerusalem.
that's what I think
is actually
going on here.
The point of it
though is that
God has called
this meeting
in Jerusalem.
God
initiated this
meeting
in Jerusalem
14 years
after
Paul's conversion.
This is God's doing
which means
God wanted
this meeting
to happen
which means
God has
a purpose
for this meeting.
and his purpose
is to unite
his people
in the gospel
of Jesus Christ.
A little bit
more background
it's
who Paul
and his companions
go to meet with.
We see this
in verse 2 again.
I went up
because of a revelation
and set before them
who
is this
them?
Well
parenthetically
in the ESV
we're told
though privately
from those
who seemed
influential.
If you look down
at verse 6
we read
and from those
who seemed
to be influential
and then
just a little bit
further down
in verse 6
I say
who seemed
influential
and then
if you go down
to verse 9
who seemed
to be
pillars
there is
a group
of men
in Jerusalem
that Paul
Barnabas
and Titus
are going
to meet.
Paul actually
names them
in verse 9.
They are
James
Cephas
aka
Peter
and John
all three men
have New Testament
books with their
name on it.
That's who
they're going
to meet.
Now if you
notice
it's an interesting
way to describe
these people
these
who seemed
influential
it's like
Paul is
distancing
himself
from them
and he is.
On the one hand
he's not denying
their authority
on the other hand
he's not
deifying them
either
and what he's
doing is
he is maintaining
his own
apostleship
that he himself
has been
set apart
by Christ
himself
to proclaim
a gospel
to the Gentiles.
That was important
for the Galatians
to hear.
In other words
the apostle Paul
is not in the
back pocket
of these
Jerusalem
men of influence.
well the
reason why
Paul is
going up
to Jerusalem
is because
this is
a private
meeting.
Did you notice
that in verse 2?
Though privately
before those
whom seemed
influential
in that
parenthesis.
In other words
this isn't a
public meeting.
This isn't
the council
of Jerusalem
that we read
about in Acts
15
that happened
in 50 AD.
this is a
private
meeting
that took
place
before that.
But both
meetings were
dealing with
the same
thing.
The question
that was being
raised at this
time in the
early church
was this
was it
necessary
for Gentiles
to be
circumcised
in order
to be
saved?
Did a
Gentile
who's not
a Jew
who's not
circumcised
did they need
to become
a Jew
first in
order to
be saved
to become
a Christian?
In other
words
do they
need to
obey
the Mosaic
law
in order
to be
a Christian?
That was
the issue
at hand
and that's
why God
is sending
Paul up
to Jerusalem
and when
Paul gets
to Jerusalem
he is going
to hit
the middle
sea
of the
gospel
at this
private
meeting
and see
where the
chips fall.
Which brings
me
to the
focus
of this
meeting.
He says
I went
up to
I went
up because
of a
revelation
and set
before
them
the
gospel
that I
proclaim
among
the
Gentiles.
He's
there
because
of the
gospel.
On
one hand
the
circumstances
surrounded
circumcision
but Paul
has
recognized
the real
issue
at hand
is not
circumcision
it is
the very
nature
of the
gospel
of Jesus
Christ
itself.
What
is
necessary
for a
sinner
to be
saved?
Does
a
Gentile
sinner
need to
believe
in Jesus
plus
be
circumcised
or eat
kosher
foods
or
observe
Jewish
holy
days
in order
to be
made
right
with
God?
Paul
is going
up to
say
nothing
of that
sort.
Paul
is going
to proclaim
a gospel
that he
lays out
for us
in chapter
1
verse 4
that this
gospel
is
Christ
who has
given
himself
for our
sins
to deliver
us from
this present
evil age
and to
place us
into
God's
family
all by
his grace
by
faith
alone
in
God's
grace
alone
works
can have
nothing to
do with
it
because
it's a
salvation
of God
from
beginning
to end
that
phrase
that we
read
I set
before
them
the gospel
that I
proclaim
that phrase
is used
in the
end of
the book
of Acts
of Festus
laying out
Paul's
case
before
King
Agrippa
in other
words
Paul
is going
up to
Jerusalem
to meet
with these
influential
men
in order
to lay
out a
case
for the
gospel
of grace
and what
we're going
to see
in a
second
is he's
got a
star
witness
but
before
we get
there
I just
want to
point out
one thing
it seems
as though
something's
weighing
on
Paul
look at
the end
of verse
two
I
went up
to
Jerusalem
by way
of a
revelation
to set
before
these
men
of
influence
of the
gospel
that I
proclaim
among
the
Gentiles
in order
to make
sure
I was
not
running
or
had
not
run
in
vain
that's
an
interesting
thing
for
Paul
to say
when
he
uses
running
language
it's
a way
of him
describing
his
gospel
labor
his
ministry
the hard
work
involved
with that
and he's
asking the
question
hey
I'm
wondering
if this
is all
worth it
and one
can think
when you
read this
that
hey
apostle
Paul
hold on
a second
are you
having
second
thoughts
about
the
gospel
because
that's
kind
of
what
it
sounds
like
are you
wondering
if you're
running
in vain
what do
you mean
you think
you got
the wrong
gospel
but that's
not what
he's saying
and there
are a couple
reasons why
that makes
no sense
the first
is this
it's been
14 years
since he
was converted
and
commissioned
by Christ
to preach
the gospel
that's a
little long
to have
some unresolved
questions
about the
nature
of the
gospel
second
in chapter
1 verses
11 and
12
Paul makes
it very
clear
that this
gospel
is not
man's
gospel
but a
revelation
of God
that was
given to
him
Paul has
no questions
about the
nature and
power of
the gospel
of Jesus
Christ
so what's
he concerned
about
he's concerned
about the
practical outcome
of this
meeting
and here's
why
these men
who seemed
influential
these
apostles
in Jerusalem
if they
had any
reservations
about the
gospel that
Paul was
preaching
he could
open the
door
he could
open the
door to
false
teachers
in Galatia
making a
claim
something like
this
a false
teacher
would say
yeah we
heard about
what the
Jerusalem
apostles were
saying
that they
didn't really
buy Paul's
gospel
and so
Galatians
don't buy
into what
Paul is
preaching to
you
believe what
we're saying
that you
don't only
need to
believe in
Jesus
but you
need to
be
circumcised
too
in order
to be
saved
Paul is
very concerned
about what
the outcome
would be
of this
meeting
on
Gentile
churches
he knows
that this
could result
in
Christian
Gentiles
being
enslaved
by a
false
gospel
but he's
also concerned
about the
overall
unity
of the
church
because
if these
apostles
don't
fully
embrace
this
gospel
that he
preaches
the very
foundation
of the
church
that's
going to
open the
door to
a dividing
of the
church
to
now
two
churches
you've
got the
Gentile
church
and you've
got the
Jewish
church
so what
Paul is
actually
concerned
about
is what's
at stake
the unity
and the
health
of the
church
of Christ
that's
why he
says
he's
fearing
that he
may have
labored
in vain
if these
men
don't
fully
agree
to
Paul's
gospel
it
means
slavery
and
division
for
the
church
universal
that
would
have
been
laboring
in vain
so we've
got a
sense of
the
background
of what's
going on
here
that's a
lot
to pack
into
two
verses
I
realize
that
but what
we see
going on
here
is we
have
Paul
Barnabas
Titus
going
to
Jerusalem
because
God
has
sent
them
in order
to have
a
meeting
with
James
Cephas
and
John
in order
to hit
the middle
sea
of the
gospel
because
there's
a lot
riding
on it
and so
now
in verses
three and
five
we have a
courtroom drama
unfold
Paul makes
his case
for the
gospel of
grace
if we
can just
go back
to verse
two
we see
I went
up
because
of
a
revelation
and set
before
them
the
gospel
that I
proclaim
I
have
laid
my
I
laid
my
case
out
before
them
that
this
is a
gospel
of
grace
received
by
faith
alone
there's
no place
for works
we can't
add
anything
to our
salvation
this
is an
invitation
only
meeting
remember
that
Paul
then
in verse
three
makes
his
appeal
to
his
star
witness
Titus
imagine
Paul
calling
Titus
to stand
before
this
group
of
men
in whom
this
meeting
has been
called
by God
imagine
this
Paul
Titus
are you
a Gentile
Titus
says
yes
Titus
are you
circumcised
Titus
says
no
Titus
are you
saved
yes
I
am
Paul
how
are you
saved
Titus
replies
something
like
I
was
saved
only
by
trusting
in
the
finished
work
of
Jesus
Christ
on
my
behalf
Jesus
gave
himself
for
my
sin
in order
to
pluck
me
out
of
this
world
and
place
me
into
the
family
of
God
he
set
me
free
by
faith
alone
and
God's
grace
alone
Paul
Titus
what
difference
then
would
it
make
for
you
to
be
circumcised
Titus
responds
it
would
make
no
difference
because
it
was
by
God's
grace
alone
that
I
have
been
adopted
into
his
family
he
caused
his
spirit
to
come
and
dwell
in
me
and
his
spirit
bears
witness
to
my
spirit
that
I
am
his
son
and
a
brother
to
everyone
in
this
room
who
proclaims
Christ
he's
given me
a new
heart
and
there's
nothing
that I
desire
more
than
to
live
a
life
of
faithful
obedience
for
the
glory
of
my
risen
savior
not
in
order
to
earn
my
salvation
but
because
I
have
been
saved
he
died
for me
so that
I
could
live
for
him
Paul
circumcision
does
not
give
me
a
new
heart
it
does
not
place
me
into
the
new
people
of
God
the
church
only
the
gospel
does
that
could
you
imagine
being at
a
meeting
like
that
did
it
happen
this
way
to be
honest
with you
I
don't
know
but
I
can
see
with
my
eyes
the
result
but
even
Titus
was not
forced
to be
circumcised
could
you
imagine
the
apostle
Paul
going
up
to
James
the
brother
of
Jesus
James
do
you
think
that
Titus
needs
to be
circumcised
in order
to be
saved
James
no
salvation
is by
faith
alone
in
God's
grace
alone
in
Christ
alone
Peter
does
Titus
need
to be
circumcised
in order
to be
saved
does
he
need
to
do
anything
in addition
to
believing
in
Jesus
in order
to be
rescued
by the
grace
of
God
Peter
says
absolutely
not
that
is
enough
to
John
Paul
says
does
Titus
John
need
to be
circumcised
in order
to be
saved
to be
set
free
to which
John
says
no
circumcision
that doesn't
save
anybody
only
God's
grace
in the
cross
of
Jesus
Christ
only
believing
that
is
someone
saved
the
apostle
Paul
is
striking
the
middle
sea
of
the
gospel
at
this
meeting
private
meeting
in
Jerusalem
and
none
of
these
apostles
are
requiring
Titus
to be
circumcised
because
the
gospel
doesn't
require
Titus
to be
circumcised
God
doesn't
require
Titus
to be
circumcised
God
doesn't
require
any
of
us
in
this
room
to
do
anything
in
addition
to
believing
in
the
finished
work
of
Christ
in
order
to
be
saved
that
is
good
news
that
is
the
gospel
but
not
everyone
at
this
meeting
was
in
agreement
because
in
verses
4
and
5
we
read
about
some
false
brothers
secretly
brought
in
that
the
Greek
there
is
just
yet
because
of
false
brothers
who
snuck
in
false
brothers
is
pseudo
Christians
guys
that
are
just
looking
the
part
it's
kind
of
like
this
have
you
ever
been
to
a
conference
and
you
get
a
lanyard
and
your
name
is
printed
on
a
lanyard
these
guys
heard
about
this
private
meeting
and
they
had
these
lanyards
made
outside
of
this
meeting
and
their
names
printed
on
it
and
they
are
kind
of
like
and
walked
into
this
meeting
it
says
they
slipped
in
in order
to spy
out
our
freedom
I
know
what
it's
like
to
slip
in
I
practiced
a lot
of
slipping
in
when I
was
in
high
school
my
parents
were
asleep
I
slipped
in
past
my
curfew
because
I
didn't
want
them
to
wake
up
I
didn't
want
to
deal
with
it
these
false
brothers
slipped
in
but
they
didn't
slip
in
order
to
because
they
were
past
their
curfew
they
were
slipping
in
to
spy
out
they
were
undercover
agents
there
was a
group
called
the
Judaizers
this
is
a
group
of
false
teachers
who
are
saying
that
you
need
to
become
a
Gentile
need
to
become
a
Jew
first
to
be
practicing
the
law
first
before
they
become
right
with
God
it's
by
your
works
in
addition
to
your
faith
that
you're
made
right
with
God
and
Paul
is
completely
repudiating
that
he's
no
that's
not
it
at
all
these
false
brothers
slipped
into
this
meeting
in
order
to
spy
out
what
Paul
says
our
freedom
in
Christ
freedom
from
having
to
earn
God's
favor
through
our
obedience
freedom
from
having
to
perform
and
impress
God
so that
he would
be like
oh
come on
in
here's
something
special
he says
no
they
came
to
spy
out
the
freedom
we
have
in
Christ
that
it's
by
grace
alone
in
Christ
alone
by
faith
alone
these
false
brothers
with
these
fake
lanyards
they
weren't
there
to
learn
they
weren't
there
to
benefit
they
weren't
there
to
contribute
they
were
there
so
that
they
might
bring
us
into
slavery
they
were
there
to
proclaim
a
false
gospel
to
enslave
people
to
they
were
bringing
in
the
law
again
verse
five
to
them
we
did
not
yield
in
submission
even
for
a
moment
Paul
says
sounds
like
these
false
brothers
try to
make
a
case
against
Titus
sounds
like
they
wanted
to
cross
examine
him
say
no
you
need
to
be
circumcised
too
buddy
and
Paul
says
hey
we
didn't
put
up
with
that
junk
for
a
moment
don't
you wish
the
Holy
Spirit
recorded
for us
what
happened
next
what
the
apostles
did
with
these
Judaizers
these
enslavers
I can
imagine
Paul
you
men
are
preaching
a different
gospel
you must
either
repent
or be
damned
because
you're
enslaving
those
who
listen
to
you
and
we're
not
going
to
have
it
here
rips
their
lanyards
off
and says
now
leave
Paul is
recognizing
that these
false
brothers
like the
false
teachers
in
Galatia
were a
threat
to the
freedom
we have
in
Christ
freedom
from living
under the
law
freedom
to live
for God
by grace
and we're
told at the
end of
verse 5
why Paul
confronts
these
false
teachers
so that
the truth
of the
gospel
might be
preserved
for you
the you
are the
Galatians
it's a
plural you
you all
Paul is
saying
hey all
this
happened
in order
to preserve
to protect
the truth
of the
gospel
the gospel
message
is built
on reality
the truth
of what
Christ
has done
the true
freedom
that comes
through this
message
he says
we did
this
to preserve
this
gospel
for you
Gentile
Christians
in Galatia
and for
us
Gentile
Christians
in Kenosha
2000 years
later
you feeling
the love
this meeting
happened
so that
we
could live
in the
freedom
Christ
purchased
for us
at the
cross
so at
this historic
meeting
Paul lays
out a case
for the
gospel of
grace
brings forward
his star
witness
and defends
it against
these false
claims that
will just
enslave
everybody who
professes
Christ
and he
makes a
pretty
successful
case
given
what
happens
next
from
James
Peter
and
John
something
historic
happens
and you
should have
this
photograph
of it
in your
mind
in verses
6 through
10
we have
the
historic
handshake
of gospel
unity
if you look
at verse
9
and when
James
and Cephas
and John
who seemed
to be
pillars
perceived
the grace
that it
was given
to me
they gave
the right
hand of
fellowship
to Barnabas
and me
they extend
the right
hand of
fellowship
it's
essentially
saying
we're in
it
we totally
agree with
everything that
you're proclaiming
we're on
board
we're in
this together
to bring
this gospel
to everyone
everywhere
now it's
interesting what
precedes verse
9 because
there's a little
bit of an
argument
a case
negatively
in verse
6
Paul says
this
he says
I
say
that
these
men who
seemed
influential
you know
in God's
eyes
no big
deal
and so
in my
eyes
it's
no big
deal
but those
who seemed
influential
added nothing
to me
kind of
sounds
snarky
but what
he's saying
is this
hey
I made
my case
and James
Peter
and John
they smelled
nothing off
of it
they didn't
add anything
to it
nothing
needed to
be adjusted
nothing
needed to
be taken
away or
added
they had
nothing to
add
nothing was
off
that's the
negative
argument
part of the
argument
and then
positively
he says
in verse
7 through
9
that
they didn't
see anything
off
and what
they did
see
was God's
grace
in me
in verse
7
we read
this
on the
contrary
when they
saw
that I
had been
entrusted
with the
gospel
to the
uncircumcised
just as
Peter had
been entrusted
with the
gospel
to the
circumcised
for he
who worked
through
Peter
for his
apostolic
ministry
for the
to the
circumcised
worked
also
through
me
my
apostolic
ministry
to the
Gentiles
what
Paul is
saying
here is
they
recognized
it
they saw
God at
work in
me
just as
they saw
God at
work in
Peter
they saw
God at
work in
me
and in
verse 9
we read
perceiving
seeing the
grace that
was given
to me
these
three men
the reputed
pillars
they are
not
pronouncing
that Paul
is an
apostle
they're not
authorizing
his
apostolic
ministry
they are
simply
recognizing
God's
grace
in his
calling
of Paul
as an
apostle
and so
having
nothing to
add
and seeing
God's
power
his grace
at work
in Paul
to entrust
him with
the gospel
to proclaim
to the
Gentiles
they say
let's
shake
on it
we're
all on
the same
page
baby
snapshot
it's the
snapshot
of gospel
unity
one God
one gospel
two men
going to
two very
different people
groups
all according
to God's
glorious plan
to pronounce
announce
his grace
in Christ
that can
only be
received
by faith
to all
people
everywhere
you know
what's
interesting
is that
Paul went
into this
meeting
concerned
that he
had labored
in vain
but God
had ordained
this meeting
to unite
his church
around the
one true
gospel
of grace
and when
Paul hits
that middle
sea
these men
of repute
are like
yes and
amen
let's shake
on it
baby
Paul had
not been
running in
vain
and now
he realizes
he is
certainly
not running
alone
but we
can't miss
verse 10
with the
right hand
of fellowship
James
Cephas
and John
they make
this appeal
to Paul
you see
in verse 10
only they
asked
as they're
shaking
their hands
only they
asked
they asked
us to
remember
the poor
that they're
most likely
referencing
are not
all poor
people
everywhere
but a more
specific group
of materially
impoverished
people
it's the
poor
Jewish
Christians
in Jerusalem
these
Jewish
Christians
who have
converted
to Christ
this
famine
that Agabus
had
prophesied
of
it was
hitting
the region
and these
apostles
to the
Jews
shaking
the hands
of this
apostle
to the
Gentiles
says
hey
remember
the
materially
impoverished
brothers and
sisters
in Jerusalem
it's
like
hey
we're
one
in
Christ
and you
know what
Paul says
it was the
very thing
I was eager
to do
wouldn't
you have
loved to
be there
if it's
true
that this
is all
tied to
this
revelation
this
prophecy
of Agabus
imagine
this
they're
shaking
hands
James
Cephas
John
say
hey
don't
forget
about
the
poor
and
Paul
shaking
their
hands
saying
yeah
we
we're
on
middle
sea
baby
and he
goes
oh by
the
way
I've
got
this
check
for
twenty
thousand
dollars
from the
Gentile
church
in Antioch
and it
is
for
you
it
demonstrates
the
unity
Paul was
eager to
do
it
it's
one of
the
reasons
why
God
sent
him
there
this
unity
of
helping
one
another
in
need
flows
from
the
gospel
God
had
orchestrated
the
whole
thing
this
primarily
Jewish
church
in
need
being
helped
by a
primarily
Gentile
church
with
means
one
God
one
gospel
one
church
they're
all
singing
off
of
all
playing
off
of
the
middle
sea
of
the
gospel
together
talk
about
putting
your
money
where
your
mouth
is
this
really
happened
this
way
it's
striking
incredibly
encouraging
that God
would
be orchestrating
things like
this
okay so
we've
seen
the
background
we've
seen
the
courtroom
drama
we've
seen
the
historic
handshake
here's
the
point
of
it
all
the
gospel
of
Jesus
Christ
the
gospel
of
Jesus
Christ
is
what
must
unite
us
above
all
else
that's
what
we
see
happening
in
the
early
church
and
it's
what
must
be
happening
in
our
church
it
must
be
the
thing
that
unites
us
there's
nothing
else
that
can
unite
us
it's
the
only
thing
that
does
unite
us
in
the
eyes
of
God
so
let
me
just
point
you
to
four
ways
that
we
seek
to
be
united
in
the
gospel
together
the
first
is
what
happens
here
on a
Sunday
morning
the
gospel
is
what
unites
us
here
on a
Sunday
morning
the
whole
reason
why
we're
gathering
together
the
primary
reason
why
you're
here
is
because
of
Jesus
it's
not
because
of
where
we
live
it's
not
because
of
the
time
of
day
it's
because
of
Jesus
has
done
for
each
of
us
that
unites
us
so
here's
how
you
think
about
the
Sunday
morning
service
it's
a
weekly
gospel
unifier
from
the
time
we
greet
one
another
in
the
name
of
the
Lord
that's
a
gospel
greeting
the
songs
that
we
sing
they
are
gospel
rich
songs
not only
do
we
sing
that
but
the
people
around
us
hear
us
singing
that
and
Colossians
3
it
ministers
to
one
another
when
we
have
public
confession
together
or
we
observe
the
Lord's
supper
together
those
are
all
ways
in
which
we
are
able
to
run
to
the
gospel
together
whoever
is
in
this
pulpit
preaching
Sunday
after
Sunday
they
are
going
to
proclaim
the
gospel
of
Jesus
Christ
from
all
the
pages
of
the
scriptures
because
all
the
pages
of
the
scriptures
point
to
Jesus
Christ
so
what
you
need
to
think
about
this
Sunday
morning
gathering
is
it
is
a
gospel
unifier
a
gospel
refresher
and
you
need
it
week
after
week
it's
got
to
be
a
priority
because
it
unites
us
in
what
matters
most
the
gospel
so
every
Sunday
here
in
this
building
we
are
striking
the
middle
sea
of
the
gospel
it's
the
only
thing
that
can
unite
us
above
all
else
the
second
way
in
which
we
are
united
by
the
gospel
is
much
more
personal
if
the
first
point
was
kind
of
middle
sea
corporately
this
point
is
middle
sea
personally
we
must
get
the
gospel
into
the
crank
house
of
our
hearts
we
got
to
live
it
I've
got
some
suggestions
here
there's
some
very
helpful
books
to
read
I
have
four
gospel
primers
up here
by
Milton
Vincent
very
helpful
ways
to
learn
how
to
rehearse
the
gospel
to
yourself
every
day
but
I
want
to
show
you
my
favorite
way
and
it
doesn't
have
to
do
with
reading
a
book
like
that
it's
looking
into
the
book
would
you
turn
with
me
to
Ephesians
chapter
two
could
you
were
to
regularly
do
this
exercise
that
I'm
suggesting
I've
shown
you
this
before
in
Ephesians
chapter
two
one
through
ten
we
have
gospel
and
what
I'm
suggesting
is
you
take
the
you
and
make
it
a
me
and
I
was
dead
in
the
trespasses
and
sins
in
which
I
once
walked
following
the
course
of
this
world
following
the
prince
of
the
power
of
the
air
the
spirit
that
is
disobedience
among
whom
I
once
lived
in
the
passions
of
my
flesh
carrying
out
the
desires
of
my
body
and
my
mind
I
was
by
child
a
child
of
wrath
like
the
rest
of
mankind
it's
who
I
was
it's
who
you
were
but
God
being
rich
in
mercy
because
of
the
great
love
with
which
he
loved
me
even
when
I
was
dead
in
my
trespasses
made
me
alive
together
with
Christ
by
grace
I
have
been
saved
and
he
raised
me
up
with
him
and
seated
me
with
him
in
the
heavenly
places
in
Christ
Jesus
so that
in
the
coming
ages
he
might
show
the
immeasurable
riches
of
his
grace
and
kindness
towards
me
in
Christ
Jesus
for
by
grace
I
have
been
saved
through
faith
and
this
is
not
my
own
doing
it's
the
gift
of
God
not
a
result
of
my
works
so
that
I
wouldn't
have
to
boast
for
I
am
his
workmanship
created
in
Christ
Jesus
for
good
works
which
God
prepared
beforehand
that
I
should
walk
in
them
you
see
how
that
works
could
you
imagine
doing
that
a
couple
times
a
week
for
a
month
you're
going
to
find
yourself
the
gospel
in
your
crank
house
this
is
who
I
am
by
God's
grace
it's
true
the
truth
of
the
gospel
well
I
think
I'm
running
out of
time
the
third
way
life
groups
gospel
unions
brothers
and
sisters
life
group
leaders
learn to
strike the
middle
sea of
the
gospel
every
time
your
life
group
gathers
give
them
the
gospel
remind
them
of
the
gospel
rehearse
the
gospel
together
it's
really
easy
as a
life
group
to
focus
on
your
differences
it's
easy
to
do
things
like
this
I
don't
like
this
person
I'm
not
going
this
person
stinks
I
don't
want
to
go
because
I
can't
believe
he
said
this
about
me
honey
why
are
we
doing
this
life
group
thing
here's
why
you're
doing
it
because
it
is
a
gospel
union
it
reminds
you
that
you
belong
to
Christ
along
with
these
other
people
all
around
that
room
do you
know
what
happens
when a
life
group
is
experiencing
gospel
unity
there's
a hunger
for
God's
word
there's
a
growing
depth
of
relationships
there's
a
joyful
desire
to
obey
Jesus
and
all
he
commanded
and
there
is
a
mission
mindedness
it's
the
middle
C
for
a
small
group
of
Christians
in
our
church
lastly
when
the
gospel
is
resonating
in
our
souls
we
will
be
looking
for
opportunities
to
help
other
Christians
in
real
need
when
a
need
arises
it's
going
to
be
the
very
thing
that
we're
eager
to
do
because
we're
united
to
them
in
Christ
that
might
be
an
individual
Christian
that
might
be
another
church
here
in
Kenosha
or
around
the
world
let's
be
looking
for
opportunities
brothers
and
sisters
the
gospel
is
our
middle
C
as a
church
it's
from
where
we
sing
it's
from
where
we
serve
it's
why
we
gather
the
gospel
must
unite
us
above
all
else
let's
pray
God
in
heaven
we do
ask
that
you
would
use
Galatians
2
1
through
10
to
form
your
mind
in
our
church
that
we
would
be
a
church
with
the
gospel
at
the
center
of
who
we
are
informing
all
that
we
do
as
long
as
we're
here
God
would
you
fan
into
flame
our
love
for
you
and
our
love
for
others
through
the
gospel
of
Jesus
Christ
and
it's
his
name
I
pray
Amen
amen