Vietnamese Alliance Church at Midway City English Worship Gathering Vietnamese Alliance Church at Midway City Feb.17, 2008

Scripture reading I do not hide your righteousness in my heart. I speak of your faithfulness and salvation. I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly. -Psalm 40:10

Yahweh Yahweh, Yahweh! Ancient One yet you're here today Ageless One, Changeless One Showing love to all generations Show us Your glory, oh Lord Let Your goodness pass before us Right before our eyes And we will worship, and we will bow down And we will call you Lord And we will kneel before the maker of the universe And we will call you Lord Yahweh, Yahweh! Faithful One, you have shown us the way Through the years, through all our lives You have shown you are faithful to the end

Joshua said to the Israelites, "Come here and listen to the words of the LORD your God. This is how you will know that the living God is among you. Joshua 3:9 Please take this moment to acknowledge the power of God’s word in your life. Acknowledge the power of its transformation and its significance in your life.

Thy Word Word of God speak would You pour down like rain Washing my eyes to see Your Majesty To be still and know that You’re in this place Please let me stay and rest in Your Holiness Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. (2x) When I feel afraid, think I've lost my way, still you're there right beside me. And nothing will I fear as long as you are near. Please be near me to the end. I will not forget your love for me and yet my heart forever is wandering. Jesus be my guide, and hold me to your side, I will love you to the end.

Thy Word Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. (2x) When I feel afraid, think I've lost my way, still you're there right beside me. And nothing will I fear as long as you are near. Please be near me to the end. I will not forget your love for me and yet my heart forever is wandering. Jesus be my guide, and hold me to your side, I will love you to the end.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38 Please take this moment to examine where in your life have you separated from this victorious love of God. Pray that God’s love will continue to be the stronghold in your life.

In Christ Alone In Christ alone my hope is found; He is my light, my strength, my song; This cornerstone, this solid ground; Firm through the fiercest drought and storm. What heights of love, what depths of peace; When fears are stilled, when strivings cease! My comforter, my all in all - Here in the love of Christ I stand. In Christ alone, Who took on flesh; Fullness of God in helpless babe! This gift of love and righteousness; Scorned by the ones He came to save. Till on that cross as Jesus died; The wrath of God was satisfied; For ev'ry sin on Him was laid - Here in the death of Christ I live. There in the ground His body lay; Light of the world by darkness slain; Then bursting forth in glorious day; Up from the grave He rose again! And as He stands in victory; Sin's curse has lost its grip on me; For I am His and He is mine - Bought with the precious blood of Christ. No guilt in life, no fear in death - This is the pow'r of Christ in me; From life's first cry to final breath; Jesus commands my destiny. No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man; Can ever pluck me from His hand; Till He returns or calls me home - Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand.

But now, this is what the LORD says— he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. -Isaiah 43:1 Please take this moment to thank God that even before your birth, he has redeemed and called you by name. You are his.

New Series: “Breaking Free! Experience the Power of the Gospel” -Please join our small groups & devotions -Small groups available: -An (Sun), BigTim’s house (Tue), Bumble’s house (Thu.), Hai’s house (Thu.) Fellowship Group Meetings SPARC (High School) 4pm Sat.: Vertical Pointers (College) 7pm SonLife’s Enroute training – Mar. 1, 2008 Welcome, Offerings, Announcements

Galatians 2:1-10 Unity of the Gospel Galatians 2:1-10

Galatians 2: Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also. 2 I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did this privately to those who seemed to be leaders, for fear that I was running or had run my race in vain. 3 Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. 4 This matter arose because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. 5 We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you. 6 As for those who seemed to be important- whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not judge by external appearance-those men added nothing to my message.

Galatians 2: On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as Peter had been to the Jews. 8 For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles. 9 James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews. 10 All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.

Background Recap Paul started the churches in Galatia on his mission trip, trained them, then moved on. “Some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” – Acts 15:1 Issue under contention: –Judaizer: “Paul didn’t give you the complete Gospel as what we got from Jesus’ Leaders.” –Paul: “What I taught you is the complete Gospel! What you got from them is a perversion of the Gospel!”

Paul’s “Proof of the True Gospel” -Pt.1 1.It’s directly from God “the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.” (1:11-12)

Paul’s “Proof of the True Gospel” -Pt.1 1.It’s directly from God “the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.” (1:11-12) 2.I could not have made it up “you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it.” (1:13) “Christianity must be from God, for who else would have thought it up” CS Lewis

Paul’s “Proof of the True Gospel” -Pt.1 1.It’s directly from God “the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.” (1:11-12) 2.I could not have made it up “you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it.” (1:13) 3.I didn’t even got it from the other Apostles “I did not consult any man, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was… after three years, I went up to Jerusalem… and stayed with Peter fifteen days. I saw none of the other apostles [except] James…” (1:18-19)

Paul’s “Proof of the True Gospel” -Pt.1 1.It’s directly from God “the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.” (1:11-12) 2.I could not have made it up “you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it.” (1:13) 3.I didn’t even got it from the other Apostles “I did not consult any man, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was… after three years, I went up to Jerusalem… and stayed with Peter fifteen days. I saw none of the other apostles [except] James…” (1:18-19) 4.I could not change the Gospel (and so does anyone) “even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!” (1:8-9)

Paul’s “Proof of the True Gospel” -Pt.1 1.It’s directly from God “the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.” (1:11-12) 2.I could not have made it up “you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it.” (1:13) 3.I didn’t even got it from the other Apostles “I did not consult any man, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was… after three years, I went up to Jerusalem… and stayed with Peter fifteen days. I saw none of the other apostles [except] James…” (1:18-19) 4.I could not change the Gospel (and so does anyone) “even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!” (1:8-9)

Other Gospel?

The Unity of the Gospel… 1)…Authenticates that it’s from God 2)…Establishes the Essentials of Salvation 3)…Varies in Engagement to the Culture

Paul’s “Proof of the True Gospel” -Pt.2 5.The Gospel is Empirical (grounded in testable reality) “ 1 Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem… 2 I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did this privately to those who seemed to be leaders, for fear that I was running or had run my race in vain. 6 …those men added nothing to my message… 9 James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship…”

Paul’s “Proof of the True Gospel” -Pt.2 5.The Gospel is Empirical (grounded in testable reality) “ 1 Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem… 2 I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did this privately to those who seemed to be leaders, for fear that I was running or had run my race in vain. 6 …those men added nothing to my message… 9 James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship…” 6.The Gospel’s results is consistently accepted “I took Titus along also… 3 Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek.”

Paul’s “Proof of the True Gospel” -Pt.2 5.The Gospel is Empirical (grounded in testable reality) “ 1 Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem… 2 I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did this privately to those who seemed to be leaders, for fear that I was running or had run my race in vain. 6 …those men added nothing to my message… 9 James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship…” 6.The Gospel’s results is consistently accepted “I took Titus along also… 3 Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek.” 7.The Gospel is Authoritative over the Church “ 11 When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face… 14 When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel…”

Paul’s “Proof of the True Gospel” -Pt.2 5.The Gospel is Empirical (grounded in testable reality) “ 1 Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem… 2 I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did this privately to those who seemed to be leaders, for fear that I was running or had run my race in vain. 6 …those men added nothing to my message… 9 James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship…” 6.The Gospel’s results is consistently accepted “I took Titus along also… 3 Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek.” 7.The Gospel is Authoritative over the Church “ 11 When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face… 14 When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel…”

The Unity of the Gospel… 1)…Authenticates that it’s from God 2)…Establishes the Essentials of Salvation

The Essentials of Salvation “Some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” – Acts 15:1 “The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” – Galatians 5:19-21 Moral Principles  Ritual Practices

The Essentials of Salvation “He rescued us” Believe in Jesus + nothing else  SALVATION “They added nothing to my message” Believe in Jesus + circumcision  SALVATION Keep God’s Law ( inc. circumcision)  SALVATION?

The Essentials of Salvation “He rescued us” Believe in Jesus + nothing else  SALVATION “They added nothing to my message” Believe in Jesus + Keep God’s Law  SALVATION

The Essentials of Salvation “He rescued us” Believe in Jesus + nothing else  SALVATION  Keep God’s Law “They added nothing to my message” “…they asked that we should continue to remember the poor” “Salvation by faith alone But not by faith that is alone” -Martin Luther

The Unity of the Gospel… 1)…Authenticates that it’s from God 2)…Establishes the Essentials of Salvation 3)…Varies in Engagement to the Culture

Various Engagements to the Culture 7 On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as Peter had been to the Jews. 8 For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles. 9 James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews…

Various Engagements to the Culture Same Principles Diverse Methods Disregard Principles & Methods Altogether Bind Principles & Methods Together Danger: Legalism Danger: Liberalism

Various Engagements to the Culture 7 On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as Peter had been to the Jews. 8 For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles. 9 James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews…

In Christ alone my hope is found; He is my light, my strength, my song This will be my story! This will be my song You'll always be my Saviour, Jesus You will always have my heart Astounded, astounded that Your gospel beckoned me Surrounded, surrounded but I've never been so free

Befriended Befriended, befriended by the King above all kings Surrendered, surrendered to the friend above all friends Invited, invited deep into this mystery Delighted, delighted by the wonders I have seen This will be my story! This will be my song You'll always be my Saviour, Jesus You will always have my heart Astounded, astounded that Your gospel beckoned me Surrounded, surrounded but I've never been so free Determined, determined now to live this life for You Your so worthy my greatest gift would be the least You're due

The Lord’s Prayer Our Father, who is in heaven, Hallowed be your name, Your kingdom come, your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread And forgive our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. AMEN.

Doxology Praise God from whom all blessings flow Praise Him all creatures here below Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost Amen

Apostle’s Creed I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended to hell. On the third day He rose again; He ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy universal church, the communion of the saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. AMEN.