Weekly Bible Memory and Meditation
Galatians 2:6-10
And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me. 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 to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.
1. There is a party of seemingly influential people surrounding Paul. He says twice that they "seemed influential." What should this tell us about our discernment of others (other's council) as Christians?
2. Paul offers the disclaimer "what they were makes no difference to me." The tone here could be read as pride but in previous verses we read last week Paul tells the reader that they went to Jerusalem "because of a revelation" and this week we read that "God shows no partiality." Paul shows confidence in the revelation he has been given and in the one who gave it to him. As Christians what is it that keeps us from being confident in the things that God calls us to do?
3. Paul also gained his confidence through being aware of the great honor it was to be "entrusted with the Gospel." We too share that great honor as followers of Jesus Christ. God only entrusts His inheritance to His sons and daughters (those who by faith have repented and believed on the name of Jesus). Do you consider it a blessing, an honor, a privilege and a responsibility to share the Gospel that God the father has given you as an inheritance?
4. Paul was and is known as the apostles to the Gentiles (uncircumcised), while Peter was an Apostle to the Jews (circumcised). Here Paul recognizes the blessing of the Lord on both of their ministries despite the practical differences. What does this tell those of us who serve about the attitude we should maintain towards those who serve in a different capacity, with different methods and with different emphasis?
5. With regard to Question 4, Paul and Peter were still working toward the same goal, the spread of The Gospel of Jesus. Despite the different facets of their callings they both remained sons of God striving toward the same goal yet with different people and sometimes different methods. How can we show grace to those we are in the same spiritual race with while running with different techniques and styles?
6. "The right hand of fellowship" was not just an "agree to disagree" mentality but literally a bond and unity understanding the goal of making disciples despite the differences in going about it? Are there times and circumstances wherein we should not extend the "right hand of fellowship" because of differences? What is the standard by which we judge those times?
7. Despite ministry to Jew or Gentile both parties agreed on "remembering the poor." Why do you think this is the shared attitude? How should this affect our American Christian attitude toward the same issue?
And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)—those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me. 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 to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.
1. There is a party of seemingly influential people surrounding Paul. He says twice that they "seemed influential." What should this tell us about our discernment of others (other's council) as Christians?
2. Paul offers the disclaimer "what they were makes no difference to me." The tone here could be read as pride but in previous verses we read last week Paul tells the reader that they went to Jerusalem "because of a revelation" and this week we read that "God shows no partiality." Paul shows confidence in the revelation he has been given and in the one who gave it to him. As Christians what is it that keeps us from being confident in the things that God calls us to do?
3. Paul also gained his confidence through being aware of the great honor it was to be "entrusted with the Gospel." We too share that great honor as followers of Jesus Christ. God only entrusts His inheritance to His sons and daughters (those who by faith have repented and believed on the name of Jesus). Do you consider it a blessing, an honor, a privilege and a responsibility to share the Gospel that God the father has given you as an inheritance?
4. Paul was and is known as the apostles to the Gentiles (uncircumcised), while Peter was an Apostle to the Jews (circumcised). Here Paul recognizes the blessing of the Lord on both of their ministries despite the practical differences. What does this tell those of us who serve about the attitude we should maintain towards those who serve in a different capacity, with different methods and with different emphasis?
5. With regard to Question 4, Paul and Peter were still working toward the same goal, the spread of The Gospel of Jesus. Despite the different facets of their callings they both remained sons of God striving toward the same goal yet with different people and sometimes different methods. How can we show grace to those we are in the same spiritual race with while running with different techniques and styles?
6. "The right hand of fellowship" was not just an "agree to disagree" mentality but literally a bond and unity understanding the goal of making disciples despite the differences in going about it? Are there times and circumstances wherein we should not extend the "right hand of fellowship" because of differences? What is the standard by which we judge those times?
7. Despite ministry to Jew or Gentile both parties agreed on "remembering the poor." Why do you think this is the shared attitude? How should this affect our American Christian attitude toward the same issue?
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