Midweek Divine Service Summary – 31 July/ 1 Aug 2019

Midweek – Wednesday, 31 July / Thursday, 1 August 2019

Title: Wrestling for unity

Bible verse: Galatians 2: 14

But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews?”

Bible reading: Galatians 3: 23–29

Message: Belief in the gospel causes divisive things to recede into the background

Summary:

• Paul accused Peter of hypocrisy when the latter tried to avoid the fellowship of Gentile Christians out of concern for the Jewish Christians.
• The behaviour of Peter serves as an example of the problems between Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians, since the Jews assessed the law as being greater than liberty in Christ.
• Then as now, belief in the gospel and the power of the Holy Spirit can create unity that transcends all differences.