Galatians 1:11-24 

A Believer's STORY is the GOSPEL 

1. Why do you think Paul needed to validate himself to the Galatians?

Paul was completely different after his encounter with Jesus than he was before. Paul's name had been Saul. He grew up as a Roman and a Jew, which was very unique. He was the elite of the elite. He would have known the entire Old Testament verse by verse and kept every law at all times. He persecuted Christians, those who professed Jesus as God's Son. But now, he is introducing himself as an apostle of Christ. He had to give some validity to that statement because of his past and how greatly Jesus had changed him. 

2. Why does Paul say the gospel he preached was not based on human thought?

He wanted to make sure his story was pointing people to Jesus, not himself. Similarly, our stories should ultimately point to Jesus, too. 

3. Why did God choose Paul?

Because he wanted to. God doesn't choose us based on our abilities or our past. He calls us for a purpose from the time we are in our mother's tummy. It is not based on self but on Himself in us. Just like Jonah, Moses, David, Gideon, and most all other greats from the Bible, they were great because of how God used them and because of their obedience. 

4. What was Paul doing in Arabia?

He was letting God deconstruct all the things he'd known, learned, and believed before encountering Christ. God tends to call people to a desert period after he calls them, before they begin their ministry. 

5. Why did Paul go to see Peter after His time in Arabia and Damascus?

Instead of just going off on his own, doing his own thing, he connected with those who were already doing it, the Church. Again, he wanted to make sure this was about the Gospel, not about himself. 

6. Why do you think Paul left Jerusalem?

God had called him to the Gentiles, not the Jews. Being a Jew himself, He probably thought he'd be preaching to the Jews, but ministry doesn't always end up like we think it will.