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July 7 Worship - Series on Galatians

6/30/2013

This coming Sunday brings us to the conclusion of the series on Galatians. Please feel free to offer comments to the questions following the text. May God's blessing be upon you in the reading and meditating on the text below.

After expounding on the freedom of a Christian, Paul concludes this letter by giving some practical advice in terms of how we care for others in the faith.

Galatians 6:1-16 "My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. For if those who are nothing think they are something, they deceive themselves. All must test their own work; then that work, rather than their neighbor's work, will become a cause for pride. For all must carry their own loads. Those who are taught the word must share in all good things with their teacher.
Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit. so let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. So then, whenever we have an opportunity,m let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith.
See what large letters I make when I am writing in my own hand! It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that try to compel you to be circumcised--only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. Even the circumcised do not themselves obey the law, but they want you to be circumcised so that they may boast about your flesh. May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything;p but a new creation is everything! As for those who will follow this rule- peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God." NRSV

Discipleship Questions for Reflection

What stands out for you in these verses?
What questions surface for you?
How is burden-bearing being lived out in today's world?

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June 30 Worship - Series on Galatians

6/24/2013

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In preparing for this Sunday's worship, it would be helpful to read Galatians Chapter 4 since my message will be on Chapter 5:1, 13-25. Please feel free to offer comments based on the questions following the text. May God's blessing be upon your reading and reflection of these words of Scripture.

In this Sunday's text, the apostle Paul once again states the freedom that has come to a Christian. This freedom, however, involves living in a responsible way.

Galatians 5:1, 13-25 "For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.

Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit."

Discipleship Questions for Reflection

What stands out for you in these verses?
What questions surface for you?
How do you see freedom being abused today?

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June 23 Worship - Series on Galatians

6/17/2013

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Here is the text for this Sunday. In preparation, you might also want to read Galatians 3:1-22 since these words are not covered in this Sunday's reading. Please feel free to offer comments based on the questions following. May God's blessings be upon your reading and reflecting on these words of Scripture!

In this week's text the apostle Paul states the barriers that are broken down in Christ. There is a oneness that we have in Christ.

Galatians 3:23-29 "Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise." NRSV

Discipleship Questions

What stands out for you in these verses?
What questions surface for you?
What other barriers in today's world do you think we can overcome in Christ?

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June 16 Worship - Series on Galatians

6/10/2013

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Read through the text below and feel free to comment on the questions following in order to give input for the sermon. While the text doesn't cover the entire chapter, you may want to read Galatians 2:1-14 in preparation for Sunday. I hope that you can read the letter in its entirety in this series in order to grasp the greatest expression of freedom ever written!

Paul in the following verses for Sunday's text states that he is not saved on the basis of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, the one who lives in him.

Galatians 2:15-21 "We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; yet we know that a person is justified not by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ. And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by doing the works of the law, because no one will be justified by the works of the law. But if, in our effort to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have been found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! But if I build up again the very things that I once tore down, then I demonstrate that I am a transgressor. For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God; for if justification comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing." NRSV

Discipleship Questions

What stands out for you in these verses?
What questions surface for you?
How might a good works mind-set be evident by people today as they talk about God looking favorably on them and also gaining entrance into heaven?
What are the implications of Christ living in you?

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June 9 Worship - Series on Galatians

6/4/2013

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Read through Sunday's text below from Galatians and feel free to comment on any of the questions following to give input for Sunday's message!

The apostle Paul states what authenticates his work, and we also need to understand what authenticates our work in the church.

Galatians 1:11-24 "For I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel that was proclaimed by me is not of human origin; for I did not receive it from a human source, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

You have heard, no doubt, of my earlier life in Judaism. I was violently persecuting the church of God and was trying to destroy it. I advanced in Judaism beyond many among my people of the same age, for I was far more zealous for the traditions of my ancestors. But when God, who had set me apart before I was born and called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, so that I might proclaim him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with any human being, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were already apostles before me, but I went away at once into Arabia, and afterwards I returned to Damascus.

Then after three years I did go up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and stayed with him for fifteen days; but I did not see any other apostle except James the Lord’s brother. In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie! Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia, and I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea that are in Christ;they only heard it said, ‘The one who formerly was persecuting us is now proclaiming the faith he once tried to destroy.’ And they glorified God because of me." NRSV

Discipleship Questions

What stands out for you in these verses?
What questions surface for you?
What issues might come to a Christian today regarding one's qualifications in doing the Lord's work?
What do you think validates your work as a disciple of Jesus?

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July 7 Worship - Series on Galatians

June 30 Worship - Series on Galatians

June 23 Worship - Series on Galatians

June 16 Worship - Series on Galatians

June 9 Worship - Series on Galatians

Discipleship Questions

I invite you to reflect on these words of Scripture in preparing for worship.

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