CCF Sunday Messages

We are systematically making our way through Galatians 5 and will look at nine verses tomorrow: verses 7-15. The argument for the need for the church to have rules to govern behavior is that if people are told they are free, they will just indulge sin! “Pastor, people need rules and guilt and pressure or they will just do whatever they want!” one might say.

Well….people who haven’t experienced real transformation might need rules and consequences to constrain behaviour, but the Spirit-filled believer has something much more powerful!

Reading over and studying this passage you will find that this section outlines about ten or eleven reasons why legalism is unhealthy and inappropriate for the church!

What controls our behaviour? Why is legalism so detrimental to a vibrant Christian life? Listen in and see what God has to say through Paul and we continue studying through this important book.

We are systematically making our way through Galatians 5 and will look at nine verses tomorrow: verses 7-15. The argument for the need for the church to have rules to govern behavior is that if people are told they are free, they will just indulge sin! “Pastor, people need rules and guilt and pressure or they will just do whatever they want!” one might say.

Well….people who haven’t experienced real transformation might need rules and consequences to constrain behaviour, but the Spirit-filled believer has something much more powerful!

Reading over and studying this passage you will find that this section outlines about ten or eleven reasons why legalism is unhealthy and inappropriate for the church!

What controls our behaviour? Why is legalism so detrimental to a vibrant Christian life? Listen in and see what God has to say through Paul and we continue studying through this important book.

Galatians chapter five represents a transition from the first four chapters that were highly persuasive and theological regarding our relationship to God the Father.

In chapter 5, Paul shows the Galatians what freedom really looks like and how truly free people really live by the Spirit and Love — not by law. In the discussion of “religious freedom”, Paul’s concern was the Christian would be free from legalistic religion and free to love people.

Legalistic thinking had hindered their progress in Christ! What about you? Do you still hold on to the mindset—maybe subtly or not so subtly—that Christ is not enough? Do you feel obligated to tithe, read a certain Bible translation, wear certain clothes, worship on a certain day? What if you were to fail to do those things you consider essential? What would change? Your answers to these questions is essential to a solid understanding of genuine Christianity!

Galatians chapter five represents a transition from the first four chapters that were highly persuasive and theological regarding our relationship to God the Father.

In chapter 5, Paul shows the Galatians what freedom really looks like and how truly free people really live by the Spirit and Love — not by law. In the discussion of “religious freedom”, Paul’s concern was the Christian would be free from legalistic religion and free to love people.

Legalistic thinking had hindered their progress in Christ! What about you? Do you still hold on to the mindset—maybe subtly or not so subtly—that Christ is not enough? Do you feel obligated to tithe, read a certain Bible translation, wear certain clothes, worship on a certain day? What if you were to fail to do those things you consider essential? What would change? Your answers to these questions is essential to a solid understanding of genuine Christianity!

We will finish chapter 4 of Galatians in today’s message, and find yet another angle Paul takes in his attempt to rescue the people who are being coerced back into a rules-based, immature, slave-type relationship with God! His last approach is an “allegorical” look at a well known Old Testament account from Genesis.

“But Pastor, it’s MOTHER’S DAY! Are you going to do a message about mothers?” Well, in fact the Lord has arranged an interesting passage that centers on not one, but two very important women (moms), their sons, and what their lives represent!

Who are the women? Hagar and Sarah. Who are the sons? Isaac and Ishmael. What do their lives represent? To tell you that would be to spoil the message for tomorrow! But I think by now you might be able to guess — or you can read ahead and discover it for yourself!

We will finish chapter 4 of Galatians in today’s message, and find yet another angle Paul takes in his attempt to rescue the people who are being coerced back into a rules-based, immature, slave-type relationship with God! His last approach is an “allegorical” look at a well known Old Testament account from Genesis.

“But Pastor, it’s MOTHER’S DAY! Are you going to do a message about mothers?” Well, in fact the Lord has arranged an interesting passage that centers on not one, but two very important women (moms), their sons, and what their lives represent!

Who are the women? Hagar and Sarah. Who are the sons? Isaac and Ishmael. What do their lives represent? To tell you that would be to spoil the message for tomorrow! But I think by now you might be able to guess — or you can read ahead and discover it for yourself!

Let’s be honest. There are times when we read the Bible and we say, “I wish I had a little more information!” Well, tomorrow’s study in Galatians 4:12-20 may just be one of those times!

As Paul does, he has been “bringing the heat” and communicating his concern for the future of the people in Galatia. After having heard and embracing the grace of god, they are being brainwashed and trading the slavery of paganism for the slavery of legalism! In v 11, Paul is afraid that all of his hard work would have been for nothing if they effectively convert to Judaism from Christ!

This next section is a little pause to get personal. Paul is not just a theologian. He is a pastor with a huge and loving heart! He is not distant, aloof, or superficial. He is personable, transparent, and genuine as the day is long.

Now the part we wish we had more info about: Paul takes them back to when he first came to their region to share the news of Christ. He makes reference to the weakness of his body and what a trial that was for him. Was that a physical illness? Some say, NO! Was it an eye disease? Others say, YES! We know they understood the references perfectly, but they are a little obscure for us 2000 years later.

But don’t you worry! There is plenty for us to discuss that we can be sure about!

Let’s be honest. There are times when we read the Bible and we say, “I wish I had a little more information!” Well, tomorrow’s study in Galatians 4:12-20 may just be one of those times!

As Paul does, he has been “bringing the heat” and communicating his concern for the future of the people in Galatia. After having heard and embracing the grace of god, they are being brainwashed and trading the slavery of paganism for the slavery of legalism! In v 11, Paul is afraid that all of his hard work would have been for nothing if they effectively convert to Judaism from Christ!

This next section is a little pause to get personal. Paul is not just a theologian. He is a pastor with a huge and loving heart! He is not distant, aloof, or superficial. He is personable, transparent, and genuine as the day is long.

Now the part we wish we had more info about: Paul takes them back to when he first came to their region to share the news of Christ. He makes reference to the weakness of his body and what a trial that was for him. Was that a physical illness? Some say, NO! Was it an eye disease? Others say, YES! We know they understood the references perfectly, but they are a little obscure for us 2000 years later.

But don’t you worry! There is plenty for us to discuss that we can be sure about!

I hope we can begin to regain some of that momentum as we roll back into Galatians, picking up where we left off at the beginning of chapter 4! It’s been a few weeks so we’ll catch up a bit with a brief review at the start!

For now, the question I want you to think about is: “How many different relational terms are used to describe our relationship with God? For instance, we are the bride of Christ. That’s one. Can you think of others? Is there one that you tend to think about most often?

In Galatians 4, Paul uses some super important relationship illustrations that may be deeply impactful— maybe even liberating—to you, especially if you have come from a very “rules oriented” church background.

The bottom line question is, “When it comes to your relationship to God, do you feel more like a slave or a son (daughter)? Do you even know the difference? Why is the difference important?

Oh my….wait until you see what comes next!

I hope we can begin to regain some of that momentum as we roll back into Galatians, picking up where we left off at the beginning of chapter 4! It’s been a few weeks so we’ll catch up a bit with a brief review at the start!

For now, the question I want you to think about is: “How many different relational terms are used to describe our relationship with God? For instance, we are the bride of Christ. That’s one. Can you think of others? Is there one that you tend to think about most often?

In Galatians 4, Paul uses some super important relationship illustrations that may be deeply impactful— maybe even liberating—to you, especially if you have come from a very “rules oriented” church background.

The bottom line question is, “When it comes to your relationship to God, do you feel more like a slave or a son (daughter)? Do you even know the difference? Why is the difference important?

Oh my….wait until you see what comes next!