1) Christ Central: In Our LivesColossians 1:27b-28 “... which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.”a) Sin = Ignoring God in the World He has Made-Redemption... “The Lord Saves”b) Christ is Saviour and King!-”Come... Follow Me!”c) Building Our Lives on the Rock (Mature)-Identity, Family, Education, Career... Everything!2) Christ Central: In His ChurchColossians 1:17-18 “And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.”a) Jesus is the Head-Leader, Authority, Shepherd, Cornerstone, Herob) Jesus is Preeminent-Love Jesus, Worship Jesus, Obey Jesus, Imitate Jesusc) Local Church: Christ Central Church-”Christ Central Churches” and Newfrontiers3) Christ Central: In the WorldCol. 1:15-16 “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.”a) Creation-Central in Historyb) His Kingdom is Ever Increasing-Central Today Over Our Universec) The Future-Central in Eternity

1. Religion: What we doGalatians 6:12a) Outward signs: The focus is on human effort- In our day... church, Bible, prayer, giving, rituals, etc.b) Good works?- Selfish motivesc) Do as I say...- Not as I do (v13)2. The Cross: What God did!Galatians 6:14a) The crucified Christ- Boast in Him and not ourselvesb) The crucified world- Achievements, abilities, power, successc) The crucified christian- Follow Jesus or "I will decide exactly how I live my life"3. New Creation: What God does!Galatians 6:15-16a) New life... new nature, desires, habits- The key is the Holy Spiritb) Conditional promise- God's peace and mercy despite persecutionc) Summary- Get right with God via Jesus, and enjoy the new life of God's Spirit

1) Spirit Life: RestorationGalatians 6:1-2 “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”a) How Do We Deal With Sin? Separated or Distant?Get Right with God and Other People via Jesusb) Restoration: To Bring Back To a Former/Original ConditionRepentance, Forgiveness, Consequences, Restitution, Restorationc) A Humble AttitudeBy Both Parties2) Spirit Life: ResponsibilityGalatians 6:2 & 4 “Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ... For each will have to bear his own load.”a) Bear Each Other’s BurdensOur Example... Jesus our Burden Bearerb) The Reality of HardshipSelf-Sufficiency or Together Sharing the Workc) Bear Your Own LoadPersonal Ownership3) Spirit Life: ReapingGalatians 6:7&9 “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap... And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”a) God is WatchingEternal Perspectiveb) We All Sow SomethingWorld or Spirit?c) Do Good, All the Time!Do Not Give Up, There Will Be a Harvest

It is for Freedom that We Are Set FreeGalatians 5:1-15(5:1-4)The Law is a standard for justificationWhatever nation you're in, you're subject to that nation's lawWe can't pick and choose which parts of the law we followIf you follow part of the law, you need to follow the whole thingNone of us follow the whole Law, it's in our nature to be rebellious toward GodBut God gives us grace, a better way, and we receive it by faith alone, not the Law(5:5-6,13-15)Through God's grace we are counted righteous, but through God's Spirit we can live righteously - this is sanctification.This isn't through our work, but through God's spiritWe can trust that the work will be finished, because God is doing itWe can't return to dead rules, we've got to go fully into loving God and serving HimGod has given us good promises

Slaves to SonsGalatians 3:23-4:71. Faith (3:23-26)a) Before Faith (3:23)b) Faith Revealed (3:23)c) Faith Brings Justification (3:24)d) Faith Has Come (3:25)e) Faith Brings Adoption & Sonship (3:26)2. Baptism into Christ Brings Unity (3:27-29)a) Ordinance of Baptism (3:27)b) We Have "Put On" Christ and are in Him (3:27)c) Equally Justified & Accepted in Christ (3:28)d) Heirs According to Promise (3:29)3. In Christ We Are All Sons (3:26; 4:5-7)a) Through Faith (3:26)b) God is our Father (4:5-6)c) Holy Spirit Within (4:6)d) The Changes Sonship Brings (4:7)4. In Christ We Are Heirs (3:29; 4:7)a) The Situation Before Faith & Christ (3:23-25; 4:1-3)b) The Fullness of Time (4:4-5)c) The Promise to Abraham (3:29)d) Our Inheritance (3:29; 4:7)

1. The gospel empowers us as we stand before man OR The gospel is our ground for fearlessnessa) Peter- Decisions motivated by fear- Peter was in the wrong, and Paul called him condemned- "Not again Peter"- If the was anyone who should have known better it was him - Acts 10:9-11:18- Fear leads us into hypocrasy- Hypocracy leads others astray too (a companion of fools becomes foolish)- Jesus said not to fearb) Paul- Paul stood up to Peter- empowered by the gospel- We have not a spirit of fear, but of life- How does the gospel empower us- We need to stop and look to Jeus, God sent his son to die, and he is for you - Romans 4- We have lots of reasons to fear, but we need to look to the gospel2. The gospel justifies us when we stand before GodORThe gospel is our ground for righteousness- v15 - We aren't justified by what we do, but by Jesus- There are many advantages to living in a christian home, but none that save, because it is not about earning salvation- You have been justified by an act of God- v17-18 - It is not sin to abandon living under the law and live in faith and grace of Jesus- v19 - We die to the law - the law doesn't justify, it can only accuse- v20 - The death of my old life is final- v21 - Christ did not die to have you living in death and works