Merry Christmas! This section of John’s Gospel begins by informing the reader that the disciples, on that evening of the first day of the week, are locked away behind closed doors in fear of their lives from the Jews.

By definition, a goal is “an end that one strives to attain” (Webster’s New World Dictionary). Most people have goals. Most of us are aiming toward, striving toward something. Today, we consider what surely must be the goal of every Pastor.

The goal of every Pastor is the formation of Christ in the people (v. 19).

This Galatians text has much to say about the moment God sent His Son. Let’s read about it.

I believe that adoption is at the very heart of the gospel. And, you will never convince me differently. John Piper remarks that God has chosen to speak of us as His children by both adoption and new birth. Wow!

Just about any and every thing has a purpose. This sermon has a purpose. This worship service has a purpose. In this morning’s text, Paul identifies the purpose of the law.

Please keep this in mind: God deals with us according to His promise, not according to our performance.

Trusting Christ as our Savior, experiencing His forgiveness, is not the end. Regardless of the age at which this happens, it is only the...beginning. I know I am saved, but I also know the shortcomings of my life. Am I all the Lord wants me to be? Am I doing all the He wants me to do? Am I producing the kind of fruit that pleases Him? Being “sorry” for the way we are living is always the beginning of refreshing, of revival in our life. One day, we will all stand before the Lord to answer for the things we have done, the way we have lived our life since trusting Him as our Savior. I don’t know about you, but I would like to handle some of these things that I know I need to do...before I meet Him one day. I know I am saved, that I am being saved, and that I will be saved, but I don’t want to be sorry for the way I have lived my Christian life. Peter tells us some ways we can avoid this sorrowfulness as a Christian.

Sadly, there is no shortage of people attempting to earn favor with God by being good, keeping the law, “not sinning,” not cursing the waitress at the restaurant, so to speak. What does Paul have to say about such efforts? The answer is found in today’s sermon text.

Abraham is a key figure in Old Testament history. In this text, Paul asks his readers to consider Abraham. Our objective this morning is to follow Paul’s argument by indeed considering Abraham.

Have you ever paused to consider some of the foolish things we do? We all have blind spots. We all find ourselves from time to time acting, thinking, or speaking foolishly. In today’s sermon text, Paul issues one of the strongest rebukes in all of his writings.