In Galatians 4:21-26, Paul offers a way of understanding the human condition, one that may be more revealing than we expect. This Sunday’s sermon, “Four Types of People,” invites us to consider not just what we do, but what we rely on.

Paul contrasts two ways of living: life under the law and life in the freedom of God’s promise. From this, we can begin to see four broad categories. Some are law-obedient and law-reliant; doing the right things, yet trusting their obedience to make them right with God. Others are law-disobedient and law-reliant; failing to keep the law, yet still clinging to the hope that their efforts will somehow be enough. Still others are law-disobedient and not law-reliant; no longer striving, but also not trusting in God’s grace.

But there is a fourth way; the way of the gospel. It produces people who are law-obedient, but not law-reliant. These are those who have come to trust fully in Christ, not in their own performance. Their obedience flows not from fear or self-justification, but from freedom, gratitude, and new life in the Spirit.

The challenge before is simple: There are four types of people. Do we know who we are? Are we living as children of the slavery, or as children of promise? Join us this Sunday as we reflect on where we stand, and where the gospel invites us to live.

–Caleb McCaughan

Dinner Table Conversations: 

Adult & Teen Table Talk: 

Little Learners’ Table Talk: 

Sermon Title: Four Types of People

Sermon Series: Set Free

Sermon Passage: Galatians 4:21-26

Closing Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

The post Four Types of People appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

In Galatians 4:12-20, Paul reaches the climax of his argument. In the simplest terms, there are two gospels and two ministries placed before the Galatians. Which one are they going to choose? There’s the gospel that Paul preached “because of an illness,” and there’s the gospel that the false teachers preach “to win you over, but for no good.” Which one will you have?

Now when I say “ministry,” I don’t want you to narrow the field that ministers engage in. Instead, it is best to understand ministry as the act that all Christians are called to be a part of. Elsewhere, Paul calls Christians ambassadors of Christ. It’s best to think of ministry as our ambassador-ly behaviors and actions.

The question we have to ask is, What are we pointing to through our ministry? The ministry of the false teachers in Galatia pointed to themselves. There was a sense in which, à la Cheap Trick in 1977, they “want you to want me… need you to need me.” In other words, the aim of the false gospel, false ministry is to create dependence on the teachers themselves.

But what about the true gospel? The gospel Paul preaches? The aim is not dependency on Paul, or any one preacher, but on Jesus himself so that “Christ is formed in you.” True ministry does not elevate the ambassador, but directs all honor and glory to the one true king, Jesus Christ. So today, there are two ministries before us. Are we choosing the right one?

-Caleb McCaughan

Dinner Table Conversations: 

Adult & Teen Table Talk: 

Little Learners’ Table Talk: 

Sermon Title: Two Gospels, Two Ministries

Sermon Series: Set Free

Sermon Passage: Galatians 4:12-20

Closing Scripture: Mark 10:42-45

The post Two Gospels, Two Ministries appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

New Exodus

In Galatians 4:1–11, Paul speaks with both urgency and tenderness to believers who are in danger of turning back. Using the language of slavery and sonship, he reminds them of who they once were, and who they now are in Christ. Before Christ, they were enslaved and bound under the basic principles of the world. But in the fullness of time, God sent His Son to redeem them, to bring them out, to adopt them as His own children. This is nothing less than a new Exodus.

Just as God delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt, so Jesus has rescued us from a deeper bondage to sin, death, and the powers that once ruled our lives. We are no longer slaves but sons and daughters, heirs of God through Christ. We belong in the Father’s household.

And yet, Paul is astonished. Why would those who have been set free consider returning to slavery? Why trade sonship for bondage? Why go back to what Christ has already delivered us from?

This passage invites us to reflect honestly on our own lives. Where are we tempted to return to old patterns, old identities, old ways of thinking? Where are we living as though we are still enslaved, rather than free?

The gospel is not just about being set free; it is about living in that freedom. Jesus rescued us from slavery. Why would we ever go back?

–Caleb McCaughan

Dinner Table Conversations: 

Adult & Teen Table Talk: 

Little Learners’ Table Talk: 

Sermon Title: New Exodus

Sermon Series: Set Free

Sermon Passage: Galatians 4:1-11

Closing Scripture: John 8:31-36

The post New Exodus appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

“You’re rooting for clothes when you get right down to it… I’m rooting for an outfit. That’s what it’s come down to. I want my team’s clothes to beat the clothes from another city… It’s laundry. We’re rooting, we’re screaming about laundry here!”

These are the words of comedian Jerry Seinfeld when he was hosted by David Letterman, and, if you can’t tell, he’s talking about the absurdity of team loyalty. You cheer for one player, you adore him or her, they get traded, and now you hate him. At the end of the day, Seinfeld says, all you care about is the color of the shirt.

Yet, anyone who’s played a sport, been a fan of a team, or participated in another team activity where a uniform is required knows the power of “shared” laundry. There’s a sense of unity, of togetherness, of being a part of the same family. I may know nothing about your or your background, but I see your shirt, and I know that we have something in common.

The apostle Paul champions this idea at the end of Galatians 3. He says that “all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.” To continue with Seinfeld’s idea, all of us who came to faith in Christ have been given the uniform of Christ’s team. We share laundry together. We’re all on the same side. It doesn’t matter our cultural, class, or gender barrier, we’re all teammates together set to receive the same prize. To put it another way, Paul is telling us that there is one gospel, one family, one inheritance. That’s what we’ll be exploring this Sunday.

-Caleb McCaughan

Dinner Table Conversations: 

Adult & Teen Table Talk: 

Little Learners’ Table Talk: 

Sermon Title: Heirs through Christ

Sermon Series: Set Free

Sermon Passage: Galatians 3:16-29

Closing Scripture: John 17:20-23

The post Heirs through Christ appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

One of my favorite hymns begins like this: Low in the grave He lay, Jesus, my Savior, waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord… Up from the grave He arose! While we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus every Sunday, there is something knowing that on the Sunday of Passover about 2,000 years ago, Jesus our Lord and Savior defeated death and rose from the grave.

This Easter, we’re going to allow Paul’s letter to the Galatians to bring us to celebrate the resurrection anew. Up to this point, Paul has expounded upon the promise given to Abraham in Genesis 12 and 15. A promise that, through Abraham, God will bless all peoples on earth.

Now, it’s important for us to understand that this promised blessing means far more than any sort of material blessing. Rather, this promised blessing is the return of all people to dwell with God again. To be in His presence. A promise that God will restore all things and set the world right.

However, there is a question that has been asked by the Galatian churches and the people of God at their bleakest moments: Has God’s promise failed? We look into the world and witness chaos, injustice, and evil. We look within ourselves and we see all the pain and suffering that we’ve experienced and that we’ve inflicted. We, too, ask: Has God’s promise failed? This Easter Sunday, we’re going to see that God’s promise didn’t fail; it rose from the grave. Isn’t that news worth proclaiming? 

-Caleb McCaughan

Dinner Table Conversations: 

Adult & Teen Table Talk: 

Little Learners’ Table Talk: 

Sermon Title: Pointing to the Promise

Sermon Series: Set Free

Sermon Passage: Galatians 3:15-25

Closing Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:18-22

The post Pointing to the Promise appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

Life for a Christian is not a sprint or a marathon it is a relay race of faith. The goal is not just to run well, but to pass on a faith that continues beyond us. Psalm 78 reminds us of the importance of telling the next generation about God so they may put their hope in Him.

First, we must put people in position. Jesus intentionally placed individuals where they could grow and lead Peter as a vocal leader, John as a close witness, and even others in roles that served God’s greater purpose. Effective transition begins long before the handoff.

Second, we must practice passing the baton. Many churches and organizations struggle because some hold on too long while others are unprepared to receive. Just like a relay team, success depends not only on speed but on smooth, practiced exchanges. Jesus modeled this by giving His disciples opportunities to lead while He was still with them. Practice doesn’t make perfect, it makes progress.

Finally, true transition happens at the peak. In a relay race, the baton is passed when both runners are moving at full speed. Likewise, we are called to pass on responsibility not when we are exhausted, but while we are still strong. This requires humility and trust.

Jesus ultimately demonstrated this by entrusting His mission to His disciples. The question is: where are you in the race? Are you in position, practicing, or ready to pass the baton?

Dinner Table Conversations:1.“In what ways can the older generation better prepare and support the next generation in ‘receiving the baton’ of faith and responsibility?”

2.“What makes it difficult for younger people to ‘step into big shoes,’ and how can both generations work together to make that transition stronger and more confident?”

Children:Who is someone older you learn from, and what is something important they have taught you?”

Randall Colson

Sermon Title: Pass the Baton

Sermon Series: Youth-Led Sunday

Sermon Passage: Psalms 78:1-8

Closing Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:6-8

The post Pass the Baton appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

This Sunday, we were blessed by a message titled “Called to Greater Things”, shared by keynote speaker Anderson George during our Inspire New England 2026 weekend.

The message centered on a powerful truth: God is working even in the waiting. In seasons that feel slow or uncertain, He is not absent—He is building, shaping, and preparing us for His greater purpose.

Throughout the weekend, we were reminded:“You’re not behind—you’re being built.”“Greater isn’t later—it’s now.”“You don’t have to feel ready, you just have to be willing.”

These words encouraged us to stop striving for perfect timing and instead trust that God can use us right where we are. We don’t have to wait for a future version of ourselves to step into His calling—He is inviting us to say “yes” today.

It was a timely and faith-filled reminder that even in the waiting, God is moving—and we are truly called to greater things for His kingdom and His purpose.

The post Called to Greater Things appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

In Genesis, God meets with Abraham and gives him this promise: “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you” (Genesis 12:2). The implication is clear. From the very beginning, God has planned to redeem humanity through the bloodline of Abraham.

Eventually, Abraham will go on to have Isaac; Isaac will have Jacob; and Jacob his twelve sons whose namesake makes up the nation of Israel. After exile and slavery in Egypt, God redeems and rescues his people. At Mount Sinai, through Moses, God gives his people the law.

There it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law” (Deuteronomy 27:26). Paul draws upon this passage to further develop his point here in Galatians 3. But what exactly does it mean to be cursed? Those who refuse to fully trust in God and disobey him will be cursed, and will face the consequences of further exile and enslavement.

All throughout the Bible we see this happen time and time again. The people of God place their trust fully in God, things start to go good, the people of God disobey and turn to wickedness and/or idolatry, and the people of God are led into exile. Rinse. Repeat. Start again.

The Jewish people understand themselves to be in exile while they’re under Roman rule. It is for this reason that the Jewish Christians in Galatia are trying to “Judaize” the Gentile Christians. But Paul wants to remind the churches that the promise of Abraham still stands, and has been fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Paul is going to make clear that Jesus took the curse so you could take your place in the family. That’s what we’ll be exploring this week.

Dinner Table Conversations: 

Adult & Teen Table Talk: 

Little Learners’ Table Talk: 

Caleb McCaughan

Sermon Title: Cursed No More

Sermon Series: Set Free

Sermon Passage: Galatians 3:6-14

Closing Scripture: Romans 8:14-17

The post Cursed No More appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

I can remember what it was like learning to play basketball as a child. There was a constant emphasis on learning the fundamentals. Am I dribbling properly? Am I aiming for the corner on the backboard when I shoot a layup? Do I have my feet squared to the hoop when shooting? 

All of this was crucial and necessary to learn the game. But then something happened. As I developed as a player, I began to experiment with “cooler” and “flashier” ways to shoot or attempt a layoff. Inevitably, my whole game would get thrown off, and my coaches and parents would repeatedly shout at me to return to the fundamentals.

This is just with basketball, but we do it with all sorts of things. Driving. Dental care. You name it. But is it possible we also do this with our faith? With our spiritual life? In these punchy five verses, Paul is going to show us that if you have been declared righteous through faith in the gospel, then you are also formed by faith in the gospel.

The good news is not just our entry ticket into the Kingdom of God, but the good news is also what shapes us into proper citizens of the Kingdom of God. The gospel is not simply building blocks we play with when we are spiritual infants, only to be tossed to the side when something better comes our way. Rather, the gospel is the building blocks that serve as a foundation for our Christian formation. Let us learn together what it means to continually fixate on Jesus and to see Christ clearly.

Dinner Table Conversations: 

Adult & Teen Table Talk: 

Little Learners’ Table Talk: 

Caleb McCaughan

Sermon Title: Christ Clearly

Sermon Series: Set Free

Sermon Passage: Galatians 3:1-5

Closing Scripture: Romans 12:1-2

The post Christ Clearly appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.

There are times when Paul uses words and phrases in Scripture that we don’t necessarily use in our everyday vocabulary. One of these phrases is found in Galatians 2:16 when Paul writes that we have been “justified by faith in Jesus Christ.” 

Of course, that then leads us to ask, What exactly does Paul mean by this? What is justification? Well, to put it simply, to be justified means to be declared righteous. But there is also more to it than that. Just as we have been declared righteous, we are also being made righteous. It’s not an either/or scenario, but a both/and.

When we understand what Paul is saying here, we can see the lasting impact it has. We must remember that this conversation about justification is taking place in the conflict over who can sit at the table. There’s the circumcision party, who says that Gentiles must be circumcised (like the Jews) if they want to sit at God’s table, and there’s the freedom party, represented by Paul.

The message of the freedom party (and of Scripture) is this: If you are a follower of Jesus marked by faith, then you have a seat at God’s table. This is true of the heavenly table described in Revelation 19, but it is also true of God’s table here and now in the present. Being justified by faith in Christ has immediate ramifications for our lives. This week, we’ll further explore justification, life in Christ, and what exactly faith is. But let us never forget that when Christ changes our lives, He doesn’t only change our eternal state, but our immediate trajectory as well.

Caleb McCaughan

Dinner Table Conversations: 

Adult & Teen Table Talk: 

Little Learners’ Table Talk: 

Sermon Title: Table Manners, Part II

Sermon Series: Set Free

Sermon Passage: Galatians 2:11-21

Closing Scripture: Revelation 19:9

The post Table Manners, Part II appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ.