Second Baptist Church Houston

There is a massive issue that can cause people to reject God and prevent them from connecting with Him. It happens when we take the negative, destructive attributes of our earthly father and project them onto the Heavenly Father. We need a breakthrough of God's grace and the Father-heart of God to show us who He really is and allow us to take that next step of healing and intimacy with Him.

We have a deep need to have a connection with our father. They define us and give us our identity. When we don't have a good father or no father, we look for someone or something to give us that sense of Identity and affirmation. Christ came to connect us to God the Father Almighty so that regardless of our family of origin, God can speak to us in that place of fatherly connection.

Whether a student, young adult, or middle-aged, at some point in our life, we all ask the question, “Who am I?" We long for a sense of our own unique identity. You might look to religion, philosophy, or even psychoanalysis to define yourself, but if you are searching for an authentic identity and individuality, then you must go to the One Who made all of reality and Who made you.

How do we face the mountains in life - the fears and tasks we have to overcome? We need the mountain climbing manual called God's Word and the Guide who knows the terrain and how to summit. We can learn from the Galatians, who were about to fall off the mountain because they were relying on their performance and legalistic rituals to make it to the top instead of following their guide, Jesus Christ.

Coaches are critical in the development of young men and women. Even adults employ “Life Coaches”. Good coaches must have tender and tough love and be able to tell it like it is. The Apostle Paul was a life coach for the Galatian churches, and he had some strong words when they began trying to earn the salvation they already possessed. Don’t let this misguided thinking hinder your spiritual growth.

Are you living in “Lawland” or Graceland? If you're stuck in Lawland trying to please God by your religion, efforts, morality or rules, it’s time for a move to Graceland where there is forgiveness, love, mercy, life and community – it’s where we can grow and follow God in Christ. Are you ready to move to Graceland?

When our car is out of alignment, we can end up in the ditch. And when things are misaligned in our spiritual life, we drift and eventually wind up in the ditch of a graceless, unforgiving mode of existence. But when we align with God, we have confidence, courage and conviction. Find out about forces that pull us out of alignment in Galatians chapter 2 and how to align or re-align with God.

What’s at the center of your life? If it’s anything other than Christ then we won’t be free from anxiety, stress and worry. Things start to shake, and we realize that center not going to hold up against all that life throws at us. We need to live Christ-centered lives that trust in Christ alone. Find out how to do that as we continue to study the book of Galatians.

You can never underestimate the creative grace of God. The creative grace of God uses all things in our lives, good and bad, for His purposes. The Apostle Paul’s story, told in the book of Galatians, is a great example. When we yield to God, submit to Him as our Creator and ask Him to work His creative grace in our lives, He gives us a new life and path that can change the world.

There will always be people around us seeking to pervert, to divert, to pollute, to poison the authentic gospel of Jesus Christ. When this happened in the early churches in the Galatian region, the Apostle Paul penned an explosive letter warning them to be discern between true gospel and false teaching. One of the most important things we can do to defend ourself is to be aware and then know how to spot a different gospel.