How Do We Steward Our Gospel Freedom?

- Distinguishing Truth from Error (6-12), “…a little leaven leavens the whole lump…” (9).

- Demonstrating Obedience with Love (6, 13-15), “…but only faith working through love…love your neighbor…” (6,14).

How Do We Steward Our Gospel Freedom?

- Standing Free (1), “…For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery…” (1)

- Embracing Truth (2-4), “…for in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love…” (4)

- Pursuing Hope (5), “…await…the righteousness for which we hope” (5)

The Story: Abraham and Hagar have a child together in an effort to receive the promises of God. Their efforts fail.

The Meaning: We are either slaves of human effort or sons of divine promise.

The Significance: Jesus is the only one who can take a slave and make him/her free.

Our Response: Live as a son, not a slave.

What mindset is necessary for intentional disciple-making?

- Making Disciples Is a Pilgrimage (8-11), “…but now that you have come to know God…” (9)

- Making Disciples Isn’t Painless (12-16), “…you know it was because of the bodily ailment that I preached the Gospel to you at first…” (13)

- Making Disciples Isn’t Popular (17-20), “I am again suffering labor pains for you until Christ is formed in you..." (19)

Why was it necessary for God to save us from our “good works” as well as our sin?

- God Sent His Son to Redeem Us (1-5), “God sent forth his Son…to redeem those who were under the law…” (4)

- God Sent His Spirit to Adopt Us (6,7), “God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba Father!” (6)

We’ll consider….

- The Gravity of Prayer: To Commune with the Living God (14-16), “I bow my knee before the Father…according to the riches of his glory…” (14,16)

- The Goal of Prayer: To be Conformed to Christ (16,17), “…he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit…so that Christ may dwell in your hearts…” (16,17)

Faith alone in Christ alone unites the people of God to receive the promises of God.

- An Unconditional Promise

- (With) an Unwavering Protection

- (Leads to) a Unified People of God

Why did God give the Law?

- To Manifest Sin (10,11), “…For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse…" (15)

- To Magnify Jesus (12-14a), “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us…” (13)

- To Motivate Obedience (14), “the blessing of Abraham might come…so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith” (14)

When are we most vulnerable to falling away?

= When we minimize the cross (v. 1)

- When we mask the gospel (v. 2-4)

- When we misplace our identity (v. 5-9)