Sermons About Galatians
The Gospel Plus...
In this message we look at the first major crisis of the early church. After Paul and Barnabas returned from their first missionary journey, in which the gospel was received by the Gentiles, men from Jerusalem began teaching these new believers that they had to become Jewish before they could become Christian. Paul and Barnabas debated strongly with them, and it was decided that the church in Jerusalem had to weigh in on this matter. Acts 15 is the account of this Council. As we look at this story, we will also be looking at the first New Testament letter: Galatians. Paul's purpose for writing these new churches was to warn them of the danger of adding anything to the Gospel. Though we may not be calling people to circumcision today, we too are often guilty of this. The remedy is daily repentance and a holding fast to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
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The Gospel of Grace and No Other
Paul is stunned that anyone could turn their back on grace. He pleads with the church, and with every one of us, hold fast to grace for a life of freedom and joy!
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Be The Alternative: Community
What is the church to do? We are called to "be the alternative" to the ways of the world. In this message, Pastor Simmons speaks to the difference the church is to make in the way we relate to one another in community. The individualism and consumerism in the church today is getting in the way. How do we discover true community again so we can give the world a "foretaste of glory divine"?
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Patience
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Patience in Suffering 7 Be patient, therefore, brothers, [1] until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. 10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.
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Joy
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. The Philippian Jailer Converted 25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” 29 And the jailer [1] called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. 34 Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.
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Freedom Part IV: The Newness
This is the final week of the study on Galatians focused on how God grants us freedom. This message focuses on the freedom we have to be new in Christ and how that impacts our ability to truly live.
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Boasting in Christ
The main problem with the church in Galatia is the main problem Christians and churches contend with today: “Is Jesus really all we need, or do we need something else in addition to him?” Often, Jesus is viewed as a starting point, and then we try to add extra things to the work He did to “save” us, and fall into the trap of a performance-driven religiosity, contrary to what the Bible teaches. In our final sermon studying the book of Galatians, we are reminded that when we add anything to Jesus, we lose Jesus.
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Freedom Part III: The Life
This is the third part of a study on Galatians examining the freedom we have in Christ. This week we looked at the life we have in freedom, rejecting what keeps us from God and living in the celebration of God.
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Sowing to the Spirit
The farming principles of sowing (planting) and reaping (harvesting) happen to have spiritual applications as well. What we plant into our lives will eventually grow: either into sin, slavery, and death OR joy, freedom, and life. The first is classified as sowing to the flesh, while the latter can be classified as sowing to the Spirit. In this sermon we look at the different ways that we sow to the Spirit and the flesh, and what our ultimate hope is as people who are saved by Jesus.
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A Spirit-Led Community
It is common in our culture for Christians to get frustrated with the church and feel they don't need community in order to grow spiritually and serve God. But, the Bible is very clear that we are meant to live, grow, and serve in community with other believers. God doesn't just call us all together to figure out how to live together on our own. He has given believers His Spirit and the church to lead us and empower us. In this sermon, we examine God's description of at what a community led by the Spirit looks like.
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