Free: A Study on Galatians
In a culture and world that values freedom, we encounter strong words from the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Galatians: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1). The message of Jesus Christ is a message of radical freedom that leads to abundant life. But what does that look like for us?
Join us as we walk through the New Testament epistle of Paul to the Galatians, exploring themes of the gospel, freedom, grace, legalism, salvation, inclusion, and discipleship.
Free to Live
Does freedom mean we are careless about how we live with God? No, in fact Paul draws upon Old Testament teaching to say that our daily lives are to be a reflection of the grace of God that frees us from slavery to sin and into a new creation way of life. He boasts in the cross of Christ (6:14) and summarizes it all with the grace of Jesus (6:18). (Galatians 6:18) Sermon Outline “May I never boast except in…
Spiritual Freedom
What does it really look like to live with freedom? Paul describes the freedom in Christ that comes by the Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence. Here is the famous fruit of the Spirit discussion. (Galatians 5:1, 13) Sermon Outline “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” (Galatians 5:13) Spiritual Freedom and Religious Slavery (Galatians 5:1, 13) “Do not let yourselves be…
Becoming Children
Paul calls the Galatians to a new life of freedom in God. He uses an allegory about Hagar and Sarah in order to illustrate the radical new beginning and life we have as children of grace and not children of law. (Galatians 4:7) Sermon Outline “So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.” (Galatians 4:7) Adoption (Galatians 4:1-7) Identity of the adopted (4:1-3) Adoption made…
Receiving the Promise
Paul explores the relationship between the law and faith, righteousness and grace. Drawing upon the life of Abraham and the revelation of the Law to Moses after the Exodus, Paul makes a case that there is a justification before God that comes from faith apart from the law, and he begins to move into what life looks like under the grace of God. (Galatians 3:28) Sermon Outline “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there…
The Real Gospel
Paul continues to reflect on his own story and how the unique revelation of the Gospel came to him and what it meant within the early church and his authority. This is a key historical piece that gives us understanding of the ministry of Paul and why we should take him seriously as the ‘Apostle to the Gentiles’. He presents the basic issue at stake in Galatians: “I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could…
The Only Message
The real message of the Gospel is at stake in Paul’s writing to the churches in Galatia. He is wrestling with his listeners on their approach to life with God. Here is strong statement about how we approach life and what we think about the good news is important. He begins to reflect on his calling and the radical nature of the gospel to the Gentiles. (Galatians 1:10) Sermon Outline Am I now trying to win the approval of human…