Nov 3, 2024
Signposts at the Fork in the Road
Series: Galatians
Signposts can be very important.  They offer direction and warn of dangers.  Just imagine how hard and hazardous it would be to try getting around if there were no street signs or stop signs.  Now, of course, those signs don’t keep us from having troubles by themselves.  We have to heed the warning.
 
God’s Word does a great job of providing direction and warning for our lives.  Throughout history, people have questioned which road leads to salvation.  In Galatians 3:10-14, Paul draws our attention to 4  signposts at this spiritual fork in the road: Signpost #1 – Those Who Can’t Keep God’s Commands are Under a Curse; Signpost #2 – A Right Relationship with God is Found Only by Faith; Signpost #3 – The Law is Based on Behaving Rather Than Believing; and Signpost #4 – The Curse of the Law is Only Removed by the Cross of Christ.
 
Believing is the pathway to blessing.
 
 
Galatians 3:10-14
Nov. 3, 2024
 
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  • Nov 3, 2024Signposts at the Fork in the Road
    Nov 3, 2024
    Signposts at the Fork in the Road
    Series: Galatians
    Signposts can be very important.  They offer direction and warn of dangers.  Just imagine how hard and hazardous it would be to try getting around if there were no street signs or stop signs.  Now, of course, those signs don’t keep us from having troubles by themselves.  We have to heed the warning.
     
    God’s Word does a great job of providing direction and warning for our lives.  Throughout history, people have questioned which road leads to salvation.  In Galatians 3:10-14, Paul draws our attention to 4  signposts at this spiritual fork in the road: Signpost #1 – Those Who Can’t Keep God’s Commands are Under a Curse; Signpost #2 – A Right Relationship with God is Found Only by Faith; Signpost #3 – The Law is Based on Behaving Rather Than Believing; and Signpost #4 – The Curse of the Law is Only Removed by the Cross of Christ.
     
    Believing is the pathway to blessing.
     
     
    Galatians 3:10-14
    Nov. 3, 2024
     
    To watch the video of this message, click here.
  • Oct 27, 2024It Has Always Been About Faith
    Oct 27, 2024
    It Has Always Been About Faith
    Series: Galatians
    Why is it that we sometimes think things are more complicated than they actually are?  We can unnecessarily complicate tasks or relationships, when they actually may be quite simple.  This seems to also be the case when it comes to the topic of salvation.  Throughout the centuries and continuing today, people have added “requirements” to salvation, ultimately doing nothing more than complicating a simple issue, and thereby making it ineffective.
     
    God has given us a simple solution for salvation from the consequences of our sin – believe in His promises.  Salvation from sin comes by faith.  This always has been true, and always will.  In Gal. 3:6-9 Paul points back to Abraham as proof that this is true.  With a couple of quotes from Genesis, focusing on Abraham’s life, Paul shows his readers that: 1) Right Standing with God is a Result of Faith; and 2) God’s Greatest Blessing is Received by Those Who Believe.
     
    We are saved on the basis of belief in God’s promises.
     
     
    Galatians 3:6-9
    Oct. 27, 2024
     
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  • Oct 20, 2024A Good Work Ethic Won’t Get You There
    Oct 20, 2024
    A Good Work Ethic Won’t Get You There
    Series: Galatians
    In Galatians 3:1-5 Paul uses a series of rhetorical question posed to these believers in an attempt to shake them up and bring them back to the truth of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ. In a sense, these questions are not really questions because the answers are obvious, so obvious that they don’t need to be answered. The basic question Paul is driving at is, “How can you know that you are a Christian?”
     
    Three truths show up in what Paul has to say: 1) Christ Crucified is the Cornerstone of the Christian Faith; 2) God Gives His Spirit to Those Who Seek Him by Faith; 3) Christian Maturity is Not a Result of Self-Righteous Effort.
     
    God’s Spirit sanctifies us and seals our salvation, not any outward sign.
     
     
    Galatians 3:1-5
    Oct. 20, 2024
     
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  • Oct 13, 2024How Not to Be Saved
    Oct 13, 2024
    How Not to Be Saved
    Series: Galatians
    When it comes to the Gospel, we rightly focus most of our attention on how a person can be saved from the punishment they face for their sins.  This morning, let’s talk some about how not to be saved.  The fundamental issue in our passage this morning is the basis of one’s right standing with God.  Are we right with God on the basis of works, or through faith in Christ?  Paul’s argument will be that human obedience to commandments cannot serve as the basis of a right relationship with the Lord.
     
    I’m going to focus on the negatives in our passage first, then we’ll finish up with the positive.  Negatively, 1) You Are Not Saved by Birth – salvation is not a birthright or inheritance; and 2) You Are Not Saved by Working for It – we can’t earn even a small portion of God’s forgiveness.  Positively, then, 3) You Are Only Saved Through Faith in Christ – it is by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
     
    Right standing with God comes only through faith in Christ.
     
     
    Galatians 2:15-21
    Oct. 13, 2024
     
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  • Oct 6, 2024Standing Firm in the Faith
    Oct 6, 2024
    Standing Firm in the Faith
    Series: Galatians
    Whenever we have questions about Christian life and living, we should go to Scripture for our answers. If what we’re doing is in line with God’s Word, we’re doing good; if not, we need to make some changes.  
     
    In Galatians 2:11-14 we find Paul having to confront another apostle for failure to live according to God’s instruction.  There are 3 things which stand out to that we too can take to heart as we strive to live God-honoring lives: 1) Be Willing to Boldly Stand for Biblical Truth; 2) Conduct Yourself in a Consistent Christ-Honoring Way; and 3) Humbly Consider Christian Correction.
     
    God’s Word is the authority for assessing our Christian walk.
     
     
    Galatians 2:11-14
    Oct. 6, 2024
     
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  • Sep 29, 2024Conduct Suited for Conflict
    Sep 29, 2024
    Conduct Suited for Conflict
    Series: Philippians
    We need to strive for unity in the church and conduct ourselves in a worthy manner.
     
     
    Philippians 1:27-30
    Sept. 29, 2024
     
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  • Sep 22, 2024United We Stand
    Sep 22, 2024
    United We Stand
    Series: Galatians
    Christians are encouraged to strive for unity in the Church.  In his letter to the Galatians, Paul demonstrates this same striving after unity as he meets with the apostles in Jerusalem to share with them the content of the Gospel message he had been preaching.
     
    Three things about the Gospel show up in Paul’s example found in Gal. 2:1-10: 1) We Are to Be Centered on the Gospel; 2) We Are Set Free By the Gospel; and 3) We Are to Share the Gospel.
     
    The Gospel of grace brings unity and freedom.
     
     
    Galatians 2:1-10
    Sept. 22, 2024
     
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  • Sep 15, 2024Insisting on Integrity
    Sep 15, 2024
    Insisting on Integrity
    Series: Galatians
    Have you ever had someone question your honesty or integrity?  It can be frustrating and even hurtful.  You know you’re telling the truth, but you are put in a position where you have to somehow prove that you’re telling the truth.  God, of course, wants us to be people of honesty and integrity.  He wants us to be people of our word who can be trusted to always tell the truth. 
     
    Paul gives us a good example of that sort of Godly integrity in his letter to the Galatians.  In our passage today, Paul continues to defend his ministry and his message.  He outlines his travels and seeks to underline the truthfulness of his words.  But it’s not just the basic details of Paul’s travels which we find here; we see an example of the kind of people God wants us to be, people of integrity.  
     
    There are 3 key components to pursuing integrity in our lives which are revealed by Paul’s words here – 1) Let God Lead You; 2) Tell the Truth; and 3) Give God the Glory for His Transforming Grace. 
     
    Honor the Lord by living a life of integrity.
     
     
    Galatians 1:18-24
    Sept. 15, 2024
     
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  • Sep 8, 2024Changed by the Truth
    Sep 8, 2024
    Changed by the Truth
    Series: Galatians
    Truth matters.  We live in a day and culture in which it is increasingly common to hear that truth is subjective and personal.  Whatever you want to believe is true is true for you, even if it’s not true for someone else.  But, truth must be objective for it to mean anything at all.  Something that is objectively true is true not because a majority of people, or even an individual, believe it to be true – it is true even if no one believes it at all.  Truth has the power to challenge us, correct us, and change us.
     
    One truth which stands tall above all others is the truth of the Gospel – the Good News – God’s loving offer of forgiveness for sin through faith in the life, death, and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ.  This was the truth Paul had presented to the Galatians.  It was the truth they had received.  But, it was also the truth which they were now in danger of abandoning.
     
    Join us as Paul shares with us that he did not receive the Gospel from any human being, but by revelation from Jesus Christ.  He goes on to demonstrate that truth by reviewing the radical change which took place in His life by God’s grace.  Along the way, he shows us that God’s truth has the power to truly humble the hardest heart.
     
     
    Galatians 1:11-17
    Sept. 8, 2024
     
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  • Sep 1, 2024Prone to Wander
    Sep 1, 2024
    Prone to Wander
    Series: Galatians
    The Apostle Paul had personally shared the Good News of salvation from sin through faith in Jesus Christ with the Galatians during his 1st missionary journey.  Having just returned from that journey, Paul was distressed to learn that they had already begun to turn away from the truth he had presented to them.  
     
    In Galatians 1:6-10, we can find 3 things to help us avoid wandering from the truth: 1) Carefully Consider What You are Being Called to Believe; 2) Judge the Biblical Truth of the Message – Don’t Just Blindly Trust the Messenger; and 3) Live Your Life for God’s Glory Rather Than People’s Praise.
     
    God’s Good News is all about grace.
     
     
    Galatians 1:6-10
    Sept. 1, 2024
     
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