Sermon Central
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Galatians
Contributed by Brad Beaman on Aug 29, 2015 (message contributor)
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1. The Gospel: God’s Only Way
Contributed on Aug 29, 2015
In the book of Galatians Paul does everything he can to establish that any other Gospel other than faith in Christ is no gospel at all. In so many areas of life we have many good options. When it comes to the gospel there is only one way.
When you take a flight the airline’s final announcement is usually something like this; thank you for choosing our airline, we know you have a choice when you fly and we hope you decide to choose us again. In so many areas of life we have many good options. When it comes to the gospel can we ...read more
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2. The Gospel: Changing Lives
Contributed on Aug 30, 2015
Paul had a radical change by the gospel. His life was so radically changed that it was beyond what many could believe. Paul who had previously been the most fearsome persecutor of Christians is now preaching the gospel. He met Jesus.
The elements of a testimony in Christ can be divided into three sections. First is describes what life was like before coming to Christ. The second part is describing just how it happened at the time of meeting Christ. Then finally is describes what life was like after coming to Christ. When you ...read more
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3. The Gospel: Preaching With Compassion
Contributed on Nov 19, 2015
The Galatians responded to the gospel, grew in their faith and had a close relationship with Paul. For some unknown reason after receiving their freedom in Christ they took a turn back to bondage. They started following the regulations of the law.
Whales are one of the most impressive creatures on earth. It’s amazing even to watch a film of them swimming in the ocean. They are an inspiration with their strength, majesty and freedom. But tragically with their immense size they become trapped when they have come too close to shore. ...read more
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4. The Gospel: Christ In You
Contributed on Sep 8, 2015
This is a classic passage for living a life for God. The Christian life is letting Christ live through us.
You may have heard someone describing their conception or rather their misconception of Christianity something like this: Christianity is taking the ten things you like to do most and stop doing them and taking the ten things you like to do least and start doing them. How can you explain this ...read more
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5. The Gospel: Start And Continue By Faith
Contributed on Nov 17, 2015
None of us ever became Christians through our human effort. God reached down. Salvation comes by faith in Christ. Believe in Jesus Christ, He died on the cross for you.
Dance with the one who brung ya. In a sense that was Paul’s message to the Galatians. You became a Christian by faith in Christ and experienced a new birth. In Galatians 3:1-5 Paul asks them why switch to human effort to live the Christian life? Faith in Christ brung ya to the dance why ...read more
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6. The Gospel: Freedom
Contributed on Nov 22, 2015
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. We are called to seek God. Trust Christ by faith. You were saved by grace. The result is freedom. You who are saved stand firm in your freedom. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.
In my University literature class the professor would return the paper with comments on the paper like; give further explanation, clarify or expand this point. This professor had a system where you could re-write a paper and re-submit it for a higher grade. I decided to take the professor up on ...read more
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7. The Gospel: Based On God’s Word
Contributed on Nov 17, 2015
Paul demonstrates from Scripture that salvation is by faith not law. It is impressive when you consider Paul is using only the Old Testament Scriptures of Geneses, Leviticus, Deuteronomy and Habakkuk to establish that salvation is by faith.
A prominent Theologian was once asked, what is the deepest Theological truth you have ever come to understand. His response was, “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” The beloved children’s song reveals deep theological truth. Jesus loves me, and I know this ...read more
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8. Spiritual Fruit
Contributed on Nov 24, 2015
Your life should be more than a flurry of activity. You were meant to produce spiritual fruit. Paul uses the imagery of fruit trees to illustrate this. What you want out of a fruit tree is fruit. In the Christian life what we want is spiritual fruit.
Wouldn’t it be great if every time that you received a harsh criticism you returned it with a response of kindness? That is what it is like for the believer who has the fruit of the Spirit manifested in their life. Wouldn’t it be great the next time you are wronged, instead of rage ...read more
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9. The Gospel: Shown By Allegory
Contributed on Nov 20, 2015
Galatians 4:21-31 is unique. It is the only place in the New Testament to use allegory from the Old Testament. These events are recorded in Geneses 15-21. When Abraham was seventy five years old God promised him he would be the father of a great nation.
One of the most widely read and influential books of all time was written from a jail cell by a Baptist minister. He was in England, in jail for twelve years for preaching without a license when he wrote it. The title of the book is Pilgrims Progress and the author is John Bunyan. There are ...read more
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10. The Gospel: God’s Irrevocable Promise
Contributed on Nov 17, 2015
This passage tells us about God’s promise to Abraham. God made an unconditional promise with great significance for us today. When Paul writes this he is referring to Genesis 12:2-3. It is God’s promise to Abraham and as we will see for all who believe.
Be careful not to make a commitment to someone you don’t keep. You might say to someone you will send them a copy of a picture you took and then you forget to do it. We have to be cautious we do not carelessly make a promise we fail to keep. We are prone to forget what we promise. It is ...read more
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11. What Really Counts
Contributed on Nov 28, 2015
We are told what really counts. Paul closes the letter to the Galatians with his own hand and using large letters. It would be like using bold print in an email. It is his way of saying pay close attention to this section of the letter.
Some things are simply more important than others. When you receive junk mail do you give it the same importance as priority mail? I use a different wake up call system when I have an early morning appointment that is really important. I may set two alarms if I do not want to be late under any ...read more
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12. The Gospel: Opposes Legalism
Contributed on Sep 4, 2015
There is a monumental issue at stake. The Gospel of Grace is being weighed in the balance. Donft turn Christianity into a list of rules. It takes extra work to be Spirit led.
How would you like to walk up to the man who preached the Pentecost sermon, get up close to his face, (this man who walked on water), look him straight in the eye in front of a crowd of people and say, Peter my buddy, Cephas old pal, you are not preaching the true gospel. You better straiten up and ...read more
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13. The Gospel: Rights Of Sonship
Contributed on Nov 18, 2015
The passage of Galatians 3:26-4:7 is about Sonship. We find here about the tremendous privilege of Sonship that comes with faith in Christ. We became Sons of God when we trusted Christ as savior. We actually become a child of the king.
When you look at the coaching career of the winningest coach in division 1 basketball, Bobby Knight you see he has coached some pretty impressive players. He has coached Isaih Thomas, Michael Jordan (on the Olympic team) and other very notable players. Which one do you suppose was his favorite to ...read more
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14. The Gospel: Spirit Led
Contributed on Nov 23, 2015
We have two natures and they are diametrically opposed. The sinful nature verses the spiritual nature. Each nature desires what is contrary to the other. All Christians have this internal conflict. But living by the Spirit brings victory.
It can be a shocking discovery. It takes place in the slums of our big cities. It takes place in upscale suburban subdivisions. And it is taking place right now inside of your mouth. Maybe you have seen the mouthwash commercials that show the inside of a mouth magnified by one thousand ...read more
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15. The Gospel: For All
Contributed on Sep 3, 2015
Paul has expressed astonishment that churches of Galatia have turned from faith alone to faith plus law. He says what they have really done is moved from the true gospel to no gospel at all.
Is the Gospel really for everybody? You have probably heard someone tell the humorous one liner; you can’t get there from here. That is what the Judaizers were telling the churches in Galatia about coming to Christ only they weren’t trying to be funny. There were a group of people ...read more
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16. The Gospel: Caring And Sharing
Contributed on Nov 28, 2015
The Spirit filled walk with Christ will make a practical difference here and now. It will mean that we are caring about others. It will lead us to sharing our resources and doing good to all.
In Galatians chapter 5 there has been an emphasis on freedom in Christ, commitment to love and Walking in the Holy Spirit. These are more than just high falutin theories, but are meant to be worked out in practical ways. The Spirit filled walk with Christ will make a practical difference here ...read more
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17. The Gospel: Love
Contributed on Nov 23, 2015
It is wrong when freedom is abused. Love is what balances grace. Spiritual liberty is not a license to indulge the sinful nature. Rather it is a call to serve one another in love. It was for freedom that Christ set you free. You were called to be free.
There was a woman who was married to a domineering husband that demanded her to follow a list of duties. His demands were full of regulations and the marriage was drudgery for that woman. Her husband died and she later remarried. This time her marriage was based on love. It was not like the one ...read more