Galatians Part 6: "Watch Your Step!"

Galatians Part 6 – “Watch your Step!”

On the lighter side this morning:

Opening Illustration: A Synagogue’s Custom

A young scholar from New York was invited to become Rabbi in a small old community in Chicago. On his very first Shabbat, a hot debate erupted as to whether one should or should not stand during the reading of the Ten Commandments.

The next day, the rabbi visited 98 year-old Mr. Katz in the nursing home. "Mr. Katz, I’m asking you, as the oldest member of the community," said the rabbi, "what is our synagogue’s custom during the reading of the Ten Commandments?"

"Why do you ask?" asked Mr. Katz. "Yesterday we read the Ten Commandments. Some people stood, some people sat. The ones standing started screaming at the ones sitting, telling them to stand up. The ones sitting started screaming at the ones standing, telling them to sit down... "

"That," said the old man, "is our custom."

From http://www.beliefnet.com

10 Things You Never Hear in Church

1. Hey! It’s my turn to sit in the front pew!

2. I was so enthralled, I never noticed your sermon went 25 minutes over time.

3. Personally I find witnessing much more enjoyable than golf.

4. I’ve decided to give our church the $500 a month I used to send to TV evangelists.

5. I volunteer to be the permanent teacher for the Junior High Sunday School class.

6. Forget the denominational minimum salary. Let’s pay our pastor so he can live like we do.

7. I love it when we sing hymns I’ve never heard before!

8. Since we’re all here, let’s start the service early.

9. Pastor, we’d like to send you to this Bible seminar in the Bahamas.

10. Nothing inspires me and strengthens my commitment like our annual stewardship campaign!

From http://www.beliefnet.com/dailyjoke/DailyJoke.aspx?QID=6211

These 2 humorous stories are funny but yet carry a message we need to hear. The message is we need to make sure that we watch our steps in this spiritual journey because it is so easy to become deceived and miss the point of our walk with the Lord.

Illustration: Video Clip from the Passion of the Christ Church Resource CD – Peter’s Denial.

Peter became filled with pride even boastful prior to his fall. He said that he would never deny Christ. But he soon learned that temptation was just around the corner and he too had fallen prey to its deceptive ways. This scene reveals the importance of staying on your guard against the traps of the enemy. If we allow pride to take root in our lives then we immediately set ourselves up to be led away from Jesus. We even set ourselves up into the position to deny Christ.

Thesis: Watch your step and make sure that you are not deceived by the sinful nature. Remember to be careful not to burn yourself out doing the good for the Kingdom of God. Then we need to remember that being a new creation is what this life is all about.

Scripture Text: Galatians 6:1-18

1Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, 5for each one should carry his own load.

6Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor.

7Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

11See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!

12Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13Not even those who are circumcised obey the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your flesh. 14May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation. 16Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, even to the Israel of God.