GateWay Church of Visalia
FREEDOM! : When Religion Becomes Unreasonable
Pastor Ed Kemp
Locations & Times
GateWay Church
1100 S Sowell St, Visalia, CA 93277, USA
Thursday 6:45 PM
Sunday 8:45 AM
Sunday 9:00 AM
Sunday 10:30 AM
Introduction
Who has the right to say what's right?
What was the problem?
Why did Paul defend himself?
How does Paul end the letter?
How does compromise help them?
Where does Paul stand on suffering?
How does Paul reinforce his main point?
So What?!
Relational health is dependent on:
#1. Admitting we all BEGIN at the same place.
#2. Realizing we’re all TEMPTED to leave grace.
#3. Vowing we’ll DEFEND grace.
FREEDOM! : When Religion Becomes Unreasonable
Prayer Requests:
Read: Galatians 1:1-10 & 6:11-18
In vs. 1 Paul defines who his authority comes from, “…an apostle…through Jesus Christ and God the Father…” If Paul were our next door neighbor right now, would that statement sound a little arrogant? Why does Paul make such a strong statement to the Galatians? Why do Doctors, Lawyers and Professors put their diplomas on the wall and what if their diploma said, “Almost Graduated!” how would that make you feel?
Paul in vss. 3-5 defines of what the “gospel” (good news) really consists of. Grace is the unmerited, unearned favor and love of God, it is a gift. How do we get grace? Since Jesus gave himself to be crucified as a sacrifice to pay my fine from God for my sins, have I absolutely received forgiveness for my sins or do I still feel guilty? Is acceptance of forgiveness more of a legal pronouncement, intellectual acceptance or emotional experience for you? Vs. 4b says Jesus rescued us from this present evil age. What are some of the negative/evil things that produce sin in our age? Since Jesus died for my sin before I was even born, my past/present/and future sin is already forgiven. Do you really feel accepted, loved and totally forgiven by God? It’s still important to stop consistently throughout life and ask God’s current forgiveness for sin, how often would you say you do that? Do you finish confession prayers with, “Father, I thank you for your constant forgiveness?”
Paul discusses the distortion of the gospel by substituting human rituals for the work of Christ on the cross in vss. 6-9. Do you ever feel like you earn more love from God when you do something well? Do you ever find yourself living for the approval of your parents, relatives, children, boss, employees, neighbors or friends? Have you ever been rejected by one of them, how was that experience emotionally? Jesus taught God accepts us totally and fully. How can we live in appreciation and thankfulness to God without getting caught in the “earning His approval” syndrome?
In Chapter 6:11-18 Paul says he “boasts in the cross of Christ.” How do you do that? In vs. 17, he says that he has scars from persecution. Have you ever suffered from physical, psychological or emotional persecution? What kind of scars did that leave?
Finally in vs. 18 Paul tells us we are to absorb and lean on the “grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.” How is the grace of God important to your spirit?
Family Time: Talk to your kids about their greatest heroes. Maybe they are athletes, movie stars or even cartoon characters from their favorite movie. What character trait does their hero have? Talk to them about why the Apostle Paul would be a hero to the early Christians and to us and how he traveled all over the Roman world to bring “good news” of God’s true love for everyone.
Prayer Requests:
Read: Galatians 1:1-10 & 6:11-18
In vs. 1 Paul defines who his authority comes from, “…an apostle…through Jesus Christ and God the Father…” If Paul were our next door neighbor right now, would that statement sound a little arrogant? Why does Paul make such a strong statement to the Galatians? Why do Doctors, Lawyers and Professors put their diplomas on the wall and what if their diploma said, “Almost Graduated!” how would that make you feel?
Paul in vss. 3-5 defines of what the “gospel” (good news) really consists of. Grace is the unmerited, unearned favor and love of God, it is a gift. How do we get grace? Since Jesus gave himself to be crucified as a sacrifice to pay my fine from God for my sins, have I absolutely received forgiveness for my sins or do I still feel guilty? Is acceptance of forgiveness more of a legal pronouncement, intellectual acceptance or emotional experience for you? Vs. 4b says Jesus rescued us from this present evil age. What are some of the negative/evil things that produce sin in our age? Since Jesus died for my sin before I was even born, my past/present/and future sin is already forgiven. Do you really feel accepted, loved and totally forgiven by God? It’s still important to stop consistently throughout life and ask God’s current forgiveness for sin, how often would you say you do that? Do you finish confession prayers with, “Father, I thank you for your constant forgiveness?”
Paul discusses the distortion of the gospel by substituting human rituals for the work of Christ on the cross in vss. 6-9. Do you ever feel like you earn more love from God when you do something well? Do you ever find yourself living for the approval of your parents, relatives, children, boss, employees, neighbors or friends? Have you ever been rejected by one of them, how was that experience emotionally? Jesus taught God accepts us totally and fully. How can we live in appreciation and thankfulness to God without getting caught in the “earning His approval” syndrome?
In Chapter 6:11-18 Paul says he “boasts in the cross of Christ.” How do you do that? In vs. 17, he says that he has scars from persecution. Have you ever suffered from physical, psychological or emotional persecution? What kind of scars did that leave?
Finally in vs. 18 Paul tells us we are to absorb and lean on the “grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.” How is the grace of God important to your spirit?
Family Time: Talk to your kids about their greatest heroes. Maybe they are athletes, movie stars or even cartoon characters from their favorite movie. What character trait does their hero have? Talk to them about why the Apostle Paul would be a hero to the early Christians and to us and how he traveled all over the Roman world to bring “good news” of God’s true love for everyone.