Gal 3:1-9 :: What Makes Spirituality Christian

From books and movies to TV shows, there is a rising interest in all things spiritual. And in the midst of this booming spiritual melting pot, the question we must ask ourselves is, “What makes spirituality Christian?” 

In Galatians 3:1-9, Paul teaches that the spiritual Christian is someone who is cross-shaped, empowered by the Holy Spirit, carried by the grace of God, marked by suffering, and is fully submitted to scripture.

Galatians 2:15-21 Who Am I?

Paul is continuing, in this passage, to teach and instruct on the centrality of being FREE, because of Jesus. In this passage, we will start to unpack some of the big theological words and phrases that are so central to christianity:

• faith in Christ
• justified
• not by law
• works
• crucified with Christ 

Gal 2:1-10 The Things that Make for Peace

In a world that is marked by divisions, conflicts, and wars, what are the things that make for peace? The followers of Jesus Christ are to be a people who, instead of finding ways to divide people, look for ways to bring people together. As followers of Jesus, we are called to orient our lives around making peace and spreading peace wherever we go. And the foundation for peace is the gospel. The message of faith alone in Christ alone is the only foundation for true peace.

FREE :: idols

In this week’s sermon, Mike talked about the “idols” that we have created in our society.
Idols of possessions, power, and relationships. 
One way you can know if you have an idol in your life is that when that thing is removed you are devastated, you are absolutely destroyed. 
Take a few minutes to reflect upon your life. 
Are there idols in your life? 
What are they?
What is there in your life that if that thing is removed, you are absolutely destroyed?
 

FREE :: what's worth fighting about :: introduction

series: FREE
title: what's worth fighting about
date: 26 september 2010
text: Galatians 1:6-10

In this week’s sermon, Mike began by sharing how our society is becoming more and more litigious. Today, just about anything can lead to a lawsuit. Even in the church, there is often great conflict over the most frivolous things. And in such a fight-drenched society, we must pause and ask ourselves, “What is it that is truly worth fighting for?” According to Paul, the answer is the gospel – a gospel that is marked by God’s call, grace, and humility.

FREE :: rescued :: LIFEGroup notes

series: FREE

title: rescued

date: 19 sepetember 2010

text: Galatians 1:1-5

OUTLINE

Does truth matter?

How do we know what is true? (Galatians 1:1)

“The world we live in is conspicuously and sadly lacking in the experience of freedom.”
Eugene Peterson

Who needs to hear the truth? (Galatians 1:2)

What are some of the tests of the truth? (Galatians 1:3)

What is the truth Paul was defending? (Galatians 1:4) 

LIVING THE TEXT

Looking at the Text

• Read Galatians 1
• Who is this letter written to?
• Why do you think Paul is defending his authority?
• In what way did Jesus give himself for our sins (v4)?
• Paul writes about being rescued (v4) in this passage.
  o   What does this mean?
  o   In what sense is rescue is both “from” and “to”?
  o   In what way does God rescue us?
  o   How have you been rescued?
• Why do you think Paul refers to “the present evil age” (v4)
• What is “grace and peace” (v3)?
• In what way does it come (only?) from “God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (v3)?
  o   Why do you think Paul refer to both the Father and Jesus?
  o   What is the significance of using “our”?

Living the Text

• Looking at these introductory verses, especially the words grace, peace, rescue, glory; what difference does understanding these things make in how we live?
• What are some of the things that stop us from living the lives of freedom that we are designed for?

For Next Week

• Read all of Galatians (use more than one version). You may want to use one the Bibles listed here.

Bibles

UPDATED

If you want to read the Bible online, or use different versions, here are some links:

biblegateway.com

• multiple translations available

blueletterbible.com

• multiple translations availble
• easy to use Greek and Hebrew tools

youversion.com

• multiple translations available
• you can add you own notes
• mobile versions available

net.bible.org

• a good translation based on the Hebrew/Greek
• excellent footnotes giving reasons for word selection
• other resources available as well

FREE :: rescued :: observations

series: FREE

title: rescued

date: 19 september 2010

text: Galatians 1:1-5

On Sunday we began looking at the apostle Paul's letter to the churches in Galatia.

This short letter (6 chapters) has often been reduced to being about legalism. But Galatians is about much more. It is about how to be FREE - because of Jesus Christ and because of God, the Father, and because of the Holy Spirit. Anything less than a full blown triune understanding leads us into creating our own religion. 

Take time to read, to reflect on the words of this little letter. Let the truths that we discover permeate your heart and impact how you live.

Introductory Matters

Author

Paul

Date

Paul has visited the area at least once, so that would date the letter no earlier than 49AD.

If Paul has visited the area at least twice, then the earliest date would be 53AD.

Location of Galatian Churches

The region of Galatia includes the cities of Posodian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, Derbe

There has been debate as to whether Paul was writing to churches in North Galatia or South Galatia.

Who are the Galatian "agitators"?

We'll identify them, as we work our way through the text.

Resources

Commentaries / Books
This is a partial list of some of the commentaries/books available on Galatians. Ones marked with an * I find to be helpful.

• Bruce, F.F., The Epistle to the Galatians: A Commentary on the Greek Text, New International Greek Testament Commentary (Eerdmans, 1982)
• Fung, Ronald Y.K., The Epistle to the Galatians. The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Eerdmans, 1988)
• Guthrie, Donald, Galatians. New Century Bible Commentary Series. (London: Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1973)
• Keller, Tim, Paul's Letter to the Galatians (New York, New York: Redeemer Presbyterian Church, 2003) 
• Longenecker, Richard N., Galatians, Word Biblical Commentary (Thomas Nelson, 1990)
• * McKnight, Scot, Galatians, The NIV Application Commentary (Zondervan, 1995)
• Morris, Leon, Galatians: Paul’s Charter of Christian Freedom (Inter-Varsity Press, 1996)
• * Peterson, Eugene, Traveling Light: Reflecting on the Free Life (InterVarsity Press, 1982)
• * Stott, John R.W. The Message of Galatians. The Bible Speaks Today Series.(InterVarsity Press, 1968)
• Swindoll, Charles R., Galatians: Letter of Liberation.(Word, 1984) 

free

starting Sunday Sepember 19

Good Friday

For a variety of reasons, our OFEM Good Friday Service, which was to be held at First Baptist, has been moved to Calvary Pentecostal Tabernacle (375 Westmount Dr. N. behind Country Produce) at 10:30am with all the other churches involved.

We look forward to gathering together to celebrate the cross.

Easter Film Fest 2010

Orillia Community Church
64 Colborne St East [meeting at the former Cinema4]
is showing 3 films as we prepare for Easter

Tuesday :: 30 March :: 7pm
We start off with the 1905 silent film The Life and Passion of Jesus Christ, by Ferdinand Zecca

Wednesday :: 31 March :: 7pm
Mel Gibson's 2004 film The Passion of the Christ


Thursday :: 1 April :: 6pm
We meet at 6:00pm for a carry-in-dinner [potluck] during which we will share in communion, followed by the portion of The Gospel of John (2003) that takes us from the Jesus' triumpant entry into Jerusalem [John 12] to his burial [John 19]