The Elements of Idolatry

Calvary Baptist Church | Perry, FL

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The Elements of Idolatry

Freedom & Fellowship - Part 7

February 13, 2022 • Ben Kimmell • Galatians 4:8–20

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Before issuing a stirring personal appeal to the Galatian believers, Paul explains that submitting to Torah will put them under the covenant curses and thus return them to the enslaving idols from which they were freed by Christ. In this message, Pastor Ben explains the dangers of idolatry and issues a personal appeal to Calvary Christians to reject the slavery of idolatry and urgently pursue Christian formation through devotion to, and discipleship in, the local body of Christ.

Burdens & Boasting

March 6, 2022 • Ben Kimmell • Galatians 6

In the final chapter of Galatians, Paul explains what living in unity, harmony, and in gospel community looks like, all while emphasizing the personal responsibility we all bear for our own actions. Here he will give us instructions on preserving the integrity of the local church as well as remind us of some fundamental biblical principles about how our actions impact our lives and the lives of the people around us. And then Paul will draw it all together by closing the letter with an appeal to the cross. In this message, Pastor Ben challenges us to understand how Spirit-driven gospel community works, reminds us of some fundamental truths about human life and responsibility before closing with the centrality of the cross.

Unity in Community

February 27, 2022 • Ben Kimmell • Galatians 5:2–26

In Galatians 5, Paul warns believers submitting to circumcision will tear the gospel-given family of Abraham apart. This whole chapter is about unity. In this message, Pastor Ben summons Calvary Christians to embody the Spirit-driven life that promotes the unity of God’s new kingdom community.

Inheritance & Exclusion

February 20, 2022 • Ben Kimmell • Galatians 4:21—5:1

In this text, the apostle Paul uses the Old Testament Law to compel the Galatian believers to exclude the Judaizing agitators from the church. Paul has been laying a foundation for judgment against the Judaizers. And his judgment is severe: Cast out the agitators. Defend the truth and the integrity of the gospel. Even if it means that you have to explicitly remove these unrepentant gospel corrupters from the church. In this message, therefore, Pastor Ben aims to help us to see that the gospel is not just whatever we want it to be. We do not get to define the terms of kingdom inclusion. As in chapter 2, what we do, how we act, the choices we make in terms of toleration of sin in the church betrays what we actually think of the gospel itself. The purpose of this message, then, is to urge the church to wisdom, clarity, and conviction when it comes to defending the gospel both in theory and in practice.