We have spent a lot of time discussing "the law" -- those regulations and rituals and stipulations that govern behavior and relationships. Paul has been pretty negative about the law in favor of the Spirit and grace. He's all about Abraham and ignoring Moses!
This inevitably brings up some really important questions -- questions Paul will address in this next section! What Questions??? If it has always been by faith, then why did God bother to give the Law! What purpose does the Law serve if not to demonstrate our righteousness by keeping it??
If you continue to struggle with feeling like love is something you -- and others -- have to earn, then you cannot miss this! If you wonder how a person is supposed to live if they can't turn to the rulebook for directions, then this message is for you
Steve
Galatians 3:19-28
March 8, 2020 • Pastor Steve Feden
Galatians 1:1-10
January 5, 2020 • Pastor Steve Feden
Given that the year we are starting is 2020, it is hard to avoid the visual theme. It is in that spirit that the theme for our Galatians study will be “Seeing Christianity Clearly”. After having been with the Corinthians for about the last two years, I think you will find the “pamphlet sized” letter to the churches in the region of Galatia a welcome change of pace. The issues in the church that prompted Paul to write this letter have given the church through history a basic primer on what Christianity is, and what it is NOT! This will be Christianity 101 as we look at what really makes Christianity different from every other world religion and pseudo-christian cult. Grab your notebooks and bibles, invite a friend, and join me as we take a simple and clear look at what it means to be a Christian! View and See! Steve
Galatians 1:11-24
January 12, 2020 • Pastor Steve Feden
I am excited (nothing new) about this Message! “Why”? Well, I am glad you asked! This is one of those Sundays where there will be a few special surprises! “What are they”? If I told you, then they wouldn’t be surprises! But, I can tell you that we will watch a very special testimony. If you know someone who feels stuck or makes excuses…..or if that someone is you…then I believe the testimony will really touch and challenge you. You will also get to briefly meet a friend and fellow servant of God from Ghana who is visiting with us! And then of course, back into Galatians 1-2. This is one of those passages I have been looking forward to preaching. What a pleasure to help people see what is in God’s Word! Paul spends the rest of chapter 1 and all of chapter 2 defending the basic message of the Bible using his personal experience with Jesus and with the apostles. Question. Do you trust the message of the Bible? Can we know that Jesus really lived and died and rose from the dead? Is the Bible just a made up story that has been changed over the years? I think it will be fun to compare the historicity of Christ with that of Muhammad. Yes, there will be a little history lesson that I think you will find encouraging and fascinating! Grab your journal and invite a stuck or skeptical friend to……View and See! Steve
Galatians 2:1-10
February 2, 2020 • Pastor Steve Feden
In this message, we will pick up where we left off in Galatians. That means chapter 2, vs. 1-10. As we focus the beginning of 2020 on "seeing Christianity clearly", we see the Apostle Paul fighting to defend the idea/truth that acceptance by God is based on a willingness to trust Him and not adherence to tradition, as important as tradition may be. Every age has its spiritual battles to fight. In our own day the church is being tragically divided over same sex marriage and homosexuality. In the earliest days of the church, the issue was circumcision. For us, circumcision is for most a medical or hygiene decision made at birth for boys. But for the Jew, it was a matter of acceptance by God. The big question was, "Can a person be accepted by God without submitting themselves to ritually religious circumcision and all that it meant. Paul is willing to die on the hill of grace. For him there is no compromise on this issue. It is central to salvation itself. View and see how Paul defends both the message of grace and his authority to spread it to ethnic groups other than Jews! Steve