Oftentimes we approach the Bible like a repair manual or a cookbook. We want a formula that will help get our lives back on track or a recipe that will cause our lives to turn out tasty and appealing. The reality is that the Bible is a book full of stories about people’s lives most of which are really messy. But messy is what provides a beautiful backdrop for the message of God grace! Without God’s redeeming grace appearing, our life story is just one more reality show. But what if instead of trying to clean ourselves up to make us look more presentable, our goal was that “people would glorify God because of me?” What if instead of all my dysfunction and drama being the focus, God and his work became the center of attention? Through the Gospel, God is able to take all the messy details of my life story, past, present and future and transform them into a new and living testimony that others can read. And in the process they are introduced to the author in all of His wisdom and beauty.
MY FREEDOM STORY // WEEK 3
May 15, 2022 • Bruce Stefanik, Jason Treadwell • Galatians 1:11–24
THE FREEDOM OF THE CROSS // WEEK 12
July 17, 2022 • Bruce Stefanik, Jason Treadwell • Galatians, Galatians 6:11–18
Who would ever imagine using the symbol of a cross to represent freedom? From the outside the cross seems like just the opposite. It was an instrument specifically designed to take away your freedom and ultimately your life. It was not something you would boast about! In this last chapter Paul does not “boast” about his intelligence, his accomplishments or his position. But his glory is in the cross and its power to produce a new creation! Out of what looks like a shameful, final ending God saw fit to bring a resurrection that would free his creation once and for all! Paul said; “ I am done talking about it. Now let’s go live it”
FREEDOM TO LIVE GENEROUSLY // WEEK 11
July 10, 2022 • Bruce Stefanik, Jason Treadwell • Galatians, Galatians 6:1–10
Remember the illustration about how you can count the seeds in apple but no one can count the number of apples in the seeds? You could, in fact, be holding an entire orchard in your hand or an abundance of apples. That’s the power of sowing and reaping. Fruit is delicious. appealing and nourishing. And every fruit contains seed for the next harvest. It’s wonderful for me to enjoy it in the moment, but I must sow into the future and into fields around me so that future generations can enjoy it as well. Both the promise and the principle testify that if I sow sparingly I will reap sparingly but if I sow generously I will reap abundantly! As we work together with God, imagine the possibilities!
A FREEDOM TO DIE FOR // WEEK 10
July 3, 2022 • Bruce Stefanik, Jason Treadwell • Galatians, Galatians 5:15–26
This weekend we celebrate Independence Day in the U.S. In 1776 our forefathers signed the Declaration of Independence declaring us a sovereign nation, free from the monarchy of King George of England. But for the last 250 years we have found that freedom is fragile and anything but free. In a world view without God freedom looks like self expression, independence and personal choices. But in Galatians, Paul says real freedom is found in serving one another in love. Indulging our selfish passions always tears us apart, but imitating Christ’s sacrificial love is what binds us together. This love is not the sappy, emotional form of love that makes for a Hollywood movie. It is a love that gives and serves and bleeds and dies for the object of its affection. It’s shocking and humbling when we see it in action.