GALATIANS: THE FREEDOM GOSPEL
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.
A PROMISE KEEPING GOD // WEEK 6
June 5, 2022 • Bruce Stefanik, Jason Treadwell • Galatians 3:6–23, Galatians
This is Pentecost Sunday. Forty days after Jesus ascended to the Father the Holy Spirit was poured out with power on those who believed in order to accomplish his purposes on the earth. Their job was to wait and believe. In this Galatians chapter Paul calls a character witness from the OT named Abraham. He was given a promise of greatness, yet he and his wife were old and barren and powerless to achieve it. Yet God called him to believe in the one who had promised. So, by simply believing, this man saw the word come to pass in a way he never could have imagined or created on his own. Abraham wasn’t without questions or faults. Yet an unlimited God used him to model to us a righteousness that relies on faith in the promise keeper and not our own strength or works. Rely is a key word here. It means “those who depend on faith.” When I have come to the end of myself, I can then rely on the one who is willing and able to work for me! We don’t serve him, he serves us! How great is our God!
A GRIP ON REALITY // WEEK 5
May 29, 2022 • Bruce Stefanik • Galatians 3:1–14
In chapter three Paul will call the Galatians to snap out of their slide back to legalism and remind them of the central historical event that had saved them in the first place. Christ crucified! While other epistles are written to address issues of immorality that had crept into the churches Galatians and Colossians were written to address false moralities and false saviors who promised much, but were powerless to save.
CONTENDING FOR UNITY // WEEK 4
May 22, 2022 • Bruce Stefanik, Daniel Da Silva • Galatians 2
Unity among believers is such a fragile thing. I believe that authentic unity without God’s gift of grace is all but impossible. I also believe that unity with all of our diversity is a powerful witness of God’s presence among us. In chapter 2 Paul would go to Jerusalem not to look for their approval but to make sure they were all agreeing on the main thing! He realized how critical unity was around this message of freedom. (Acts 11) He was very aware of the dangers of ethnic and religious pride that would divide them. In this chapter of Galatians we see Paul contending for the central truths of the Gospel. Truths that had the power to hold these diverse groups together.
MY FREEDOM STORY // WEEK 3
May 15, 2022 • Bruce Stefanik, Jason Treadwell • Galatians 1:11–24
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.
A TIME TO CURSE // WEEK 2
May 8, 2022 • Bruce Stefanik, Jason Treadwell • Galatians 1:6–10
Last week In the person of Jesus, we saw a freedom offered to us that breaks the chains of all bondage and sin. It is a liberty that is deep and eternal, the foundation of which are built on the character of a benevolent father/king who is wise, powerful and loving.
AN OFFER OF LIFE // WEEK 1
May 1, 2022 • Bruce Stefanik, Jason Treadwell • Galatians 5:1, John 8:31–36, Galatians, Galatians 1:1–3
Over the years the people of God, like the generation that came out of Egypt, have struggled with staying on the balance beam of a simple obedient faith in the person of Jesus Christ. We seem to either fall off on the side of license, and proceed to do whatever we want or to a legalism that tries to impose human regulations in the hope of changing us from the outside in. In both cases the end result is further bondage and brokenness and in many cases a falling away from the faith. Neither option produces life. This is why Paul wrote his book of freedom to the church in Galatia. He was zealous that the finished work of Christ on the cross would set them free like no other. He longed to see their lives shaped by an eternal, trustworthy Gospel.