November 3, 2024 • Greg Pinkner • Galatians 6:11–18
This Sunday, Greg teaches from Galatians 6:11-18, finishing our series on Galatians. In these verses, Paul concludes his letter by affirming that salvation comes solely through faith in Christ, without the need for additional religious rituals. Adding requirements to the gospel nullifies its power and dishonors Christ's sacrifice. True Christianity isn’t about outward appearances but about becoming a new creation in Christ. Paul reminds believers that their lives should focus on glorifying God, not seeking approval from the world or boasting in personal accomplishments.
Sowing and Reaping
October 27, 2024 • RD McClenagan • Galatians 6:7–10
This Sunday, RD teaches from Galatians 6:7-10 and the biblical principle of sowing and reaping, urging self-reflection on the kind of "fruit" one's life produces. We are called to assess our lives honestly, asking what outcomes are emerging from our actions and habits. We will each reap what we sow, whether positive or negative, based on whether we are investing in spiritual or fleshly pursuits. Faithfulness may not always yield immediate results, but persistent, godly living promises that spiritual investments will yield an eternal, righteous harvest, even if unseen in the present.
Bearing Burdens
October 20, 2024 • Devon Accardi • Galatians 6:1–5
This Sunday, Devon teaches from Galatians 6:1-5, looking at the importance of restoring others gently when they falter. He underscores that walking in step with the Holy Spirit is vital for every believer; spiritual restoration is delicate and requires careful handling by someone deeply connected to the Spirit. We are to bear each other's burdens, and walking with someone in need requires prayer, patience, and commitment.
Walk By the Spirit
October 13, 2024 • Greg Pinkner • Galatians 5:16–26
This Sunday, Greg teaches from Galatians 5:16-26. These verses discuss walking by the Spirit versus living by the flesh and confront legalism—the idea that following the law saves, rather than grace through faith. While salvation is instantaneous through faith, the Christian life is a long and challenging walk of sanctification, where the Spirit helps us resist the desires of the flesh. Walking by the Spirit involves repentance, pursuing obedience, and relying on Scripture and prayer, rather than simply focusing on personal spiritual experiences. We are to lead a life led by the Spirit, where true obedience and victory over sin come from dependence on God's grace and power rather than legalistic efforts.
Free at Last
October 6, 2024 • RD McClenagan • Galatians 5:13–15
This Sunday, RD teaches from Galatians 5:13-15. In these verses Paul calls us as believers to live in the freedom Christ has given us. True freedom is not about doing whatever one wants, but about being freed from sin, death, and the law's condemnation to serve others in love. Living in this freedom involves dying to self and walking in the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus' grace frees us not only from the penalty of sin but also from its power and pressure, leading us to a life of love and service. We need to embrace our identity as sons and daughters of God, living out this freedom by following God's design and growing more into Christ's image.
Faith Working Through Love
September 29, 2024 • Greg Pinkner • Galatians 5:1–12
This Sunday, Greg looks at Galatians 5:1-12. In these verses, Paul addresses the issue of Jewish Christian teachers insisting that Gentile believers must follow the law of Moses in addition to faith in Christ for salvation. He argues that salvation comes by grace through faith in Christ alone, not by works of the law, as no one can be made righteous through their efforts. Paul emphasizes that Christ's death frees believers from the curse of the law, offering them a new life in freedom. As believers, we need to stand firm in this freedom and not submit again to the "yoke of slavery," symbolizing a return to the legalistic system of the law.
Heirs to the Kingdom
September 22, 2024 • Greg Pinkner • Galatians 4
This Sunday, Greg looks at Galatians 4:1-31, teaching that salvation cannot come from the law or ancestry but through faith in Jesus Christ, emphasizing that believers are now children and heirs of God's promise. Paul, in Galatians 4, compares the difference between living under the law as a slave and living in the freedom of faith as a child of God. Through Christ, Christians are no longer bound by sin or the elementary principles of the world but are freed to receive their inheritance in God's Kingdom.
Heirs to the Promise
July 28, 2024 • Greg Pinkner • Galatians 3:15–29
This Sunday, Greg teaches from Galatians 3:15-29. He continues last week's discussion, focusing on Paul’s teaching about the law and its limitations in saving us. Salvation has always been based on faith, starting with Abraham, who believed God's promise and was counted as righteous. The law, introduced later through Moses, was not meant to save but to highlight humanity's sinfulness and need for faith in Christ. Paul argues that adherence to the law cannot justify anyone before God, as true righteousness comes only through faith in Jesus. Through faith, we are adopted into God's family, sharing in the inheritance of Christ's Kingdom.
The Curse Removed
July 21, 2024 • Greg Pinkner • Galatians 3:10–14
This Sunday, Greg continues in the book of Galatians. Paul's argument in Galatians centers on the false teaching that Gentile Christians must follow Jewish laws to be saved, emphasizing instead that faith in Christ, not the law, justifies believers. Using Abraham as an example, Paul shows that righteousness comes from faith, not adherence to the law, which only highlights human imperfection. Ultimately, Jesus' perfect sacrifice redeems believers, freeing them from the curse of the law and allowing them to receive the Holy Spirit by faith.
Further Up and Further In
July 14, 2024 • RD McClenagan • Galatians 3:1–9
This Sunday, we continue on in the book of Galatians. Before we got into the text, RD took some time to help us reset after this past weekend’s events—giving us perspective on the political temperature of our culture and how that fits into our lives as Christ-followers. He then began exploring Galatians 3, continuing our journey into the depths of the Gospel message. The Gospel isn't something new or different; it's the same message we've been immersed in, but we must delve deeper into its truth. Paul's letter to the Galatians reminds us that the Gospel is about Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for us, urging us to allow the Holy Spirit to transform us continually. We often fall back into relying on our own efforts, but true change comes through surrendering to Christ, who lives within us from the moment we believe. As we face life's challenges, remember that the Holy Spirit goes with us, guiding and empowering us to live out the Gospel every day.
The Son of God Who Loved Me
July 7, 2024 • RD McClenagan • Galatians 2:15–21
This Sunday, RD continues from Galatians 2:15, where Paul addresses the historical division between Jews and Gentiles and introduces a radical shift by emphasizing that a person is justified not by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ. The transformative power of the gospel and the deep, personal love of Christ, is sufficient to sustain us through all challenges, providing hope, security, and a sense of belonging in God's family.
The Centrality of the Gospel
June 30, 2024 • RD McClenagan • Galatians 2:11–14
This Sunday, RD looks at how the gospel functions and applies to our lives. We must learn to integrate the gospel's truth into every part of our lives, understanding that it's not just a starting point but a continuous journey. Our challenge is to let the gospel shape us more than anything else, living in its power and applying it to all areas of our lives.
The Jerusalem Council
June 23, 2024 • Greg Pinkner • Galatians 2:1–10
This Sunday, Greg introduces the sermon from Galatians Chapter 2, emphasizing this chapter's significance in early Christianity. The Jerusalem Council, described in Acts 15, plays a crucial role in determining the inclusion of Gentiles in the faith without adherence to Jewish laws like circumcision. This decision highlights the gospel's universal accessibility through grace, not works. Paul defends this stance before the apostles, showing that God's acceptance of Gentiles is affirmed through the Holy Spirit's work among them. The Council's decision underscores the gospel's transformative power, which transcends cultural barriers and emphasizes salvation through Christ alone.
The Revelation of Jesus
June 9, 2024 • Greg Pinkner • Galatians 1:11–24
This Sunday, Greg continues our study of Galatians. Paul explains that an apostle is like an ambassador, a messenger officially appointed by Jesus to represent Him. Paul emphasizes that his gospel message is not from man but received through a revelation from Jesus Christ. He recounts his past, where he violently persecuted the church and excelled in Judaism, only to be dramatically transformed by God's grace. Paul underscores that the true gospel does not conform to human expectations but is rooted in God's revelation, transcending human merit and tradition.
No Other Gospel
May 26, 2024 • Greg Pinkner • Galatians 1:6–10
This Sunday, Greg continues our study of Galatians. In these verses, Paul emphasizes that the gospel he's preaching is non-negotiable and is universally agreed upon by the apostles. However, the Galatians quickly desert the true gospel for a distorted one. Paul clarifies that there's only one true gospel, and turning away from it is equivalent to abandoning God Himself. He warns against false teachings and stresses that salvation is by grace alone, not by following the law. Paul's strong message is that deviating from the true Gospel is unacceptable and leads to spiritual ruin.
