Sunday, June 13th 2021  |  Galatians Ch. 5 How do you define freedom? We generally think of freedom as the autonomous right and power to do whatever we wish, without external restraint of any kind. In the West and in America especially, this definition of freedom, with autonomy itself being seen as a virtue in […]

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What’s in a Name?

Sunday, November 8th 2020  |  Matthew 16:13-20 At the end of 3 years of training, Jesus takes his Jewish disciples to a radically confrontational and stressful pagan location and asks them two vital questions.  The application for our present difficult, confusing and stressful time is helpful and challenging.

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Philippians: The Condescension of the Son

Sunday, March 22nd 2020  | Philippians 2:1-18 We are told to have the attitude and mind-set of Christ Jesus. This is especially true with regard to choosing the downwardly mobile path of self-humility. If this life is made the center of our hopes and dreams, we’ll rebel against loss of face. But if, like Christ, […]

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Justification and Spiritual Walk by Faith

Sunday, September 22nd 2019  |  Galatians 5:1-15 Paul really shifts focus now! He urges his believing children in the faith to walk away from obedience to the Law and it’s outward symbol, circumcision, as a means of justification and spiritual walk. He tells them they’ve “fallen from grace”, not meaning they are spiritually unsaved, but […]

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Sunday, September 15th 2019  |  Galatians 4:12-31 Up to now Paul has confronted the Galatians with powerful and provocative, reasoned arguments to pull them away from Mosaic legalism and nomism. He now drops argumentation, having fired the full logical broadside at them, and switches to entreating them, appealing to their feelings with a sense of […]

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Sunday, September 8th 2019   |  Galatians 3:22-4:11 Why settle for the limited existence of a child under a hard-nosed, every-watchful guardian-slave, a kind of nose-to-the grindstone whip-master, externally dictating and enforcing behavior and morals, when you’re already a free adult and an heir to a great estate? Why wear the clothing of a kid who […]

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Justification and Living By Faith Explained

Sunday, September 1st 2019  |  Galatians 3:6-22 In chapter 3 Paul forms three interlocking arguments to prove to the Galatians that the Law is incapable of justifying a sinner before a righteous God. In vv1-5 he argues from their universal spiritual experience. In v6-9 he argues from Abraham’s justification by faith alone. In the remainder […]

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