Category: Pastor_Dave

In our March 19th sermon titled, THE LAW OF CHRIST, God summarized His call for Christians to walk in the Spirit before going onto some practical applications of how we can live the life (Gal. 5:24-6:5). Christians, whether we realize it or not, “are Christ’s [and] have crucified the flesh” when we first came to faith in Jesus (Gal. 2:20; 5:24, etc.). This is our identity in Christ, by grace through faith, and it is what we are called to continually “reckon” or consider as true- because it is!… Continue reading

Last Sunday we looked at a well-known passage on “THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT” (Gal. 5:22-23).  When Christians “walk in the Spirit,” God’s life flows out of us- keeping us free to serve Him (Gal. 5:1, 16-18, 22-23, John 10:10; 15:5, Rom. 5:5, etc.).  “Fruit” here is singular showing us these nine graces reflect who Christ is.  The idea here is to the same extent that there is love, there will be self-control… (2 Cor. 3:18; Phil. 1:9, 21; 3:12, etc.).    … Continue reading

Last Sunday, in a message titled, THE COST OF FOLLOWING EVIL (Gal. 5:19-21), we looked at what God says His children can forfeit if we choose to not “walk in the Spirit” (Gal. 5:16-17, 21b).  Galatians 5:18 says, “if you are led in the Spirit…” which is conditional (i.e. “if”). Also, the Greek word for “led” here is “agō ” meaning to “guide,” and not “pherō” which means to “drive” or force. … Continue reading

Last Sunday, we continued our study in Galatians with a message titled, WALK IN THE SPIRIT (Gal. 5:14-18).  We discovered in this passage that the Law today is actually “fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit” (Rom. 8:3-4, etc.).  This is done through us when we love God first (Deut. 6:4-5) which then enables us to love others“as ourselves” (Gal. 5:14; Lev. 19:18; Mark 12:28-34, etc.).  … Continue reading

YOU WERE RUNNING WELL… (Gal. 5:7-13) 

The Scripture never uses the image of a race to tell people how to be justified (i.e. Eph. 2:8-9), but it is only for saved people (Gal. 5:7a; 1 Cor. 9:24-26; Acts 20:24; Heb. 12:1-2, 12-13; 2 Tim. 2:7, etc.).  Just like in the Greek games which required citizenship of all its participants, to run for Jesus, you must be a citizen of His kingdom (Col. 1:13-14; Eph. 2:19; Phil. 3:20, John 3:7, etc.). … Continue reading

Last Sunday, we continued our study in Galatians with a message titled, FAITH, THE ONLY WAY TO LOVE (Gal. 5:2-6).  In this passage, God continues to call His children who “Christ has [already set]… free” to stay free by avoiding the perils of legalism and also license- to be discussed later in this chapter (Gal. 5:1, 13, etc.).  While the act of circumcision in itself is neutral for a child of God today (e.g. Acts 16:1-3), doing that as a means to be put right with God would derail the Galatian Christians’ maturity in Christ and obligate them to a whole system of rules the false teachers in their day advocated (Gal.… Continue reading

In our February 5, 2023 worship service, we held a memorial for our dear Sister Flo who passed away on New Year’s Day at the age of 90.  People shared memories from Flo’s life as we rejoiced in the fact that she, as God’s child (by grace through faith), is with Jesus in a place the Scripture says is “far better”than we can imagine (Phil. 1:23; 1 Cor. 2:9-10, etc.).  We looked also briefly at 2 Corinthians 5:1-8 and the hope Christians have in the resurrection from the dead. … Continue reading

In a message titled, CHRISTIAN LIBERTY- STAY FREE! (Gal. 5:1), we move from theology, in chapters 3 and 4, to our call as believers to live the life.  The Holy Spirit reminded the Galatians twice in the previous verses of their identity in Christ (Gal. 4:28 & 31) while simultaneously calling them to action: “Cast outthe bondwoman and her son!” (Gal. 4:30; Gen. 21:10).  This call to action is carried over into chapter 5 as God urges them and us to “STAY FREE!”… Continue reading

In a message titled, YOU ARE FREE; WHAT WILL YOU DO? (Gal. 4:24-31), Paul completed his sixth and final doctrinal argument defending the gospel.  

The Holy Spirit uses symbolism here from a literal historical account (see Genesis 12-21) to prove that Christians are not under the Mosaic Law (i.e. Gal. 4:24a).  Abraham’s son Ishmael, who was not born in faith, is symbolic of the flesh while his son Isaac, who was born miraculously by faith, symbolizes being born of the Spirit (Gal.… Continue reading

In a message titled, AN ALLEGORY: ISHMAEL VERSUS ISAAC (Gal. 4:17-24a), Paul continues his doctrinal defense of the Gospel in chapters 3 and 4 as we pass from Paul’s fifth argument to start his capstone justification for our salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

In this passage, we are shown the Judaizers (i.e. “false brethren”) courted the Christians “for no good” (Gal. 4:17a; Gal. 2:4, etc.), and their devotion to the Galatian churches was only for the purpose of bringing believers under their power, influence, and authority in an effort to satisfy their “ungodly lusts” (Gal.… Continue reading