Galatians:Starting Over {Yet Again}

Anticipation

You are not under OT LawYou are under NT Grace

Law produces hypocrisy (Peter)Pride and Insecurity

You can't live up to itAnd weren't meant to

Doing religious things for GodAnd walking away from GodProduce the same result:

Works of the Flesh- Galatians 5

Trusting Jesus Following by faith

Empowered by his SpiritProduces:

Fruit of the Spirit

How does church go wrongWhen it comes to Community?

What does Grace look likeIn Community?

Is it Performance-oriented?

Is it Performance-oriented?

Is it acceptance of Self-destructive habits?

Is it Performance-oriented?

Is it acceptance of Self-destructive habits?

Is it Condemnation?

God calls his church to bePeople of Restoration

In Restoration CommunityNo one is GreaterBut each helps the other

We approach ChurchNot with expectations

To be lived up to

But anticipation of what God will do. And our part in it

We were made toWalk in Community

Not with expectationBut with anticipation

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are

spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness

Who is Paul talking to?

Who is Paul talking to?Not just leadership

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are

spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness

No sin-sniffing Pharisees

Caught:"Unable to escape on your own"

"Well, that's what you deserve"

There's no blame or Fault-finding

The moment the church becomes about what you deserve

It's no longer the church of Jesus

…you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit

of gentleness

Walking withSubmitting to, Led by

Resume isn't the issue (Peter)

Resume isn't the issue (Peter)Spitting verses & theology= No

Resume isn't the issue (Peter)Spitting verses & theology= NoNumber of years doesn't matter

Those who are Spiritual:Led by God/discerning, Humble, Looking to Restore

…you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit

of gentleness

(Probably not FB or Prayer Time)

Set it right (as they allow)Restoration is always the goalCreation, Fall, Redemption…

Engage: Community of Restoration

- Can't ignore that which hurtsAnother person

- Won't look down on or Force it on them

In the cross of Jesus, We are forgiven of all sin

But we aren't free from theConsequences of sin

And because we Love God and Love People

We seek to restoreTo help one another in the Faith

It's an obligation

…you who are spiritual

- Spirit-led so I can discern- Loving enough to engage- Restoration-oriented- Gentle in Grace

And all of this comes fromWhat God's Spirit

Produces in me as I

Carry a cross and follow Christ

This…This!...is whyIt's so important that weWalk with Jesus daily

Rather than fake it on Sunday

Hey, Spiritual Dude- careful!

Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one

another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ

Pride: Loving the position of Helper More than the person in need

Better than…holier-than-thouLevel ground, Same grace

Bear one another's burdens…Carry the weight alongside

We don't just write Prescriptions-

We walk together

Not just in areas of sin

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep- Romans 12:15

Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ

We are under Law

We are under Law…the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself" - James 2:8

OT Law:600 +

To JewsBlessings and Cursings (Land)

ImpossibleShows need for Jesus

NT Law:1 Thing- Love. God and PeopleALL People- who's my neighbor?Not for approval, but from itNo cursingsBy Christ's power and leading

LoveI will seek what is in

Your best interestsWhether you deserve it or not

Even if it costs me to do so

Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ

We were made toWalk in Community

Not with expectation- receivingBut with anticipation- giving

Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ

Other's-centered living

For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing,

he deceives himself

"I don't need anyone!"Why should I allow my prideTo cheat you out of helping?

"I'm the guy who sniffs out sinAnd brings everyone back"

Jesus is heroAnd everything I have

Comes from him

But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor

Pride and insecurity both comeFrom the same place:

Comparison

I'm the woman who Fixes people.I don't struggle with…Like she does!

I can't believe I needed help.How come everyone else

Seems so put together?

…when they measure themselves by one another and

compare themselves with one another, they are unwise

- 2 Cor. 10:12

For each will have to bear his own load

Burdens= can't carry aloneLoads= can't share with others

True View:

- All I have is from God- All my identity is in God- I am fully accepted by God

Not because I'm awesome

But because God loves meAnd sent his Son to die for me

We were made toWalk in Community

Not with expectation- receivingBut with anticipation- giving

Do I approach CommunityLooking to find problems?

Or praying and anticipatingFor God to work in hearts-

And to involve me in it?

Am I known so that Fellow believers can engage me

And help me as we both walkIn the grace of our King?

Next Steps:- Get known in Community

- Pray for God to workAs we meet

And be available as he leads

Let's Pray…

Questions, CommentsDisagreements

Spaghetti and Candy!!!