2012-1-15 Free To Love Galatians 5:13-15 Pastor Bryan Hurlbutt

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Pastor Bryan Hurlbutt
1-15-12

Free to Love

Galatians 5:13-15

I.                   The Purpose of Your Calling (13a)

1.      He knew me first
1 Corinthians 13:12 – For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

2.      He loved me first
1 Jn. 4:10 – In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

3.      He established me
1 Cor. 15:10 – But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.

II.                 The Purpose of Your Freedom (13b-14)

A.      Improper Use (13b)

B.      Proper Use (13c)

What love doesn’t look like when it serves:

1.      It doesn’t look for a pat on the back

 

2.      It doesn’t keep records

 

3.      It doesn’t do things carelessly

 

4.      It doesn’t wait to be asked

5.      It doesn’t act begrudgingly

6.      It doesn’t mind being treated like a servant

III.              The Purposes Unfulfilled (15)

“Paul demonstrates from the result how destructive internal disputes are for the church…If only we always remembered, when the devil tempts us to disputes, that the disagreement of members within the church can lead to nothing but the ruin and consumption of the whole body”-  John Calvin

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2012-1-8 Fork in the Road Galatians 5:1-12

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Pastor Bryan Hurlbutt
1-8-12
A Fork in the Road
Galatians 5:1-12

  • The Fork (1)

The Reason
“Those whom the apostle had to oppose in Romans 6 also had the same idea about freedom, thinking that it meant they could do whatever they wanted to, whereas our freedom is one that does the things written in the law without constraint and without any thought of reward.” (Martin Luther, First Lectures on Galatians)
The Resolve
“Here we have to consider what this metaphor “stand” actually means.  Paul says, “Stand, then.”  The term is taken from those who can either stand firm and fight in the line of battle or else fall and perish in the struggle.  Therefore the opposite of standing is falling, being defeated and perishing.  Therefore the commander of the army constantly and urgently exhorts the soldiers whom he has in his regiment to stand their ground when it comes to fighting against the enemy, because if they fall or run away the whole thing will collapse.” (Wolfgang Musculus, Commentary on Galatians)

  • The Roads (2-6)

Law
1. Looking to circumcision nullifies the power of Christ and His cross.
2. Looking to circumcision makes one accountable for complete obedience to the Law.
Faith
1. The road of faith is built by the power of the Spirit.
2. The road of faith grants us a hopeful destination.
3. The road of faith brings with it the fragrance and fruit of love.

  • A Personal Appeal (7-12)

This stumble is going to turn into an all out, breakneck fall.
False teachers need to be dealt with directly and promptly.
God isn’t tripping you up in the race of faith.
Heed the message which the Apostle was persecuted for.

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2012-1-1 Religously Free Galatians 4:21-31 Pastor Bryan Hurlbutt

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Religiously Free
Galatians 4:21-31

I. A Question (21)

II. Historical Background (22-23)

III. Allegory (24-27)

Old Covenant New Covenant
Hagar Sarah
born of nature (vs. 23) born of promise (vs. 23)
Children in slavery Free children
Sinai (Zion) – implied
Earthly Jerusalem Heavenly Jerusalem

IV. Application (28-31)

1. We are children of the promise

2. As children we can expect persecution

3. There is a time to draw boundaries of fellowship

4. An inheritance awaits us

5. We need to live like free men or women

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2011-12-25 Christmas Isaiah 9:6

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What Child Is This? Isaiah 9:1-6

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Perplexed

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Galatians 4:8-20

  1. Read vs. 8.  When Paul references their former objects of worship what does he mean by the phrase “those that by nature are not gods?”  As you consider this look at 1 Corinthians 8:4-6 and 1 Corinthians 10:18-22.
  2. What do you sense of Paul’s heart in this text?  What kinds of statements clue you in?  What can you extrapolate from this text that would help you more clearly define a healthy ministry heart?
  3. Talk with the group about one person who has poured into your spiritual life that you highly regard.  What did they do?  What difference did it make in your life?  What one or two things would you like to replicate in someone else’s life?  Who is the person you want to pour into?
  4. Pastor Bryan listed five questions that identify five things that perplex him about aspects of our church.  Which spoke most to you and why?
  5. Think about your time, talent and treasure.  Which of these is the most difficult for you to give to your church and why?
  6. Create your own question to share with the group.
  7. Pray for someone that you want to pour your life into.  Ask God to open up meaningful opportunities and ask Him to make your ministry effective to them.

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The Highest Privilege

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Galatians 4:1-7

  1. In what way have the devil and spiritual powers enslaved people whose eyes are not yet open?  Think about the time before you were a believer, which of these stand out as particularly true in your case?  How might the presence of these realities impact the way you engage the lost?
  2. Discuss the doctrine of adoption?  What is it?  What does it mean for your identity?  Look up the following verses as you discuss it: Romans 8:15-16, Romans 8:23, Ephesians 1:5.
  3. J. I. Packer calls the doctrine of adoption the “highest privilege that the Gospel offers.”  Do you agree or disagree?  Why?
  4. Read through Romans 8.  How do the Son and the Spirit relate and work together in our relationship with God?
  5. Which of the six benefits of being a son or daughter of God resonated most with you?  Why? (the six are: It will completely re-identify you, It frees and enables you to have the character of your Father in heaven, It will free you from the fear of failure, It places you in a context of loving discipline, It opens you up to receive blessings from God, and It gives you relief from anxiety)
  6. Create your own question to share with the group.
  7. Pray for one another to have a real sense of God as Father.  Also pray for others you know who may be wandering from God and need to be drawn back to health in his family.

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Now that Faith Has Come…

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Galatians 3:15-29

  1. What is the Abrahamic Covenant?  As you consider the answer to this look at the following texts: Genesis 12:1-3, Genesis 13:14-17, Genesis 15, Genesis 17, Genesis 18:18-19, and Genesis 22:15-18.
  2. What is the purpose of the Law?  As you consider the answer to this look at the following texts in addition to this one: Romans 3:20, Romans 4:13-15 (esp. 15), Romans 5:20-21, and Romans 7:7-12.
  3. What does it mean to be “clothed with Christ?”  Note that Paul says that “as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”  What does this not leave room for?  Why is this so important to understand?
  4. Discuss vs. 28.  What does it mean?  To what does it refer?  Are all distinctions erased or only certain distinctions?  Is there any contemporary confusion regarding the use of this verse?  What would constitute a right application of the text and what would be a wrong one?
  5. What personally is the biggest blessing that you experience in your own life now that faith has come?
  6. Create your own question to share with the group.
  7. Spend some time as a group praying for one another to be clothed with Christ everyday.

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What Is Your View of the Church?

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Ephesians 4:11-16, 2 Corinthians 6:14-18, Ephesians 5:31-32

  1. Do you view the church as life sustaining or life enhancing? How does Paul’s metaphor of the church as a body show that it is critical to the Christian life? What are some ways that you tend to view the church as optional?
  2. What are some reasons that it is difficult for you to embrace community as God has described it? What can you do to change your perspective and practice?
  3. Do you view the church as a Sunday morning experience or a lifestyle? What did you learn from the metaphor of the church as a temple? How should the reality that God’s presence is in our midst affect the way you view and treat other believers?
  4. Is it difficult for you to view God as Father?  Does the metaphor bring up negative feelings or memories? How is God different than your earthly father?
  5. How should the metaphor of the church as a family affect the way we view and treat each other? If we are God’s children, how do you think he feels when we mistreat and devalue each other? (If you’re a parent, think about this question in light of your own children being mistreated)
  6. Do you love and cherish the church as much as you do yourself? Do you run from intimacy with God or others? What did you learn from the metaphor of the church being the bride of Christ?

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Preparing the Vision

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1. What external challenges do you see in our culture that may inspire vision?

2. What internal challenges do you have in your own life?  How can you turn the challenges you face internally to inspire a vision for ministry?

3. Imagine Lifeline desired to plant a new church community in your neighborhood because you didn’t have one.  What might be the first five things that you think may need to happen before you have your first service?  What may be things that are unique to your community that may need to be planned?

4. When projects incur opposition in you lives, what is your normal response?  How can you learn from Nehemiah’s responses of prayer and preparedness (emotional, physical and communication)?  (Neh. 4:4,9;4:14, 4:15-23)

5. Why is it important to foster a culture of generosity?  What are ways we can be generous with others around us?  How does generosity go beyond money?

6. Nehemiah appointed leaders who were committed after the project was completed. (7:2 and 11:1-2)  Why are commitment and faithfulness such important qualities in leaders?  Share experiences you have had (positive or negative) in relation to a leaders commitment and/or faithfulness?

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