Sermon Guides

"The Israelites have found themselves in Egypt, enslaved, crushed, and oppressed on all sides. But they weren’t sent there because of their disobedience to God; in fact, they were in Egypt because of obedience and faith. So why were they afflicted with so much suffering? And where is God in all of it? Exodus 1–2 helps us to see glimmers of hope in the thick darkness of human suffering. The curtain is slowly pulled back, and we can see God’s kind hand..."

“Boasting” is pointing to something as the source of our identity, and the grounds of our confidence. Galatians 6 teaches us that we can boast in vain (empty) things, or we can boast in the cross of Christ! If our identity & confidence comes from the cross, then Christ will transform our conduct toward one another, to make his churches beautiful communities of love and service.

"Though Christians still experience sinful desires, the Holy Spirit has been given to wage war within us, restrain the flesh, and produce the fruit of godliness. We cannot defeat sin by our own effort, but the Spirit enables us to live the life we were remade to want. Rather than following the desires of the flesh, we are called to walk by the Spirit, keeping in step with him daily. He leads us through Scripture, prayer, conviction, and the ordinary means of grace..."

"True Christian freedom is not autonomy to indulge the flesh but liberation from sin to walk in love, as a new creation in Christ. Paul urges believers to purge all hindrances to that freedom—by obeying the truth of the gospel, searching diligently for sin, and embracing the offense of the cross. Our calling mirrors the Exodus: freed not by works, but by grace, we now submit our desires to God and fulfill the law through loving others. This scandalous freedom leads..."

"Standing firm in true Christian freedom means rejecting every form of self-justification—whether through prideful entitlement or despairing unworthiness—and instead receiving the full benefits of Christ by faith. Paul warns that to rely on any part of the law obligates one to keep the whole law, cutting oneself off from grace. Justification cannot be earned; it must be received as a gift. Those who belong to Christ eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness—a future public..

"Galatians 4 shows that both legalism and idolatry are forms of spiritual slavery that reject the freedom found in Christ. Paul uses the image of a child-heir under a guardian to illustrate that, before faith, people are enslaved to “elementary principles”—whether the Jewish law or pagan gods. But when Christ came, he redeemed us, adopted us, and sent his Spirit into our hearts so that we cry “Abba, Father.” Christians are not slaves but sons, and we are called to live..."

"Justification with God comes not by law-keeping or moral performance but by faith alone in Jesus Christ. Paul shows that all who rely on works are under a curse because no one perfectly keeps God's law. But God gave Abraham righteousness through faith before the law or circumcision, and that same blessing—peace with God and his abiding presence—is extended to Jew and Gentile alike. Christ redeems sinners from the curse by becoming a curse for them, bearing God’s wrath on the

"Justification with God comes not by law-keeping or moral performance but by faith alone in Jesus Christ. Paul shows that all who rely on works are under a curse because no one perfectly keeps God's law. But God gave Abraham righteousness through faith before the law or circumcision, and that same blessing—peace with God and his abiding presence—is extended to Jew and Gentile alike. Christ redeems sinners from the curse by becoming a curse for them, bearing God’s wrath on the

"In Galatians 3:1–6, Paul confronts the Galatians for drifting from the gospel of grace, reminding them that they received the Spirit not by works but by “hearing with faith.” This sermon emphasizes that the Christian life—both its beginning and its continuation—is entirely dependent on God’s grace, received through faith. Good works are not the cause of salvation, but the result of it. Christians must resist the temptation to rely on self-effort and instead daily return to t

"This passage comes at the end of Paul’s bold defense of the gospel of grace—that we are justified by faith, not by works of the law. It’s an audacious claim, and it raises the question: if salvation is by grace, does it matter how we live? Paul’s answer is deeply personal and theologically rich. The Christian life begins with death: “I have been crucified with Christ.” The old self—the one that lived as its own reference point—has died, and now Christ lives in us. The Christ

Paul confronts Peter for acting in a way that misrepresents the gospel, reminding us that justification is by faith in Christ alone—not by works or law-keeping. When we misuse God’s law as a means of righteousness, we not only mislead others but also obscure the good news of grace. The law functions like a mirror, showing our need for Christ, while only Christ can make us righteous. Justification is a gift received, not earned or maintained through human effort.

Instead of opening this letter to the Galatian churches with a thanksgiving for them — as Paul normally does — he begins by stating that he is astonished that they are so quickly deserting Jesus. The Galatians didn’t think that they had deserted Jesus! But Paul labors for Christ formed in them through the book of Galatians by demonstrating that departing from true gospel doctrine is deserting Jesus himself. In these first handful of verses, Paul sets out the terms of true go

Instead of opening this letter to the Galatian churches with a thanksgiving for them — as Paul normally does — he begins by stating that he is astonished that they are so quickly deserting Jesus. The Galatians didn’t think that they had deserted Jesus! But Paul labors for Christ formed in them through the book of Galatians by demonstrating that departing from true gospel doctrine is deserting Jesus himself. In these first handful of verses, Paul sets out the terms of true go

In this passage we see the result of Peter’s gospel transformation, and the beginning of his gospel repentance. For both of these aspects, the crucial center is Jesus Christ — his grace, and his initiating love.

Jesus commissioned his apostles (sent ones) to bring his testimony to us — who who haven’t seen the Risen Jesus. Our faith does not come by sight, then, but by hearing. As we hear and receive Scripture’s testimony about who God is and what he’s done for us, we are receiving the very word of Christ, and thereby offered the gift of eternal life. Not by our righteousness, but by his grace; our mere faith is counted by him as righteousness.

Jesus is “the one sent by the Father.” It’s absolutely foundational to his identity. In this passage, he demonstrates to his as-yet unbelieving disciples that he has accomplished his mission, and that he has a mission for them, too. The mission of the Church is unified with Jesus’ mission: Christ offers himself to save a dying world, and we offer Christ.

The first day of creation, God spoke light into the darkness. John 20 brings us to the first day of New Creation, when the Light of the World was brought forth from the darkness of death. And just as the first creation story culminates in Adam meeting his bride, so this New Creation story shows us Jesus and his Bride — the Church. The resurrection of Jesus is our betrothal to the heavenly Bridegroom. And it marks the re-opening of the gates of Eden for the Second Adam and

Although it seems like Jesus ‘lost,’ his exchange with Barabbas hints at his victory: Jesus will stand accused in the place of the guilty, who can go free because he took the punishment he deserved.

Jesus Christ was no victim. The Gospel-writer, John, makes certain we know that. Though Jesus is arrested in John 18, there’s no doubt who’s in charge: he picks the spot, he initiates the confrontation, and he commands the troops to release his friends. Though he had the power to evade capture (and more), he chose the way of the cross...

Jesus prayed for us, that we might be one — unified in the same way that God the Father and God the Son are unified. That’s a tall order! For that humanly-impossible calling, God provides the power of the gospel through the Holy Spirit, to help us bear witness to the world through our unity and love.