Whenever I’m involved in a teaching series, I find it helpful to get a sense of the whole shape of the book so I can be clear about its purpose, message to the church and where the bits I will preach fit in. Our church are just starting a preaching series on Ephesians. So, I… Continue reading Ephesians in 5 short statements
Tag: Pauline Studies
This is Paul signing off
We are coming to the end of Paul’s letter. If he had leapt quite abruptly into the challenging stuff at the beginning without the extended prayers, thanksgiving and commendations we get used to with his other letters, it also finishes fairly abruptly without the personal greetings we find in other letters such as in Romans… Continue reading This is Paul signing off
Reaping what you sow
This next section reinforces the point that we’ve seen developed through chapter 5-6, we cannot fix our lives and our relationship to God by making external adjustments to our behaviour through rule keeping and rituals. Instead, our lives will bear fruit in accordance with the roots. A look at the text (Read Galatians 6:7-10) An… Continue reading Reaping what you sow
Bearing burdens
How do we “keep in step with the Spirit” and bear fruit? The first few verses of Galatians 6 begin to apply what it means to patiently love others and to be self-controlled in our own lives. A look at the text (Read Galatians 6:1-6) Paul is describing someone here, not so much caught out… Continue reading Bearing burdens
Misrepresentation
In Galatians 2, Paul talks about the circumcision party who had previously caused trouble in Antioch as those who “came from James.” The implication there may have been that James himself was endorsing their position. However, that isn’t necessarily the case. In 5:11, Paul is himself compelled, to deny and refute that he was a… Continue reading Misrepresentation
Fruitful
So, if Christians are to be godly and to say no to sinful desires and temptation? How are we meant to go about that? Paul has been clear throughout that it isn’t by legalistic means or ritual that we pursue godliness.Is there a better way? A look at the text (Galatians 5:22-25) Paul contrasts “works… Continue reading Fruitful
Fleshly
Paul has set up a contrastbetween Flesh/human sinful nature and The Spirit/Life in the Spirit. He now spells out in detail what those types of life look like. A look at the text (Galatians 5:19-21) Paul says that “the works of the flesh/human sinful nature are obvious”. It doesn’t take too much to work out… Continue reading Fleshly
Free for what?
If a Christian is free from the law and legalism, does this mean that they can do what the please? A look at the text (Galatians 5:13-18) Christians have been rescued from slavery to freedom but we need to understand what this freedom is about and make sure that we do not abuse or exploit… Continue reading Free for what?
Keep on running
The 3000 metres race at the 1984 Olympics is famous for what happened to the two favourites, both of whom failed to win. Zola Budd and Mary Decker were out in front, when they ended up colliding and getting tangled up with each other. Decker was injured and failed to finish. Budd, limped on but… Continue reading Keep on running
True Freedom
Have you ever had one of those dreams where you are trying to escape from a scary place where you are trapped. You get through to the other side, only to realise your efforts were in vain, you are still captive. It’s a common theme, it invades our worst nightmares and is often picked up… Continue reading True Freedom
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