Scripture: Galatians 2:9-10 …and when James and Cephas and John, who were acknowledged pillars, recognized the grace that had been given to me, they gave to Barnabas and me the right hand of fellowship, agreeing that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. They asked only one thing, that we remember the poor, which was actually what I was eager to do. Thought for
Scripture: Galatians 2:4-5 But false brothers and sisters, who were brought in secretly, slipped in to spy on our freedom, which we have in Christ Jesus, and to make us slaves. We didn’t give in and submit to them for a single moment, so that the truth of the gospel would continue to be with you. Thought for the Day: Paul speaks of spies who infiltrated worship gatherings
Scripture: Acts 15:5 But some believers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up and said, “It is necessary for them to be circumcised and ordered to keep the law of Moses.” Thought for the Day: In yesterday’s devotional, we looked at the disagreements and debating around whether Gentile Converts would be required to basically become Jewish before becoming a full-fledged follower of Jesus. This moment
Scripture: Acts 15:1-2 Then certain individuals came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to discuss this question with the apostles and the elders. Thought
Scripture: Luke 6:36-37 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven…” Thought for the Day: I’m taking a slight break from our discussion on Galatians to toss my own thoughts into the gorilla enclosure. As most of you know, a child fell into a
Scripture: Galatians 2:1 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. Thought for the Day: Do you remember being called into the teachers office as a young person, or maybe more recently, do you remember being called into the boss’s office? You may not have had any idea why the meeting was requested, but just the possibilities were the
Scripture: Galatians 1:23 …they only heard it said, “The one who formerly was persecuting us is now proclaiming the faith he once tried to destroy.” Thought for the Day: Today, we begin a sermon series entitled: From Meaninglessness to Meaningness. Yes, I’m pretty sure I coined a new word: meaningness. I believe they call that neologism. The idea was to contrast these two very similar words: Meaninglessness -and-
Scripture: Galatians 1:3 Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Thought for the Day: Brennan Manning is a priest and author, and everything I’ve ready of Brennan Manning has been a delight to my spirit. Recently, I came across the following words that both delighted and prodded by spirit: Put bluntly, the American (Christian) church today accepts grace in theory but
Scripture: Galatians 1:13-14 You heard about my previous life in Judaism, how severely I harassed God’s church and tried to destroy it. I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my peers, because I was much more militant about the traditions of my ancestors. Thought for the Day: As we continue to prepare for Sunday’s introductory sermon on Galatians, I draw your attention to this key part of Paul’s
Scripture: Galatians 1:10 Am I trying to win over human beings or God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I wouldn’t be Christ’s slave. Thought for the Day: Beginning this Sunday, I will preach four weeks on the Apostle Paul’s Letter to the Galatians. The hope is for us (the community) to spend some intentional time exploring this Letter