Pastor Chris reminded us that Jesus didn't come to just live in this world. He came to bring heaven crashing into it.
MY STORY
What's a principle in your life you would never, ever violate, regardless of the cost?
WHAT DOES GOD WANT US TO HEAR?
Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; (Exodus 19:5)
Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise. (Galatians 3:23-29)
What did the Lord say would happen if his people kept his laws and statutes? According to Paul, what was our relationship with the Law before faith came?
What changed when faith arrived?
What does God want us to hear? Based on the passages above, what are the factual "takeaways" that are meaningful to you?
WHAT DOES GOD WANT US TO DO?
What is the role of the law in the life of the believer, now that he or she lives under grace?
How does grace erase the stereotypical differences between believers when it comes to race, gender, or economic status? What is it that levels the playing field?
How should the unifying truth of God's grace, that covers all believers, shape the ways we relate to one another?
What does God want us to do? Flowing out of our reading and interpretation, what action does this passage or the Spirit's leading, nudging us toward?
WHAT DOES GOD WANT ME TO DO?
In what area of your life are you most tempted to be legalistic? Root out any remnant of legalism in your heart by infusing God's grace to that area—especially with the people impacted by those biases in your heart.
Be brutally honest about your deeply-embedded prejudices. What does it look like to have those, and to NOT act on them?
Think about a relationship in your life where there is unnecessary divisiveness where there could be unity. What's a first step you could take toward experiencing "one-accord" with this person?
What does God want ME to do? What is the personal application and action step is the Holy Spirit is calling you toward?
Message Notes
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