August 9 + 10, 2014
Debra Merrill
Two Religions, Two Ministries
Two Religions,
Galatians 4:8-20 (NLT)
Before you Gentiles knew God, you were slaves to so-called gods that do not even exist. So now that you know God (or
should I say, now that God knows you), why do you want to go back again and become slaves once more to the weak and
useless spiritual principles of this world? You are trying to earn favor with God by observing certain days or months or
seasons or years. I fear for you. Perhaps all my hard work with you was for nothing. Dear brothers and sisters, I plead with
you to live as I do in freedom from these things, for I have become like you Gentiles—free from those laws. You did not
mistreat me when I first preached to you. Surely you remember that I was sick when I first brought you the Good News.
But even though my condition tempted you to reject me, you did not despise me or turn me away. No, you took me in and
cared for me as though I were an angel from God or even Christ Jesus himself. Where is that joyful and grateful spirit you
felt then? I am sure you would have taken out your own eyes and given them to me if it had been possible. Have I now
become your enemy because I am telling you the truth? Those false teachers are so eager to win your favor, but their
intentions are not good. They are trying to shut you off from me so that you will pay attention only to them. If someone is
eager to do good things for you, that’s all right; but let them do it all the time, not just when I’m with you. Oh, my dear
children! I feel as if I’m going through labor pains for you again, and they will continue until Christ is fully developed in your
lives. I wish I were with you right now so I could change my tone. But at this distance I don’t know how else to help you.
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Freedom Dance or March of Soldiers?
Today’s scripture presents two contrasts:
Gospel __________ vs. worldly religion
Gospel __________ vs. worldly __________
Gospel Faith vs World Religion
Galatians 4:8-11 (NLT)
It is often easier to address the Believer versus Non-believer disparity than it is to address Gospel distortions
within the Christian church!
“Distortions” of Gospel based Christianity:
1. Judaized Christianity or the ____________
2. Legalized Christianity or the ____________
3. Lawless Christianity or the _____________
SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES
ARE
ARE NOT
Assurance of Being Known
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So now that you know God (or should I say, now that God knows you).
Galatians 4:9 (NLT)
Some versions use “or rather” which means _______ ____________.
“Know” means ___________________ _____________________.
“In the life of a Christian, our knowing of God will rise and fall depending on many things. But God’s knowing of us is
absolutely fixed and solid. …[T]he great and central basis of Christian assurance is not how much our hearts are set on
God, but how unshakably His heart is set on us.” - Tim Keller, Galatians for You
It’s not about us!
Degrees of Intimacy:
1. What do acquaintances know about you?
2. What do your colleagues and casual friends know about you?
3. What does your spouse / closest friend / family know about you?
4. What does God know about you?
How does this change what perceptions you worry about?? God KNOWS everything and is madly in love with
you anyway!!
Gospel Ministry vs Worldly Ministry
Gospel Ministry is
1. ________________ with EVERYTHING apart from the Gospel.
2. ________________ and WALKS the TALK.
3. Seeking opportunities in _______________________.
4. Emotionally _____________________ from its leaders.
Galatians 4:12-20 (NLT)
Are You Showing?
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Oh, my dear children! I feel as if I’m going through labor pains for you again, and they will continue until Christ is fully
developed in your lives.
Galatians 4:19 (NLT)
Greek morphe—to form or to fashion.
Jesus had taken up residence inside the Galatians but was not “showing.”
Legalism can rob us of the JOY of salvation!
 Makes us feel guilty rather than loved
 Produces self hatred rather than humility
 Stresses performance over relationship
 Shows how short we fall rather than how far we’ve come through Jesus
Is your Jesus showing?
Sources: Galatians For You, by Tim Keller,. Dance Lessons,“Is He Showing Yet?” Pete Briscoe. Spiritual Disciplines, Rose Publishing.