12. True Friends, Faithful Leaders

What this episode covers

Many of us have been betrayed or used by so called friends. Biblical teaching actually helps us navigate those challenging situations. A sermon on Galatians 4:12-20 Outline: I. True friends grow together II. True friends bless each other III. Faithful leaders strengthen followers IV. Faithful leaders sacrifice themselves Quotes:  For behold the love of God to man! We ought on every ground to have been punished at the first; in that having received the natural law, and enjoyed innumerable blessings, we have not acknowledged our Master, and have lived an unclean life. Yet He not only has not punished us, but has even made us partakers of countless blessings, just as if we had accomplished great things. Again we fell away, and not even so does He punish us, but has given medicine of repentance, which is sufficient to put away and blot out all our sins; only if we knew the nature of the medicine, and how we ought to apply it. -St. John Chrysostom, 4th c. There are mothers who when they have borne give to nurses: they that have borne cherish not their children, because they have given them to be nursed; but he himself had borne, he was himself cherishing, to no nurse did commit what he had borne; for he had said, “Of whom I travail again until Christ be formed in you.” He did cherish them, and gave them milk. -St. Augustine of Hippo, 5th c. That Christ should be formed in us is the same thing with our being formed in Christ; for we are born so as to become new creatures in him, and he, on the other hand, is born in us, so that we life his life. -John Calvin, 16th c. There are very many to this day who are possessed with the zeal of which the Apostle here speaks: who pretend great religion, modesty, doctrine, and patience, and yet, in very deed, are ravening wolves, seeking only to discredit us that the people may esteem, love, and reverence them only, and receive no doctrine but theirs. -Martin Luther, 16th c. Scripture text: Galatians 4:12-20 Brothers, I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong. 13 You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first, 14 and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. 15 What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17 They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them. 18 It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you, 19 my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you! 20 I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you. Liturgy bulletin link Sermon transcript link Outline of Galatians “True Friends, Faithful Leaders,” preached by Rev. Dr. Timothy R. LeCroy, Sunday, October 12, 2025 at 10:00AM at New Life Presbyterian Church in Ithaca, NY. Come see the beautiful Finger Lakes region, and worship God with us. www.newlifeithaca.org. Sermon music is from “We Will Feast in the House of Zion” provided by Sandra McCracken and with her permission. www.sandramccracken.com. The post 12. True Friends, Faithful Leaders first appeared on New Life Ithaca Presbyterian Church.