City Line Church Sermons

Exodus 17:8-16Israel’s encounter with the Amalekites introduces a type of spiritual warfare into their wilderness journey. While Joshua leads the battle, victory depends on Moses lifting his hands with the staff of God. When Moses grows weary, Aaron and Hur help him, illustrating the necessity of communal support in the life of God’s people. This passage emphasizes that God is the ultimate warrior—human effort matters, but divine power secures the outcome. The episode also points to Christ, our interceding Mediator who never grows weary and guarantees our victory over evil. The passage also reveals the cooperation of ordinary means—prayer, leadership, community, perseverance—under God’s sovereign control. The battle with Amalek foreshadows ongoing spiritual opposition until Christ returns. Believers are called to stand firm, pray fervently, and rely on God’s strength. The Lord is our banner, our identity, and our hope in every battle we face.

Exodus 17:1-7Exodus 17:1–7 reveals a familiar and sobering pattern: a redeemed people quickly forget the God who saved them. Facing thirst in the wilderness, Israel quarrels with Moses and tests the Lord again, asking, “Is the LORD among us or not?” Their question exposes not just physical need but spiritual unbelief. Yet, God responds not with immediate judgment, but with astonishing grace. He commands Moses to strike the rock, and life-giving water flows for undeserving people. This passage highlights both the depth of human sin and the greater depth of God’s mercy. Israel’s grumbling mirrors our own hearts—prone to doubt God’s provision and presence. Still, God provides abundantly. The struck rock points forward to Christ, who is smitten for us so that living water might flow to His people. We are called to repent of unbelief, trust God in the wilderness, and rest in the grace that flows freely from our faithful Redeemer.

Exodus 15:22-16:5, 31Finally free from the hands of the Egyptians, saved through the waters of the Red Sea, & singing praises to God, the people of Israel now find themselves in the desert with no water and no food. Have they been saved from the frying pan only to be lost in the fire? The story of the bitter water and the bread from heaven are God's real provision of real needs to his people and they are tests. The story of salvation for us (and the Israelites) begins with justification (the freeing of the people from Egypt), but it continues on in sanctification (the testing, shaping, and forming of the wilderness journey). The lesson for us is to respond to the tests and trials of our life by placing our trust in the true Bread of Heaven who came and passed the tests and offers us himself as the Bread of Life.

Exodus 15:1-21After the Red Sea deliverance, Israel responds with worship. The Song of Moses is the first recorded hymn in Scripture and models how redeemed people praise God. It celebrates God’s strength, warrior-like power, covenant love, and faithfulness. Worship flows naturally from salvation, and salvation fuels worship that exalts God alone. This passage shows how God saves His people for His glory, and our rightful response is doxology. The song also looks forward—God will plant His people in His holy dwelling. This anticipates God’s presence in the tabernacle, the temple, and ultimately in Christ. Miriam’s song further demonstrates the communal and celebratory nature of worship. For believers, Exodus 15 encourages heartfelt praise rooted in God’s mighty acts. The redeemed do not stand silently; we declare the glory of the God who triumphs gloriously and leads His people in steadfast love.

John 20:1-18The resurrection of Jesus is both a cosmic event, signifying a new creation, and a personal one, impacting individuals like John and Mary Magdalene. John, arriving at the empty tomb, believed in the resurrection, witnessing the beginning of a new world where death is conquered. This event, occurring on the first day of the week, mirrors the creation story in Genesis, highlighting its significance. The empty tomb, encounters with the risen Jesus, and the spread of Christianity all point to the truth of the resurrection. This event is not just a parable or metaphor, but a reality that offers hope, new life, and new creation for all who believe and follow Jesus!

Exodus 14:21-31Israel finally departs Egypt, but God leads them on an unexpected route—a path toward the sea, not away from danger. When Pharaoh pursues them, Israel panics and begins complaining, revealing how quickly freed people can long for old chains. Yet, God fights for His people. The crossing of the Red Sea is a decisive act of salvation—God delivers His people through judgment, bringing them safely through the waters while their enemies are destroyed. This event becomes the Old Testament’s great picture of redemption, echoed throughout Scripture and fulfilled in Christ. This dramatic part of the story emphasizes the doctrines of salvation, divine sovereignty, and human helplessness and bent to sin. Israel contributes nothing but their need; God accomplishes everything. The crossing of the Red Sea teaches us that God sometimes leads us into impossible places, to places where we are stuck between a rock and a hard place, to reveal His power. The God who saves is the God who receives all glory and secures His people’s future through death itself.

Exodus 13:1-2; 11-16In the midst of the long-awaited departure from Egypt and the beginning of the long journey to the promised land, the people of Israel are given instructions to consecrate every firstborn male to the Lord. The redemption of Israel, God's first born, is to be remembered every time a family welcomes their first child. This anticipates the redemption of the world through the sacrifice of Christ—the first born of creation. The right response to this is continual remembrance and offering up our first and best to the Lord who redeems us.

Exodus 11:1-10 and 12:1-14The Passover stands at the heart of Exodus and the center of biblical redemption. God’s final plague—the devastating judgement of the death of the firstborn—reveals His holiness and justice. Yet God provides a way of salvation through the blood of a spotless lamb. The lamb dies so the people may live; judgement passes over those covered by the blood. This is a direct foreshadowing of Christ, the true Passover Lamb who takes away the sin of the world. This passage emphasizes substitutionary atonement, the necessity of blood, and the reality of divine judgement and mercy. Israel’s deliverance is not based on their worthiness but God’s grace applied through obedient faith. The Passover meal becomes a defining identity marker for God’s redeemed people whom he rescued for His glory. For Christians, this passage strengthens our confidence that salvation is entirely God’s work, fulfilled perfectly in Jesus Christ, and we keep the Passover Feast each week during the Lord’s Supper.

Exodus 7:1-13The plagues are not random disasters but deliberate judgments against Egypt’s idols. Each plague dismantles the perceived power of Egypt’s gods—Nile, livestock, fertility, light, and Pharaoh himself. This part of the story of Exodus emphasizes this central theological message: Yahweh alone is God, and no rival can stand against him. God’s sovereignty is displayed not only in the plagues, but also in His continuing hardening of Pharaoh’s heart. God’s judicial hardening is righteous and purposeful, demonstrating both His justice and His mercy toward Israel. These chapters expose the futility of hardened rebellion and the danger of superficial repentance, as Pharaoh repeatedly confesses yet refuses to truly surrender. The plagues reveal God’s determination to save His people and make His name known among the nations. Today, God still confronts our idols—self-reliance, comfort, and control—calling us to worship Him alone and turn away from false gods.

Exodus 5:1-9, 6:1-13When Moses obeys God and confronts Pharaoh, things get worse. Pharaoh increases Israel’s burden, leading the people to doubt Moses and blame God. This passage speaks powerfully to believers who obey and trust God yet encounter intensified hardship. God reassures Moses by reaffirming His covenant name: I am the LORD. The repetition highlights His sovereignty, faithfulness, and unshakable commitment to redeem His people. God’s plan unfolds not despite opposition, but often through it. Pharaoh’s resistance serves God’s purposes by magnifying His glory. The sermon highlights the difference between false expectations and true hope: God doesn’t always promise immediate relief but always promises certain redemption. In times of spiritual difficulty, our hope rests not in circumstances, but in God’s character. The God who hears our groaning is the God who will keep His covenant and accomplish His deliverance.

Exodus 4:18-31In Exodus 4:18–31, Moses begins the long road of obedience by “going back to Egypt.” Called by God at the burning bush, he now returns to the very place of his failure and fear. This passage reminds us that God’s call is not theoretical—it sends us into real obedience, real danger, and real dependence. The Lord reassures Moses of His sovereign purpose, declaring that He will harden Pharaoh’s heart and redeem His “firstborn son,” Israel. Even the shocking episode of a quick bloody circumcision on the way teaches us that covenant obedience matters; the God who saves by grace also demands holiness from His servants. Yet throughout, the emphasis falls on God’s faithfulness. He provides Aaron, confirms His promises, and moves the elders of Israel to worship. This story proclaims God’s sovereign grace, covenant faithfulness, and missional heart. The God who sends also goes with His people—calling us to trust, obey, and worship as we go back into the world He intends to redeem.

Exodus 4:1-17Moses responds to God’s call with hesitation, excuses, and fear—yet God patiently equips him. The signs of the staff, leprous hand, and Nile water demonstrate God’s absolute authority over creation and nations. Moses’ insistence on his own inadequacy reflects the human tendency to evaluate God’s mission through personal ability rather than divine strength. God provides Aaron as a helper, showing His willingness to accommodate human frailty without compromising His plan. The central message is that God does not call the capable; He makes capable those He calls. Gospel ministry today follows the same pattern—we are called to be humble jars of clay carrying the treasure of God’s power. The God who sends weak servants also guarantees the success of His redemptive work.

Exodus 3:1-17Exodus 3 introduces God who calls Moses through a burning bush that blazes without being consumed. This moment reveals God’s holiness—majestic, pure, and unapproachable apart from His grace. Moses’ reluctance mirrors our own inadequacy before divine calling, yet God does not choose the gifted; He equips the chosen. Central to this passage is God’s name: I AM WHO I AM. This holy self-revelation grounds all theology in God’s self-existence, sovereignty, and unchanging character. God’s initiative in revealing Himself underscores His grace—He is not self-righteously discovered by human searching, but revealed by divine mercy. The God who sends Moses is also the God who promises His presence: I will be with you. This sermon emphasizes that mission flows from worship, courage flows from God’s character, and the burning bush points forward to Christ—the Holy One who draws near without consuming His people.

Exodus 2Exodus chapter 2 gives a summary overview of the life of Moses from birth until right before his encounter with YHWH in the burning bush 40 years later. The many twists and turns in Moses' life prepares him for the mission God gives him to deliver his people from Pharaoh. The echoes, rhymes, and allusions, some subtle, some obvious, to other parts of the Bible tell us something about the God that Moses encounters in the next chapter. God hears, remembers, sees, and knows His people. And Moses' life shows the mysterious ways God sovereignly works through our lives according to his will to accomplish his purposes.

Exodus 1Exodus opens not with triumph but with oppression, reminding us that God’s people often grow in hardship. Israel’s suffering in Egypt isn’t evidence of God’s absence but of His unfolding promise. This sermon explores how God remains faithful even when His people feel forgotten. The multiplying Israelites demonstrate the unstoppable nature of God’s covenant purposes. Pharaoh’s fearful tyranny represents the world’s hostility toward God’s kingdom, yet even his violence cannot thwart divine sovereignty. The faithful midwives show how God uses ordinary obedience to preserve His redemptive plan. Exodus 1 reveals God’s providence governing every detail—the rise of nations, the schemes of rulers, and the cries of His people. For believers today, this passage invites us to trust God’s covenant promises when circumstances contradict hope. God has not forgotten His people; He remembers, He governs, and He prepares the stage for salvation.

 Luke 2:25-35When Simeon takes up baby Jesus in his arms, he is experiencing and foreshadowing the comfort and joy of the Light of the World that has come into the world. When Simeon says to Mary that his son would cause the rise and fall of many and reveal the hearts of many, he is describing and foreshadowing the conviction that the Light of the World will bring to a sinful world. And when he jubilantly praises that God salvation will be seen by all nations and a light for revelation to the Gentiles, he is articulating the wonderful Gospel truth that the Light of the World is for the whole world, Jew and Gentile alike. May we be comforted and convicted to greater repentance and faithfulness as we live out our call to bring the Light of the World to the whole world. 

Matthew 1:18-25Matthew 1:18–25 draws us into the quiet, courageous love at the heart of the Holy Family—love that shapes the Advent story and reveals God’s heart for us. This passage begins in tension and uncertainty: Mary is found to be with child, and Joseph is left with questions, disappointment, and fear. Yet instead of acting out of anger or pride, Joseph chooses a path of compassion. Even before the angel speaks, Joseph’s love leans toward mercy. When the angel reveals God’s plan, Joseph steps into a deeper kind of love—obedient, sacrificial, steadfast. He embraces Mary, embraces the child, and embraces the calling that God places upon him. Advent Love is not sentimental; it is costly. It is the love that protects, trusts, and perseveres. Mary, too, walks in love—carrying the Christ child with faith, vulnerability, and hope. Together, Mary and Joseph embody a love that welcomes God’s presence into the world through simple, faithful obedience. This passage reminds us that Advent Love is God’s initiative: “He will save his people from their sins.” In Jesus, divine love takes on flesh. And through the Holy Family, we see how human love becomes a vessel for God’s redeeming work.

Luke 2:8-20Luke 2:8–20 invites us to discover Advent Joy through the unlikely experience of the shepherds—ordinary, overlooked people doing ordinary, overlooked work. In the quiet darkness of a routine night, heaven suddenly breaks in. An angel appears not to the powerful or the religious elite, but to those on the margins, declaring, “I bring you good news of great joy for all people.” Advent Joy begins here: God’s joy comes not because circumstances are perfect, but because God meets us where we are. The shepherds’ world did not instantly change—Rome still ruled, their fields were still cold—but they ran to Bethlehem carrying a joy stronger than fear. They found a newborn child lying in a manger, the Messiah in the most unexpected place. Their joy overflowed as they returned to their fields, glorifying and praising God. The darkness remained, yet the shepherds were different because joy had found them. This passage reminds us that Advent Joy is not shallow happiness or seasonal cheer. It is the deep, surprising joy of knowing that God has come near—entering our ordinary days, our uncertainties, and our hidden places. Like the shepherds, we are invited to encounter Christ and carry His joy back into the world.

Luke 1:26-38Luke 1:26–38 reveals Advent Peace as heaven’s bold declaration into an anxious world. When the angel greets Mary with “peace” and “favor,” God announces that His mission of redemption is breaking into human history. Mary’s world was filled with political tension, social uncertainty, and personal risk—yet God’s peace meets her with purpose, not ease. Her faithful “yes” becomes the doorway through which God’s peace enters the world in Christ. This passage reminds us that Advent Peace is not passive; it is God’s active mission. The coming of Jesus ignites a global movement in which God’s peace—shalom—spreads from a humble village to every nation. Like Mary, we are invited into this mission: to carry Christ’s presence, to embody peace in divided places, and to join God’s work of restoring lives and communities. Advent Peace calls the church to go, proclaim, and live the good news that God’s peace is for all people, everywhere.

Isaiah 9:1-7Isaiah 9:1–7 invites us into the heart of Advent: a season that faces darkness honestly, yet refuses to believe darkness has the final word. Isaiah speaks to a people walking in deep gloom—burdened, confused, grieving, and unsure of the future. Into that reality, God sends a word of radiant promise: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.” Advent Hope doesn’t deny the shadows; it declares that God’s light breaks into them. This passage announces that hope is not an abstract feeling but a Person—a child born, a son given. He comes not with crushing power but with gentle authority, carrying names that reveal God’s heart toward us: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Each name testifies that God is not distant. He is present, guiding, defending, sustaining, and reconciling. Isaiah’s prophecy reminds us that the world’s brokenness is real, but so is God’s promise. Advent Hope is the assurance that God is already at work overturning despair, lifting burdens, and establishing a kingdom of justice and peace. In Christ, light has dawned—and this light will never be overcome.

Hebrews 13:20-21The benediction, a blessing pronounced at the end of worship, is a reminder of God’s peace and His work in raising Jesus from the dead. It is a formal proclamation of God’s blessing, rooted in Scripture, and serves as a reminder of God’s presence and peace in the midst of life’s challenges. The benediction also sends worshippers out into the world, equipped to do God’s will. The final benediction found in the book of Hebrews reminds believers of God’s eternal covenant through Jesus’ death and resurrection. It serves as a blessing, a reminder of God’s faithfulness, and an invitation to participate in His mission by showing compassion to others. The benediction equips and empowers Christians to be sent out as ambassadors of peace, living out their faith in everyday life.

Acts 2:37-41Through the lens of Acts 2:37-41 and the movement of the Spirit in the early church we see the significance of baptism in Christian worship. Christian baptism is a sacrament that signifies adoption into God’s family, cleansing from sin, and commitment to Christ and the church. This is in contrast to the broader cultural desire for spiritual rituals without substance compared to the profound meaning of Christian baptism, rooted in God’s work through Jesus’ death and resurrection. The sermon highlights baptism as a public proclamation of faith and a symbol of God’s powerful work in salvation. Ultimately, baptism is less about our response to God and more about what God is doing in and through us. 

1 Cor. 11:23-26The Lord’s Supper is a vital and mysterious sacrament instituted by Jesus and passed down through the Church. It is appropriate that when we gather we remember Christ through the eating and drinking of His body and blood, symbolized in bread and wine. Just as the Word of God is received by faith and means of grace, so also in the Lord’s Supper we are by faith sealed with all the benefits of Christ: spiritual nourishment, communion with Him, and fellowship with one another as members of His mystical body. Remembering Christ’s death, resurrection, and imminent return is more than recalling a past event or future reality. Rather it places those who participate into the very reality of the event being commemorated. The significance is that Christ is present with his people in joyful feast at the Lord's table now. Yet this table always looks forward to when he will come again and we dine without decay at the final wedding feast.

1 Timothy 3:1-13Ordination is not something we do at every worship service, but it is something incredibly special that we do occasionally in our worship service. For a young person like Timothy, it was incredibly important that Paul and other Christian leaders laid their hands on him and appointed and empowered him to be the pastor at Ephesus. This is the same for us today. We ordain our elders and deacons in the church, and they receive from God the authority of that office and the grace to fulfill its responsibilities by prayer and the laying on of hands of other leaders in the church. This is, in part, how the mission of God continues in the church from generation to generation as new leaders and pastors are raised up, examined, ordained, and installed in fulfillment of their calling to follow Christ. 

2 Timothy 3:16 - 4:4The Apostle Paul wrote at least two letters to his young protege Timothy. Timothy was installed as the pastor of the church at Ephesus and in 2 Timothy 4, Paul instructed him to “Preach the Word. Be prepared in season and out of season.” This same command applies to all pastors in Christian churches today. At City Line Church, preaching the “God-Breathed” Word faithfully is central to what we do in worship, because God is central to what we do in worship. Our preaching isn’t always going to be the hippest or coolest, but it will be about God the Father, sending God the Son to save us, and the Father and Son sending the Holy Spirit to teach and empower us as the church. God, in his unconceivable love towards us, decided to communicate with us, in the Words of Scripture and through his Son Jesus. So, we will preach the Word faithfully at City Line Church every Sunday as part of our worship.

Joshua 8:34-35 & 1 Timothy 4:13The reading and hearing of Scripture is one of the most important acts of worship during the worship service. In our society and culture in general, we have less and less awareness and understanding of Scripture. We rarely see or interact with Scripture outside of Sunday morning. Reading Scripture in worship helps us maintain the centrality of the Bible in our lives as Christians. The reading of Scripture coupled with the preaching of God’s Word stands at the center of our worship and constitutes one of the privileged moments of worship. It is God speaking to us. We can have, even in churches that have a ‘high view of Scripture,’ a slight understanding of the Bible. We can easily have a ‘too low’ view that can subtly creep into the Bible reading of even those with the highest view of Scripture's authority and inspiration. It's the view that has taken hold whenever we come to the Bible without a sense of expectation that we are meeting with the one who made us and sustains our every breath. These two passages, one from the OT and one from the NT, point us to the divine nature of Scripture and the importance of reading them publicly. 

Acts 4:23-31One of the central acts of worship is the intercessory prayer. The “prayers of the people” in the worship service is spoken by someone or multiple people in the congregation on behalf of the congregation. The prayers of the people, at its core, is an intercessory prayer. It is a prayer calling on God as priestly intercessors for each other in the church, for our region, and for our world. Acts 4 gives us a very early example of the people of God praying to God asking for boldness and power in the preaching and spreading of the Gospel even through intense opposition. 

2 Corinthians 9:1-15Talking about money and giving in church can be a little awkward, but the Bible has important things to say about the topic. There are at least two different ways that churches can get off track with financial giving. First are the churches that never ever talk about money. “Let’s not talk about money, let’s just talk about God.” As if God has nothing to say about how his people handle and think about money. The second is the flip side of that. Let’s talk about God SO that we can talk about money. And these churches tend to talk about money all of the time. "Jesus wants you to be healthy and wealthy, all you need is a little more faith. So, in faith, give a lot of your money to this church so that you will be blessed financially in return.” We want to be neither of these two extremes. We, at City Line Church, want to be people who give, as to the Lord, with a cheerful heart knowing it is part of our worship of him. 

Romans 1:7 & 16:16A time of greeting one another during the worship service can seem like a clever way to keep people awake and caffeinated, or a convenient way to make space for taking our children to their classes for worship. And for some introverts, it is the most dreaded 210 seconds of their week. But there are very important practical, biblical and theological reasons for our time of greeting. In addition to doing so because we are told to do so in the New Testament, we greet one another because we are meant to be in community together and because when we do so we demonstrate the reconciliation found in the gospel.

1 John 1:8-9 & James 5:16Confessing our sins together as the whole body of Christ in a worship service can feel like a strange thing to do. Especially for those who didn’t grow up in more liturgical traditions. But, at a most fundamental level, why do we confess our sins as Christians? We do it because we are all sinners. When we confess our sins, we admit this truth, even if we didn’t struggle with that particular sin over the past week. Even if we didn’t, it is likely we will in the future! But, when we confess our sins, both corporately and individually, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. So, in confession, we find relational forgiveness and wholeness because of God's character and love towards us. 

Colossians 3:16 & Ephesians 5:18-20Christians are regularly encouraged to sing praises to God in Scripture. We sing praises to God in our worship services because we are invited and even commanded to sing. We sing praises to God in our worship services so God’s Word goes deep into our souls. And, we sing praises to God in our worship services simply because it brings glory to God. Singing has such a unique way of communally bringing our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths together in worship of our Great God. 

Psalm 100The Call to Worship reminds us of God’s presence and invites us to worship him. We are invited to turn our attentions and affections to our Lord and Creator. It can be hard to put away all the distractions and anxieties of our weeks, but the Call to Worship brings us into a space where we can quiet our minds and worship the King and Lover of our souls. In this sermon we’ll consider the role of the Call to Worship, think about what worship actually is, and think about what Psalm 100 (a very traditional and often used Call to Worship) is calling us to do. 

Revelation 22:6-21This sermon concludes a series on 3 Strange Prayers, focusing on the final prayer in the Bible, “Come, Lord Jesus.” This prayer, offered by John in Revelation, reflects the enduring hope of Christians for Jesus’ return. It signifies the end of suffering, the establishment of God’s kingdom, and the fulfillment of God’s promises. This prayer and Jesus’ return signifies three key points: endurance, judgment, and healing. It reminds believers to endure hardships, knowing that true justice will prevail. Ultimately, Jesus’ return brings healing, wiping away tears and ending suffering, as seen in the vision of the new heavens and new earth. The prayer “Come, Lord Jesus!” is a short and powerful expression of this longing, reflecting the hope for justice, healing, and eternal life. This prayer also reminds us of our in-between state and our ultimate hope in Jesus’ return.

1 Samuel 1:4-11Hannah, yearning for a child, endured years of infertility and mockery from her husband’s second wife, Peninnah. Despite her husband’s inadequate comfort, Hannah turned to God in persistent prayer, promising to dedicate her son to His service. God answered her prayer, granting her a son, Samuel, whom she later gave to the Temple, demonstrating her faith and commitment to God’s will. The sermon explores Hannah’s pleading prayer, God’s response, and her triumphant second prayer of praise, emphasizing the importance of experiencing our own deepest emotions in our connection to God.

Numbers 11:10-15The people of Israel are moaning and complaining at the VERY beginning of their “wanderings in the wilderness.” They will regularly show themselves to be rebellious and stubborn people. This grumbling of the people makes the Lord angry and Moses, their leader, frustrated. Moses surprisingly offers a prayer of challenge to the Lord. In the raw and real prayer, he even goes so far as to call on the Lord to kill him rather than have to lead these people! This strange prayer is important because it shows us that the Lord’s “shoulders” are strong enough to bear all of our deepest and darkest thoughts. God is not scared away by our fickleness. And, of course, Jesus ultimately succeeds where Moses fails, and he is the perfect mediator between God and humanity.  

Galatians 6:11-18Here Paul concludes his letter to the Galatians and highlights the central message of his letter: That neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation. Paul reveals true motivations of the Judiazers: to avoid persecution and to boast in getting Gentiles circumcised. Should we avoid persecution? Can we take pride in our worldly accomplishments? And, what does it look like to only boast in the cross of Christ? 

Galatians 6:1-10In an episode of the podcast “Radio Lab,” they explore how trees and forests thrive through underground root systems and fungal networks, demonstrating a model of community and mutual support. This principle is echoed by Paul in Galatians 6, where Christians are commanded to carry one another’s burdens in three specific ways: restoring those caught in transgressions, supporting those who teach the Bible faithfully, and doing good to one another. These actions fulfill the law of Christ and create a healthy, supportive church community. Ultimately, this reflects Jesus’ love and sacrifice, calling the church to be a beacon of hope and love in a divided world.

Galatians 5:16-26The struggle between right and wrong, good and evil, sin and righteousness is a battle waged within every Christian. This battle is between the desires of the flesh and the desires of the Spirit, a civil war within the heart, mind, soul, and body. Surrendering to sin, characterized by habitual and unrepentant behavior, results in eternal separation from God. Paul encourages us that the battle against sin is won through the power of the Holy Spirit and achieved by mortifying the flesh. This involves daily crucifying sin and embracing the fruit of the Spirit, such as love, joy, and peace. Ultimately, the war against sin is won through Jesus’ sacrifice, and as believers, we eagerly await His return when sin will finally be put to death.

Galatians 5:1-15Paul gets to the very heart of the argument of his letter to his old friends. They are free in Christ Jesus, the agitators who are leading them astray are in real trouble and will face judgment, and those that are free in Christ should use their freedom to serve and love their neighbors. The warning language to both the Christians in Asia Minor and the false teachers leading them astray is shockingly strong. This underscores the seriousness of the matter. Nothing less than the eternal fate of all involved is at stake. 

Galatians 4:21-31In this section of Paul’s letter, he uses a nuanced argument from the Old Testament. He uses the story of Hagar/Sarah and Ishmael/Isaac allegorically or in a typological way to help us understand the difference between a covenant of works compared to a covenant of Grace. Paul ultimately wants his friends and us today to understand that there is a HUGE difference between people who try to do things by their own power and strength compared to people who rely on God’s power to accomplish great and wonderful things. God’s children, children of the promise, cannot save themselves and fully realize that it is by God’s strength that they are saved and brought into his family. Legalism always leads to slavery while children of the promise are born into freedom. 

Galatians 4:8-20Paul is personally and pastorally very concerned about his friends in Asia Minor who are following false teachers that are leading them away from the Gospel of Jesus Christ. These instigators are also putting a dividing wedge between the churches in Asia Minor and Paul himself. So, Paul passionately encourages them, and us 2,000 some years later, that true children of God are built on Grace ALONE. That true children of God know the Freedom of the Gospel of Grace, they are in tune with God’s voice through the Spirit, and are being formed into the likeness of Jesus Christ. It is God’s Grace through Jesus Christ and the power of the Spirit that both saves us (justification), and also makes us more like Jesus (sanctification). 

Galatians 3:15-29Paul begins a deeper exposition on the meaning and purpose of the Old Testament Law. The Law certainly has its place in the lives of the people of God, however the promised seed and the future fulfillment of Law is much better than the Law itself. The Law, according to Paul, is not contrary to the Promise of the Gospel in Jesus, but is a kind of guardian. A caretaker until the promise is fulfilled. It can never do what the Gospel does, in that sense the Gospel and Jesus is better than the Law, but that doesn’t mean the law is bad. Ultimately, the fulfillment of the Law leads to a people of God that transcend national Israel. The Gospel of Jesus flings open the door to better and new reality that includes all kinds of people in his family.

Galatians 4:1-7In this passage Paul illustrates the role the law had for Israel as being like a caretaker for an underage heir. Israel was subject to the law until the time set by the Father. During that time Israel was enslaved to the law, a basic, rudimentary spiritual guardian/guide. The special time appointed for Christ to come (the fullness of time) brought about our redemption from the law/slavery. But this redemption was SO MUCH MORE than just being forgiven or declared righteous. It means that WE BECOME God's sons and daughters. Which means we can cry out to him, "Abba." And which means that we become heirs of of God, receiving the same resurrection life that Jesus received and that can never be taken from us.

Galatians 3:1-14Paul encourages the Galatians to remember how God brought them together as communities of faith in Jesus. This wasn’t by good works, works of the Law, or circumcision. This was by simple faith in Jesus who then empowered them by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit makes the local church a community of brothers and sisters, children of Abraham. All of this is even possible only because Jesus became a curse on our behalf. He hung on the cross so we could be a family together who shares a common faith in him and a common Spirit sent from the Father and the son. We are a new faithful Christian community because of Him. 

Galatians 2:1-10The troubles that the Galatian churches are having is not Paul’s first go around with these kinds of false beliefs and false teachers. Earlier in Paul’s ministry, some false believers tried to convince Titus, Paul’s gentile friend, that he needed to be circumcised if he was going to be a Christian. Paul thought this was crazy! This matter was brought before the early Christian leaders in Jerusalem and they agreed with Paul. They agreed that Paul would continue to spread the truth of the Gospel among uncircumcised gentiles, and James, Peter, and John would continue to focus on reaching Jewish people. This is an early example of the good church authority structures and how those structures are vital for spreading the true Gospel.  

Galatians 1:11-24Personal testimonies of how people come to faith in Jesus can be very powerful. In this passage, Paul actually tells his personal testimony of coming to faith in Jesus. But, the story is not really about Paul, it’s about God’s Grace towards Paul. It’s not by Paul’s power that he is saved. It is not by Paul’s good works, or his intellect, or his zeal, but it is by God’s sovereign Grace, planned out by God long ago. This passage challenges those who believe in Jesus to step out in faith and tell others about how we came to faith, while emphasizing that every story of faith is really a story about God’s Grace. 

Galatians 1:1-10The intro sermon focuses on introducing us to Paul, the people churches of Galatia, the theological troubles that were being brought into the communities, and finally a look at the Gospel of Jesus that brings actual freedom. This is because true freedom is not what we have to do for God in order to be made right, but has everything to do with what God has done for us in Jesus Christ. 

Revelation 19:6-9Towards the end of John’s Revelation he sees the future Marriage Supper of the Lamb. This is the final destination that the Passover Feasts and the Lord’s Supper and all the times we’ve received Communion have been pointing to all along. The great multitude cry out in praise once more, “Hallelujah! For our Lord God almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come and his bride has made herself ready!” Then an angel tells John, “Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” We aren’t just invited into the Lamb’s Kingdom, but we are invited to his family table during a marriage celebration when Jesus, the Lamb of God, comes once again.  

1 Corinthians 5:6-8The Apostle Paul is dealing with a church in Corinth with lots of problems. One of the worst problems is a man in the church is openly sleeping with his father’s wife! Paul, chastising the church for letting this continue, drops in this beautiful line that has been used in communion liturgies in the church for centuries, “For Christ, our Passover Lamb has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us keep the Feast!” This means that Christ was not only sacrificed in order to save us from past sins or current wickedness, but also to make us holy. To make us more like Jesus, living in “sincerity and truth.”  

John 1:29-31John the Baptist is one of the more mysterious characters in the NT. As preparer for the Way of Jesus, he proclaims and baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The right response to the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world is repentance.