The only thing worth boasting about. Can you imagine a bit of a twinkle in Paul’s eye as he proclaims: “Far be it from me to boast except in the Lord Jesus Christ”? Indeed, is there anything worth boasting about except Christ Jesus our Savior? Doesn’t Jesus deserve every word of praise we can muster, … Continue reading –>
Read Galatians 6:12-13. What is Paul saying in these verses? Although Paul has hinted previously about the agenda and motivation of his opponents (see Gal. 1:7, Gal. 4:17), his remarks in Galatians 6:12-13 are the first explicit comments he makes about his opponents. He describes them as wanting “to make a good showing in the flesh” (ESV). The phrase “a good … Continue reading –>
Our Memory Text for this weeks’ lesson study suggests: Hymn 312, “Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross” along with Hymn 307, “I Am Coming to the Cross”. Sunday’s lesson states: “He simply cannot put the pen down until he pleads with the Galatians once more to turn from their foolish ways” and I am so … Continue reading –>
Compare Paul’s closing remarks in Galatians 6:11-18 to the final remarks he makes in his other letters. In what way is the ending of Galatians similar to and different from them? (See the final remarks in Romans, 1 Corinthians and 2 Corinthians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and 1 Thessalonians and 2 Thessalonians.) Paul’s closing remarks are not always uniform, … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Gal. 6:11-18, Rom. 6:1-6, Rom. 12:1-8, 2 Cor. 4:10, 2 Cor. 5:17, 2 Cor. 11:23-29, Memory Text: “But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Galatians 6:14, ESV). This study on Galatians has been intense. … Continue reading –>
Further Thought: “The Spirit of God keeps evil under the control of conscience. When man exalts himself above the influence of the Spirit, he reaps a harvest of iniquity. Over such a man the Spirit has less and less influence to restrain him from sowing seeds of disobedience. Warnings have less and less power over … Continue reading –>
I’m writing this week’s post from Rome, the ancient city whose past intersects with the life of Paul. It was from Rome that Paul penned the letter to the church in Galatia. Unlike myself and my wife, Paul was not in Rome by his own choice. His presence there was due to the conflicts he … Continue reading –>
Key Thought: When the law of Christ is fulfilled in our lives, we will recognize our weaknesses and care for those who are fallen and burdened. Lesson 13, September 23, 2017 1. Have a volunteer read Galatians 6:1. a. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text … Continue reading –>
(Gal. 6:6-10) In Galatians 6:7, the word translated “mocked” (mukterizo) occurs only here in the New Testament, though it often appears in the Greek translation of the Old Testament. It literally means “to turn up one’s nose in contempt.” In the Old Testament it typically refers to the despising of God’s prophets (2 Chron. 36:16, Jer. 20:7), and … Continue reading –>
You can view an in-depth discussion of “The Gospel and the Church” in the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris. (Adobe Flash Player version.) A Youtube version of this week’s lesson at Hope Sabbath School is below. You can download the video, the MP3 audio, and the lesson outline from the HopeTV … Continue reading –>
A few years ago I was talking to a head elder, who had rushed to judgment and taken it upon himself to take “executive” action against another church member. I asked him if he had followed the counsel in Matthew 18, and talked to the member first. He boldly told me he did not need … Continue reading –>
(Gal. 6:2-5) Paul connects burden bearing with fulfilling the law of Christ. What does he mean by “the law of Christ”? Gal. 5:14, Gal. 6:2, John 13:34, Matt. 22:34-40. Paul’s use of the phrase “the law of Christ” (ton nomon tou Christou) occurs nowhere else in the Bible, though he uses a similar expression in 1 Corinthians 9:21 (ennomos Christou). The uniqueness of this … Continue reading –>
