Sunday Messages at Calvary Bible Church

New Life is just the beginning: - New Life in Christ produces Love toward God and Love toward Others. vs. 1-3 - New Life in Christ leads to Obedience to God. Vs. 2-3 - New Life in Christ results in Victory over the World. Vs. 4-5 Response: - Celebrate the new life we have and lean into this process of Growth and Obedience. - Help each other along this journey of growth.

“What Does it Look Like to Love Jesus?” - The Experience of Trinitarian Love (15-23), “If you love me you will keep my commandments…I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever…” (15,16) - The Evidence of Trinitarian Love (18-24), “I will not leave you as orphans…if anyone loves me, he will keep my word…” (18,23)

What Should We Do When Plans Change? - We Can Worship God (1-4), ‘…It is enough; Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die…So Jacob took his journey with all that he had and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to God…” - We Can Follow God (4b-7), “…Do not be afraid… I myself will go with you to Egypt…then Jacob set out from Beersheba…” (3,4,5)

Turn to Jesus and the assurance only he can provide.  - Assurance for the Confused (v. 1-7) - We know the end of the story, and it is with Jesus. - Assurance for the Doubting (v. 8-11) - Jesus is God, and the evidence is certain. - Assurance for the Weary (v. 12-14) - Jesus is working, and we will see his power.

How will “they” know we are Christians? They will see… A New Renown (31-33), “…now is the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him…” (31) - They should see “trust” in suffering… A New Resolve (34-35), “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples…” (34,35) - They...

How do we respond when we encounter Jesus? - The Blessing of Following a Servant Hearted Master (v. 16-17) - The Trust Gained from Following a Sovereign Lord (v. 18-19) - The Unity Formed from Receiving Christ (v. 20) Main Point: Encountering the Great I Am causes us to live like Jesus lived. 

In the “Upper Room”, we see: - Social Posturing (13:1-5), “…Jesus knew that His hour had come…having loved His own…” (1) - Sinful Ego (13:6-11), “Lord, do you wash my feet?” (6) - Servant Leadership (13:12-17), “Do you understand what I have done for you?...you also ought to wash one another’s feet…” (12,14)

What does it mean to be a “new creation”? - The Basis of the New Creation, “…For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation…” (15) - The Behavior of the New Creation (14,15), “…As for all who walk by this rule…peace and mercy be upon them…” (16) - The Breadth of the New Creation (16), “…and upon the Israel of God…” (16)

How do we keep the Cross of Jesus central in all Christian living? - A Cross-Centered Life is Pliable (12-14a), “…far be it from me to boast except in the cross…” (14a) - A Cross-Centered Life is Progressive (14b-15), “…for neither circumcision counts for anything…but a new creation…” (15) - A Cross-Centered Life is Principled (16-18), “…and as for all who walk by this rule…I bear in my body the m...

How do we navigate through the Valley (in Freedom, by the Spirit) as God’s People? - Encourage Generously - Vs. 6 Paul encourages us to demonstrate gratitude toward those who have opened the Word and spiritually invested in our growth. - Cultivate Spiritual Fruit – Vs. 7-8 Paul encourages us to tend the Garden of our hearts and relationships, pulling the weeds of the flesh, and allowing God to pro...

What kind of ministry does God call us to? -A ministry that breaks free from sin (v. 6) -A ministry that restores human dignity (v. 7) -A ministry that requires self-sacrifice (v. 9-10) The Promise: You will know that God is with you. 

What are the practices of a Gospel-Shaped Community? Action # 1: Restore Gently (1), “…Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness…” (1) Action # 2: Carry Burdens (2-5), “…Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ…” (2)

How do we preserve our Gospel Freedom? - Recognize the Battle Within (vv. 16–18). “For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit… these are opposed to each other” (17) - Reject the Works of the Flesh (vv. 19–21) “the works of the flesh are evident…those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (19, 21) - Reflect the Character of Christ (vv. 22–24) “…those who belong to Christ...

How Do We Steward Our Gospel Freedom? - Distinguishing Truth from Error (6-12), “…a little leaven leavens the whole lump…” (9). - Demonstrating Obedience with Love (6, 13-15), “…but only faith working through love…love your neighbor…” (6,14).

How Do We Steward Our Gospel Freedom? - Standing Free (1), “…For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery…” (1) - Embracing Truth (2-4), “…for in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love…” (4) - Pursuing Hope (5), “…await…the righteousness for which we hope” (5)

The Story: Abraham and Hagar have a child together in an effort to receive the promises of God. Their efforts fail. The Meaning: We are either slaves of human effort or sons of divine promise. The Significance: Jesus is the only one who can take a slave and make him/her free. Our Response: Live as a son, not a slave.

What mindset is necessary for intentional disciple-making? - Making Disciples Is a Pilgrimage (8-11), “…but now that you have come to know God…” (9) - Making Disciples Isn’t Painless (12-16), “…you know it was because of the bodily ailment that I preached the Gospel to you at first…” (13) - Making Disciples Isn’t Popular (17-20), “I am again suffering labor pains for you until Christ is formed in...

Why was it necessary for God to save us from our “good works” as well as our sin? - God Sent His Son to Redeem Us (1-5), “God sent forth his Son…to redeem those who were under the law…” (4) - God Sent His Spirit to Adopt Us (6,7), “God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba Father!” (6)

We’ll consider…. - The Gravity of Prayer: To Commune with the Living God (14-16), “I bow my knee before the Father…according to the riches of his glory…” (14,16) - The Goal of Prayer: To be Conformed to Christ (16,17), “…he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit…so that Christ may dwell in your hearts…” (16,17)

Faith alone in Christ alone unites the people of God to receive the promises of God. - An Unconditional Promise - (With) an Unwavering Protection - (Leads to) a Unified People of God

Why did God give the Law? - To Manifest Sin (10,11), “…For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse…" (15) - To Magnify Jesus (12-14a), “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us…” (13) - To Motivate Obedience (14), “the blessing of Abraham might come…so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith” (14)

When are we most vulnerable to falling away? = When we minimize the cross (v. 1) - When we mask the gospel (v. 2-4) - When we misplace our identity (v. 5-9)

Section 1: The Gospel is Real (Gal. 1:1-2:21) Section 2: The Gospel is Superior (Gal. 3:1-4:31) Section 3: The Gospel is Liberating (Gal.5:1-6:18) What doesn’t save you? - You Weren’t Saved by Advantage (15,16), “…we ourselves are Jews by birth ad not Gentile sinners…" (15) - You Weren’t Saved by Rights (17-19), “…For through the law, I died to the law so that I might live to God…” (19) - You Were...