Don’t Worry, Be… (Part 2)
Here are a few more reasons we don’t need to live in slavery to worry and stress, according to Jesus’ words in Luke 12. Cast your cares upon him, dear friends.
Don’t Worry, Be… (Part 1)
Call it what you want—stress, emotional or mental burdens, struggles with future uncertainties—life is full of good reasons to worry. Jesus gives us better reasons not to be consumed by worry. Don’t worry, be happy? No, something better. Don’t worry, be….
Boasting in the Cross
“Boasting in the cross.” What does that mean? Paul uses the phrase to sum up his defense of the true gospel in this letter to the Galatians. What do you “boast” in most?
“Spirit-ual” Relationships
In the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombings, we got a powerful glimpse of what relationships could be: courageous, sacrificial, compassionate, whatever-it-takes concern for others. It was a glimpse of what God’s Spirit invites us to live out on a daily basis. The apostle Paul teaches us more about the nature of love. Here are four practices of a loving, Spirit-led community, four practical things we ought to be doing in our relationships if the grace of God is indeed changing our hearts.
Galatains 5:25–6:10»
The Root And Fruit Of Our Character
Love is more than hard—it’s impossible. Without God’s Spirit, we can’t do it. The apostle Paul continues to teach us about love—that it requires supernatural power, that it’s a battle against our selfish hearts, and that it expresses itself in our character, more than anywhere else. Let’s learn to love.
Liberated To Love
As our city observes Emancipation Day next week, it’s helpful to note that the apostle Paul describes the day that Jesus died as a historic day of spiritual emancipation. He died to set us free. But what is this freedom for? We normally crave personal freedom for self-indulgent reasons. The gospel points us in a different direction: love.
A Living Hope
Everyone needs hope to make it in a broken world. We need constant reassurance that tomorrow might be, can be, will be better than today. Which is exactly what the apostle Paul offers us in the opening words of his letter. He calls it a “living hope,” and he tells us it’s grounded in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. What does this mean for us this Easter? Do you have a living hope? Have you given up on hope?
Standing Firm in Freedom
There are two ways to relate to God, to ourselves, and to others: One that leads to spiritual slavery, and one that leads to spiritual freedom. Paul uses the story of Abraham and his sons to lead us to greater freedom in Jesus Christ. Here’s the bottom line: Do you want to be free?
Freedom from Idolatry
What is idolatry? It’s looking to someone or something to give you what only God can give. It’s allowing anything to be more important to you than God. It’s something we’re all prone to—whether we’re professing Christians or professing “non-religious” people. It’s what the apostle Paul tells the Galatian church they’ve fallen into. What are the idols of your heart?
