Preaching on Galatians and Colossians The opportunities: An early start! Galatians Six Sundays in...

Preaching on Galatians and Colossians

The opportunities:

An early start!

GalatiansSix Sundays in June-July

[Pentecost, Trinity, Then Pentecost 2-7]

ColossiansFours Sundays in July-August

[Pentecost 8 to 11]

Preaching on Galatians and Colossians, and the OT and the Gospel, with a Kid’s talk, a Baptism

and Sea Sunday and Social Justice...

The impossibility of leaving no stone unturned...


For a change, for a change.“In the gospel reading for today.....”

•They are part of the Canon of Scripture.

•Sequential Learning. •Important messages for today.


Exegetical Preaching

More than a theology lecture.More than an exercise in exegesis.

Relevance required.Application essential.

Me-You-God-You-We

Me and my issue.

Your issue too?

God’s provision and response and call.

You. What will you do?

We. What would we look like if we

did act this way?

Stuck in sermon preparation?

Not able to get beyond scattered exegesis?

Then ask yourself these 5 questions:

What do they need to know? Information

Why do they need to know

it? Motivation What do they need

to do? Application

Why do they need to do it? Inspiration

How can I help them remember?

Reiteration

Andy Stanley “Communicating for a change”

Pause for clarification,discussion,

points of order,

position statements.

Augustine of Hippo Contra

Pelagius

It is through God’s grace

alone that our sin-illness is

diagnosed, our weakened wills

challenged, and a cure of grace

is made available.

Martin Luther’s Study

The righteousness of God is not a punishing of our efforts, but a gift given to sinners who believe. We trust in this personal gift and we are justified by grace through faith, and God’s righteousness is imputed to us.

Jewish legalism and Catholic works/merit

Krister Stendahl

Introspective conscience of the

West.

Justification as a means to get Jewish

Christians to see Gentile Christians are

part of Israel.

*Paul not an attack on legalism works righteousness.

*Covenental nomism: Jews of the time believed

that God created the covenant by a loving

grace-filled act, and law was the a part of the people’s response of the obedience of faith.

*New perspective on Paul

When Paul is referring to ‘Works of the Law’ which will not justify he has in mind:

Sabbath, Circumcision, and Kosher. Not....


points of order,


•Each Sunday’s text: Exegesis by Les

•Your small group work to focus the issues and applications.

•Plenary sharing.

Plan of

Attack

Gal. 1.1 June 2nd 2013 Paul an apostle—sent neither by human commission nor from human authorities, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—2and all the members of God’s family* who are with me, To the churches of Galatia:3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,4who gave himself for our sins to set us free from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,5to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen. I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—7not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are confusing you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.8

But even if we or an angel from heaven should proclaim to you a gospel contrary to what we proclaimed to you, let that one be accursed!9As we have said before, so now I repeat, if anyone proclaims to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let that one be accursed!10 Am I now seeking human approval, or God’s approval? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still pleasing people, I would not be a servant* of Christ. And from 11 For I want you to know, brothers and sisters,* that the gospel that was proclaimed by me is not of human origin;12for I did not receive it from a human source, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

13 You have heard, no doubt, of my earlier life in Judaism. I was violently persecuting the church of God and was trying to destroy it.14I advanced in Judaism beyond many among my people of the same age, for I was far more zealous for the traditions of my ancestors.15But when God, who had set me apart before I was born and called me through his grace, was pleased16to reveal his Son to me,* so that I might proclaim him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with any human being,17nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were already apostles before me, but I went away at once into Arabia, and afterwards I returned to Damascus.

18 Then after three years I did go up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and stayed with him for fifteen days;19but I did not see any other apostle except James the Lord’s brother.20In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!21Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia,22and I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea that are in Christ;23they only heard it said, ‘The one who formerly was persecuting us is now proclaiming the faith he once tried to destroy.’24And they glorified God because of me.

Your small group work:

• What are the issues to preach from this text?

• What are the live issues in Australian society and Church able to be addressed?

•How might the Spirit apply this text to the lives of our hearers?

• What changes in life would be evident?

Plan of Attack

List of your groups issues

and application:

•*

•*

•*

•*

Les’ list of issues and application:

o. Conflict over truth

o.Authority and authorities

o. Revelation

o.Perverting

o.Approval

o.The story of faith in Galatia.

oWelcoming the persecutor!

Extra Ideas and applications from the whole group:

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Fun creative ideas to support the sermon:

• Play: An exaggerated gossipy conversation after Church about someone’s failure to keep a petty rule.

• A serious moving monologue prayer of someone really repenting of refusing revelation

or realising that they have been wrong.

• Not the 10 Commandments: Thou shalt not sit in my pew... Remember to be restrained...

• Silly skit about questioning a speaker’s authority to the nth degree,

even their right to any opinion. “Yes but....”


points of order,


Gal. 2.15-21 June 16 2013. Fourth Sunday After PentecostWe ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners;16yet we know that a person is justified* not by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ.* And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we might be justified by faith in Christ,* and not by doing the works of the law, because no one will be justified by the works of the law.17But if, in our effort to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have been found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not!18But if I build up again the very things that I once tore down, then I demonstrate that I am a transgressor.19For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ;20and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God,* who loved me and gave himself for me.21I do not nullify the grace of God; for if justification* comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.






Plan of Attack


and application:

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•*

•*

•*


oFaith? As experience of conversion, discipleship and as acts of loyalty and attachment.

oJustified?

oThe life I live

oIs there a need for atonement? Is there atonement? Where is atonement to be found?

oHearers who are too confident. Hearers who are not confident.


/

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/

Faith isn't faith

unless it is the last

thing you are

hanging

on to...

the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God

The life I now live, I live by faith in the Son of God. St Paul Galatians 3.20

Gal 3.10-14 and 23-29. June 23rd 2013. Pentecost 5thFor all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the things written in the book of the law.’11Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law; for ‘The one who is righteous will live by faith.’*12But the law does not rest on faith; on the contrary, ‘Whoever does the works of the law* will live by them.’13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’—14in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed.24Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith.25But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian,26for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.27As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.29And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring,* heirs according to the promise.






Plan of Attack


and application:

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•*

•*

•*


oLooking like a community without discrimination.

oWhat might be my actions arising from Gal 3.28?

oChurch and society attitudes to class, race, gender...


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Ideas to Support the Sermon

Write a letter of support for whoever is being discriminated against at the

moment and invite people to sign it.

Sixth Sunday After Pentecost June 30th 2013

Galatians 5.1,13-25

For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.... [12I wish those who unsettle you would castrate themselves!]13 For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters;* only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence,* but through love become slaves to one another.14For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’15If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.

16 Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh.17For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want.18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law.19Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness,20idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions,21envy,* drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness,23gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.24And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.






Plan of Attack


and application:

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•*

•*

•*


•> The rights and responsibility debate!

•Judging others and self by the list of sins!

•Do it. Apply it ! Live it! Beyond theory or pleasing feelings.


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•Skit: A very slow reading of Paul’s list and the reactions of two listeners....

•Open Microphone Q and A:

“Who has lived the fruit of the Spirit in your experience?”“How might we apply this in our lives?”

•An Adult visiting Santa, with exaggerated desires of the flesh list explored.

• Hand out bitter grapes to be eaten.

• Pin prayers to a fruit tree.

July 7th 2013 Seventh after PentecostGal. 6.1-6,7-18

My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted.2Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil* the law of Christ.3For if those who are nothing think they are something, they deceive themselves.4All must test their own work; then that work, rather than their neighbour’s work, will become a cause for pride.5For all must carry their own loads.6 Those who are taught the word must share in all good things with their teacher.

7 Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. 8If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit. 9So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up.10So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith.

Final Admonitions and Benediction11 See what large letters I make when I am writing in my own hand!12It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that try to compel you to be circumcised—only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.13Even the circumcised do not themselves obey the law, but they want you to be circumcised so that they may boast about your flesh.1

4May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which* the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.15For* neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything; but a new creation is everything!16As for those who will follow this rule—peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.17 From now on, let no one make trouble for me; for I carry the marks of Jesus branded on my body.18 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters.* Amen.






Plan of Attack


and application:

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•*

•*

•*


•;The well known actions have consequences conversation. Sowing and reaping.

•;Compassion fatigue, Church weariness, burn out. “Do not grow weary”

•; Criticising others. Restoring the wayward...


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• Monologue of someone bemoaning their experience of reaping consequences.

“When I ate all those cream buns I never thought I’d end up gaining weight. When I missed all those acts of public

worship I never dreamt the priest would forget my name. And I always thought that I could sustain a healthy spirit

with Sunday worship only.”

Skit with two people telling why they are tired. The comparison:

A: I’m tired of seeing those begging charity ads on TV.B: I’m tired because I carry water 3 miles each day.

A. I’m tired of being made to feel somehow responsible.B. I’m tired for being made feel responsible too.

Lycus Valley from Colossae

Great Mother of the gods

Cybele

Big in the Col.

area

IsisA most high goddess, via Egypt

Controlling the elements of earth, air, fire and water.

Similar to Mithras from Persia/Iran.

“The Saviour, the hearer of all,Giver of life, protector of families, guardian of the fields, healer and deliverer of those who seek her,

protector of sailors and travellers”

Also popular in Thessalonica, Philippi, Ephesus, Corinth

ColossaeProbably Paul. From Prison in…

Inland from EphesusIndigenous Phrygian and Greek settlersPossible 2 thousand JewsReligious Scene:

Cybele popular great mother goddessIsis Apollo Syncretistic mystery rel.also syncretistic “Judaism”Mithras earth air fire water from Persia

Not a Pauline church, perhaps Epaphras.Note connections with names in Philemon.

The Colossian threat1.19 Fullness 2.18 self-abasement angels2.21 do not handle, taste, touch.2.23 rigor devotion severity to the body

forced piety2.8 and 20 elemental spirits

philosophy/spirituality.

“Gnosticising”How to prepare for vision and knowledge?By asceticism and self-denialIncluding Christ

Colossian Theological Threat

Maybe:1.Mystery religions or

2.Proto-gnostic syncretism or3.Jewish syncretism or4.Some form of Judaism.

Paul’s Response to the problems in Colossae

1.Christologya. Christ both cosmic agent and reconcilerb. Even reconciling cosmic powersc. Human historical Christ

2. Apostolic tradition not human tradition or wisdom, or philosophy. Mystery, now revealed. 3. True Christian living superior to ascetics. Household codes and submit to Christ.

CFD Moule The Rel igious Thought of Colossians

1. Cosmic Christology. Divine Attributes for Jesus. Creation, revelation, redemption. Forgiveness and reconciliation. Cancelled our debt, nailing to cross, disarming powers, parading them captive.

2.Church. Christ the head of the body. Ecclesia…local and universal. Including barbarian and Scthyian

3. Being Christian. Christ’s obedience made ours. Strip off old. Put on new. Die with Christ. Buried in Christ. Risen with Christ.

Live in. Incorporation. Virtues: Compassion, kindness, lowliness, Meekness, Patience, Forbearing, Forgiving…

Syncretism is the combining of different (often seemingly contradictory) beliefs, often while melding practices of various schools of thought.... thus asserting an underlying unity and allowing for an inclusive approach to other faiths.

Set in a self-consciously

multi-faith society.

“We Christians share our Father Abraham with our fellow Jewish and Islamic believers. We are Abrahamic faiths” said Barry.

“Oh yes” said Fred with a twinkle in his eye “Would that be the Jewish Father Abraham who was given the land of Canaan, or the Christian Father Abraham whose faith was reckon as righteousness apart from the Law, or the Prototype Islamic Father Abraham who was really Muslim who predated the errors found in Judaism and Christianity?”

“Umm” replied Barry.

Richard Harris asAbraham in the

movie.


points of order,


July 14th 2013 8th after PentecostPaul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, 2 To the saints and faithful brothers and sisters* in Christ in Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. 3 In our prayers for you we always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,4for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints,5because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. You have heard of this hope before in the word of the truth, the gospel6that has come to you. Just as it is bearing fruit and growing in the whole world, so it has been bearing fruit among yourselves from the day you heard it and truly comprehended the grace of God.7This you learned from Epaphras, our beloved fellow-servant.* He is a faithful minister of Christ on your* behalf,8and he has made known to us your love in the Spirit.

9 For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s* will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God.11May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully12giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled* you* to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.13He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son,14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.*

Please change your group discussion partners....






Plan of Attack


and application:

•*

•*

•*

•*


How to endure...

How to be productive...

How to be wise...

How to be joyful...


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Colossians 1.15-29 July 21 2013 9th after Pentecost.Christ is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation;16for in* him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him.17He himself is before all things, and in* him all things hold together.18He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything.19For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,20and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.

21 And you who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds,22he has now reconciled* in his fleshly body* through death, so as to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him— 23provided that you continue securely established and steadfast in the faith, without shifting from the hope promised by the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven. I, Paul, became a servant of this gospel.






Plan of Attack


and application:

•*

•*

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•*


The need for a solid base. Advantages of a solid base. And how to gain a solid base.

Survey shaky foundations...

Survey solid foundations...


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• Mock interview of someone who says “all religions are the same”.

Humour from the stumbling efforts to unify the deep differences

[number of gods, attitudes to suffering, means of revelation, requirements on disciples, etc.]

•Distribute professionally produced bookmarks with the Hymn to Christ Col. 1-15-19 on them.

•Play Dire Straits classic rock song “Solid Rock” with the amp turned up to 11!

Light the blue torch paper and stand well back!

July 28th 2013 10th after Pentecost

Col 2.6-19 For I want you to know how much I am struggling for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for all who have not seen me face to face.2I want their hearts to be encouraged and united in love, so that they may have all the riches of assured understanding and have the knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ himself,*3in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.4I am saying this so that no one may deceive you with plausible arguments.5For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, and I rejoice to see your morale and the firmness of your faith in Christ.6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives* in him,7rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe,* and not according to Christ.9For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,10and you have come to fullness in him, who is the head of every ruler and authority.11In him also you were circumcised with a spiritual circumcision,* by putting off the body of the flesh in the circumcision of Christ;12when you were buried with him in baptism, you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.13And when you were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God* made you* alive together with him, when he forgave us all our trespasses, 14erasing the record that stood against us with its legal demands. He set this aside, nailing it to the cross. 15He disarmed* the rulers and authorities and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in it.






Plan of Attack


and application:

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•*


•Ponder out loud: What might be the empty tricky ideas and traditions on offer in Australia in 2013? Examine them, debunk them. Show the superiority of God in Christ.


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Erasing the record...Write up the sins of commission and omission and rub it out with a cross

shaped eraser.

2 min. act out a triumphal procession, mocking the world’s powers, isms,

and convictions.

Colossians 3.1-11August 4th 2013 11th Sunday after Pentecost

So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth,3for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.4When Christ who is your* life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.5 Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry).6On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient.*7These are the ways you also once followed, when you were living that life.*

8But now you must get rid of all such things—anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive* language from your mouth. 9Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices10and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator.11In that renewal* there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all!






Plan of Attack


and application:

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•*


Set your minds. Seek the things above: Look up Acceptance Commitment Therapy. [ACT: Accept how it is. Commit to your values. And act on them.]

Gossip or protecting the integrity of others.


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A one page play taking the micky out of our justifications and rationalisation for not

admitting to greed which is idolatry.

Use a video clip or tell the story of Movie Sermon from the Movie Doubt

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mx8ujg05FY0

Positive and negative.Remember the positive.

‘What would it look like if....‘Imagine a church/disciple...

Imagine Sermons

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Preaching on Galatians and Colossians The opportunities: An early start! Galatians Six Sundays in...

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