Sermon Notes from Galatians 5:26-6:5, "How to be a Friend," by Mark Redfern.
[The following notes were taken at the morning service today at Heritage Baptist Church. The sermon is available to hear on-line HERE. I think that this sermon is a great example of how to preach an "application" portion from one of Paul's epistles, giving crystal clear practical advise while consciously grounding every point in the gospel.]
Galatians 5:26-6:5
I. Introduction
A. Paul's Spiritual Autobiography (Galatians 1-2)
B. Paul's Explanation of the Gospel (Galatians 3-4)
C. A purpose of the gospel is to make us loving toward others (Gal 5:1-15).
D. The Conflict Between the Flesh and Spirit (Gal 5:16-25)
II. What does it mean to be a friend? (Gal 6:1-2)
A. We are to confront others in their sin.
1. Anyone: No one should think they are above this warning.
2. Is caught in any transgression: not just an occasional sin (which we may graciously overlook) but a pattern of sin from which a brother must be rescued [illustration: an overwhelmed boxer getting pummeled in the corner until he is unable to offer any defense and the referee must step in].
3. You who are spiritual: in contrast to the one who is caught in a trespass, but not necessarily a pastor.
4. Restore: set the one caught in a trespass back in place.
5. In a spirit of gentleness... so that you will not be tempted: humbly recognizing we could fall into the same sin.
B. We are to carry others' burdens.
1. Burden: anything weighing someone down.
2. Bearing burdens requires self-sacrifice.
III. What keeps us from being friends? (Gal 5:26)
A. Provoking one another: a result of feeling superior and looking down on others.
B. Envying one another: a result of feeling inferior and covetously looking up to others.
C. Both of the above are forms of self-centeredness and are results of conceit.
D. Jesus Christ inconvenienced Himself for the sake of others.
IV. Where do we get the spiritual resources to be a friend?
A. You get them from the gospel.
1. It meets our need for approval.
2. The gospel makes us both humble and bold.
3. We can bear burdens because Jesus bore our greatest burden, and God only gives burdens that will be for our good and His glory.
B. Understanding Ourselves (Gal 6:3)
1. The truth that in and of ourselves we are nothing strips us of self-importance and frees us to bear burdens.
2. "Nothing will be beneath you if you are nothing."
3. Thinking that you are something does not change the fact that, in yourself, you are nothing.
C. Understanding Our Responsibility (Gal 6:4-5)
1. These verses actually give the believer a good reason to feel good about himself.
2. Bear his own load: responsibilities cannot be neglected on the basis of these verses.
V. Applications [the following applications were pure gold, but, to mix metaphors, they were so meaty that the reader really needs to hear the sermon to understand what was said]:
A. Constant Intimacy
B. Self-Conscious Identity
C. Individual Responsibility
D. Genuine Community
E. Authentic Spirituality
True Spiritual Friendship
Galatians 5:26-6:5
I. Introduction
A. Paul's Spiritual Autobiography (Galatians 1-2)
B. Paul's Explanation of the Gospel (Galatians 3-4)
C. A purpose of the gospel is to make us loving toward others (Gal 5:1-15).
D. The Conflict Between the Flesh and Spirit (Gal 5:16-25)
II. What does it mean to be a friend? (Gal 6:1-2)
A. We are to confront others in their sin.
1. Anyone: No one should think they are above this warning.
2. Is caught in any transgression: not just an occasional sin (which we may graciously overlook) but a pattern of sin from which a brother must be rescued [illustration: an overwhelmed boxer getting pummeled in the corner until he is unable to offer any defense and the referee must step in].
3. You who are spiritual: in contrast to the one who is caught in a trespass, but not necessarily a pastor.
4. Restore: set the one caught in a trespass back in place.
5. In a spirit of gentleness... so that you will not be tempted: humbly recognizing we could fall into the same sin.
B. We are to carry others' burdens.
1. Burden: anything weighing someone down.
2. Bearing burdens requires self-sacrifice.
III. What keeps us from being friends? (Gal 5:26)
A. Provoking one another: a result of feeling superior and looking down on others.
B. Envying one another: a result of feeling inferior and covetously looking up to others.
C. Both of the above are forms of self-centeredness and are results of conceit.
D. Jesus Christ inconvenienced Himself for the sake of others.
IV. Where do we get the spiritual resources to be a friend?
A. You get them from the gospel.
1. It meets our need for approval.
2. The gospel makes us both humble and bold.
3. We can bear burdens because Jesus bore our greatest burden, and God only gives burdens that will be for our good and His glory.
B. Understanding Ourselves (Gal 6:3)
1. The truth that in and of ourselves we are nothing strips us of self-importance and frees us to bear burdens.
2. "Nothing will be beneath you if you are nothing."
3. Thinking that you are something does not change the fact that, in yourself, you are nothing.
C. Understanding Our Responsibility (Gal 6:4-5)
1. These verses actually give the believer a good reason to feel good about himself.
2. Bear his own load: responsibilities cannot be neglected on the basis of these verses.
V. Applications [the following applications were pure gold, but, to mix metaphors, they were so meaty that the reader really needs to hear the sermon to understand what was said]:
A. Constant Intimacy
B. Self-Conscious Identity
C. Individual Responsibility
D. Genuine Community
E. Authentic Spirituality
Labels: Bible study, KBC
posted by Andrew Lindsey | 9:40 PM
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