Prepare for Sunday morning worship by using the guide below.
Galatians 4:21-31
21 Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. 23 But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise. 24 Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written,
“Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear;
break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor!
For the children of the desolate one will be more
than those of the one who has a husband.”
28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. 30 But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.” 31 So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.
Worship Lyrics
Download the songs for this Sunday's service HERE.
Watch the Sermon
Summary: Paul continues his appeal for Christians to live according to the grace of the gospel and not according to law. He wants them to live in the freedom and joy that comes from resting in the finished work of Jesus. We are now forgiven, adopted as sons and daughters, and heirs to the promises of eternal life through faith. Surprisingly, the law itself attests to freedom in the Spirit. Paul, through comparing and contrasting, shows us the beauty of being a child of promise, a child of God, freed and born from above.
Review and Apply
Identify some of the contrasts in 4.21-31?
How do these different covenants reveal different approaches to God?
What does the passage teach about the birth of a child of promise? How does this cause you to look at your own conversion?
How does this encourage us in evangelism?
How does the gospel offend? How does persecution confirm new birth?
How is freedom to be expressed in the life of the Christian?
How do you understand your inheritance as a son or daughter? How does this change the way you look at the things of this life?
Give
If you would like to give online CLICK HERE. For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you. (1 Chronicles 29:10-18)