Grace in Ministry (Galatians 6:13-14)

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Paul’s letter to the Galatians contrasts law-religion and grace-religion. The contrast applies not only to how you are justified before God, but also to how you live the Christian life.  One of the differences between law-religion and grace-religion shows itself in the pressures to have a “successful” ministry.  What usually counts as a successful ministry?  Numbers.  Numbers of people.  Numbers
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Burden Bearing (Galatians 6:1-6)

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I believe that Christian “spirituality” boils down to loving Jesus and loving your neighbor. There are some other elements, to be sure, but that’s the master theme.  And this isn’t an emotional-sentimental love. It’s a practical, get-your-hands-dirty kind of love. It’s a give a hungry person a sandwich, or better yet, give him a job, kind of love. Christians shouldn’t be known for their spiritually useless liturgical calendars (Gal 4:10) or esoteric
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Big Business, Little Service (Gal 5:14)

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Religious superstition is a huge industry. Who knows how many billions of dollars are spent every year on amulets, statues, candles, medallions, icons, relics, special foods, holy water, special breathing techniques, anointed oil, prayer cloths, grave soaking, and pilgrimages?  I’ve been watching Leah Remini’s documentary on Scientology, and I was shocked to find out how
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Think Things Through (Galatians 3:1-14)

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“O foolish Galatians!” (Galatians 3:1)  Have you ever acted foolishly? What does it mean to be foolish, anyway?  The Greek word translated “foolish” is anoētos. It means “non-thinking,” or “not thinking things through.” The Galatians were deserting Christ and accepting legalism and a salvation-by-works gospel. Paul charged them with not thinking things through.  They were
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