Far Be It From Me to Boast

In one paragraph

Pastor Ray opened the final sermon in the long run through Galatians by reading Galatians 6:9-18, a passage he described as covering the whole book one more time in a short space. He organized the text around four movements: stewardship, substantiation, summary, and sign-off, and he closed with Communion and the Lord's Prayer. Pastor Ray came to the table already a little nostalgic. The church had...

Read together

1. Revelation 4:11 opening verse read before worship: 'you are worthy, oh Lord, our God, to receive glory and honor and power for you created all things'
2. Galatians 6:9 anchor verse for stewardship section: 'let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not give up'
3. Galatians 6:10 stewardship passage: do good to everyone, especially the household of faith
4. Galatians 6:6-8 tithing and sowing to the flesh versus sowing to the spirit
5. Galatians 6:11 substantiation: Paul writing with large letters in his own hand to authenticate the letter
6. Galatians 6:12-13 Judaizers forcing circumcision to make a good showing in the flesh and avoid persecution
7. Galatians 6:14 summary: boasting only in the cross of Christ by which the world is crucified
8. Galatians 6:15 neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything but a new creation
9. Galatians 6:16 peace and mercy upon all who walk by this rule and upon the Israel of God
10. Galatians 6:17-18 sign off: Paul bearing marks of Jesus on his body, grace of Christ be with your spirit
11. Galatians 5:6 parallel wording: neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts, only faith working through love
12. Philippians 3:7-8 Calvin quotes Paul counting all things as loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ
13. 2 Corinthians 5:17 if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation, used to explain the new creation concept
14. Matthew 16:26 quoted as 'what shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul'

Talk about it

1. The pastor talked about stewardship as covering not just money but also time, compassion, understanding, and joy. Which of those gifts do you find easiest to give freely, and which do you tend to hold back, and why?
2. Paul writes 'let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.' The pastor said he personally leans toward outward-looking generosity but acknowledged the pull of both directions. Where do you tend to land, and what does that reveal about your priorities?
3. The sermon described two ditches on either side of walking in the Spirit: legalism on one side and license on the other. Which ditch do you think you are more naturally drawn toward, and what does that look like in your everyday life?
4. The pastor quoted Calvin saying that the cross is the only way we die to the world, not by superior religiosity or vain philosophy. What does it actually look like in practice to boast only in the cross rather than in your own religious effort or moral track record?
5. At the end of the letter Paul says he bears on his body the marks of Jesus, and calls the Galatians to stand for the truth of the gospel no matter the cost. What does standing for that truth cost you personally right now, and how does the promise of peace and mercy to those who walk by this rule affect how you think about that cost?