When the Fullness of Time Came

In one paragraph

On the third Sunday of Advent, Pastor Ray preached a Christmas message from three of Paul's letters, tracing the chain of gifts that arrived when God sent His Son at exactly the right moment. The sermon moved through Galatians, Ephesians, and Romans, showing how that one event in Bethlehem set in motion everything the church now carries forward. The central thread was the Greek word kairos, the...

Read together

1. Galatians 4:4-5 Christ born at just the right time to redeem those under the law and grant adoption
2. Romans 5:6 when we were utterly helpless Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners
3. Galatians 1:3-4 grace and peace from God and Christ who gave himself for our sins to rescue us
4. Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and it is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me
5. Galatians 3:10 cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law
6. Galatians 3:11 no one is justified by the law for the righteous one will live by faith
7. Galatians 3:24 the law has become our guardian to lead us to Christ
8. Galatians 3:27-28 baptized into Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek slave nor free male nor female
9. Galatians 3:29 if you belong to Christ you are Abraham's descendants and heirs according to the promise
10. Galatians 4:1-2 an heir who is a child does not differ from a slave until the date set by the father
11. Galatians 4:3-5 we were in bondage but when the fullness of time came God sent his son born of a woman
12. Galatians 4:6-7 God sent the spirit of his son so we cry Abba Father and are heirs through God
13. Galatians 5:1 it was for freedom that Christ set us free so keep standing firm and do not return to slavery
14. Galatians 5:14 the whole law is fulfilled in one statement you shall love your neighbor as yourself
15. Galatians 5:19-21 the deeds of the flesh are evident including immorality idolatry strife and those who practice them will not inherit
16. Galatians 5:22-23 the fruit of the spirit is love joy peace patience kindness goodness faithfulness gentleness self-control
17. Galatians 5:25 if we live by the spirit let us keep in step with the spirit
18. Galatians 6:9 let us not become discouraged in doing good for in due time we will reap
19. Galatians 6:10 while we have opportunity let us do good to all people especially the household of faith
20. Galatians 6:18 the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit brothers and sisters
21. Ephesians 1:9-10 God made known the mystery of his will to bring all things together in Christ at the fullness of times
22. Ephesians 1:22-23 God made Christ head over all things to the church which is his body the fullness of him who fills all in all
23. Ephesians 2:8-9 by grace you have been saved through faith it is the gift of God not of works so no one can boast
24. Ephesians 2:10 we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand
25. Ephesians 3:8-10 Paul the least of all saints was given grace to preach to Gentiles so the wisdom of God might be made known through the church
26. Ephesians 3:11 this was in accordance with the eternal purpose carried out in Christ Jesus
27. Ephesians 3:14-19 Paul prays that believers would be strengthened to comprehend the width length height and depth of Christ's love
28. Ephesians 4:11-13 God gave apostles prophets evangelists pastors and teachers to equip saints until we attain unity of the faith
29. Ephesians 5:1-2 be imitators of God as beloved children and walk in love as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us
30. Ephesians 6:23-24 peace and love with faith from God the Father and grace to all who love the Lord Jesus with incorruptible love
31. Romans 3:19-20 the law speaks to all so every mouth is closed and none will be justified by works of the law
32. Romans 3:21-25 righteousness of God through faith in Christ for all who believe all have sinned God displayed Christ as propitiation
33. Romans 3:26 at the present kairos moment God demonstrated his righteousness as just and justifier of those who have faith in Jesus
34. Romans 5:1-2 justified by faith we have peace with God and access into this grace in which we stand
35. Romans 5:3-5 we celebrate tribulations knowing they produce perseverance character hope and the love of God poured out by the Holy Spirit
36. Romans 5:6-8 when utterly helpless Christ died for us sinners God showed his love by sending Christ to die while we were still sinners
37. Romans 8:1-3 no condemnation for those in Christ for what the law could not do God did by sending his son as an offering for sin
38. John 7:5 not even Jesus's brothers believed in him as they urged him to go publicly to Jerusalem
39. John 7:6 Jesus said my opportune moment kairos is not yet here but your time is always ready
40. Luke 2:8-11 advent candle reading of shepherds in the field the angel announcing good news of great joy that Christ the Lord was born

Talk about it

1. Pastor Ray talked about kairos time as the opportune moment, and said that God never misses his kairos. Can you think of a time in your own life when you recognized an opportune moment from God, and either grabbed it or let it slip past?
2. Paul writes in Galatians that the law acts as a guardian or tutor to lead us to Christ, showing us where we fall short. How has that been true in your own experience, and what did it feel like to move from that awareness of failure toward grace?
3. Pastor Ray said that the church is plan A and there is no plan B for carrying the gospel forward, and that we are the continuing body of Christ on earth. What does it mean to you personally to take that seriously in your everyday life?
4. The sermon pointed to Ephesians and the idea that we are God's workmanship, created for good works he prepared beforehand, and Pastor Ray said the invitation is simply to keep in step with the Spirit and take the next step when it appears. Where do you sense God has already laid out a next step for you, and what is making it easy or hard to take it?
5. Pastor Ray closed by asking whether we love Jesus with an incorruptible love, and said he defied anyone to read the Gospels seriously and not come away in love with Jesus. What has most shaped or challenged the way you love Jesus, and is there anything right now that feels like it is working to corrupt or erode that love?