Life in the Spirit

June 27, 2010
Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

Life in the Spirit
For freedom Christ has set us free. – Galatians 5:1
If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. – Galatians 5:25


My sermon outline:

• Verse 5:1 For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Another stating of the keystone of the letter of Galatians: Righteousness through the faith of Christ, not through the law, therefore clinging to the law is saying Christ is not sufficient... Imagine sinking, lifevest, rescued. wearing lifevest after you’ve been safely saved: you trust the vest not the savior

• Called to freedom, however, is NOT license to do whatever you want. 5:13 not opportunity for self-indulgence. Driver’s license (speed limit, on roads, inspection), freedom of speech... these freedoms accompanied by obligations to be community-minded.

These will be indicators of living in the Spirit: in your life (in the life of the community) will be love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Living in the Spirit? These things will be evident. That’s why I pray that others may look at you, at us, and know that we’ve got something different, something good.

• Paul gives two lists, a list of some characteristics that will exist in community in Spirit, and a list of some characteristics that will exist in community of flesh... This is what’ll happen when people live self-gratifying lives, live without regard for others, there will be strive, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissension, all kinds of anti-community stuff.

Lists are representative but not comprehensive, not all-encompassing.

• However worthwhile to note that “convenience” is not a FOTS.

Indeed, we’re called to service – a nice way of saying verse 13, do not use your freedom for self-indulgence but through love become slaves to one another. Decidedly not convenient.

• Unusual request for this community to witness via an inconvenient commitment to a singular circumstance... support of a homeless person (just got a PT job) who’s been receiving your indirect care (shelter)... request to make that direct care... to go beyond the “flesh” concerns and objections (no diploma, has been in jail, nimby)

• In the midst of our own personal financial difficulties, even in the midst of our church’s tight budget, I’m asking for us to come together as a community and give this person a home... if 15 who are here today will pledge $10 a week for six weeks, she’ll have a room for six weeks. Do you think we can come up with 15 people or couples who will make such a pledge with me?

Would you sponsor 30 minutes of phone use so she can be in touch with doctor and other concerns?

Would you give a grocery card or better yet invite for a meal? & give leftovers? & let her do laundry while she’s there?

Would you drive her to appointments on Monday? On Thursday?

• Unusual request to make, yet certainly a strong community witness, and way of living by and being guided by the Spirit.

• Hymn 500 Spirit of God, Descend upon my Heart

- Pastor Kerry

This Sunday: 49 in worship.