February 10, 2025: Monday Bible Study on Paul’s letter to the Galatians 4:1-7
May the Blessings and Peace of Jesus Christ hold you throughout this day.
Good cloudy Monday Morning here in the desert southwest. We certainly can be thankful for a day without the intensity of the winter sun, especially when our members in the mid-west will experience single figure temperatures and lower tonight in a major snowstorm. This weekend I had the wonderful privilege of baptizing a family of three. Mom, a high school senior, and a sophomore. I am keeping them in my prayers that they will find a way to become active at church. You could join me in that too. This Saturday we have a new DC superhero character movie at 2PM. Snacks are provided, or, if you like, you can certainly bring your own snacks too. We will meet in the Sanctuary and use the big screen for the viewing. I hope that you will be able to join us. Sunday worship is at 10AM, with Sunday School hour at 9AM, and bell choir practice after worship at about 11:15. For your planning: On the first Sunday of the month of March, which is the final Sunday after Epiphany, with Ash Wednesday to follow on March 5 with worship at Noon and 7PM. On March 2nd we will share a carry-in meal after church. The theme is Spring Salads, Jello Salads, and any main course dish which you might like to bring. I hope that I will see you there. In much sadder news, our brother in Christ, Tony, who suffered from COPD, and was wracked with coughing, joined God's triumphant saints this past Sunday morning at his home. His daughter was able to be with him, as well as grandchildren. Please keep Tony's family in your prayers during this time of loss and grief. At this time celebration services for Tony's life are going to be scheduled in Minnesota in the spring.
Today we continue in our study of Paul's letter to the Galatians 4:1-7. Let’s begin by talking about how so many of the mysteries and romantic comedies that we watch carry stories which begin with characters whose lives are hopeful, yet there often seems to be some unresolved issue or problem which appears to be unapproachable, UNTIL some unexpected event takes all of the worry and lack of resolution out of the story for the characters. Some new information solves the mystery, or a love interest finally comes forward to offer their devotion. Now the world of these characters is fulfilled and everything that was a problem has been taken care of. This is how it seems in this part of Paul's Galatian letter. The people who are coming to faith by the power of the Holy Spirit in the Galatian community are going to have an unexpected solution to the final problem that they will face, the very same one that you and I face too. They have come to faith in Jesus Christ, the Savior, to what end? You and I know that end. We all face it! Our physical lives will end. Paul must have that answer to give to these new followers. When the Hebrews were enslaved, without a seeming out from their circumstances in Egypt, God delivered them. Then they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years with an unseen promise, and God delivered them. Gentiles had a kind of Exodus too. They wandered in their lives without knowing the One True God. They were slaves, servants, wealthy, poor, women, and men who had come from many different nations, all who journeyed to Spirit led faith in Jesus, God's Son. For Jews and Gentiles to come together they needed to realize how they had been connected to arrive through Paul's message of the sacrificed and resurrected LORD. Jews had come through the Passover, saved by God's action, and Gentiles too were faced with the reality of death and separation from this life, and for them (and the Jews too) Jesus literally becomes the only one who can successfully bring to all who believe, the gift of eternal life. The journeys of all people come together in Jesus Christ. Finally, Paul Speaks about what finally comes for everyone through faith in Jesus Christ, freedom from the unknowns at the end of our lives, and freedom from the burden of sin, which is death itself. As you and I know, it is Christ who bears on Himself the burden of our sin and the death that it causes.
I will be back with you tomorrow as we continue our study of Galatians.
With love in Christ, Pastor Kim
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February 11, 2025: Tuesday Bible Study on Paul’s letter to the Galatians
No study today. Pastor was ill.
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