Sermon July 6th 2025

1. The Judaizers and Paul's Counter-Argument: Who were the Judaizers, what was their core belief that conflicted with Paul's message, and how did Paul use his own "pedigree" to refute them?
2. The Analogy of Galatia: Explain the analogy of Galatia as being "hooked" and "reeled in" by misleading teachings. How does this compare to Paul's warning to the Philippians?
3. Paul's Life Transformation (BC to AD): Describe Paul's life before his encounter with Jesus. What was his primary motivation and what did he consider valuable? How did his encounter with Jesus fundamentally change his perspective and values?
4. "Counting Things as Loss" - The Accountant Metaphor: Explain the sermon's use of the "accountant mode" metaphor to describe Paul's change in perspective. What is the distinction made between "worthless" and "loss" in this context, and how does it apply to Paul's pre-Christian life?
5. The Harsh Language Towards Judaizers: Paul uses strong terms like "dogs," "evildoers," and "mutilators of the flesh" to describe the Judaizers. What is the significance of this language and how does it emphasize the seriousness of their false teachings?
6. "We are the Circumcision": Paul contrasts the Judaizers with those who "are the circumcision." What does Paul mean by "we are the circumcision" in this passage, and what is the true basis of this spiritual "circumcision" according to the sermon?
7. The Seven Accomplishments of Paul: List the seven aspects of Paul's pedigree that he boasts in before declaring them as "loss." Why did he choose to list these specific accomplishments?
8. "Surpassing Worth of Knowing Christ": What does the sermon mean by the "surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus"? How does this "worth" compare to worldly achievements and personal gain?
9. Benefits of Living in Christ (Beyond "Fire Insurance"): The sermon critiques the "fire insurance" mentality of salvation. What are the immediate, tangible benefits and graces mentioned that believers experience in their lives now by being in Christ?
10. Galatians 2:20 - "Crucified with Christ": Explain the meaning and implications of the statement, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me," as discussed in the sermon. How does this concept challenge modern cultural values of self-sufficiency and autonomy?
11. The Role of Personal Uniqueness in Relationship: The sermon touches on the uniqueness of each individual and how this affects relationships, including grief. Explain how our unique design, as knitted by God, means that relationships (and understanding others) are always unique and new.
12. Righteousness Through Christ vs. Through Law/Behavior: The sermon emphasizes that "if righteousness could be gained through the law, then Christ died for nothing." Explain this concept, contrasting righteousness based on human effort or "good behavior" with righteousness that comes through faith in Christ.
13. Redeeming Past "Wasted" Time: For those who regret "wasted" time before accepting Christ, what two comforting messages does the sermon offer? How can past experiences, even those of "loss," be re-contextualized in a believer's journey?
14. The "AD" Life and Overcoming BC Hang-ons: Describe the "AD" (After Deliverance) part of a believer's life. While freedom from sin is available, what does the sermon acknowledge about the lingering effects or "hanging on" of the "BC" life, and how does God address these over time?
15. Spiritual Parenting: What is meant by "spiritual parent" in the context of the sermon? How does this concept relate to the idea of growing in Christ and helping others to do the same?