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Weekly News for Sunday July 26, 2020

Choosing Freedom: The Difficulty of Walking Away from Enslavement

GALATIANS 4:8-20

 

Paul’s Concern for the Galatians

Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces[a]? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? 10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! 11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.

12 I plead with you, brothers and sisters, become like me, for I became like you. You did me no wrong. 13 As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you, 14 and even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. 15 Where, then, is your blessing of me now? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?

17 Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may have zeal for them. 18 It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you. 19 My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, 20 how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!


SERMON NOTES


Example of turning back to Enslavement

  • Israel Tempted to turn back to their enslavement of the Egyptians
  • Exodus 14:10-12 – Israel sees the Egyptians coming to destroy them
  • Exodus 16:3 - The Israelites get hungry in the wilderness
  • Exodus 17:3 – The Israelites get thirsty in the wilderness
  • Numbers 14:4 – The Israelites fear the people of Jericho and those in the Promised Land

"Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved…….”

            How can you turn back again to become slaves once more?

These verses show the intense love of Paul for the Galatian church. His pastoral struggle and desire to guide the church of Galatia to let go of trying to find salvation from works, and truly rely on the work and love of Jesus for their salvation.

  1. Galatians 4:8-11 - Formerly You WERE Slaves

Slaves to the false greek gods. The many false gods to whom you sought favor from.

 

  1. Galatians 4:12 – Formerly I Was Once A Slave….. To what you are choosing to be enslaved to now

Paul was a Pharisee who observed the law for his salvation. Paul is attempting to relate to the Galatians to show them that they do not need the law. He is attempting to show them how they are simply trading one form of enslavement to a false salvation for another.

 

  1. Galatians 4:13-16 Formerly You Understood the Truth & Were A Blessing

Paul continues to show the Galatians the past. How they received the same message from him earlier. The message that faith in Jesus is all they need to be saved. That His Grace is all they need. Paul is really relying here now on their past experience and belief in that very message.Unfortunately, the Galatians now treat Paul as an ENEMY, where before even though Paul was sick they listened to his message, believed and even became a blessing to him.

 

  1. Galatians 4:17-18 – You Are Too Busy Trying to Please Man!

The Galatians are easily swayed to observe the law and jewish rites. Paul is telling them, Judiasm does not lead to salvation, only Christ can. Stop trying to please MAN!

 

  1. Galatians 4:19-20 – Pauls Love REMAINS

After all Paul went through: Being stoned to bring them the first message, his affliction or sickness, the Galatian church turning and treating him as their enemy- Paul’s love remains.Paul longs to see the Galatian church free of their slavery to false gods or pointless rituals, and to simply live in faith to Jesus. To become mature Christians who can stand without him.

 

-COMMENTARY ON GALATIANS BY WILLIAM BARCLAY


SCRIPTURES TO CONSIDER

  1. 2 Peter 3:11-18
  2. Colossians 3:16
  3. James 4:6 

OTHER RESOURCES IN RIGHTNOW MEDIA


  1. "THE BOOK OF GALATIANS" BIBLE STUDY FEATURING KYLE IDLEMAN
  2. Galatians by Ray Pritchard

THIS WEEK


Monday, July 27
8:00 am Pastoral Devotions (online)
9:30 am Men's Prayer

Tuesday, July 28

Wednesday, July 29
8:00 am Pastoral Devotions (online)
10:00 am Keenagers (55+) Bible Study (on Pastor Art’s personal Facebook Page…will be posted to SGAC)
10:00 am Kids Summer Check In

Thursday, July 30
8:00 pm Systematic Theology Class

Friday, July 31
8:00 am Pastoral Devotions (online)

Saturday, August 1

Sunday, August 2
10:00 am Online Worship Service 
10:00am In-Person Service - please pre-register (please note: registration for ech service will open on Wednesday at 9 am and close Saturday night. Please register early to guarantee your spot for the following Sunday)
8:30 pm Filipino Catch up (online)


JOURNEY UPDATES


PASTORAL DEVOTIONS TO THE CONGREGATION: Join us online Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings for a devotional message from one of our Pastors. We will air these messages on our YouTube Channel at 8:00 am. (Don’t worry, if you miss it, you can watch it later.)

VBS: SGAC’s first ever Live Stream VBS is coming Aug 10 to 13 for children age 4 to 12. Cost from July 16 to Aug. 6 (or while supplies last) is $30 for the first child and $10 for each individual child. Online registration is open now and includes your VBS in a bag package. Register now! For more information and updates visit Spruce Grove Alliance Church Children’s Ministry Facebook page or call the office.

KEENAGERS (55+): We are now meeting online. Join us on Wednesdays at 10:00 am on Pastor Art’s personal Facebook page or at 1:00 pm on our Keenagers Facebook Group as we stay connected through the Word of God. Keenagers will take a break for the month of August. 

We are excited to be preparing to REALUNCH our in-person worship services August 2. Please pray for this team and process and keep your eye out for weekly updates. Sign up for the newsletter if you haven’t already at https://www.sgac.net/newsletter

KIDS SUMMER CHECK IN: Join us Wednesday mornings in July at 10:00 am for fun interactive games and story time. We will stream live on the SGAC Kids Facebook page.

SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY CLASS Thursday evenings at 8:00 pm on ZOOM. Join us on our Facebook group. Pastor Steve will post a video each Monday to the group. Watch the video and take notes at home.

FUTURE DEVELOPMENT UPDATE: Construction continues to prepare SGAC for our future build, using the budget that was approved by the Board early in the New Year.   For the most part the construction activity is not visible to the congregation, both because the work is behind the scenes, and because traffic to the church remains limited.  All of the work done to date has been completed well under the $750,000 budget approved by the Board in Feb 2019. This is in large part due to the work of our volunteer construction team: thanks to their dedication, some of this work is being done with only the costs of supplies.  As a result, at their June meeting the Elder’s Board approved the construction team’s continued work to prepare for the future build, within the $750,000 preliminary project budget.  Read this week’s email and visit the church website as it is updated in the coming weeks to learn more.  You can also email the Future Development Team to ask questions or to discuss the ongoing work at: phase1@sgac.net.

The CHURCH OFFICE  hours are Mon – Fri from 9 am -4 pm. We are closed for lunch daily from noon- 1pm.

WE ARE ON INSTAGRAM! Follow us at sga.church


 PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS FOR GIVING


ONLINE GIVING
Whether it is a one-time gift or you would like to schedule a recurring donation, you can  give online to Spruce Grove Alliance Church.  This option allows you to give using a Visa debit card or the traditional Visa or MasterCard credit cards.

PRE-AUTHORIZED GIVING
Pick up a pre-authorized debit agreement form from our church office or download one here. You can fill it out and then with a voided cheque - you can either scan it and email it to the office, or drop it off during regular office hours.

INTERAC/DEBIT
During office hours, you can drop by and use the INTERAC/DEBIT machine at the Welcome Centre, then fill out your donation envelope as normal including your name, address, giving number and insert your debit receipt so we can disburse funds as directed in the Box on the counter.

E-TRANSFER
Use E-Transfer to give at SGAC, using giving@sgac.net Please include your offering envelope number and contact information.   The money is deposited directly into the church account and does not require a security question.  Please also include your envelope # if you have one and your phone number in the note section. 

IN PERSON
You can stop by the church office and drop off your donation in a sealed envelope.  Mark it Finance / Confidential. Please call ahead as Office Hours are by appointment only.

By MAIL / CHEQUE
Mail your donation to:
Spruce Grove Alliance Church
Attn: Finance
250 Century Road
Spruce Grove, AB  T7X 1W6

Thank you for your generosity in giving to SGAC.

Questions: Please contact the church office at 780 962 4700 or by emailYou may also visit our website at www.sgac/Give


PRAYER


Please pray for:

  • Our Christian Worker: Darren & Naomi serve as part of the C&MA Gateway Ministry and are part of SGAC’s cluster group.
  • Our Pastoral Team Staff Member: Pastor Scott Buck – Lead Pastor. Scott is married to Lyn and they have 7 children.
  • Our Support Staff Team Member: Josiah Sawatzky.
  • Our Elders Team Member: Steve Medieros.  Steve is married to Angele and they have 4 children.

FAMILY MATTER