The Top 10 Things Pharisees Say Today

A recent Barna study owned me. The survey revealed that 51 percent of North American Christians polled possess attitudes and actions that are more like the Pharisees than they are like Christ. In other words, the attitudes of most Christians were described as self-righteous and hypocritical. According to the study, only 14 percent of Christians surveyed reflected attitudes and actions that better resembled the attitudes and actions of Christ.

What surprised me (as well as study author David Kinnaman) is how my attitudes and actions still need work ... I’m far too much like a Pharisee and not enough like Jesus. I was so bothered by it, I taught an entire series about it. And you can watch a conversation David Kinnaman and I had about the research here.

And what breaks my heart is that I think the Pharisee in many of us is killing the mission and effectiveness of the church.

So how do you know how much Pharisee resides within you?

In defense of the Pharisees (well, almost defense).

Before we jump to that, I understand that in many church circles to simply say the word "Pharisee" is to immediately conjure up an image of a villain.

Pharisee = bad.

And yet the Pharisees were to some extent well-meaning people. They studied the law and knew it as well as anyone. Their downfall, among other things, centered on their self-justification and self-importance.

But there’s evidence that some Pharisees were sincerely seeking God. After all, Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, both Pharisees, arranged for Jesus’ burial. They were sympathetic to Christ and, from what we can tell, ultimately ended up following him. Similarly, the mission of the early church was radically advanced by a converted Pharisee—Paul.

And yet, Jesus condemned the Pharisees for their pride, lack of compassion and hypocrisy.

The irony, of course, is this: The people who purported to love God most ultimately killed him when he showed up.

This isn't about Jews and Gentiles. It’s about religious people (like you and me) who in the name of God deny who God really is.

Denying God is exactly what we do when our attitudes justify ourselves more than they reflect the heart and love of Christ.

The attitude of many Christians today is more like the Pharisees than it is like Jesus. 

10 things Pharisees today say.

So what do today’s Pharisees say?

Based in part on the research and in part on my own experience, here are the top 10 things today’s Pharisees say.

A word of caution: As you read them, don’t think about who these phrases remind you of nearly as much as you think about how they reflect your attitude and actions.

If we all do that, we will all be better off and the church will be stronger for it:

1. “If he knew the Bible as well as I did, his life would be better.”

Yup, there it is. Judgment and self-righteousness rolled up into a neat little package. I really, really, want people to read their Bibles. But when I get smug and superior about reading mine, I miss the point.

2. “I follow the rules.”  And if you do, awesome.

But that’s not what got you into Christianity, is it? You got in because of the mercy of Christ extended to you when you broke the rules.

Following the rules doesn't keep you in the love of God any more than it got you into the love of God.

So why follow the rules? Following the rules is a response to the love of God.

And your attitude should be one of gratitude, amazement and humility.

3. “You shouldn't hang around people like that.”

I get that we have to choose friends for our kids carefully.

But when applied to adults, this mostly stinks.

One of the reasons many churches aren’t growing is because Christians don’t know any non-Christians.

If many of us were preaching the parable about being the salt of the earth today, we’d switch it up and command the salt to stay in its hermetically sealed box and never touch any food.

Of course, Jesus said the opposite. Salt needs to get out of the box to season food.

And Jesus paid a price for that among religious people. They couldn’t fathom why he would hang out with tax collectors, hookers and other notorious sinners.

When was the last time you hung out with a hooker?

Convicting, isn’t it? Disturbing, isn’t it?

Yes it is.

4. “God listens to my prayers.”

Prayer is amazing. And we do trust that God listens to our prayers.

But, as we’ve said before in this space, prayer is not a button to be pushed nearly as much as it is a relationship to be pursued.

The smugness and certainty with which many Christians talk about prayer must strike people as weird, weird, weird.

The biblical portrait of prayer is as much about broken people embracing the mystery and majesty of a forgiving God as much as it is about anything.

When prayer becomes a predictable formula that manipulates or controls God, you can be pretty sure you’re no longer praying.

5. “Sure I have a few issues, but that’s between me and God.”

And if you keep it between you and God, people will never be able to relate to you.

Perfect on the outside and flawed on the inside—that’s the accusation Jesus levied against the Pharisees.

When people on the outside look at pretend-to-be-perfect Christians, it does three things:

·        It alienates them.

·        It makes them think you’re fake … because even they know we’re all broken.

·        It suggests God can’t help them.

The antidotes:    Transparency; Vulnerability; Honesty.

When you let people know you don’t have it all together but you’ve met an amazing God, many people suddenly want to join in.

6. “They just need to work harder.”

Jesus loved the poor and had compassion on broken people.

Many Christians today don’t. (Self-righteousness rears its ugly head again.)

Yes, I am very familiar with the passages in scripture that talk about hard work and prudence. I try to live by them.

But when I allow my relative ‘success’ to serve as a basis to judge others … I miss mercy.

Compassion should be a hallmark of Christians. The early church’s compassion in the first few centuries after Jesus' resurrection was one of the key reasons the Christian faith spread so rapidly, even a midst extreme persecution.

7. “Of course I’m a Christian.”

Few people are better at explaining the difference between moralistic self-righteous religion and authentic Christianity these days than Tim Keller.

Keller points out again and again in his preaching that religious people say things like, “Of course I’m a Christian” … and that underneath is a pernicious idea that they have somehow earned the favor of God by their obedience and faithfulness.

True Christians, he says, by contrast are filled with wonder, amazement and gratitude that God would accept them despite their brokenness? When asked whether they are Christian, they say things like:

"I know, isn’t that unbelievable?

Can you believe that God would extend his mercy to someone like me through Christ?

I am amazed!

Grateful;  Overwhelmed!”   I love Keller’s heart on this.

8. “More people need to stand up for Christian values.”

As Christendom slips away in our lifetime here in the West, we long for what used to be.

But moving forward, we will have more in common with our first-century counterparts in Christianity than with our 20th-century forebears. They lived out their faith in a world that didn’t share their values, but rather than fight their non-Christian counterparts, they laid down their lives for them.

While some people might get very angry and demand that we stand up for Christian values, I think the biblical argument runs the other way.

As I outline here, maybe one of the best things Christians today can do is let non-Christians off the moral hook.

Christians should live out Christian values deeply and authentically. But why would we hold non-Christians to a standard they don’t believe in anyway?

Jesus and Paul never appeared to do this … not even once.

9. “I’m simply more comfortable with people from my church than I am with people who don’t go to church.”

Which is one major reason why you and your church are incredibly ineffective at reaching unchurched people.

If you want to change that, go to some parties and get to know some people who are far from God.

You will discover that God likes them. And you might discover that you do too. And people who didn’t used to follow Jesus might even start following Jesus.

10. “People who don’t go to church can come if they want to.”

And Nero fiddled while Rome burned.

Too many churches are all about the preferences of their members than the push of the Gospel.

Here are some suggestions on what you can do if you serve in a church where people don’t want your church to change.

Again, please hear me; this is as much a challenge to me as it is to anyone else. There is a Pharisee that lives in me.

Can you imagine what would happen if Christians today exuded the love, truth, grace and mercy of Christ?

    Ø I think the church would be different.

    Ø What attitudes do you need to check in yourself?

    Ø What other things have you heard that are impeding the mission of the church?

Leave a comment!  

In addition to serving as Lead Pastor at Connexus Community Church north of Toronto Canada, Carey Nieuwhof speaks at conferences and churches throughout North America on leadership, family, parenting and personal renewal.

Reflection of my message today at NRN - Helping Others Experience a New Normal!

Series: THE NEW NORMAL

Helping Others Experience a New Normal!

We often think of Paul as a giant of the faith – someone without whom Christianity as we know it would be radically different. But we forget that before Paul could go on his missionary journeys and write his letters, he needed someone to show him what it meant to follow Christ. For Paul, that man was Ananias. Ananias took Paul in and sheltered him. Who was your Ananias? Are you being an Ananias to anyone else?

In the closing message of this teaching series, I want to share with you three ways to help others experience a new normal!

Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.                    Acts 9:1-9

What I know about helping others experience a New Normal:

1. God is able to use anyone who is willing to respond

“ YES  LORD! ”

In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered.     Acts 9:10

2. God is going to ask us to do things that DON’T MAKE SENSE

The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.” “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”                                             Acts 9:11-15

3. When we are willing to respond “Yes Lord” to things that don’t make sense,

LIVES  CHANGE!

Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus,  who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here —has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with  the Holy Spirit.” Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength.           Acts 9:17-18

At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is 

the Son of God.                                                                                    Acts 9:20 

Preparing for worship on June 29 2014 - The concluding message of the New Normal series!

I am very excited about our time tomorrow at North Raleigh Church of the Nazarene!        I plan to conclude the teaching series: The NEW NORMAL with a message about a changed life and how we can be used by God to share the NEW NORMAL with others. We often think of Paul as a giant of the faith – someone without whom Christianity as we know it would be radically different. But we forget that before Paul could go on his missionary journeys and write his letters, he needed someone to show him what it meant to follow Christ. For Paul, that man was Ananias. Ananias took Paul in and sheltered him. Who was your Ananias? Are you being an Ananias to anyone else?

We will use this passage of Scripture for our study today:

 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.                                                                              Acts 9:1-9


Our plan is to give a great welcome and a call to worship, then we will stand and enter into a time of praise and worship in song.  Here is the current worship set we have planned:

Over the recent months we have seen the faithfulness of out God in answering 
prayer and bringing forth miracles in our presence. God is at work in our church! 

 Let us open our hearts before God and prepare for an out pouring of the Spirit of God upon us!






Now is the time for announcements about times we can gather for fellowship and support  and also times of service and giving to others.   As we give our offering to the Lord let us do so by purposing in our hearts to give unto God what He is speaking to us about!

He is the offering of praise in music as we give our financial gifts:




Now it is time for the message:

Friday Funny - 28 things to ponder

1. Don't sweat the petty things, and don't pet the sweaty things.

2. One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor.....

3. Atheism is a non-prophet organization.

4. If man evolved from monkeys and apes, why do we still have monkeys and apes?

5. I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman, "Where's the self-help section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.

6. What if there were no hypothetical questions?

7. If a deaf person swears, does his mother wash his hands with soap?

8. If someone with multiple personalities threatens to kill himself, is it considered a hostage situation?

9. Is there another word for synonym?

10. Where do forest rangers go to "get away from it all?"

11. What do you do when you see an endangered animal eating an endangered plant?

12. If a parsley farmer is sued, can they garnish his wages?

13. Why do they lock gas station bathrooms? Are they afraid someone will clean them?

14. If a turtle doesn't have a shell, is he homeless or naked?

15. Can vegetarians eat animal crackers?

16. If the police arrest a mime, do they tell him he has the right to remain silent?

17. Why do they put Braille on the drive-through bank machines?

18. How do they get deer to cross the road only at those yellow road signs?

19. What was the best thing before sliced bread?

20. One nice thing about egotists: they don't talk about other people.

21. Does the little mermaid wear an algebra?

22. How is it possible to have a civil war?

23. If one synchronized swimmer drowns, do the rest drown too?

24. If you try to fail and succeed, which have you done?

25. Whose cruel idea was it for the word "lisp" to have an "s" in it?

26. Why is it called tourist season if we can't shoot them?

27. Why is there an expiration date on sour cream?

28. Can an atheist get insurance against acts of God?

Recent church decision to affirm same-sex message

As reported by USA Today and others, the largest Presbyterian denomination in the U.S. made history last week by voting to affirm same-sex marriage in their constitution as well as allow pastors to perform same-sex marriages.

 

 

 

 

The general assembly of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A, a mainline Protestant group with 1.8 million members, voted by 76 percent to allow clergy to perform gay marriages where they are legal. This makes PCUSA one of the largest Christian denominations to take these major steps toward embracing same-sex marriage.

The change in the constitution will become church law if a majority of the 172 local presbyteries approve it. Conservative PCUSA denominational leaders are concerned that approving same-sex marriage will contribute to the decline of the Presbyterian Church, which has experienced a 37 percent decrease in membership since 1992. Others said the decision could affect the perception of Presbyterian missionaries serving overseas in more conservative countries. But experts are saying that, because the denomination is historically influential, its actions could persuade other Christian groups to follow suit.

Almost half of the clergy in the PCUSA serve in areas where same-sex couples can legally marry. Since 2011 when the denomination began removing barriers for the ordination of gay pastors, 428 of its more than 10,000 churches have either dissolved or left for more conservative denominations.

This is prayer

As we prepare for our time of prayer this evening at 6:30 in room 133 at North Raleigh Church of the Nazarene, we do not gather to discuss the days events or our views of what is happening in our nation and our world.  Instead we gather to draw near to God and to hear His voice.

What is prayer?  Consider this as we prepare our hearts for prayer this evening:

Humility and Leadership By Gustavo A. Crocker

Humility and Leadership
By Gustavo A. Crocker

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8, NIV).

We are often reminded that our daily walk with the Lord requires that we allow God to create in us a humble heart, a humble attitude, and a humble character. The more we deal with the question of humility, however, the harder it is for us to reconcile this quality with contemporary expectations of leadership, even in our service to the Church. One of the problems is that the world commonly places these two traits as mutually exclusive parts of the paradoxical question, “Can leaders lead while humbly embracing humility?”

I was intrigued about the question, particularly when I came across Numbers 12:3: “Now, Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone on the face of the earth.” While this was written by Moses (interesting, isn’t it?), I appreciate the fact that it is presented almost as a parenthetical statement forced upon the writer to make a point. It is almost as though Moses was unwillingly required to speak of himself as a humble man, the most humble man on the planet. This, for me, presents an interesting paradox about humility and leadership: we must acknowledge that God is developing in us a humble character, even when it is hard for us to publicly admit to it under the disguise of modesty.

A quick read of this passage may give us the wrong impression that Moses was bragging about himself being the most humble man on earth. Is it possible? I understood this paradox on one occasion when I was speaking in India. I was preaching in English, and one of the most humble leaders I have met in the church was translating for me into the local language. To review this paradox, I said to the congregation, “I am blessed to have this brother, one of the best translators and the most humble man in India, translating for me.” He was embarrassed, and he said something else. I could tell that he had done this because some of his peers started laughing. I repeated the sentence, and he repeated what he had said before until I pushed him and asked him to translate literally what I had said. His peers told me that he had first translated my sentence as “Dr. Crocker says …” This is equivalent to the nearly parenthetical introduction that Moses made of himself. He humbly and carefully (not boastfully) embraced the fact that, in God, he was a humble man.

Now, how do we know that a leader has humbly and practically embraced humility? In the introductory part of Numbers 12, we see the way Moses was criticized, mocked, and challenged by his own people (his brother and his sister), and yet he chose to not defend himself, to not retaliate, to not make a case for himself. Instead, he left it in God’s hands to defend him. He acted as a servant leader who did not seek self-vindication. True humility was evident in his desire to not think about himself first (even in the privacy of his own heart). In other words, Moses’ attitude proved that “humility is not about thinking less of ourselves; it is about thinking about ourselves less” (C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity).

“The Monday Rule” Just Might Transform Your Church

The simple implementation of the Monday rule can significantly change the climate of your church for the better.

New Vintage Church has worked, unofficially, at creating a “Monday Rule” culture. We've never stated it officially, but is understood by most of our people nonetheless because we have encouraged it from our beginning. Staff abides by it, as well. It has never been stated explicitly, but we do coach it as we can.

It’s the Monday rule, which might be stated this way:

“If you have concerns or the feel the need to complain, do it Monday (or another day of your choice). Please don’t do it Sunday—or when the church is gathered for worship.”

To clarify, we aren’t saying people should never complain or voice concerns.

We are saying there is a time and place for it—and that’s not Sunday mornings during or around the time the church is gathered for worship. What we are doing when the church gathers is cherished by God and important for the building up of the Body and calling our church to mission. Every Sunday, we have guests come searching for God, not a solution to the complaints of Sister Sue or Brother Bill.

The Body needs strengthening and encouragement. She needs her mission clarified and her calling reinvigorated. She needs to hear from God. That’s what the weekends are for.

One of the greatest services leadership can provide the church is the effective handling of the church’s concerns, which includes the timing of such dealings—not just making sure they are heard.

Implementing the Monday rule will do more for your church’s weekend assemblies than nearly anything. It keeps the air fresh. It honors God over our temporary concerns.

A couple of assumptions can be made reasonably about people who complain chronically on Sundays.

First, they lack a sense of the impact of their comments on others—especially staff or those whose spiritual frame of heart impacts others that day.

Second, they lack spiritual focus during times that are unique in the practice of the church—and their complaining will spread this across the Body if not checked.

Third, they likely do this because of proximity. They want to get it dealt with right then—because it could consume their time and energy to do it another time. So, they’d prefer to use yours on their terms rather than deal with the problem another way.

Implementing the Monday rule shepherds a person on all three fronts, and accomplishes the following as well:

1. It keeps God at the center.

It is easy to allow a “concern” to become the predominant factor of the morning in your heart, or the heart of the person you jabbed with it.

All days are God’s days … but Sundays are special. It’s when His people gather together for a unique time of honoring him. If the music is too loud for you, that’s not the most important thing going on that morning. If you think the youth minister shouldn't wear shorts to church, it can wait until Monday.

Don’t let that consume your mind or that of others for the morning. Keep God at the center. That’s why we are all here.

2. It protects the church’s worship experience.

Our sacrifice of praise, if it is to be pleasing to God, must rise before Him in unity and love. We must cherish not only our time together, but the gift of joy, peace and love it brings with it.

I’m not suggesting people who complain are intentionally trying to hurt the unity of the church. I’m saying I don’t bring up our income taxes or any issues I have with my wife on date night.

There is a time for everything. If you have concerns, Sunday morning at 10 a.m. right as church is starting ain't it.

3. It protects first-time or short-time guests.

It protects them from overhearing complaints or breathing in the foul air of dissension on a morning when unity, love and passion for God should be most evident.

Some time ago, I had to remove a pair of greeters (the kind that hand you a bulletin and say “Hi” as you arrive) before church because they were griping loudly about a perceived lack of cleanliness of the facility as people arrived for worship.

People arriving actually had to walk between them to get on site. They were loud and not ignorable to everyone arriving. I warned them kindly but firmly. They wouldn't stop.

So, we replaced them. They later apologized and both went on to become excellent greeters.

4. It preserves the staff’s focus and frame of heart for the morning.

When the preacher, worship leader, elder, or whomever is pulled off-focus or newly discouraged from a complaint session (whether gentle or coarse), the impact will be felt. You would be amazed at the things people say to preachers right before they preach, worship leaders right before the first strum or hum.

If you have a complaint, you should know that you are highly unlikely to get a good hearing for your complaint on Sunday anyway. It would be much, much better to wait until people aren’t rushing around and can actually listen.

5. It vets complaints and thus helps people control their emotions and tongues.

Some people feel as though it is a virtue to say what’s on their mind—right then. It’s really not. Saying what’s on your mind is a virtue when you really need to do it. But, that’s not usually Sundays. If you are still mad about it on Monday, reach out. That will let you know whether or not it really bothers you and will respect the church’s gatherings. Don’t take hostages on Sunday morning. No drive-by or hit-and-run verbal attacks that discourage others. Half of complaints would never be uttered if people weren't able to do it Sundays.

Imagine what Sundays could be like if the church, from leaders to guests, could punt concerns until Monday—focusing instead on encouragement and welcoming the outsider. What a difference that might make in our weekend gatherings.

Concerns aren’t unimportant. Sometimes, they just aren’t that important.

Dr. Tim Spivey is Lead Planter of New Vintage Church in San Diego, California--a fast-growing plant launched in 2011. Tim is also the purveyor of New Vintage Leadership - a blog offering cutting edge insights on leadership and theology and the author of numerous articles and one book: Jesus, the Powerful Servant.

Reflections from my message this morning: Avoiding a Spiritual Scam

Reflections from my message this morning:

Paul begins his letter with pleasantries and immediately clarifies his purpose for writing: 

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are following a different gospel—  not that there really is another gospel, but there are some who are disturbing you and wanting to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we (or an angel from heaven) should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be condemned to hell!  As we have said before, and now I say again, if any one is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, let him be condemned to hell! Am I now trying to gain the approval of people, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people,  I would not be a slave of Christ.                                                                                                   Galatians 1:6-10

I said in the first message of this series: If we aren’t careful, the gospel can stop being GOOD   NEWS    What is the Gospel – the Good News?

Now let me remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News    I preached to you before. You welcomed it then and still do now, for your faith is built on this wonderful message. And it is this Good News that saves you if you firmly believe it, unless, of course, you believed something that was never true in the first place. I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me – that Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, as the Scriptures said.                           1 Corinthians 15:1-4 (NLT)

 Now Paul is concluding this letter and brings us back to the main point:

Notice what large letters I use as I write these closing words in my own handwriting. Those who are trying to force you to be circumcised are doing it for just one reason. They don't want to be persecuted for teaching that the cross of Christ alone can save. And even those who advocate circumcision don't really keep the whole law. They only want you to be circumcised so they can brag about it and claim you as their disciples. As for me, God forbid that I should boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world died long ago, and the world's interest in me is also long dead. It doesn't make any difference now whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we really have been changed into new and different people. May God's mercy and peace be upon all those who live by this principle. They are the new people of God. From now on, don't let anyone trouble me with these things. For I bear on my body the scars that show I belong to Jesus.  My dear brothers and sisters, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen                                     Galatians 6:11-18 (NLT)

How to Spot a False Teacher

1. They are hung up on OUTWARD   APPEARANCE

Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised...                                                  Galatians 6:12a (NIV)

If you love me, keep my commandments.        John 14:15 (NLT)

2. They RUN when things get HOT

... The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ.                                                             Galatians 6:12b (NIV)

3. They ask you to DO THINGS that they DON’T DO

And even those who advocate circumcision don't really keep the whole law...                                                                                                       Galatians 6:13a (NLT)

Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.                                         Hebrews 13:7 (NIV)

4. They tend to be ARROGANT

...They only want you to be circumcised so they can brag about it and claim you as their disciples.                                   Galatians 6:13b (NLT)

As for me, God forbid that I should boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world died long ago, and the world's interest in me is also long dead.                                          Galatians 6:14 (NLT)

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.                       James 1:17 (NIV)

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.                        Galatians 5:19-23 (NIV)

Many times legalism causes bondage in our life and we cannot handle it.  Here is an example:




I did not show this clip today die that it is so long - but it clearly brings forth the point that legalism holds us back spiritually - but Paul makes it abundantly clear what is most important:

It doesn't make any difference now whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been changed into new and different people.                                                                     Galatians 6:15 (NLT)

My dear brothers and sisters, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.                                                    Galatians 6:18 (NLT)

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God…                             Ephesians 2:8 (NIV)

But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me - and not without results. For I have worked harder than all the other apostles, yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace.                          1 Corinthians 15:10 (NLT)