GALATIANS 6:6 | DUTIES IN THE CHURCH
Notes
Transcript
TEXT: GALATIANS 6:6 | DUTIES IN THE CHURCH
TEXT: GALATIANS 6:6 | DUTIES IN THE CHURCH
INTRO
INTRO
Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
ILLUSTRATION: Have you ever had to have an uncomfortable conversation about something?
ILLUSTRATION: Have you ever had to have an uncomfortable conversation about something?
Or maybe just felt awkward talking about something?
APPLICATION: The first half of this morning’s message is something I’m so passionate about.
APPLICATION: The first half of this morning’s message is something I’m so passionate about.
I can’t wait to share with you from God’s Word about the first half of v.6.
But then when we come to the second half… well it’s just kinda awkward for me.
It’s not something that I search out to preach about.
In fact, part of me just wants to skip over this verse entirely so we can spend out time on the next verses because they are familiar and powerful to preach from.
But, because of what the first half of v.6 says, I have to preach what the second half of v.6 says.
So please don’t throw me under the bus today… because I just want to give you what the Bible says.
EXPLANATION: Paul has just told the Galatian believers that it is there responsibility to bear one another’s burdens.
EXPLANATION: Paul has just told the Galatian believers that it is there responsibility to bear one another’s burdens.
But he wasn’t saying that you should just plan for everyone to carry you through your difficult times… no you must still bear your own burdens.
In fact it is a blessing to carry your part of your burdens because when you reach the other side of it and look back you get the blessing of seeing what God did through it.
Then immediately following his challenge to the Galatian believers about bearing burdens, he gives a tangible way this can be done in v.6.
Those who are being taught the word are to “communicate” to the one doing the teaching.
That’s the part that is awkward for me to talk about… so we will just spend a little time on it a little later in the message.
But in reality, Paul actually speaks to two groups of people in this verse and gives a clear duty to both of them.
Or it might be better said two people instead of two groups… because Paul addresses them directly.
What Paul shares is the Biblical practical functional relationship of the teacher or preacher to the ones he is teaching.
For the local church it is the pastor and congregation relationship.
And there are important duties given for both sides.
And when both are doing what they are supposed to, bearing their own burdens, the church functions the way God intended.
BIBLICAL DUTIES OF THOSE IN THE CHURCH
V.6a, THE DUTY OF THE PREACHER
V.6a, THE DUTY OF THE PREACHER
Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
EXPLANATION: Paul is writing to the believers within the churches in Galatia, and he says something very important.
EXPLANATION: Paul is writing to the believers within the churches in Galatia, and he says something very important.
They were to be taught.
And what they were to be taught was of utmost importance… they were to be taught in the “Word”
If they were being taught the Word, it thus implies that there must have been a teacher.
And the responsibility of that teacher or preacher wasn’t to teach philosophy.
It wasn’t to tell stories.
It was to teach the Word.
Why?
So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: It shall not return unto me void, But it shall accomplish that which I please, And it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
God promises to bless the communication of His Word!
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
The Word of God is profitable for:
Doctrine: What’s right
Reproof: What’s wrong
Correction: How to get what’s wrong right
Instruction: How to keep what is right right.
The Psalmist was passionate about the Word of God and wrote about it’s importance often.
Specifically in Psalm 119, there is an overwhelming number of verses pointing to the importance of God’s Word!
BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word.
With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, That I might not sin against thee.
I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.
Open thou mine eyes, That I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.
DALETH. My soul cleaveth unto the dust: Quicken thou me according to thy word.
My soul melteth for heaviness: Strengthen thou me according unto thy word.
MEM. O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.
NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And a light unto my path.
Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.
Order my steps in thy word: And let not any iniquity have dominion over me.
Over and over and over again, there is a clear passion for the knowledge of God’s Word.
Blessed is the man That walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor standeth in the way of sinners, Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
But his delight is in the law of the Lord; And in his law doth he meditate day and night.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That bringeth forth his fruit in his season; His leaf also shall not wither; And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
God’s Word can slice and dice, and cut into the areas of our lives that no words of mere man ever could.
And it is by the Words of this Book that the world will one day be judged and condemned for their sins.
And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
If you don’t accept the Christ of this Book as your Savior for your sins, one day your life will be judged by this book and you will fall short of the glory of God that is perfection!
The preacher is commanded by God to teach and to preach from this Book.
Over in the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon was nearing then end of his life.
As he reflected back on so many of the bad decisions of his life his overwhelming message was that worldly success is just vanity.
Living for this earth is a waste!
But as he reached the end of his book, he gave a snapshot of a preacher… and what was most important for the preacher to do.
And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.
The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.
The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.
He says that the wise preacher taught the people knowledge… that he “set in order many proverbs”
“He explained them clearly”
v.10, says the most important part, the preacher sought out what to preach… and what he found was that which was written… the Words of truth!
Over in John 17:17 Jesus said
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
He goes on in v.11 and explains just how the Word of God should impact those that hear it.
A goad was a tool that was used by the farmer whose ox was plowing the field.
On the one side of the tool was a pointed end, that was used to prod the ox to keep them going with their work
The other side was used to break away the dried dirt that would get stuck on the plow so it could effectively be used.
His message was clear, the preaching of God’s Word should prod the hearer to move forward for the Lord and it should chisel away at the muck that so often finds it’s way into the lives of the hearers.
And then he said the Word of God was to be fastened by nails.
This meant it should stick!
It should be fastened firm in the hearts of the hearers.
And then he finishes by saying that it’s given by one shepherd.
You see this book isn’t just the Words of men… no it is the Word of God!
For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
Truly this book contains the very Words of God!
APPLICATION: Friend, do you want to know why we preach the way that we preach here at WBC?
APPLICATION: Friend, do you want to know why we preach the way that we preach here at WBC?
Why we strive to work book by book, chapter by chapter, and verses by verses?
Why we try to preach the Bible within it’s context?
Why we try to be historically accurate and make sure the verses we are preaching flow in line with the rest of Scripture?
Because these are the Words of God!
This is His letter to you and to me.
And so, while we may on occasion preach a message on a certain topic, the overwhelming number of messages here at WBC are going to be preached as we walk through the Word of God.
And so when God addresses a topic in His Word, we will address that topic in our service.
But we aren’t going to spend all our time riding some hobby horse of this pastor.
We aren’t going to just give you the message that was “on my heart this week.”
As consistently as we can, we are going to seek to teach and preach the Word of God, because that is what is going to make a difference in your life!
ILLUSTRATION: When I was about 11 or 12 years old, my parents made a decision to leave the church I had grown up going to.
ILLUSTRATION: When I was about 11 or 12 years old, my parents made a decision to leave the church I had grown up going to.
That church was an old country church and they had gotten a new pastor.
And that poor guy would get up each week and read one verse and then close his Bible and tell stories the rest of the time.
Leaving that church was a hard decision for our family because we had been there for many years and it wasn’t a large church so people would notice.
But I remember the first Sunday driving home after we had visited Lifeway Baptist Church.
I remember my mom crying in the front seat, and I remember her saying that for the first time in a long time she felt she had heard preaching from the Word of God!
APPLICATION: Friend, it is my goal each and every week that God allows, to stand up here behind this pulpit and to preach to you a message from a passage of Scripture that has been carefully studied.
APPLICATION: Friend, it is my goal each and every week that God allows, to stand up here behind this pulpit and to preach to you a message from a passage of Scripture that has been carefully studied.
Hours upon hours have been spent dissecting the words of each and every verse.
Each week, in addition to the study of the verse itself, around 15 commentaries are read through to make sure I understand the correct interpretation of the passage.
It’s been bathed in prayer, and used as a lens through which I examine my own life to ensure what I’m about to get up and preach is something that is true in my life first.
And after all of the preparation, moment comes when I get to stand up here in front of you and share just a portion of what I’ve studied throughout that week.
And there is excitement to share.
There is nervousness.
But more than anything… there is a weight.
Because I know one day I am going to stand before God and give an account for the words that I have preached to you… and I so desperately want to make sure I get it right.
I beg God that when I preach it will be clear and be easy to receive.
I ask God for wisdom on what stories to include so that I can best illustrate the points from His Word for everyone to understand.
And unfortunately, I know the reality is there are many Sundays that I walk away feeling like, “Well I laid an egg this week.”
But the only confidence and hope that keeps me going week to week is trying my best to fill the messages I preach with so much Scripture, that even if I fail in my delivery… at least I can know God won’t fail to deliver and use His Word!
Friend, that is the duty of the preacher… to faithful communicate God’s Word to the people!
If there ever comes a day here at Whitehall Baptist Church that the Word of God stops being preached, I hope you’ll find somewhere else to go and hear it.
Don’t settle for anything less than what God through the apostle Paul said was to be taught: the Word of God!
V.6b, THE DUTY OF THE HEARER
V.6b, THE DUTY OF THE HEARER
Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
EXPLANATION: Paul says that the ones being taught have the responsibility to “communicate” to the teacher.
EXPLANATION: Paul says that the ones being taught have the responsibility to “communicate” to the teacher.
Now that word “communicate” is the Greek word “koinoneo”
It means “to share with or to give to, or to enter in alliance with.”
It comes from the root word “koinonia” meaning “partnership or fellowship”
Now I told you I went to about 15 different commentaries on this one, because I was really looking for another meaning to this part of the verse.
But all of them said the same thing!
Paul is telling these Galatian believers that they are supposed to help carry each other’s burden they are carrying.
And v.6 is his illustration of how to do that…
He says, “the teacher has the burden of teaching the Word”… they will stand before God for that one day.
“The hearer has the burden of helping lighten his load by partnering with him”
How? By “koinoneo” with him… sharing with or giving to.
Now I know what you thinking… I give him something every week… I give him a piece of my mind!
And truthfully that is part of the “communication”
But Paul’s intention in writing to these 1st century Galatians was to encourage them to give so there preacher could focus on studying and preaching the Word.
Martin Luther said, “it is impossible for one man both to labour day and night to get a living, and at the same time to give himself to the study of sacred learning as the preaching office requireth.”
Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 5:17-18
Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.
He wrote again in 1 Corinthians 9:14
Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
APPLICATION: I am grateful to pastor at a church that loves and seeks to take care of it’s pastor.
APPLICATION: I am grateful to pastor at a church that loves and seeks to take care of it’s pastor.
I and my family are truly blessed.
As I mentioned at the start of the service, this is not a targeted message that I pulled out to preach on paying the pastor.
This is the next verse in our walk through the book of Galatians.
But it is my responsibility to preach to you the whole counsel of God.
And that includes the 2nd half of v.6.
As I seek to give application from this verse, to try to lighten the awkwardness, I want to address it in light of the next pastor.
Now I hope God let’s me stay here until I die.
But in the event the Lord feels I have overstayed my usefulness and just takes me out, I want to share some thoughts in light of the next guy that would pastor.
Church, always take care of your pastor.
In the context of the verses the verses that immediately follow are in direct correlation to what Paul is writing in v.6.
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
There are other practical applications we will make from these verses next week, but in the immediate context, it is in reference to taking care of the pastor.
You say, “I don’t agree with you” and that’s fine… but I think Paul saw that coming because he bookended what he was saying with v.10
As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
There it is again… bear each other’s burdens… but especially the pastor!
That means according to v.7-9, the blessings of God on the church are directly tied to the way the church takes care of the pastor.
So, again… to not make things awkward… when the next guy comes along, take care of him.
If possible, go above and beyond.
Yes financially, but also with your words
Encourage him.
Let him know you’re behind him.
ILLUSTRATION: The Lord blessed us with the opportunity to travel in evangelism for about 5 years.
ILLUSTRATION: The Lord blessed us with the opportunity to travel in evangelism for about 5 years.
The bulk of it was spent traveling the Northwest but we made connection all over the US.
In that time I got to meet a lot of pastors.
And you know what I found… a lot of them are doing well.
But some of them were just holding on by a thread.
I remember one service at a church here in the Northwest in particular.
I didn’t know what had been going on at the church, I just came in to preach.
It was Monday evening and I had just finished the message and was giving the invitation.
The pastor of that church came to the front and it was clear that he had been moved by the message.
Things wrapped up pretty quickly and we went home.
I wasn’t sure if it had been a good night or bad night… I didn’t know if he was going to let me preach the next day or not.
The next night that preacher got up and before he had me come and preach, he shared that no one really knew what he was going through.
But that night before he was ready to throw in the towel and resign.
But he said this, “God used His Word (NOT MINE) to help me keep going.”
That pastor is still pastoring today!
Every couple months I try to buy a few gift cards and then I write letters to some of those pastors we connected with, to let them know I’m praying for them, and I’m behind them!
And I send them a gift card to get a coffee or something just to try to encourage them to keep going.
APPLICATION: Church… your doing a great job… but don’t ever stop communicating unto him that teacheth in all good things.
APPLICATION: Church… your doing a great job… but don’t ever stop communicating unto him that teacheth in all good things.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
The tangible duties of the church.
The Duty of the Preacher
The Duty of the Hearer.
Church, let’s strive together to faithfully do our duty the way God designed things to be!
