Proper 7 (2025)

*Opening Prayer

*Call to Worship

(Based on Psalms 42-43)

Leader: As the deer longs for streams of water, so our souls long for You, O God.

People: Our hope is in You, for we shall again praise You, our help and our God!

Leader: Why are you cast down, O my soul? Why so restless within? People: We will remember the Lord, who sends out His light and truth to guide us.

Leader: Come, let us worship the God who draws us near and makes us one in Christ.

People: For in Him, there is no longer Jew or Greek, slave or free—we are all one in Christ Jesus!

Hymn #108 Come Christians Join To Sing

Scripture Reading

Luke 8:26-39- Ken Dowell

Luke 8:26–39 NIV

They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee. When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!” For Jesus had commanded the impure spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places. Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him. And they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss. A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs, and he gave them permission. When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned. When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured. Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left. The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.

Children's Message - Gladys

Scripture Reading

Galatians 3:23–29 NIV

Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Sermon

So, I’m going to ask. How did you do this week? Last week, we talked about the struggle between the law and grace. How Paul chastised Peter for allowing the law to be motivation for his actions. I told you last week we are all lawbreakers. Now, some of you may have left last week and thought to yourselves, you know I’ve never done any of those things. Which tells me one of three things. One, you don’t drive. Two, you are an incredibly cautious driver, or three, you’ve just added lying to the list of laws you’ve broken.

Now I know that you listened to the sermon last week and from that one message, you decided that being a recipient of grace, made you gracious in all your activities this week. Right? You didn’t get upset with anyone. You weren’t frustrated with others on the road. You judged others by their intentions instead of their actions, correct?

One sermon probably didn’t make much of a difference. I mean, this discussion took a whole letter for Paul as he wrote to the Galatians. Because there is an ongoing battle between grace and law. And I can think of two reasons for this.

First, we understand the law a whole lot better than we understand grace. The law gives us a list of things we ought to do and we ought not to do. And we can determine where we stand by the number of the things we do “right” and the few we do “wrong.” And if we don’t do a good job of keeping a record, we often have someone around us who does. Although I sometimes find people are more willing to tell us what we are doing wrong, than what we are doing right.

Second, it’s because it’s the way the world operates. I mean, rules are everywhere. And for society to work, people believe we can get along as long as everyone follows the rules. And when problems occur it’s because someone isn’t following the rules.

But as we heard last week, and as Paul continues, he is challenging Christ’s people to not live according to the law, but according to grace. The Galatians were doing the same thing Peter had done. They had received the grace of Christ when Paul was there, preaching the gospel of Christ, but then when he left, others came who began to apply the law. Who began to claim that these would only be Christ’s followers by paying attention to the law.

So in verses 23-25, Paul again reminds the church of Galatia that the law was a “guardian”. Now, we need a little background for this. In the days where Paul is writing, families, particularly of wealth had a servant whose main job was to serve as a tutor, guardian, and escort for their child. They were not themselves the teacher, and they were not the parents, but they were responsible for the moral behavior of the child. And they were to be strict, watchful, and keeping them out of trouble.

But once this child came of age, the servant’s job was done. They were no longer needed. In the same way, God gave us the law to help keep us safe. To protect us, to guard us, to help us with our moral behavior.

But Christ’s arrival means we have come of age. The law is no longer needed. Again, not that we enter a time of chaos and anarchy, but we focus on the relationship we have with and in Christ.

And Paul reminds the Galatians and us, of our new identity in Christ with four phrases:

First, we are children of God. (v. 26) And this didn’t happen by obedience to the law. In fact, the law was simply a gift of grace by God for us. But we became children of God by faith.

Secondly, we are clothed with Christ. (v. 27) This is more than a poetic phrase. It means our identity is wrapped in His. I almost wonder if Paul didn’t have a picture of the prodigal son in mind, who when he came home was wrapped in his father’s robe and a ring was put on his finger. This is a humbling image because when we stand before God, our own righteousness won’t do. The only identity that matters is the one we wear by faith; being found in Christ.

Third, Paul says we are one in Christ (v. 28). Then he spells it out—there’s no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female. In Paul’s world, these weren’t just differences; they were divisions. A Jewish person saw themselves as more spiritual than a Gentile. A free person held status a slave never could. And men were afforded more rights than women. But in Christ? Those divisions fall away. There is no greater or lesser. No better or worse. The ground is level at the foot of the cross.

And fourth, Paul says we are heirs of the promise (v. 29). He points us back to Abraham—the one who received God’s promise before the law even existed. God said, “I will bless you and through you, all nations will be blessed.” That promise is fulfilled in Christ. And because we are in Christ, the blessing now belongs to us—not because we’ve obeyed the law, or done enough good, or come from the right family—but because we belong to the One who did it all on our behalf.

So while the law might be easier, and more familiar, grace is much more freeing. And, the truth is that the law points us to grace. Because the law reminds us what we are unable to do, but grace reminds us that what we are unable to do for ourselves, Christ did for us. We aren’t saved by law, we are saved by grace.

So don’t live under the weight of trying to earn God’s love. Live in the freedom of knowing it’s already been given. In Christ, you are a child of God. You are clothed in His righteousness. You belong to His body. And you are an heir of His promise. And that’s who you are.

Praise Song Who You Say I Am

Sharing of Joys and Concerns

Hymn #497, v. 1 Near To The Heart Of God

Silent Prayer

Pastoral Prayer

Lord's Prayer

Giving of Tithes and Offering

Doxology

Prayer of Dedication

Hymn #277 The Church's One Foundation

*Benediction

So go now, not as those burdened by law, but as those made alive by grace. Go as children of God, clothed in Christ, united in love, and heirs of the promise. Amen.

Sanctuary

*Call to Worship

(Based on Psalms 42-43)

Leader: As the deer longs for streams of water, so our souls long for You, O God.

People: Our hope is in You, for we shall again praise You, our help and our God!

Leader: Why are you cast down, O my soul? Why so restless within?

People: We will remember the Lord, who sends out His light and truth to guide us.

Leader: Come, let us worship the God who draws us near and makes us one in Christ.

People: For in Him, there is no longer Jew or Greek, slave or free—we are all one in Christ Jesus!

*Opening Prayer

Hymn #225 Come Christians Join To Sing

Scripture Reading - Luke 8:26-39

Luke 8:26–39 NIV

They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee. When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!” For Jesus had commanded the impure spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places. Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him. And they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss. A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs, and he gave them permission. When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned. When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured. Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left. The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.

Scripture Reading - Galatians 3:23-29