Sermon Tone Analysis

Opening Statement: The Big Idea that catches the attention.

Hey Y’all!

How are y’all?

Y’all ready for Christmas break?

Who is ready to go skiing?

Who is ready to not have a history portfolio for Ap World?

Introduction Story: A story that invites the listener into that topic, creating credibility and connection immediately.

Okay cool, so, who in here has run a race before?

Who likes running?

I know there is some cross country people in here, you guys have to say you like running because y’all do it all the time.

Also cross country runners, what is the longest race you have ever ran?

For me, if you can’t tell I am not a runner, I haven’t ran a race in a good long time, I used to play soccer but I am clearly not a runner.

The only place I’m running to is probably waffle house.

But some of you run for fun and some of you that is your sport.

For those of you that it’s a sport have you ever seen someone lose because they celebrated too early?

Got too cocky, slowed up relaxed, lost.

You may not have in person but we have probably at one point all seen that happen online somewhere.

I saw a video form the Peachtree road race in Atlanta where they guy decked out in USA stuff was about to win the marathon and he slowed up and then a guy from Great Britain came up behind him and beat him by like a step.

Not only did this guy lose the marathon race, he let a guy from Great Britain beat him, on 4th of July.

No but we have seen someone some where celebrate too early and lose sight of finishing strong.

Look at the falcons in the Super Bowl? or Georgia in the National Championship, or Georgia in SEC Championship that one time, or two times, or three times?

He we beat Auburn that one time?

But for real, think about it, how often do we see someone, or are that person who doesn’t finish strong?

Segue: How this message will tie into the introduction story.

It happens a lot, and that is the thing I want to be in the back of your head tonight.

Running a race is a metaphor that Paul uses all over the New Testament.

It is a way the Paul explains the Christian life.

That is going to be part of what we are looking at tonight.

How are you to live this christian life?

This whole time we have been looking at this idea of Christ setting us free from the law, to purse christ over pursuing the Law.

Not adding the Law to what Christ did on the cross.

The Law says do all of these things, and you’re good.

Christ says follow me and I will take you to who is good.

The Law leaves you where you are, Christ transforms you and leaves your old self behind.

Following the Law and not pursuing Christ is idolatry, when you become the one who makes yourself the moral authority, saying, I know what my good deeds are, I know what will make me righteous in my own power, is self worship.

So that is where we are going to be tonight.

Looking at how the Christian life is walked.

Background: Explain the background of what is happening in the text we are about to read.

So we are going to be in Galatians 5 tonight, does anyone need a bible?

Throw a hand up if you need one, we will get you one.

Okay cool we are going to be in the first 15 verses of this chapter tonight.

We will have to finish up Galatians next year.

But let me give you some context before we jump in to the text.

We are nearing the end of Paul’s letter here and he is trying to get them to see how the Christian life works.

he wants them to understand what the Christian life is really about, what did Christ’s death on the cross accomplish?

Paul uses this theme of running a race and of freedom verse slavery.

The Christian life is freeing.

it is not one of slavery but of freedom.

Text: Preaching Text for the day’s message.

Just one major text.

So let’s read this text in chunks, and we can see exactly what is going on here, so read with me Galatians 5:1-7

Okay so look at what Paul is getting at here, he starts off by say for Freedom Christ has set us free.

What does that mean?

What is he getting at here?

This first verse is really the microcosm of the whole book.

You have been set free for freedom.

Christ has set you free from the weight of the law, Christ’s death and resurrection his sacrifice on the cross is what gives us our freedom.

It is what gives is our Hope.

Paul is saying “you are free, live like you are free.”

Don’t go back to being a slave.

So this is a weird thought, but my grandma used to keep the books from my grandad’s business.

and She would do all the accounting work by hand, like she had a composition notebook with hand drawn spread sheets.

Her and a calculator would be sitting there adding up everything doing all the accounting work by hand.

Which to me was insane, and so my mom got here this really robust accounting program that would do all of the leg work for her, and free her up to do other things.

But what she would do is do all of the accounting stuff on the computer, then also hand do it all, she didn’t trust the computer to actually do it for her.

Like we might as well have not gotten the computer to do it.

Because, she was still going to put it in the notebook.

We shouldn’t have even got the computer for her, it just caused double work for her. it was wild.

But that is what Paul is getting at here, Christ freed you from the weight of the law, live like it, don’t submit to following a law that doesn’t save and does not give a new life.

Don’t try to see the Law as a way to salvation, it only brings slavery.

Don’t fall back in to pursuing the law instead of pursing Christ.

Then look at verses 2-4, if you accept circumcisions then Christ is of no advantage to you.

If you accept the law the Christ died for nothing.

So let’s ask ourselves?

What is the point of Christ dying?

Why did Christ die?

Did Christ die to make us good people?

No.

Did Christ die to make descent citizens?

Nope.

Did Christ die so that we could have a healthy and wealthy life?

Nope.

Why did Christ die?

He died so that we could have relationship with him, so that we could be made like him, transformed in to his likeness, so that we could know Him, and with our lives follow him.

he died so that He could take the penalty of Sin and make a way for us to know him and know him deeper.

If you follow the law, you are going to be judged by the law.

All of us are going to have to give an account for the life we have lived, so what Paul is saying is if you are living under the law you will be judged by the law, and we all know that know one can keep the whole law and you will be condemned.

If we are living as a follower of Christ we are going to be judged not by what we have done, but by what Christ has done.

We are given Christ’s righteousness.

Lots of times we here the phrase, only God can judge me.

Anyone heard that one?

Usually it is said by people who probably would not want God to judge them.

Like you are right, only God can judge, but that should terrify you.

You are going to be judged by who and what you follow.

Are you following the Law?

Are you following yourself?

The secret though is no matter what you are being judged by it will not be good enough, only Christ righteousness is good enough to be made right with God.

That is why Christ died.

Look at verse 5-6, by faith are we saved, our hope is in our trust and faith in the promises of Christ.

We are made right by the righteousness of Christ.