Agora Church

WINTERS END: Jesus Came For You

Christmas is often portrayed as a magical winter wonderland, but imagine if winter never ended and Christmas never came? Well that is exactly what happens in the book 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe' written by C.S Lewis. This years Christmas series is based around this book and the themes it contains that very closely link to the real Christmas story. Christmas is very much as season of hope but not because of what season it may be or what circumstance we find our selves in.

FOR FREEDOM: It's All We've Got

As Paul concludes his letter he gets personal and shares what really counts for him, Christ and his cross. The work of the cross is the only thing worth taking pride in, it's all that can keep me from the flesh and produce the new me. So lets stop causing trouble and let God's grace rule in our lives!

FOR FREEDOM: Faith's Community

This week we looked at how people who live by the Spirit, love. They do good, because the Spirit leads them to do good, to each other, to all people and especially to those in the family of God. They do so humbly, generously and most importantly still by faith, depending on God, the one who first did a good work in them.

FOR FREEDOM: The Spirit Of Freedom

If I am not under the law and free, how then am I to use this freedom for Good? Faith expressing itself through love is a work of God's Holy Spirit, it's His fruit. But what does it look like to walk by, be led by and keep in step with the Spirit?

FOR FREEDOM: The Battle Within

Why do we feel like there's this constant battle within us between right and wrong? Paul tells us in Galatians that the reality is that there is a battle going on within us, a conflict between God's Spirit and our flesh. But the answer isn't to fight flesh with flesh, human effort against human failing. No, the answer is the indwelling Holy Spirit and the finished work of Christ through the cross.

FOR FREEDOM: Freedom's Fruit

This week we looked at the difference between the fruit of legalism and the fruit of freedom. We saw how legalism distracts us from the things that actually matter and keeps us busy focusing on looking good to others, when the fruit of freedom naturally attracts and points people to Jesus the giver of freedom.

FOR FREEDOM: For Freedom!

Often when we think about those things that are enslaving us we think about those things that are considered wrong or bad. Paul in Galatians 5 however uses the example of circumcision, a symbol of "righteousness" and says that it is as easy to be bound by doing what is right with the wrong heart. To be burdened by non-essentials, those things that are good, but have nothing to do with God loving us, pursuing after us and saving us. What might be some of those things in your life? 

FOR FREEDOM: Shake It Of

This week we looked at how a part of living in God's grace means the removal of any and all enslaving influences that have us in bondage. Paul uses an illustration in Galatains 4 from the Old Testament to highlight the two very different ways of living, the law and the flesh or grace and God's Spirit.

FOR FREEDOM: Where To From Here?

We looked this week at the power of disillusionment and how when find ourselves disillusioned it affects not only how we feel but also how we see and where we go looking, just as it had in the case of the church in Galatia. Paul was telling the churches they were looking in the wrong place for what they needed by turning to the law, instead they needed to turn to Jesus. Disillusionment is powerful, but Jesus is greater and He promises to resource you.

FOR FREEDOM: Suckers, Seducers & Sideliners

The Churches in Galatia had been sucked in and seduced by the lie of legalism which had resulted in them being caught up in the pressure to preform and sidelined in their faith. Paul calls them on this and reminds them that it was through faith that they had been saved and the need to preform had been removed by Jesus.