The Plowman

 

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An exposition of Galatians 5:16-26. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, March 29, 2009.

Introduction:
We really are shaped by our experiences.  Where we grew up.  Where we attended school.  The church we were raised in.  All of these have a profound impact on why we are like we are.  The fact that we are Americans determines, to a greater extent than we realize, how we interpret Scripture and frame our doctrines.  We are an independent lot and so you find a great emphasis in the American Church on my “personal Lord and Savior.”  We talk about what “my” Bible says.  And we tend to think of the church as a necessary evil.  “I love Jesus and me and Jesus are fine - but those folks down at the church…” as if you can think of loving Jesus and the folks down at church as having little or nothing to do with one another.  The fact is when you came to faith in Christ you were made part of the family of God.  It was a package deal.  You don’t get one without the other.  The expression of that family is found in a local group of believers seeking to live their faith together in the church.  That is why the church matters.  That is why the church is essential to your being what God intends you to be.  Can you be a Christian without being a church member?  Yes.  Can you be the Christian God intends you to be without the church?  No!  We must acknowledge up front the church is imperfect.  It is often a mess.  But do you know why that is the case?  Because the church is made up of people like you and me!  Frail, flawed, broken sinful people stumbling towards perfection by the grace of God.  The church is not an institution.  It is not an organization.  It is a family, a body, a living organism.  Yes it is “institutional” in that there is a structure with leaders and officers and programs but that is not what the church is essentially.  Not at its essence.  At its essence the church is a family.  It is a family and not an organization.  It is a group of people who are in covenant relationship seeking to grown in our understanding of God and His Word and seeking to live for His glory.  I am becoming increasingly convinced that this is the key to the church being what God intends it to be.  We have to quit thinking of the church in terms of an organization or institution.  It is not a bout power.  It is not about titles.  It is not about programing or product it is about relationship first with God then each other and then the world around us.  That is what I want you to keep in mind as we explore our text this morning found in Galatians chapter 5.

Text: Galatians 5:16-26

The churches of the Roman province of Galatia were troubled. They were troubled by a false teaching that wreaked havoc with these young believers. The message of grace was being lost in an emphasis on law.
Gone was the freedom of life in Christ and in it place was a religion of rules. In the early chapters Paul lays down a theological base. Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, because of Christ alone. Beginning with chapter 5 he applies that truth to life. What does this theology look like when it is lived out? How do I live the doctrine of salvation by grace alone?

The immediate context for our passage today is found in 5:15 - “But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.”  That this is the focus is further reflected in 5:26 - “Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”

Our text is about freedom and fellowship (remember 5:1).

Thesis: Genuine Gospel freedom is evidenced by a united, loving fellowship.
I want to point out three things quickly.

1. Peace within the body of Christ demands that we recognize the source of conflict.  (5:16-18)
2. Peace demands that we resist the intoxicating draw of our sinful nature.  (5:19-21)
3. Peace demands that we yield to the work of the Holy Spirit.  (5:22-26)

 

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A Wednesday-evening Bible study. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on March 25, 2009.

 

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Rev. Bowden McElroy

This message by guest preacher Bowden McElroy was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, March 22, 2009.

 

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Rev. Bowden McElroy

This message by guest preacher Bowden McElroy was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, March 22, 2009.

Outline:
Am I contributing to the factors of what makes for a healthy church? In this message let’s look at three words that define a healthy church:

1. Community: Church is suppose to provide a sense of community. 1Cor 12:12-20.
2. Consensus: You cannot be a Christian in isolation. Debate on issues is not always fun, but it is always necessarty. Acts 15:6ff. Community doesn’t work without consensus.
3. Accountability: Matthew 18:15-20.

 

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Jeremiah #56 - An exposition of Jeremiah 41:16-43:13. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, March 15, 2009.

Introduction:
It has to be part of our “fallenness” nothing else makes sense.  The signs says, “Wet Paint” but we have to touch it to see if it is in fact “wet” paint.  When I’m at a Mexican restaurant I hate it when the waiter says, “Be careful that plate is really hot.”  Because now I’m going to have to touch it to see if it is “really” hot!   I don’t know why that is - it just “is”.  It seems to me our judgment is impaired.  Our perspective is warped.  That is why it is dangerous to go by our gut or what “feels” right to us.  The writer of Proverbs says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death” (Proverbs 14:12).  We find a perfect example of that principle in the life of the surviving remnant of Judah following Nebuchadnezzar’s occupation of Jerusalem and the subsequent exile to Babylon.    Our text this evening is found in Jeremiah 41 - 43.

Text: Jeremiah 41:16-43:13

It was a time of great distress and turmoil. A very unsettling time. What do you do when your nation has been destroyed? What do you do when the best and brightest have been carried away to a distant land? What do you do when you are left with the poorest of the poor? How do you pick up the pieces? Sure God has promised great things, but let’s be practical.

Now in addition, the man appointed governor by Babylon has been assassinated.  Surely there will be reprisals.  Do you think Babylon is going to let that slide?  Do you think there will not be a price to pay?

What makes the most sense?

It seemed the wise move would be to head down to Egypt and seek to join forces with them.  Sure you’re not the closest of friends but politics makes for strange bedfellows.  Together you just might be able to survive.  Egypt is far enough away.  They have plenty of resources.  They are large enough.  It seemed the right thing to do.  But just a few miles down the road the remnant wondered if they should seek another opinion.

The story unfolds in three parts.

1. A reasonable question in the face of uncertainty and turmoil.  (41:16-42:6)
2. A shocking revelation and an impassioned plea.  (42:7-22)
3. Willful disobedience leads to certain judgment.  (43:1-13)

Thesis: The safest place on earth is in the center of God’s will.  Conversely, no amount of plotting, planning or precaution can compensate for open, willful disobedience to God’s revealed will.

 

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Galatians #10 - An exposition of Galatians 5:13-15. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, March 15, 2009.

Introduction:
It just didn’t make sense to me.  I know that everybody said the same thing.  I know that was the conventional wisdom but it just sounded so dumb!  I didn’t just ride into town on a turnip truck you know.  So when my pickup hit that ice and started into a skid - I wasn’t “dumb enough” to turn into the skid…I turned it hard away from it.  Turn into a skid?  Oh, and I suppose you lean into a left hook!  The next few seconds were a blur, literally.  When the truck stopped I was sitting between a telephone pole and a bridge rail.  Not a scratch on me or the truck.  I remember thinking, “Maybe you do turn into a skid.”  Life is often paradoxical.  A paradox is a statement that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet is true.  Often in the Scripture we find paradoxical statements.  Jesus said if you want to lose your life hold on to it tightly.  If you want to find it - give it away.  He also said the way up is down.  If you want to be great become the servant of all.  That doesn’t make sense.  It is contrary to our way of thinking.  But then the writer of Proverbs warns that there is a way that seems right to man but the end thereof is destruction.  We find one of those paradoxical passages in the 5th chapter of Galatians.

Paul is writing to the churches of the Roman Province of Galatia, the churches visited on the first missionary journey.  He is writing because false teachers have come into the fellowship and perverted the true gospel.  These “legalists” were preaching a “Jesus plus” theology.  Belief in Jesus was necessary but not enough.  You need to follow the rules of Judaism - the dietary laws, the days and festivals and of course circumcision.  It was a system of rules and regulations.  It is was faith of dos and don’ts that enslaved rather than liberated those who believed.  Paul said, “It is for freedom that Christ set us free don’t be enslaved again to rules.”  We are saved by grace and we grow in holiness by that same grace.  The Christian faith is about grace and relationship.  The whole purpose in Christ’s coming was to set you free so don’t be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.  The dominant note throughout the book of Galatians is freedom.  Paul has referenced freedom several times but it isn’t until chapter 5:13 and following that he defines what he means by freedom.  Most of us, when thinking about freedom, think about ourselves and what we are able to do.  “I’m free, nobody is going to tell me what to do.  I can do as I please.”  That is not liberty that is license.  That is not enjoying the grace of God, that is presuming upon God’s grace.  Genuine freedom always comes with a corresponding responsibility.  That is what Paul deals with in our text this morning.

Text: Galatians 5:13-15
Paul with the skill and passion of an artist paints a portrait of genuine Christian freedom in these three verses.  I would suggest that it looks very different fro the world’s picture of freedom.  Because from Paul’s perspective…

Thesis: Genuine freedom releases you to a life of service to others.

Rather than self-centered, it is other-centered.  Rather than emphasizing rights it focuses on responsibilities.  There are three things to note in our text.

1. Genuine freedom clears the way for total surrender.  (5:13)
2. Genuine freedom enables fulfillment of the law.  (5:14)
3. Genuine freedom results in honest concern for others.  (5:15)

A divided church has nothing to say to a fragmented society.  If we evidence more of the world’s power to divide than the gospel’s power to make whole we have nothing of value to say.  Our message has lost its power and authority.  Genuine freedom, biblical freedom is not about rights it is about responsibility.  It is not about being served it is about serving.

Child of God is it for the sake of freedom that Christ set you free.  Stand firm in that freedom.  Do not be burdened or bound by rules.  But understand that freedom releases you to a life of service to others.  It clears the way for total surrender.  It enables fulfillment of the law and results in honest concern for others.  Are you free?  Are you walking in biblical freedom today?

 

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Jeremiah #55 - An exposition of Jeremiah 40:1-41:18. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, March 8, 2009.

Introduction:
The history of the church has been a history of persecution.  The first Christians were hunted by Roman Emperors and scattered across the Middle East.  During the Middle Ages Christians were surrounded by Barbarians.  During the Reformation period Bible-believing Christians were branded as outlaws.  Things are really no better today.  Today in the Middle East and other parts of the world Christians are opposed by radical Islam.  In China the church is oppressed by Communism.  In Europe and the United States the church is marginalized by atheism and secularism.  It is not easy to be a follower of Christ in today’s world.  Thus we join our voice with believers through the ages declaring, “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed…” - 2 Corinthians 4:8-9.

We live in a post-Christian culture.  A culture in which nothing is sacred.  Not marriage or family.  Not the church and its worship.  Life is not even considered sacred.  The paradigm has shifted.  Old loyalties have been forgotten.  Former worldviews have been cast aside.  A “new morality” (which is really just the old immorality) has taken hold.  The church, once a major player on the world stage has been relegated to a utilitarian role.  How should we respond?  What are we to do?

Do we fight?  Do we assume the mentality of warriors and seek to recapture the culture for Christ?  That is certain the attitude of a large number of folks.  I do not deny that we are in the midst of a “culture war.”  So I understand the attitude.  But I wonder if our pursuit of reclaiming America’s Christian past is more the result of a romantic dream than a reality.  Yes there is no denying that our founding documents rest solidly on a Judeo-Christian foundation.  But American has always been made up of saints and sinners from her earliest days.  In addition we now face a culture sees the Constitution as a “living” document that grows, learns and changes over time.  It doesn’t matter what the framers thought or what they meant.  That was then and this is now.  Thus through the rewriting of the Constitution the church is pushed aside and no longer has a role to play in government or national affairs.

Well does that mean we throw up our hands and surrender to an increasingly secular culture?  Do we abandon the public square and retreat into our churches hoping they will leave us alone?  No I’m not suggesting that at all.

But I am saying that a warrior spirit determined to gain political clout will not usher in a great sweeping revival.  No lasting change will come as a result of our getting our guys in office.  At the same time life is not going to improve is we slip quietly into the night and withdrawal from public life.

What I’m saying is that we must be faithful to believe, live and preach the gospel.  And we must do so having embraced a sound remnant theology.  Our text this evening is found in Jeremiah chapters 40 and 41.

Text: Jeremiah 40:1-41:18

What is clear from these two chapters is this…
Thesis: God always preserves a people for His own glory.

God’s people may well be besieged, attacked, opposed and scattered throughout the earth but they will never be lost.  God always preserves a remnant.

These 4 things constitute a sound doctrine of the remnant.

1. God always preserves a remnant.  (40:1-8, 11-12)
2. God always provides for His people.  (40:9-10)
3. God always keeps His word.
4. Whether the danger is from without or within, the remnant belongs to God and His purpose will prevail.  (41:11-15)

Our great need is not the development of a warrior culture to “take back” society.  It isn’t the development of church growth strategies but rather the recovery of a sold remnant theology.  Don’t read that as an escapist mentality or as “poor little ol’ us.”  I mean it in the sense that because God is for us who can stand against us?  I mean it in the sense that the gates of hell cannot prevail.  I mean it in the sense that no matter how bad things get or how powerful the enemy - God will always have a people.

 

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Galatians #09 - An exposition of Galatians 5:1-12. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, March 8, 2009.

Introduction:
It just didn’t make any sense.  For centuries they longed for freedom.  Not days, weeks, years or even decades but for centuries - they longed to be free and yet at the first sign of trouble they were ready to go back!  Things did not progress as quickly as they had hoped and so they were ready to return to the familiar.  It’s not that they liked slavery or wanted to return to harsh treatment but at least they knew what to expect.  When faced with the hard choices Israel longed for Egypt.  Getting free was one thing…remaining free was something else.  We know that from our own experience.  What teenager doesn’t rail against the restraints of home?  What young person doesn’t yearn for the day they will be “free of the unreasonable restraints” of mom and dad?  Yet soon after the initial taste of freedom when bills and responsibility come due - they long to return to  Egypt!  The dream of freedom is sweet the responsibility of freedom is often troubling.  Most of us like order.  We like to know what is expected and how to get it accomplished.  It seems our default setting “rules oriented.”  Nowhere is that more evident than in religion.  When it comes to matters of faith a list is always comforting.  Even if I don’t agree with everything on the list at least I know how the game is played.  At least I know if I want to achieve a certain level this is what I must do.  But if there is no list, if it is about getting in there and rubbing elbows with others and trying to figure it out together…well that can get messy.  I could make some mistakes.  I might upset some folks and they might not agree with me.  I certainly understand the desire for order.  I understand the longing for rules.  But we must understand, rules lead to conformity and eventually enslavement.  Don’t misunderstand me - there are rules.  There is order.  We could not function without them.  But we do not live to obey the rules.  Rules are not the means to right standing before God.  God’s love for us does not rise and fall based on our scorecard.  I am loved and accepted by God because of Christ - his life, his obedience, his death for me.  The law of Christ then guides me in my expression of love and devotion to the one who has lavished his grace upon me.  And that is what is behind Paul’s statement in Galatians 5:1 - “For freedom Christ has set us free, stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”  Our text this morning is found in Galatians chapter 5.

Text: Galatians 5:1-12

The message of Paul in the opening words of chapter 5 are clear:
Thesis: The call of grace is a call to resist the subtle voice of conformity that leads to a religion that enslaves.

Paul is saying, “Being set free is one thing, remaining free is something else.”
Let me point out 2 principles that work to secure freedom.

1. Gospel freedom flees the iron clutches of a legalistic faith.  (5:1-6)
2. Gospel freedom resists the siren call of compromise.  (5:7-12)

Here in is the danger of the siren call of compromise.  An adjustment here, a tweaking of doctrine there leads to distortion and corruption.  Before long the message is lost.  Beware those who would rob you of your freedom and resist the subtle call voice of conformity that leads to a religion of enslavement.

 

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An exposition of Romans 8:29-39. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, March 4, 2009.

 

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Galatians #08  - An exposition of Galatians 4:21-31. this message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, March 1, 2009.

Introduction:
What do you do when you see people you love heading for disaster?  How do you respond when you see a once vibrant faith grow cold?  How do you root out false teaching without destroying young, tender faith?  These were the issues swirling around in Paul’s mind as he wrote to the churches of the Roman Province of Galatia.  At the heart of it all was a distortion or perversion of the gospel. On the one hand Paul was concerned the gospel would be lost if he did not act. On the other he did not want to shipwreck the faith of these young believers.  He needed to address, in very strong terms, those who were preaching a false gospel.  At the same time he needed to encourage and gently correct the wavering faith of these spiritual toddlers.  That is not an easy thing to do.  They are at that point where they are easily influenced by those who have some authority.  They are hungry and eager to learn thus when someone comes along who has knowledge and experience they tend to go along.  They tend to accept what they are told.  After all these are leaders in the church.  They know the apostles.  And so Paul with a firm hand and tender heart seeks to guide them through these troubled waters.  He begins by denouncing those who dared preach another gospel.  In the strongest of terms he pronounced judgment upon them. Then he set forth a sound biblical argument for salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, because of Christ alone.  He then ask the Galatian believers how it was that he became their enemy?  Was it because he preached the truth?  He called them to remember the joys and passions of their gospel experience.  He warned of the dangers and consequences of a legalistic faith.  And he spoke of his longing for them to look and act like Jesus.  “I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,” he said in 4:19.  Now beginning with verse 21 he speaks directly to the Gentile believers in Galatia and walks them through an analogy that would no doubt encourage them while enraging the “Judaizers” in their midst.

Text: Galatians 4:21-31

You have to like Paul - he knew how to rattle their cage. He knew how to anger the old guard - that was his crowd. The issue he is addressing is stated clearly in 5:1 - “freedom.” This text is about living in gospel freedom.  It is about what is necessary for us to be free and remain free.  As we walk through this text together here is what we will find…

Thesis: Living in gospel freedom demands clarity of doctrine and a firm resolve.

Freedom demands that we know what we believe and we stand on our convictions.  I’m not talking about an “angry” faith.  I’m not talking about a biting, judgmental or critical faith.  I’m talking about knowing what we believe and not compromising.  Believing in both the authority and sufficiency of the Scripture and standing our ground. There are three things I want you to note in our text.

1. Gospel freedom demands that we deal consistently with Scripture.  (4:21-23)
2. Gospel freedom demands that you clearly define issues, positions and doctrine.  (4:24-28)
3. Gospel freedom demands that you reject that which is false while clinging tenaciously to that which is true.  (4:29-31)

Conclusions from the Text:

• We must know the gospel.
• We must understand the gospel.
• We must be convinced of the sufficiency of the gospel.
• We must stand on the gospel.

Living in gospel freedom demands clarity of doctrine and a firm resolve.