The Gospel Family

We, as American Christians, have more in common with a Christian who lives a nomadic lifestyle amongst the plains of Mongolia than we do our non-Christian neighbors and coworkers who are just down the street from us. Do you believe that? Or does that seem to be too outlandish of a statement to possibly be true? 

In Galatians 2, we begin to arrive at the key issue at the heart of the letter. Paul, Barnabas, and Titus are traveling up to Jerusalem for one primary purpose: to ensure that the gospel message has not been altered, polluted, or corrupted. How might this happen you ask? Through requiring Gentile Christians to “Judaize” by being circumcised, and enforcing matters of dress and dietary restrictions. You see, there was this common idea – a wrong idea, however – that while not all Jewish people were Christians, all Christians must become Jewish.

Paul is going to demonstrate, in a very concrete way by bringing Titus along, that the gospel and the family of faith is not restricted to one cultural identity. To put it another way, Paul is going to demonstrate that the church finds unity, not through uniformity in culture, but through Jesus Christ.

This is why we can say we have more in common with a nomadic Christian in Mongolia – our brother or sister in the family of God – than we do our secular neighbors. Through Jesus Christ, we have brought into a family that transcends culture and backgrounds. Do you understand the cosmic implications of that? And what does that mean for us today? That is what we’ll be exploring this week.

– Caleb McCaughan

Dinner Table Conversations: 

Adult & Teen Table Talk: 

• What are the “nice” and “proper” attitudes that your culture and upbringing have taught you? How could you add these on to belief in Christ as an expectation for others Christians?
• How are you caring for the poor? How has Galatians 2:10 encouraged and/or challenged you?

Little Learners’ Table Talk: 

• What does it mean to be a part of a family? How is the church a family?

Sermon Title: The Gospel Family

Sermon Series: Set Free

Sermon Passage: Galatians 2:1-10

Closing Scripture: Romans 15:5-7