Foolishness or Faith

Sunday Sermon
September 13, 2009
Rhema Community Church

Sermonic Skeleton

Sermonic Pericope: ESV Galatians 3:1-9 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vain- if indeed it was in vain? 5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith- 6 just as Abraham "believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"? 7 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "In you shall all the nations be blessed." 9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

Sermonic Theme: Saved & Set Free (The Doctrine of Saving Grace)

Sermonic Subject: Justification by faith alone not works. (The Doctrine of Justification)

Sermonic Tension: There’s a thin line between foolishness and faith. (Our Church must put an end to Biblical illiteracy.)

Sermonic Question: Is your relationship with God based on foolishness or faith? (The good news is God saves the foolish.)

Sermonic Sentence: There is so much foolishness being proclaimed from American pulpits today. (The depravity of humanity)

Sermonic Title: "FOOLISHNESS or FAITH"

Sermonic Structure:

I. ADDRESS THE FOOLISH (V. 1-3)
a. Paul is filled with indignation because of them. (O foolish Galatians!)
b. Paul interrogates them. (Who has bewitched you?)
c. Paul corrects the ill-advised teaching received by them. (Are you now being perfected by the flesh?)

II. ARTICULATE THE FACTS (V. 4-6)
a. Remember the pain (Did you suffer so many things in vain?)
b. Remember the process (by hearing with faith)
c. Remember the principle (believe God)

III. AFFIRM THE FAITH (V.7-9)
a. Examine the family of faith (the sons of Abraham)
b. Examine the foundation of faith (the Scriptures)
c. Examine the father of faith (Abraham, the man of faith)