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The instruction in Scripture to admonish and warn someone is not given so we will admonish people after they have become deeply enmeshed in sin but to admonish people before things get so desperate. The people who warned in the Old Testament were called prophets or watchmen. Even though they spoke the message of God, in general the people did not like them. But the reality is that we have a responsibility to admonish people even when they do not want to hear.

People do not respond well to long rational arguments. Generally the only admonition that is received well is given by a friend in a respectful manner. People need to hear the invitation of Jesus in an inviting manner. But they also need to hear how trusting Jesus can impact their life for good because believers are disciples, followers.

The responsibility we have as believers is to warn people, even our family members, in a spirit of love. We cannot save people ourselves, but we can speak truth in love. That is our responsibility and opportunity.

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Kings 18 is Elijah’s experience of being overwhelmed and exhausted by evil circumstances. God showed up in his space to feed and heal him. God told Elijah to eat, to sleep, to worship, to anoint two kings, to anoint his successor. Elijah’s small obediences were the method God used to heal Elijah.

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The goal is to come to rest instead of being determined to fix our troubles. The better thing is to consider what is one thing I can do to trust God. Jesus has something for us to do because we can’t reason our way out of our troubles. While we are demanding to be fixed we can’t find a single thing to do that God wants. Jesus can take care of us even when we can’t.

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Our troubles weigh on Jesus. Jesus can handle us even if we can’t handle ourselves. The question for each of us in our situation is what small steps of faith can we take in the midst of trouble? Our existence would change if we could believe Jesus is beautiful and is with us in our trouble. Surrender in the midst of trouble isn’t just giving up; it might mean doing something.

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I Timothy 3:13-17 shows us that scripture is important for both salvation (pointing to Jesus) and spiritual development (as “God-breathed”instruction).

A healthy practice involves reading often, prioritizing quality (reading with purpose and a “needy attitude”) over speed, and making an effort to internalize scripture (memorization and meditation/murmuring).

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The value of woman depends on her “created in the image of God” value.

God created man in His image, male and female. The Trinity is three persons but one substance. Man is two persons, male and female, but one substance. Male and female are not two kinds of human, the one more valuable than the other.

This one of three Trinity and one of two human speaks of oneness of purpose amid diversity of roles and contributions. Understanding that women are image-bearers of God can empower them to embrace their identity and purpose. It affirms their significance in both spiritual and societal contexts, promoting equality and mutual respect.

God gave Adam and Eve equal responsibility to be co-creators and co-rulers. No distinction is made between male and female in these responsibilities.

God created male and female with equal value in their mind, heart, choosing, and social capacities, although these capacities function different for male and female. Men have more gray matter for information gathering but women have more white matter that provides connection between different parts of the brain. Women have bigger memory centers than men and better understanding of the big or long view picture. Women are generally more in touch with and expressive about their emotions. Male and female are created with an equal ability to evaluate options and make choices.

The idea that women are dense or less than because they don’t process information like men is disrespectful. This view is the result of thinking “different than men” is inferior.

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Galatians is not about how to get saved. It is about how Jews and Gentiles can become one people of God through the Messiah, apart from the Law of Moses. The Judaizers resisted Paul’s message and wanted to say that he was in conflict with the apostles in Jerusalem.

Paul says when Peter first visited Antioch, he shared the Lord’s Supper with the Jewish and Gentile believers there, but when agitators or Judaizers showed up from Jerusalem requiring the Gentiles to be circumcised, Peter decided not to eat with the Gentile believers because they were not circumcised. Paul says Peter did this out of fear.

The key to the whole book is Gal. 2:20. The believer has been crucified with Christ. The believer’s identity is determined by who Christ is, living in the believer.

Applications:

The danger of peer pressure: we all feel pressure to be and look like the people around us. This can result in sinful attitudes and behavior.

The danger of cliques in the church: people tend to gravitate toward people they are more comfortable with or people who are like themselves. Matthew 5:46-48 warns against loving those who love you. It takes courage and intentionality to engage people who are different.

The meaning of being crucified with Christ: We have died and risen with Christ. Our death with Christ begins with surrender and moves toward self-denial. Our dying with Christ and our life with Christ is rooted in the faithfulness of Christ, not simply in our human effort to do the opposite of what we wish to do. We live not only by faith in Christ but by the faithfulness of Christ.

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What Jesus won us to (to love God and others), He won us by (His love for God and others). Jesus was not a puppet. He surrendered to the Father and the pain of the cross because of His love.

We cannot die for and save ourselves, but we can surrender to Christ. Victory is the result of surrender. God is fully able to accomplish the good end He has in mind, and His goal is always good.

Jesus’ struggle was not to find the Father’s will but to continue in it. Our struggle might be to find the Father’s will, but it might also be to continue in the Father’s will.

If we don’t choose well in the small things we will not choose well in the large things. The unsurrendered will throws a fit.

Jesus discovered the Father’s will in the midst of the circumstances, and this is where we must find the Father’s will too. When a person is surrendered he is free to do what is right.

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The church at Jerusalem, where Christianity began, was composed entirely of Jewish Christians. Peter had preached the Gospel to the Gentile Centurion Cornelius, which opened the Gospel to Gentiles. The question, then, was whether Gentile Christians were required to be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses. Galatians addresses this issue.

Paul begins his discussion by giving his qualifications. He says he was chosen by God and that his message did not originate with himself. The ordained, even bishops, are not lords of the church. They are dependent on Jesus for their message and hopefully love Jesus and the flock they are called to guide.

Paul says that the view that Gentile Christians must practice circumcision and keep the Law of Moses is heretical.

God calls and has a good plan for each believer, just like he did for Paul. A calling carries with it responsibilities. For Paul it included much study and prayer. He also traveled around the Roman Empire and suffered much persecution.

It is important to cultivate good theology and avoid heresy. The more we know Scripture the more we will be able to recognize false teaching.

It is important to be more concerned about God’s approval than the approval of others. We should be trying to please an audience of One, who is our Master, Jesus Christ.

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There is a finish line ahead, and not everyone who starts the race runs all the way to it. Gideon started well but stumbled. Solomon began with great devotion and drifted into idolatry. Demas walked with Paul and then quietly turned back, having loved this present world more than the world to come. These are sobering reminders, but they are not meant to discourage us. They are meant to make us wise. The race asks us to fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, and to keep eternity in view. Heaven is more beautiful than anything we have imagined, and the suffering of this present life is not even worthy to be compared with the glory that is coming.

Finishing well also means staying connected to the vine. Jesus himself, fully God and fully man, went off alone to pray to the Father again and again. If he needed that connection, we certainly do. We are to abide in Christ, welcome his discipline when we stray, and run the race together in close brotherhood. We are called to look out for one another, to lift up the drooping hands and strengthen the feeble knees, and to reach toward those who are struggling before it is too late. Now is the time to make straight paths. Now is the time to run, and to run all the way to the end.

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