Sunday January 21st Service_summary.txt

• The couple, James and Sarah, share their story of finding out Sarah had cancer
• Sarah shares her journey over the last year, including her initial diagnosis and treatment in Korea
• God showed them his character and love through the experience, bringing gratitude and trust
• Sarah faced fears and doubts but ultimately relied on prayer and God's sovereignty
• The couple credits God with answering their prayers and providing strength during a difficult time
• Shift from self-focused prayers to seeking and listening to God's heart
• Finding joy and purpose through fellowship with God
• Overcoming fear and anxiety through faith in Jesus Christ
• Experiencing God's love, provision, and guidance in times of suffering
• Sharing testimony of God's faithfulness during treatment and recovery
• Encouragement for those experiencing hardship to seek intimacy with God and entrust their problems to Him
• Prayer for Sarah's health and recovery
• Thanking God for doctors, nurses, and cancer treatment
• Praying for those struggling with health issues and pain
• Inviting community prayer led by Sandy Volkanet
• Reflection on the importance of time and prioritizing it
• Praying to be mindful of time and use it wisely as servants in God's hands
• Praying for Marnie who is suffering and for those losing loved ones due to dementia
• Celebrating times when we come to God in weakness and realize our dependence on Him
• The speaker thanks God for giving time on earth and prays for its use in His glory.
• A sermon series on the book of Galatians continues, focusing on being part of God's family.
• The passage from Galatians 3 is read and discussed, emphasizing faith as a key aspect.
• The contrast between faith and following the law is highlighted, with faith leading to justification and blessings.
• Christ redeems believers from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for them.
• Those who belong to Christ are considered Abraham's seed and heirs according to God's promise.
• The speaker explains why the Galatians 3 passage might be confusing
• The importance of knowing the backstory in understanding complex passages like Galatians 3
• Connection between the Old Testament story, especially Abraham, and the law as it relates to Jesus
• Explanation that Paul is addressing the Judaizers' claim that one must follow the law (circumcision, etc.) to be part of God's family
• Reading and interpretation of Galatians 3:7, focusing on faith as the means of justification and connection to Abraham
• Faith is at the center of the Christian faith, not just works of the law
• The gospel was preached to Abraham in advance, that the nations would be blessed and the blessing of God would move through him to the nations
• God's plan from the beginning was a global, multi-ethnic, diverse church unified by faith
• Genesis 3-11 narrates the unraveling of humanity due to sin and rebellion against God
• God responds to this wickedness with Abraham, selecting him for a new start and blessing, enabling him to flourish and teaching him how to live
• The nations would flourish as Abraham flourishes and God's blessing would flow through him to them
• Genesis 12 is an important verse in the Old Testament story, establishing God's promise to make Abraham into a great nation and bless those who bless him.
• God makes a covenant with Abraham and promises to make him the father of nations.
• The people of Israel are formed through Abraham's child and become a global, multi-ethnic family of faith.
• God redeems them from slavery in Egypt and establishes a relationship with them as his chosen people.
• He gives them the law, including the Ten Commandments, to teach them how to live and flourish.
• The law is intended to promote justice, care for the poor, and family flourishing.
• The goal of this plan is for the nations to see God's goodness and follow in the ways of the Israelites.
• The speaker discusses the concept of a "curse" in biblical terms
• Curse is defined as the absence of God's favor and protection
• A curse results from living at a distance from God and experiencing the removal of shalom (flourishing)
• Deuteronomy 27-30 describes following God's ways leading to flourishing, while rejecting them leads to curse
• The Israelites' rejection of God's goodness led to their own curse, including exile and subjugation by foreign nations
• The Old Testament story concludes with the nation experiencing curse despite being chosen to bless others
• A possible interpretation is that sin has infected even the "healing nation" (Israel), leaving both them and other nations stuck in a state of disorder
• The Old Testament story and Galatians 3:13-14 are discussed
• Paul's main concern is that the law of the Old Testament cannot solve the problem of sin
• The whole world lives under a curse due to rebellion against God
• Jesus takes on the curse for humanity, freeing us from it through his death and resurrection
• This is the point of liberation and redemption
• The blessing given to Abraham is available to Gentiles through faith in Christ.
• God's plan with Abraham can now move forward because the curse of sin has been dealt with.
• Gentiles who put their faith in Jesus are grafted into the family of believers and receive the Spirit.
• Paul finishes Galatians 3 by stating that all believers, regardless of background or status, are children of God through faith.
• The promise to the church is eternal life in a resurrected world with resurrected bodies.
• The church is diverse with members from various countries including Taiwan, Korea, China, the Philippines, India, Nigeria, Ghana, Holland, Honduras, El Salvador, Venezuela, the U.S., and Canada.
• The speaker reflects on the global nature of God's family and how it was the plan all along for people to be united in Christ.
• Two families from China and India are highlighted as examples of individuals who have come to faith through the work of others sharing the gospel.
• The speaker praises God for his work in various parts of the world, including Qatar, India, and China, where churches are being formed and leaders are being raised up.
• The concept of equality in the church as discussed in Galatians 3:28
• Paul's message that there is no upper or lower class, Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female in the church
• Importance of humility and not looking down on others due to cultural background or socioeconomic status
• The Gospel as a great equalizer, bringing everyone into the family of Christ through faith in Jesus Christ
• The importance of being one in Christ
• Sharing diverse cultures and traditions through food
• Unity of the body of Christ brings enrichment and is pleasing to God
• Communion as a symbol of unity and fellowship in Christ
• Meaningful unity demonstrates the power of the gospel
• Living in unity shows that the gospel has the power to overcome division and polarization
• The passage from Galatians 3 is seen as a fulfillment of God's plan for the nations
• Jesus dealt with the curse, allowing believers to receive the blessing and life of God
• Prayer was offered to thank God for bringing people into his family and to praise Jesus for dealing with the curse
• Requests were made for unity within the church, spiritual strengthening, and a wider recognition of the gospel's power
• A song of response was sung.