Building Our Lives on the Gospel Foundation

 

Summary

In today's message, I explored the profound themes of foundation and formation as they relate to our faith, drawing from Galatians chapter 4, verses 8-20. I began by likening our weekly church gatherings to family reunions, where we come together to connect, catch up, and learn from one another through the study of Scripture. I emphasized the importance of being part of a community, such as connect groups, where we can delve deeper into God's Word and understand His will for our lives.

The central focus of my message was the concern that the Apostle Paul had for the churches in Galatia, which is also a concern that we should heed in our own spiritual journeys. Paul was troubled by the Galatians' potential shift away from the gospel as the foundation of their faith and the implications this had for their formation as followers of Christ.

I reminded us that the gospel offers true liberation and the opportunity to have a personal relationship with God, where we can be fully known and accepted. However, Paul observed that the Galatians were being enticed back into a life of legalism and ritual, seeking foundation and fulfillment in created things rather than the Creator. This shift threatened to enslave them once again to the elementary principles of the world, rather than living in the freedom Christ offers.

I also addressed the concept of cruciformity, which is the process of being shaped by the cross of Christ. It involves lowering ourselves and elevating Christ, allowing His life to be formed in us. Paul's concern was that the Galatians' current practices did not reflect the cruciform love that should characterize their lives.

Throughout the message, I used various analogies, such as the broken cisterns from Jeremiah and the stagnant water in a pond, to illustrate the futility of seeking satisfaction in anything other than God. I emphasized that only living water, which Jesus offers, can truly satisfy our deepest needs.

As we consider our own lives, I challenged us to examine our foundations and formations. Are we building our lives on the solid rock of the gospel, or are we being swayed by the shifting sands of cultural expectations and personal desires? Are our lives being formed by the sacrificial love of Christ, or are we conforming to the patterns of this world?

In closing, I encouraged us to apply these truths to our lives, to seek God's guidance in areas where we may have concerns, and to support one another in our journey of faith.

Key Takeaways:

- The gospel provides a foundation of true liberation and personal relationship with God, where we are fully known and accepted. This foundation is unshakable and offers us the freedom to live authentically in Christ. [01:11:13]

- Cruciformity is not merely about imitation but about formation. It is the process of being shaped by the cross, where we lower ourselves and Christ is elevated in us. This transformation is essential for our spiritual growth and reflects the true nature of our foundation in the gospel. [59:40]

- Rituals and routines reveal the foundation of our beliefs. While not inherently negative, when they take the place of God, they can enslave us. Our rituals should flow from our gospel-centered foundation, not replace it. [41:02]

- Seeking love and fulfillment from creation rather than the Creator leads to bondage. Only through the gospel can we experience the fullness of being known and loved by God, which frees us to love others without seeking additional approval. [39:40]

- Our formation as Christians should be evident in our love and reception of others. If our political or personal passions cause us to lose love for our neighbor, we must reevaluate our foundation and align it with the humility and servant-heartedness of Christ. [01:07:22]

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- Galatians 4:8-20
- John 7:37-38
- Psalm 139:1-6, 13-16

#### Observation Questions
1. What concerns does Paul express about the Galatians' foundation of faith in Galatians 4:8-11? How does he describe their shift away from the gospel? [30:05]
2. In Galatians 4:12-20, what does Paul mean by "cruciformity," and how does he see it lacking in the Galatians' current practices? [59:40]
3. How does Paul use the analogy of broken cisterns from Jeremiah to illustrate the futility of seeking satisfaction outside of God? [55:59]
4. What does Jesus offer in John 7:37-38, and how does this relate to Paul's message about living water and true satisfaction? [57:45]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it significant that Paul emphasizes a personal relationship with God as the foundation of true liberation? How does this contrast with the Galatians' return to legalism and ritual? [30:47]
2. How does the concept of cruciformity challenge the way we view our spiritual formation? What does it mean to lower ourselves and elevate Christ in our daily lives? [59:40]
3. In what ways can rituals and routines become a form of bondage if they replace the gospel as our foundation? How can we ensure our rituals flow from a gospel-centered foundation? [40:20]
4. How does Psalm 139:1-6, 13-16 deepen our understanding of being fully known and accepted by God? How does this knowledge impact our sense of identity and purpose? [48:05]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current spiritual foundation. Are there areas where you might be relying on created things rather than the Creator for fulfillment and satisfaction? How can you shift your focus back to the gospel? [31:29]
2. Consider the concept of cruciformity in your life. What practical steps can you take to lower yourself and elevate Christ in your daily interactions and decisions? [59:40]
3. Think about the rituals and routines in your life. Are there any that have taken the place of God as your foundation? How can you realign these practices to flow from a gospel-centered foundation? [40:20]
4. How do you respond to the idea of being fully known and accepted by God, as described in Psalm 139? How can this truth shape your relationships and interactions with others? [48:05]
5. Reflect on a time when you sought approval or fulfillment from others rather than from God. How did this impact your sense of identity and freedom? What steps can you take to seek God's approval first? [38:53]
6. In what ways can you support others in your community to build their lives on the solid rock of the gospel? How can you encourage and hold each other accountable in your spiritual journeys? [23:04]
7. How can you apply the message of living water from John 7:37-38 to your life this week? What specific actions can you take to seek true satisfaction in Christ rather than in temporary or created things? [57:45]

This guide is designed to help your small group delve deeper into the themes of foundation and formation in faith, as discussed in the sermon. Use these questions to foster meaningful discussion and personal reflection.

Devotional

Day 1: Unshakable Gospel Foundation
The gospel of Christ is the bedrock of our faith, providing a steadfast foundation that withstands the tremors of life's uncertainties. It is this unshakable foundation that offers true liberation and the opportunity for a personal relationship with God. In a world where we are often tempted to seek validation and purpose from transient sources, the gospel stands as the ultimate source of our identity and freedom. It is where we are fully known and accepted, not because of our own merits, but because of the grace and love of Christ. This foundation is not just a starting point; it is the sustaining force that allows us to live authentically in Christ, free from the need to conform to the shifting sands of cultural expectations and personal desires. [01:11:13]

"For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ." - 1 Corinthians 3:11 ESV

Reflection: How does recognizing the gospel as your foundation change the way you approach challenges and uncertainties in your life?

Day 2: Transformation Through Cruciformity
Cruciformity is the transformative process of being shaped by the cross of Christ. It is not merely about imitating Christ's actions but allowing His life and love to be formed within us. This process requires humility, as we lower ourselves and elevate Christ in our lives. As we embrace cruciformity, we become more like Jesus, reflecting His sacrificial love and grace to the world. This transformation is essential for our spiritual growth and is a true reflection of our foundation in the gospel. It is a journey of becoming less so that He might become more within us. [59:40]

"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me." - Galatians 2:20a ESV

Reflection: In what ways can you practice cruciformity today, allowing Christ to be elevated in your actions and interactions?

Day 3: Rituals Reflecting Our Beliefs
Rituals and routines are external expressions of our internal beliefs. They can be powerful tools for spiritual growth when they flow from our gospel-centered foundation. However, when rituals become the foundation themselves, they can lead to legalism and enslave us. It is crucial to examine whether our practices are drawing us closer to God or simply becoming hollow routines. Our rituals should not replace our relationship with God but should be a reflection of the living water that Jesus offers, which alone can satisfy our deepest needs. [41:02]

"These people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me." - Isaiah 29:13 ESV

Reflection: Are there any rituals in your life that have become more about routine than relationship with God? How can you re-center these practices on the gospel?

Day 4: Liberation from Creation to Creator
Seeking love and fulfillment from creation rather than the Creator leads to a life of bondage. The gospel invites us into a liberating relationship with God, where we are fully known and loved. This relationship frees us from the endless pursuit of approval from others or from the things of this world. When we find our satisfaction in God, we are freed to love others authentically, without the need for additional validation. This liberation is a gift of the gospel, allowing us to live in the fullness of God's love. [39:40]

"For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God." - Romans 8:19 ESV

Reflection: What are some ways you have sought fulfillment from creation rather than the Creator, and how can you shift your focus back to God's love?

Day 5: Formation Evident in Love
Our formation as Christians should be evident in the way we love and receive others. If our political, social, or personal passions cause us to lose love for our neighbor, it is a sign that we need to reevaluate our foundation. The humility and servant-heartedness of Christ should be the hallmark of our interactions. As we align our lives with the gospel, our actions should reflect the sacrificial love and grace that we have received. This is the true test of our formation in Christ. [01:07:22]

"By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." - John 13:35 ESV

Reflection: Consider a recent interaction where you struggled to love someone. How can you apply the humility and servant-heartedness of Christ to that relationship moving forward?

Quotes

1) "We bought our house a couple years ago it came with a pond... the pump broke... what was needed in that well we needed water that was flowing actively... only living water will satisfy and here's the good news Well Jesus he offers that type of satisfaction." [57:45]( | | )

2) "Paul's concern is their formation it's not evidence of their Foundation the structure it doesn't match the foundation... if you have a foundation that's been laid well that you need to build upon that Foundation really something that's reflective and matches that." [01:02:07]( | | )

3) "Paul's concern is seeking from creation a love that only can be found through the Creator in the gospel seeking Foundation outside of God's love in the gospel that's his first concern." [39:40]( | | )

4) "Paul's concern for this group in galatia is they've returned to the offerings of relation Gods... we can't ever fully be known we can only appear we can attempt to believe that they may bring some sort of like fulfillment that we desire." [53:10]( | | )

5) "Paul's Story shows us that Paul's story includes being Shipwrecked being beaten being stoned... they welcomed him and so Paul's concern is that their current reception of his teaching it doesn't reflect the formation of this initial reception." [01:05:56]( | | )

6) "The gospel is that just that right because there's an importance to recognize the gospel is absolutely primary to the Christian faith and so if we start to shift from that if we see that we're shifting from the gospel to something other than the gospel well here's what we should we should be maybe be concerned." [30:05]( | | )

7) "Paul wants to remind them that the faith that's founded upon the gospel what it offers is true Liberation true Freedom... the concern arises when the foundation of their faith when it shifts from looking at the God who created us to this shift right here of being founded on created things." [31:29]( | | )

8) "Paul he's declaring something incredible that this Jesus is this mediator he is this personal God who you are fully known not because of your work ethic not because of your cool car not because of your awesome house no he knows you because he created you." [54:35]( | | )

9) "Paul in the same way he's not that he has to go gather some teenagers from a pilgrimage but he's going to speak to this church in galatia and he's going to share hey we have I have some concerns I have some concerns." [28:15]( | | )

10) "Paul's concern is the foundation of the fool is what well Proverbs tells us the fool says in his heart there is no God that's the foundation of the fool what's the foundation of the wise men built upon well back to Proverbs 18:2 it says the Lord is my rock my Fortress my deliverer." [01:11:45]( | | )

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?