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Structure is good, right? When you enter a building, you trust that it is structurally sound. But what happens when the structure starts becoming more important than the reason you've entered that building? Does structure make its way into how we address the Gospel? We'll look at these questions in this study. Galatians 4:1-7 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Want to write a good fictional hero character? Make sure that character has at least one fatal flaw. Want to turn over all aspects of your life in a move of ultimate trust? Might be better to head towards a flawless record. We'll continue our study of Sampson as we differentiate between human achievement and God's transcendence. Judges 13:1-25 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You have accepted your punishment, served the time you were sentenced to, and are then released from prison. But the law that you violated hasn't changed. It still carries consequences if you break it again. In a spiritual sense, what is our relationship to the law once we have accepted Christ's offer of salvation? Is it the same, or does it change? We'll look at this question today. Galatians 3:23-29 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How are your future goals shaping up? Are you anticipating great things on your horizon? Are those goals starting to come together? When it comes to spiritual goals, is it possible that the richness of a full spiritual life already exists and it's our job to simply move into it? Subtle but important distinctions being discussed in this study. Galatians 3:23-29 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You may have heard of organizations that start the process of building you up, by first breaking you down. Indoctrination requires the sacrifice of everything you walk through that door with. Is that the purpose of the law? Is total depravity an essential reality of a true Gospel message? We'll navigate these questions in this study. Galatians 3:19-22 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It is the dream of many a workshop owner to have a bigger tool box. And while having more tools means you're ready when you need a certain tool, not all tools are used on all jobs. Is there a spiritual toolbox, and if so, what are those tools and when are they used? We'll explore those questions in this study. Galatians 3:19-22 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ever tried your hand at the carnival game called “Whack-a-Mole?” Fun for a while perhaps, but eventually fatigue sets in. Ever thought about the possibility of a spiritual version of Whack-a-Mole?” Josh will introduce us to that very thing in this study. Galatians 3:15-18 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The irony is sometimes frustrating. Our God given minds have limitations as to our ability to imagine… God! We have limited scope when it comes to seeing the ways out of a problem until we remember that God is much bigger. Is there a way to live that consistently taps into a “bigger God” approach to challenges? What can we learn from Sampson that is usable for us today? We'll explore these questions in this study. Judges 13:1-25 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Christian life is hard! Ever heard that? Ever said that? Is it possible that when that statement lands for us, it's because we've taken on more responsibility for our salvation than we're supposed to? We'll look at that question today. Galatians 3:15-18 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There are two kinds of gifts, those with batteries included, and those with batteries NOT included. Clearly, the joy level is higher when batteries are included… Tongue firmly in cheek perhaps, but what if we receive the gift of salvation and then are told that “batteries are not included?” More needs to be done. Our study today looks at the potential that this mindset is all around us. Galatians 3:10-14 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You're asked to locate the Gospels in the Bible. Completely understandable that you're going to immediately head to the start of the New Testament. But are you familiar with the Gospel of Abraham? We'll look for it in today's study. Galatians 3:6-9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Once DNA testing became commonly available, many jumped in to explore their roots. “Today” became far more interesting when connected to “yesterday.” Is there an equivalent with the Bible? Is the common sense of detachment we may feel from Old Testament characters justified, or is there in fact an ancestral connection? We'll check out the family tree in this study. Galatians 3:6-9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Maybe you've seen video of someone holding a dog high and dry over a body of water and the dog is “dog paddling” with its front legs. An instinctual response, but not really accomplishing anything. Are there equivalent responses that we have to the gospel? Do we feel the need to “help” our salvation along? We'll continue our look at the extent of the gospel in today's study. Galatians 3:1-5 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How powerful is our worldview? Is such a question even important? In our study, we'll explore the potential of a God-centered worldview, where it may show up, and how to pursue it. Judges 11:1-28 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ever reached a point of frustration in a conversation and wanted to shout out, “Can you just tell me what you're thinking?” We have a prime example of the Apostle Paul reaching that point in our study today. Galatians 3:1-5 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Maybe you've heard the phrase that gained some momentum a few decades ago: “Jesus is my friend.” A true statement for believers for sure. But does having Jesus as a friend leave us well short of the riches available to us? We'll continue our exploration of what the true Gospel is all about. Galatians 2:19-21 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If your cup of coffee is lacking contact with actual ground coffee, you're basically drinking hot water. Not all that exciting. On a much more important level, what happens to the Gospel if we leave the cross out of it? A minor omission? Or a massive deletion of power and joy? We'll explore this question today. Galatians 2:19-21 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Maybe it's maturity, or maybe it's discernment. It's that feeling when you're offered something for nothing and you immediately analyze the offer to figure out if there's a “gotcha” lurking behind it. So, can we fully understand the Gospel without checking to see if there is fine print? Josh Moody leads us into Paul's discussion objections, and ironically, their value. Galatians 2:17-18 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is it possible that we unknowingly carry around a flawed understanding of what it means to be saved? What is justification? Is it just a fancy theological term, or something of unexplored power? We're heading deeper into our pursuit of an understanding of this incredible concept in our study today. Galatians 2:15-16 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Give up all your rights! Okay, sign me up. Not really, right? But is that the core of submitting? Or does the Biblical exhortation to submit mean something full of richness and promise? We'll look at those questions today. Judges 11:1-28 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our study is a review of Jewish laws that were relevant a couple thousand years ago, right? Maybe there are lessons that can be synthesized from what that church was experiencing in that society. Or…. Perhaps the real truth is that this is very much on the nose for exactly what's happening in our world and our neighborhoods today. We'll explore that idea in this study. Galatians 2:15-16 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“I'm okay and you're okay.” Lots of examples of this are used as an excuse for our failings. But is there a gospel version of this phrase? Is there a sense that a better understanding of how God sees us can free us? We'll look at that question today. Galatians 2:11-14 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ever experienced a relationship becoming stronger after a major rift? There's a blow up, maybe public, maybe private, but certainly divisive. We're done! But, by Gods' grace modeling for us, we come back around, reconcile, and end up with a stronger bond. Our study today explores a Biblical model for just such a repair. Galatians 2:11-14 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You've probably heard that “you can choose your friends, but you can't choose your family.” So, if the church is a family, is it any wonder that we can sometimes fall into the trap of seeing others in the body of Christ in less than friendly terms? We'll continue our look at unity in today's study. Galatians 2:6-10 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Maybe you've seen the gospel meme boldly proclaiming that there is “One Way” to God. So, what does the seeker think when there are three different churches on the same block? Or conversely, is there a possibility of doing too much “one way?” We'll look at unity in today's study. Galatians 2:6-10 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Let's be honest, we can easily find ourselves chuckling at quips that target other groups. But what happens to that chuckle when the comedic attempt is pointed directly at us? Is the same true for a discussion of sin? Is it easy to assume that talk of sin is about “those sinners” and certainly not us? Let's find out. Judges 10:1-18 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Passion is good! A life without any form of passion runs the risk of being steeped in boredom. But can certain passions lead to slavery? Perhaps you can think of typical passions associated with slavery, but are there more subtle forms of slavery that creep into our passions? We'll explore this topic today. Galatians 2:1-5 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Free from debt, free from stress, free from sickness, free from the daily 9 to 5…. There are many forms of freedom we pursue in daily life, perhaps without even knowing it. But are there occasions where we go the other direction? Do we ever put our freedom behind us and head back towards slavery? Our study today explores that question. Galatians 2:1-5 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Most people today believe the earth is round. That's a belief that doesn't carry much excitement though. We've been talking about the truth of the Gospel. Can we believe the Gospel is true and remain neutral? Can we really understand the Gospel and not get excited? We're cueing up those questions in this study. Galatians 1:18-24 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Have you ever noticed how many times ads tell you that this or that product now has “something new” added to it? It would appear that we humans are addicted to “something new.” Is it possible for our penchant for “new” to creep into the Biblical church? We'll look at this question in this study. Galatians 1:18-24 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Perhaps you've experienced “the void.” When something is cut out of our lives, often times even for good reasons, the void left behind can get filled with other things if we're not careful. We've talked about getting rid of the “religion of I.” Now it's time to fill that void with something much better. Galatians 1:13-17 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How's your patience factor? Ever found it challenging to simply rest in the fact that God will eventually bring about justice? Whether you're action-oriented or consider yourself passive, God's justice requires patience and faith. We'll look at this challenging reality in our study today. Judges 9:1-57 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“Simplify a lot of what's going wrong in society today.” Risky, perhaps. But what if we looked not only at how we (the human race) reject God, but in many ways, try to replace God… with us. In what ways does society try to avoid the existence of the divine by making up our own rules? We'll look at this dangerous trend today. Galatians 1:13-17 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's a bit like being highly allergic to poison ivy. We complain about it, but then intentionally roll around in that patch out back. We complain about being busy, but often times not only pursue busy, but brag about how busy we are! What does this have to do with the Gospel? We'll explore that question in our study today. Galatians 1:11-12 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's great to get along with people, right? Our world can certainly use a significant boost in societal harmony. But… is there a context in which getting along with people is wrong? When does truth become more important that harmony? We'll look at that question in this study. Galatians 1:10 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Imagine for a second that your car didn't have a Neutral setting on the transmission. The only two options are Drive or Reverse. A bit chaotic if you think about it. But have we come to expect the Gospel to have a Neutral setting? What are the options other than accepting the Gospel? We'll explore that question in this study. Galatians 1:8-9 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You've likely heard that a core method of identifying counterfeit money is to study the real thing. Paul is pressing us to deepen our knowledge about the real Gospel so as to be able to quickly identify counterfeit versions. Galatians 1:6-7 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's not hard to draw to mind situations where new power creates new vulnerabilities for those that are given it. But is the problem always “out there?” I've never been crowned king. Do I need to worry about corrupting power? And if so, how do I survive it? We'll look at these questions in this study. Judges 9:1-57 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You're offered one of two boxes, with the contents of each clearly identified. What's not identified is the value of the contents. If you select the box with a very small value, perhaps you don't understand the riches in the other box. In our study, Paul is working to help us understand the value of what's freely offered to us. Galatians 1:6-7 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“How ya doing?” We say it, but it's likely that we're not asking a question. We're simply using that phrase as a way to interact. In our study today, we're dissecting a greeting used by Paul to make sure we get the real gold that's within. Galatians 1:3-5 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If the Apostle Paul walked into any church service on a Sunday morning, it's likely that service would grind to an immediate halt. But would that be what Paul would want? What does Paul say about his relationship to the church… to you and I? And what does that prompt us to do in our spiritual family meetings? We'll look at that in this study. Galatians 1:1-2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Maybe you're a fixer. If you see a problem, your inner self wants to jump in and improve the situation. In our study today, we're going to ask if we are subtly trying to “fix” Christianity by finding ways we can make it more “accessible.” Paul wrote a letter to a church who was doing this. Let's see how that letter lands for us. Galatians 1:1-2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're looking at how God does not give up on us. This passage provides ten promises that demonstrate that enduring love. But what are the implications of that persistent love in our efforts to face challenges? Is it possible for us to fail so massively that we cannot be restored? How do we glean hope out of the rubble of what we've done? The prophet has good news for us. Zechariah 8:1-23 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Winning is great! We love to celebrate winning. But is it even better to be a gracious winner? This is just one of the questions we'll be asking in an attempt to reframe our perspective on what it means to keep the peace. Judges 8:1-35 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A prophet looks ahead. A prophet of hope anticipates good things ahead. If we've failed miserably, can we still anticipate good things ahead? Is it possible to fail so miserably that we're outside the realm of hope? Our objective is to gain a perspective of how our failure measures up to God's promises and love. Zechariah 8:1-23 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The prophet has lowered the gavel for those who have violated God's law, those who are not holy. He has pointed out that we need to be reconciled with God. And then, in a move of pure hope, he points out how this understanding of our condition sets us up for a significant dose of good news. We'll look at that good news in this study. Zechariah 5:1-4 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Maybe you've felt it. It's not uncommon. We're convinced our current struggles are the consequences of things we've done in our past. We trudge along while others appear to be flying high. We see clearly all is not rosy in our worlds. Are we cursed? Are we living in shadows of the past? Or are we missing out on understanding who we actually are in God? Zechariah 5:1-4 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Power is important, and vital to change, right? Might is the best way to impact the world. And wouldn't it be great if we all had special powers to make amazing things happen all at once? But is power always the solution? Our study today explores this question. Zechariah 4:1-14 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It makes a great movie plot, loaded with “feel good” moments. All is lost, but then suddenly, the least likely character, the outsider, the excluded one, the misfit… jumps in and saves the day. Ever consider your potential to save the day, given the power source available to you? We'll do that in this study. Zechariah 4:1-14 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Yes, there are challenges that believers face in today's culture. But Scripture does tell us that peacemakers are blessed. So, what does peace look like for the believer today? And more importantly, what does it cost? Judges 8:1-35 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

One truth, two reactions. “God sees you.” How we react to that truth is very telling. In this study, we'll look at how to make sure you're on the comfortable reaction side of that equation. Zechariah 1:7-17 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices