Bethel Community Church Orlando

Freed to Love

Before the gospel, we approach relationships from a market standpoint: How can this relationship benefit me? The gospel reshapes how we approach broken and needy people. Christians move toward them, in empathy and compassion instead of with self-centered motives. Gospel people realize that Jesus came not because He needed us. He came as an act of love, and those of us who have experienced that love should love others the same way.

Freed to Reap and Sow

It’s no coincidence that Paul talks about sowing and reaping after discussing fruit (Galatians 5). You reap today what you sowed yesterday. Unfortunately, you can’t change that even if you pray about it or ask for forgiveness. God gives forgiveness immediately; however, the way He begins to work change in your life is by getting you to sow seeds of the Spirit! To see the Fruit of the Spirit in your life, it is a continual planting or preaching the gospel to yourself day after day.

Set Free: Freed to Produce Fruit

God’s desire is to change our heart so that we love Him without being commanded to do it. We find freedom in obedience and faith in the gospel. We use this freedom to grow the Fruit of Spirit in our lives and serve others. God’s goal is to produce in you a new heart that loves the right things. That love is produced—not by going through a list of what you must do, but by soaking in the truth of what Christ has done. 

Set Free: Freed from Slavery to Adoption

God wanted to make us into children who wanted to obey. He didn’t want us to remain as slaves who were forced to obey. So, He redeemed us—Jesus was born under the law, so He could live the life we were supposed to live, and die the death we were condemned to die. In doing so, He brought us out of the bondage and slavery of sin and made us sons and daughters or heirs of God.

Set Free: Freedom in the Law

Paul spent the first part of Galatians establishing that salvation is through faith in Christ alone, not faith plus The Law. However, there is some benefit of The Law for our lives. While it is not a means of salvation, it is a guard to help us live in obedience to Christ. 

Set Free: Free to Change

The way of faith is different than the way of the law. That is the point that Paul is making in Galatians 3. Our salvation had to be more than simply having our sin debt removed. And that’s because our sin did more than leave us guilty before God. It also left us utterly unable to live the Christian life. The essence of salvation, Paul says, is you in Christ and Christ in you. Where you stand in Christ’s righteousness, and His resurrection power becomes the source of your spiritual life.

Set Free: Freedom to Unite

We’ve called this series “Set Free,” because the book of Galatians is about the freedom that the gospel alone provides for us. In this passage, Paul illustrates the kind of freedom that we experience when we trust in Christ. The gospel—that we are justified by faith alone in Christ’s finished work—destroys all types of pride and insecurities. So, in Christ, we have the freedom to unite.

Jesus is the Best Ever

We had a special family Easter service with games, an egg hunt, a story for the kids, songs of worship, and a message from Pastor Robert. It was great to celebrate the best day ever as a church family. Pastor Robert recapped our Best Day Ever series and explained why we celebrate today. Every day with Jesus is the best day ever!

God's Plan is the Best Ever

God had a plan to save each person that walks this earth. His plan was substitution: Jesus in my place. We deserve punishment in hell for our sins. That's what the garden of Gethsemane means for our salvation. Jesus took our place; He received our punishment. Jesus didn’t die so we could have an easy life. Gethsemane shows us that our priorities have to be different. Is what you are pursuing with your life worthy of His sacrifice? 

God's Presence is The Best Ever!

The whole point of the Exodus is that Israel might come to know God. Moses desired to be in the presence of God. God’s presence is the point of Christianity today, too. How do we get God's presence? First, we need a relationship with Jesus Christ. Then the presence of God comes into our life when we seek it more than anything in earnest, continual prayer.