by Cathy Baker | Faith |
Welcome to Sunday Snippets!
Kyle Estepp delivered this morning’s message, based on Galatians 4:21-31. As with all the Snippets, I try to jot down everything
verbatim, but it’s not always possible.To listen to the sermon in its
entirety, I invite you to visit Summit’s site.
- Any addition to the gospel is no gospel at all. It’s legalism.
- Our sonship is no longer based on perfection, but that of Christ’s.
- If we are depending on moral excellence to rescue us, we are in as much spiritual slavery as Hagar was in physical slavery.
Paul quotes Isaiah 54:1
“Sing, barren woman,
you who never bore a child;
burst into song, shout for joy,
you who were never in labor;
because more are the children of the desolate woman
than of her who has a husband,”
says the Lord.
“Enlarge the place of your tent,
stretch your tent curtains wide,
do not hold back;
lengthen your cords,
strengthen your stakes.
For you will spread out to the right and to the left;
your descendants will dispossess nations
and settle in their desolate cities.”
- God chooses to save the world through the barren woman—for this is how the grace of God works. His grace isn’t just for the fertile Hagar’s, but also for the barren Sarah’s.
By what means of rescue are we depending on?
What does our life declare?
Reference: Tim Keller’s, Relating to the Law: Four Kinds of People
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
As described by psychologist Carl Jung, introversion refers to energy flow and the tendency of some people to draw energy from the inner world — their focus is inward, on ideas and reflection, and they typically seek solitude to recharge their batteries. Many enjoy people and welcome social encounters and aren’t shy at all, but too much socializing would be draining for them.
My recent admission to being an introvert was met with disbelief and a few hints of laughter as our writer’s group cackled till midnight—yet it’s oh so true. I love people and enjoy “doing life” with women in different settings throughout the week, but without times of solitude, my battery is quickly zapped.
During our ten month search for a church home, we remained open to the Spirit’s leading in regard to a Sunday School format vs. life/small groups. For various reasons, the more structured-type teaching has always appealed to me a little more. We’ve “done life” with groups in the past and counted each a blessing, but I struggled nonetheless.
Brian and I knew life groups were an integral part of Summit Church before visiting but it wasn’t until several weeks later, when we began sensing a true attachment to the church, that the reality of life groups hit home.
This won’t be comfortable.
Four words that sent my brain into a frenzy, like rowdy toddlers on a playground, until Truth quieted them with five words of His own.
Who says it should be?
In that glorious moment of conviction I realized how complacent I’d become. Since when did anything worth pursuing feel comfortable? Confession came quick (Hebrews 10:I9) and freedom forged in forgiveness swiftly followed.
This conviction, coupled with Sunday’s powerful message by our Campus Pastor, Brooke Taylor, left me feeling excited about the life group we were to attend that evening. One truth in particular from the message spoke life into this introvert’s soul:
Community doesn’t just happen — it requires intentionality.
Here’s why I share my testimony: I know I’m not alone. There are others out there who feel there’s no greater place to be than a quiet nook, furnished with a good book and a hot cup of tea. I get it—but this doesn’t mean we’re not cut out for life groups. It simply means we require an extra dose of intentionality, with a booster shot of courage.
Turns out, our first visit to a Summit life group was a tremendous blessing (thank you Kevin and Carolyn!) We were warmly welcomed and felt right at home. As we drove away, I felt so energized by the group I almost mistook myself for an extrovert!
What about you? Have you ever allowed your comfort zone to impede God’s best for you?
Be encouraged. Your glorious moment may be right around the corner.
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 19:24,25
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
Today I’d like to introduce a new series, Sunday Snippets.
Summit Church has an amazing team of pastors including Jason Malone, Kyle Estepp, and the Mauldin Campus Pastor, Brooke Taylor. One cannot help but want to take notes—and share them—so every Sunday afternoon, I plan to post pithy points jotted down during the morning service.
Most are not written down verbatim. Please visit Summit’s site to listen to the sermon in its entirety, if you wish.
Kyle continued in Galatians 3:25 – 4:7, focusing on our adoption in Christ.
Three ways becoming a child of God changes us:
1. Our adoption secures us. It’s a love that cannot be earned or achieved, but simply received.
2. Our adoption embraces us. It says you are My child. It’s a love that gives us unlimited access to our Father at all times—a love that can never be taken from us. Never!
3. Our adoption motivates us. In biblical times, the oldest son carried on the family business. As children of God, we too are to carry on – to display – the Father’s work through our lives.
Because of our access to the Father, our position in Christ, and our empowerment through the Holy Spirit, why do we so often choose to live as orphans and hired servants instead of children of the King?
Let us choose to live in the freedom of our adoption!
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. Romans 8:14-17
