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Apr 08, 2018

To Reap a Good Harvest

To Reap a Good Harvest

Passage: Galatians 6:6-18

Speaker: Ben Seneker

Series: Free, a study in the book of Galatians

Just as Paul wrote in Galatians 5 that we are to “walk by the Spirit” and “keep in step with the Spirit,” Paul concludes this letter by telling us that we are to “sow to the Spirit.” Paul then continues with this agricultural metaphor by saying if we sow to the Spirit, we will reap eternal life. Does this mean that we are saved by works? Absolutely not! As he has said repeatedly through this letter, we are saved by faith in Jesus, and not by good deeds. Nevertheless, Paul tells us to not grow weary of doing good. How does this, then, compliment the gospel of Christ, without contradicting it?

Order of Worship

Call to Worship: Psalm 95:1-3
Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 40:29-31
New Testament Reading: 2 Corinthians 9:6-9
Sermon Title: To Reap a Good Harvest
Central Text: Galatians 6:6-18
Benediction: 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

04.08.18 Lyrics

04.08.18 Sermon Slides

Readings & Scripture

Call to Worship: Psalm 95:1-3
LEADER: Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! 2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise.
ALL: 3 For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 40:29-31
29 He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.
30 Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted;
31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

New Testament Reading: 2 Corinthians 9:6-9
6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 9 As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.”

Central Text: Galatians 6:6-18
6 Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. 7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 10 So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.
11 See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. 12 It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. 14 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 16 And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. 17 From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.
18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.

Benediction: 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
LEADER: 16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

ALL: Amen.

Related Scriptures:

Genesis 8:22
While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.

Job 4:8
As I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same.

Matthew 13:39b-43
The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40 Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, 42 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

2 Corinthians 9:6
The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

Discussion Questions & Applications:

  1. How can believers mock God, or turn our noses up to him?  What are we forgetting when we behave in this manner?
  2. How is this truism, “you reap what you sow,” reinforced in culture?  How does the truth of the gospel prevent us from viewing God and our salvation through this same lens?  In other words, how does the gospel keep us from believing that we can save ourselves?
  3. How is Paul’s statement at the end of Galatians 6:8 (“you shall reap eternal life”) not a contradiction of the gospel of grace?
  4. What does gospel boasting look like?  What does it mean to boast in the cross?
  5. Think about one or two real-life practical ways you can love somebody (maybe through some organization) this month?

Quotes:

  • “There are two sorts of seeds which men sow in this life, good and evil.  Two kinds of sowers, spiritual men, and carnal men. Two sorts of ground, in which this seed is sown; the flesh and the spirit.  Two sorts of harvests, which men are to reap according to the seed; corruption, and life.” ~William Perkins
  • “Spiritual life flows from the third person of the Trinity. The life of the Holy Spirit can be nurtured by using the means of grace - reading Scripture, attending public worship, and so on - but the life itself comes from God. And the life of the Spirit flourishes for the sake of others. It is not experienced in private, primarily, but exercised in public.”    ~ Philip Ryken

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