The AL PASTOR podcast

When studying the book of Paul's letter to the churches in Galatia, many readers get bogged down in historical controversies about circumcision and Jewish law. However, beneath the theological surface lies a deeply practical question about human mot…

Where We're Going — Galatians Introduction, Part 2 Before we walk Galatians verse by verse, we take it from thirty thousand feet. Six chapters, three parts, one destination. Paul opens by telling his own story, because someone had walked into these churches and told them his gospel was second hand. It wasn't. It came by the revelation of Jesus Christ... the same revelation we hold in our hands today. Then he explains what it says: justified by faith, adopted as sons, made full heirs. And then t

Almost nobody walks away from Jesus. They just add to Him. One word, "unless," is what nearly cost the Galatian churches the gospel.This is Part 1 of a two-part introduction to Galatians, the Bible study companion to Sunday's sermon. Before we go verse by verse, we go back to Acts 13 through 15 to see where these churches came from, what came in behind Paul, and why he fought the way he did.WHAT WE COVER- Paul and James are not at war. Why "faith," "works," and "justify" carry different senses i

Subtle legalism and the dangerous 'Jesus plus' mentality can slowly infiltrate even the most well-meaning Christian communities, replacing the liberating message of unearned grace with unspoken rules, cultural performance standards, and a suffocatin…

Paul planted a church on grace, then watched false teachers try to add "Jesus plus" circumcision and the law until the whole gospel was almost lost. In this first introduction to Galatians, we trace the story in three parts: a gospel planted, threatened, and defended by a man who would rather curse an angel than watch grace get traded away. The big question underneath it all: what would you fight to protect? Come see why the answer is grace plus nothing, and why it's still worth guarding today.

This post explores the biblical basis for the belief that Christians are exempt from the future seven-year Tribulation period. We delve into specific scriptures and theological arguments that suggest believers will be removed before God's wrath is p…