What Are You Boasting In?

Apologetics

Many of us claim that we believe in Jesus Christ, but how many of us can explain why in detail? That’s what we will be talking about today! The purpose of the lesson is to help you explain exactly why you believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. To be able to apply 1 Peter 3:15 [https://netbible.org/bible/1+Peter+3], “but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence. We as Christians want to be able to explain to the world with excitement not only what we believe, but why we can believe it! My Apologetics course has this proposition which was very encouraging for me, “There is abundant evidence from historical sources which is adequate to prove that Jesus is the Son of God and the Bible is the true Word of God,”.There’s so much information out there that proves why we can believe these teachings with confidence and assurance. This sermon will be the tip of the iceberg in terms of content, but a great start on how we can share our faith with those who struggle with doubt or disbelief. Praise God that all of you are here to learn more about Jesus Christ!! -Logan Nuñez Sermon Title: Apologetics Sermon Passage: 1 Peter 3:13-16 [https://netbible.org/bible/1+Peter+3] Closing Scripture: Matthew 5:13-15 [https://netbible.org/bible/Matthew+5] The post Apologetics [https://manchestercofc.org/sermons/apologetics/] appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ [https://manchestercofc.org].

What Are You Boasting In?

So, we’ve come to the end. After six months, our journey through Galatians ends this Sunday and we are left with one question: What are you boasting in? Paul has been writing this letter to a series of churches throughout Galatia who have been dealing with the issue of church unity. How can Gentile and Jewish Christians be one? Enflaming this tension are false teachers proclaiming that the simplest way to achieve unity is for the Gentile Christians to circumcise themselves and observe Jewish traditions. Paul then raises a challenge to the church. You have one thing that you can boast in; one thing that you can build your life upon. What will it be? The marks of circumcision and other self-made marks of righteousness? Or will you boast in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ? Paul is declaring to the church that your identity in Christ is the foundation for your freedom. It is through the cross of Jesus that we have been reconciled to God. It is through this reconciliation that we are a new creation. And it is in this new creation that we have freedom. All along throughout Galatians, Paul has been hammering home that it is Christ who is the foundation of our lives. It is Christ who shapes our identity. May we go forward as the family of faith together renewed and strengthened in our identity as Jesus-followers. -Caleb McCaughan [https://manchestercofc.org/sermon-speaker/caleb-mccaughan/] Dinner Table Conversations:  Adult & Teen Table Talk:  Paul says he will “never boast except in the cross of Christ.” What are some things (achievements, appearances, opinions of others) that we’re tempted to boast in or build our identity on instead? Paul bore “the marks of Jesus” from suffering for the gospel. Where has your identity in Christ cost you something, and how did that shape your faith? Little Learners’ Table Talk:  The Bible says the most important thing about us is that we belong to Jesus. How does it make you feel to know that God loves you no matter what? Sermon Title: What Are You Boasting In? Sermon Series: Set Free [https://manchestercofc.org/sermon-series/set-free/] Sermon Passage: Galatians 6:11-18 [https://netbible.org/bible/Galatians+6] Closing Scripture: 1 Peter 2:9-10 [https://netbible.org/bible/1+Peter+2] The post What Are You Boasting In? [https://manchestercofc.org/sermons/what-are-you-boasting-in/] appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ [https://manchestercofc.org].

Sowing Well

What would it look like if the way we use our efforts and resources was shaped by the gospel? Not just our beliefs and relationships, but our entire being? In Galatians 6:6-10 [https://netbible.org/bible/Galatians+6], Paul begins with a simple principle: whatever you sow, you will reap. I’d wager that this is something we all know instinctively. For example, you don’t plant carrots and expect corn to grow. Rather than providing a farming lesson, however, Paul is trying to teach the churches of Galatia (and us today) what it looks like to have our entire being transformed by the gospel. Is what we’re sowing with our lives, efforts, and resources matching up with who we say we are? Paul tells us that there are two options. Either we can sow to the flesh and direct our energy and resources toward self-preservation, comfort, and approval. Or we an sow to the Spirit and invest in the things that produce lasting, eternal life. To further illustrate this, Paul gets specific. He points to the community caring for those who teach, doing good to all people, and refusing to grow weary even when the harvest feels far off. I’m willing to argue that the last part might be the most important and honest thing Pauls says. Faithful sowing is tiring. The results aren’t always visible. But Paul insists the harvest is coming. It will be worth it. This Sunday, we’ll explore what it looks like to be a church that sows well. Not because our hand is forced, but out of gratitude for what God has already given us in Jesus Christ. -Caleb McCaughan [https://manchestercofc.org/sermon-speaker/caleb-mccaughan/] Dinner Table Conversations:  Adult & Teen Table Talk:  When you hear the phrase “sowing and reaping,” what comes to mind first? How does Paul’s use of it in Galatians 6 [https://netbible.org/bible/Galatians+6] expand or challenge that initial instinct? Paul tells us to “do good to all people, especially those who belong to the family of believers.” What does it look like in practice for this church to do good to both groups — and are there ways we tend to neglect one or the other? Little Learners’ Table Talk:  Did you know that when we are generous and kind to others, it’s one way of saying thank you to Jesus for being generous to us first? What is something Jesus has given you that you are really grateful for? Sermon Title: Sowing Well Sermon Series: Set Free [https://manchestercofc.org/sermon-series/set-free/] Sermon Passage: Galatians 6:6-10 [https://netbible.org/bible/Galatians+6] Closing Scripture: Matthew 6:19-21 [https://netbible.org/bible/Matthew+6] The post Sowing Well [https://manchestercofc.org/sermons/sowing-well/] appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ [https://manchestercofc.org].

Gospel Relationships

What happens when someone in the church falls into sin? What does it actually look like to help them? And what’s the difference between carrying someone else’s burden and carrying your own? In Galatians 6:1-5, [https://netbible.org/bible/Galatians+6] Paul gives the church a surprisingly practical word about how gospel community and relationships in the reality of everyday life. He calls the believers to restore one another, but in a specific way: gently. The word he uses for restore is the same word that you would use to describe the setting of a dislocated bone. Skilled. Careful. Gentle. Not unnecessarily harsh, but not naively soft either. At the same time, Paul raises a tension that we might miss if we’re not looking for it. He tells us to carry each other’s burdens, and then a few verses later he tells us that each person must carry their own load. Is that a contradiction? Or is Paul pointing towards something for us to wrestle with? This Sunday, we’ll explore what it means to be the kind of community Paul is describing. We’ll look at the temptations that keep us from helping one another well, and the gospel posture that makes restoration possible through Jesus Christ. -Caleb McCaughan [https://manchestercofc.org/sermon-speaker/caleb-mccaughan/] Dinner Table Conversations:  Adult & Teen Table Talk:  Paul warns that in the act of restoring someone, we may also be tempted. In what ways have you seen that temptation show up? Either the temptation to fall into the same sin, or the temptation toward pride? Paul tells us both to carry each other’s burdens and to carry our own load. Where in your life right now might you need to let someone else help carry a burden? Where might you be tempted to pass your load on to others rather than doing the hard work yourself? Little Learners’ Table Talk:  God loves us even when we make mistakes. How does it feel to know that? How can we show that same love to the people around us? Sermon Title: Gospel Relationships Sermon Series: Set Free [https://manchestercofc.org/sermon-series/set-free/] Sermon Passage: Galatians 6:1-5 [https://netbible.org/bible/Galatians+6] Closing Scripture: Matthew 22:37-40 [https://netbible.org/bible/Matthew+22] The post Gospel Relationships [https://manchestercofc.org/sermons/gospel-relationships/] appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ [https://manchestercofc.org].

Who Are You?

On this Baccalaureate Sunday, we celebrate our 2026 graduates while addressing a question that life eventually forces us all to ask: “Who are you?” This question often arises during seasons of transition, rejection, or trauma, where our identity and faith are tested. Drawing from Acts 19, [https://manchestercofc.org/sermon-speaker/randall-colson/] we see the city of Ephesus—a place of cultural diversity and deep superstition—where Paul performed extraordinary miracles through the power of God. A group of Jewish leaders attempted to mimic Paul by invoking the name of Jesus to exorcise a demon. The spirit’s response was chilling: “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?”. Because they lacked a personal relationship with Christ, they were overpowered and fled in defeat. The message for us today is threefold: 1.  Don’t Fake It: Christianity is a relationship, not a religion. You cannot rely on the faith of your parents or your minister. God does not bless who we pretend to be; He blesses who we actually are.2.  Faith It: Instead of “faking it until you make it,” we must “faith it.” In seasons of rejection—like the six-month period of unemployment I experienced after college—we must lean into the Word to remember whose we are.3.  Face It: We cannot take a passive approach to our trials. We must address difficult situations head-on, even when it is messy or painful. Ultimately, the Lord is magnified not just through our prosperity, but through our perseverance. Whether you are a graduate entering a new chapter or a seasoned believer facing a trial, do not face it alone. As a church family, we are here to help you grow your faith and magnify His name together. -Randall Colson [https://manchestercofc.org/sermon-speaker/randall-colson/] Sermon Title: Who Are You? Sermon Series: Baccalaureate Sermon Passage: Acts 19:11-15 [https://netbible.org/bible/Acts+19] Closing Scripture: Ephesians 2:10 [https://netbible.org/bible/Ephesians+2] The post Who Are You? [https://manchestercofc.org/sermons/who-are-you/] appeared first on Manchester Church of Christ [https://manchestercofc.org].