Sermon Text: Galatians 4:12-20

Theme:  Paul’s pastoral desire was that those who received the Gospel with eagerness would zealously pursue the formation of Christ within them, lest they be excluded from Christ by the deceptions of false teachers. 

Structure/points: Paul has demonstrated great anger and frustration with the Galatians for their near-apostasy throughout this letter.  Now the apostle softens his tone, like the gentler patter of rain against a window after the fearsome roar of a long thunderstorm.  Paul has been trying to restore the Galatians to Christ, and they need to know that despite their sins, he still loves them with great affection. The Galatians were among the sheep that Christ had committed to Paul’s oversight, so he regarded them with compassion and love like that of Jesus Himself.

1. The Galatians’ forgotten love
2. The Galatians’ misplaced zeal
3. The Galatians’ conformity to Christ