Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed.
Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith.
But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian,
for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.
As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female;
for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.
And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise.
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.
Thanks be to God.
Text: Galatians 3:23-29
There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus (v. 28).
Questions
The good news is that God is bringing very different people together to make the church more effective in living out God’s mission.
- Have you experienced this kind of coming together in your congregation or spiritual life?
- What gifts do you think new voices bring to the church?
Galatians 3:28 says, "There is no longer Jew or Greek, slave or free, male and female… for all are one in Christ."
- How does this passage challenge our current understanding of identity, tradition, and belonging?
- Are there customs or practices in our church life today that function like “litmus tests” for inclusion?
The sermon highlighted the need to let go of privilege, not the things we love.
- How do we distinguish between preserving cherished traditions and clinging to power or status?
- What might it look like for the church to share or surrender privilege in real, practical ways?
We have an opportunity to recognize and empower the "22nd-century people" in our midst.
- Who are the innovators, experimenters, or edge-dwellers in your faith community?
- How can we shift from welcoming them as guests to equipping them as leaders?
The church has been renewed/revived before and can be again.
- Where do you see signs of renewal in our church today?
- What gives you hope for the next 100 years of the United Church of Canada?
Prayer prompts for this week
Prayer for Openness to Difference
"God, you are bringing very different people together to form your church."
Ask for hearts that are open to those who are different in background, theology, age, or experience.
Pray for the courage to welcome not just individuals—but new ways of being the church.
Prayer of Confession for Privilege and Exclusion
"Christ, forgive us when we lift up anything above your grace as a condition for belonging."
Reflect on times when the church (or we personally) may have clung to privilege.
Confess the desire to protect comfort over change, and ask for the Spirit’s transforming power.
Prayer of Gratitude for the Past and Hope for the Future
"Thank you, God, for the rich legacy of faith—and for what you are doing next."
Give thanks for the faithful people and traditions that shaped the past 100 years.
Pray for vision and trust as God leads us toward the next century of church life.
Prayer for Empowerment of New Leaders
“Holy Spirit, raise up voices we have not yet heard, and help us listen.”
Pray for the young, the marginalized, the innovators, and the doubters among us.
Ask God to help us move from inviting others to join our church to co-creating the future with them.
Prayer for Unity without Uniformity
"In Christ, there is no longer Jew or Greek, slave or free, male and female…"
Ask for unity grounded in grace, not sameness.
Pray that the church may be a community where everyone is not only welcomed, but empowered to welcome others.
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