Emphasis Preaching Journal

Even though the letter is a harsh response Paul uses the very familiar and intimate term "brethren." He refuses to distance himself from the Christians in Galatia over a doctrinal matter. The story is told of Father Damien who established a mission in the leper colony. For months he would preach to relatively small congregations. Until one day when he began his sermon, "Brother lepers ..." He had contracted the dreaded disease. From that day on the number of congregants increased dramatically. The lepers learned that he was one of them.