"A Little Leaven" Galatians 5:9 I. Introduction. A. Leaven: Something that modifies or lightens a mass or aggregate(Merriam-Webster); Anything that makes a general change in a mass; tempering quality or thing (Unabridged).(Greek: ZUME) 1. Sourdough in making bread(basic use). a. Took time to fulfill process(fermented dough). b. Unleavened bread--short time. c. Discuss Passover bread(Lord's Supper). 2. Starts as a small lump, spreads throughout. 3. Used in Old Testament to illustrate spread of corruption. B. Leaven seems to have a life of its own: 1. Will spread rapidly in what it touches. 2. Assimilates(overcomes) what it touches. 3. Associated with corruption. 4. Leaven takes on an appearance that will deceive the unwary. C. Paul's warning: Galatians 5:9. 1. Afraid of the spread of error. 2. The strongest of men can be infected. 3. Paul is dealing with the Judaizing teachers. a. If the Gentiles would only be circumcised.... b. A little Judaistic leaven could infect all of Galatia. c. Leads to: Galatians 5:15. D. Leaven can be productive and useful or menacing and destructive. II. Body. A. Jesus use of leaven as productive. 1. Note: Matthew 13:33; Luke 13:20-21. a. Righteousness is infectious. b. A righteous example will affect others. c. A righteous tongue will inspire others. d. A righteous act will be noticed. e. A righteous life will be remembered. 2. A "little" righteousness, nourished and developed" will spread into all areas of life. a. At work, at play. b. At home, away from home. c. Into courtship, marriage and maturity. d. Others will be led in the way of truth. e. Families will grow strong in the Lord. f. Speech will be truth and will edify. B. The wrong leaven can slowly and surely infect and destroy a righteous soul. 1. Jesus had to warn those of His day. a. The leaven of the Pharisees: Matthew 16:6. (1 The disciples did not understand: Matthew 16:7-10. (2 Jesus explains: Matthew 16:11-12. b. Added Herod: Mark 8:15. (1 A tool of the Jewish leaders. (2 Leaven affected another Herod(Acts 12). c. Another leaven of Pharisees was hypocrisy: Luke 12:1. (1 Could hide their unrighteousness from men, but not from God: Luke 12:2. (2 Hypocrisy is a leaven of evil. (3 Note: James 3:17. 2. Paul's lesson to the Corinthians: I Corinthians 5:6- 8. a. Same as he told Galatians: v. 6. b. The old leaven: fornication(I Corinthians 5:1). (1 They accepted this one and tolerated his iniquity. (2 They had to cleanse the church of this digression. c. The old leaven was "malice and wickedness." (1 They needed sincerity and truth. (2 A "little" toleration spreads quickly: Galatians 1:6. 3. From Corinth, let us learn that the leaven of unrighteousness works swiftly: a. A little teaching of error. b. A little carelessness about companionship. c. A little gambling. d. A little fornication. e. A little lie. f. A little drink. g. A little cussing. h. A little "fun." i. A little negligence. j. Make your own list. III. Conclusion. A. One must decide to be either a leaven of righteousness or a leaven of unrighteousness. B. Let us strive to be the leavening power that Christ desires.-jy