How would you summarize the point Paul is seeking to make here in these verses?
How would these verses been a blow to the false teachers at this time? How would these verses have been comforting to the churches in Galatia?
Abraham tried to manufacture God’s promise on his own terms and his own timing. Do you ever act similar in a similar manner?
Why is the doctrine of grace so important to the health of the church?
How is the fact that God used Paul’s bodily ailment as an instrument to advance the gospel both encouraging and convicting?
Paul reminds the church that his “condition was a trial to them.” Yet, we see that the church did not “scorn of despise him.” How should that shape the way we view service?
In looking at these verses, how is the way Paul acted toward the church different from the way the false teachers acted toward the church? What can we practically learn from looking at these differences?
On Sunday we saw Paul use two different words when it comes to knowing God. Why is it important to understand that knowing God is both intellectual and intimate?
Read Matthew 7:21-23. How are these words both terrifying and comforting?
How is “observing days and months and seasons and years” similar to worshipping pagan gods?
How is legalism a form of idolatry?
How does “vertical peace” lead to both “internal peace” and “horizontal peace?”
Read Romans 12:14-21. How does the gospel shape the way we interact with both believers and nonbelievers?
Why is it so difficult to bless our enemies?
Romans 12:18 says, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” What does the caveat “so far as it depends on you” mean for us today?
Think about your relationship with your non-Christian friends, family, or co-workers. What are some ways that you can better live out what these verses are describing?
What does it mean to have peace?
Why is it important to believe that Jesus wants us to have peace?
Has there been a time in your life where you have had peace in the midst of trials? Explain.
What is something that brings you joy during Christmas?
How does joy help us worship God/
What can our church family do this Christmas to share the big announcement of Jesus with others, like the shepherds did?
Why is it important to think about love at Christmas time?
How have we seen God love our family?
Who is someone we can love love to during Christmas? How?
Did everything God said about Jesus’ birth come true? How do we know?
How does the birth of Jesus give us hope?
What are some reasons it might be hard to trust and hope in God?
Discussion Questions:
Why is it important that Paul calls all Christians “sons of God” in this passage?
How do you feel about being an adopted son of God?
Why is it important that we believe the bad news about ourselves before we believe the good news of the gospel?
What emotions do you feel when you think about the fact that you are an adopted “son of God?”
What does it mean to “put on Christ?”
When it comes to the family of God, why is it important to understand that unity doesn’t equal uniformity?
How would you summarize Galatians 3:19-22? What is the purpose of the law?
Why do you think Paul seeks to show us that the law was put in place “through angels by an intermediary?”
How does knowing God’s law make you more thankful for Jesus? How does this affect your affections?
Why do you obey God’s law? Do you ever obey it for the wrong reasons?
How would you seek to summarize Galatians 3:15-18? How do these verses offer you comfort?
What point is Paul seeking to make in verse 16, and why is this point important?
When do you find yourself most tempted to look to your own efforts to make yourself acceptable to God?
Read Galatians 3:18, then read Ephesians 1:13-14, 1 Peter 1:3-5, and Hebrews 9:15. What emotions do you feel whenever you begin to realize that we have an eternal inheritance kept in heaven for us on the basis of a promise?
What does it mean that “all who rely on works of the law are under a curse?” How is it evident that “no one is justified before God by the law?”
Read verse 13. How should this verse shape the way that we view ourselves and other Christians? How should it impact the way we interact with nonbelievers?
How is the fact that we have received “the promised Spirit through faith” a blessing?
What point is James seeking to make in James 2:14-25? Does this point contradict or affirm Paul’s teaching on justification?
What is James talking about when he says that Abraham was justified by his work of offering Isaac?
What “works” is James describing in these verses? Why is it important that our faith leads to these works?
How does Paul’s reference to Abraham support the point that we are justified by hearing with faith and not by works of the law?
How does Paul’s words in Galatians 3:7 shape the way we view the church?
What does it mean that God “preached the gospel to Abraham?” Why is it important for us to understand that God preached the gospel to Abraham?
In verses 8 and 9, Paul connects God’s blessing for the nations with justification by faith. In other words, justification = God’s blessing. How does this comfort us as we walk through life?
How would you summarize the point Paul is trying to make here?
Take a few moments and share with one another your testimony. Specifically, when did you hear the gospel and choose to trust in Jesus for your salvation?
How does the phrase “Jesus was publicly portrayed as crucified” impact our evangelism?
Who is the Holy Spirit? Why is the fact that the church had already received the Holy Spirit important to the point Paul is trying to make?
Spend a minute rehashing what it means to be justified by faith in Christ.
How would you respond to someone who would argue that “justification by faith” is simply an excuse to continue living in sin?
What does Paul mean in verse 20 when he says, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.”
How do we practically live a life of “faith in the Son of God, who loved us and gave himself for us?”
Discussion Questions:
What does it mean to be justified by faith in Jesus Christ? Seek to describe this doctrine in a way that a nonbeliever would understand.
How is the doctrine of justification by faith good news? How is justification by works of the law unattainable?
Why is it important for the church to be constantly be reminded of this doctrine?
How should this doctrine shape the way we live?
In looking at these verses, how would you define hypocrisy?
What hypocrisy was Peter guilty of at this point and time? Why was this hypocrisy so dangerous?
How does Paul handle this hypocrisy? As Christians, how should we handle hypocrisy within the church?
How is hypocrisy within the [C]hurch never an excuse to leave the [C]hurch when we understand what the [C]hurch is?
Discussion Questions:
How does Paul’s encounter with the other apostles here give further validation to the fact that the gospel of grace is in fact God’s gospel?
How would the demand for Titus to be circumcised be bondage (v.4)?
Have there been times in your life when you have begun to think that your performance counts toward your salvation? What caused you to think this way?
Do you ever feel guilty or insecure in your relationship with God? What might this be telling you about how you view your acceptance with Him?