TODAY:

Galatians - Christ Alone Part 3: Gospel Clarity

BIG IDEA:

Don’t run your race in vain

SCRIPTURES:

Galatians 2:1-10, Proverbs 27:6 & 17, Isaiah 6:8

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

Q: Do you enjoy running, hiking or walking? Why or why not?

Q: How do the Scriptures/concepts from this week help you grow as a disciple who loves God, loves people & serves the world (lives on incarnational mission) in everyday life?

Q: Based on these Scriptures, how can you move from unbelief to belief, from just knowing to actually doing in your life?

Connect with God (UP)...

Q: How much have you thought about what God’s “call” on your life might be? How could that be both specific & general?

Q: Read the “My Utmost For His Highest” quote. How is God’s call an expression of His nature & why is it so vital for us to answer it??

Connect with Others(IN)...

Q: Read Galatians 2:1-10. What can we learn about community & what it means to be the church from this passage?

Q: What value is there to processing life, faith & mission together with other solid Jesus followers, as well of taking care of each other’s needs?

Q: What stands in the way of being the church like it is in this passage?

Q: Read the 2nd Life Application Study Bible quote on back. What kinds of “false believers” do we need to be aware & careful about?

Connect with the World (OUT)...

Q: Read Isaiah 6:8. What does it look like to take the Gospel to all people? How might God be calling you to live this out?

NOTES & QUOTES:

“The call of God is an expression of God’s nature, not ours. As long as I dwell on my own qualities and traits and think about what I am suited for, I will never hear the call of God... (Service is) the overflow which pours from a life filled with love and devotion... Service becomes a natural part of my life... Service to God is the deliberate love-gift of a nature that has heard the call of God.” (My Utmost For His Highest)

“Good communication helps everyone understand the situation better, reduces gossip, and builds unity in the church.” (Life Application Study Bible)

“(Legalistic) religion tends to press its members to adopt very specific rules and regulations. Why? If your salvation depends upon obeying the rules, then you want your rules to be very specific, do-able and clear. You don’t want: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’, because that’s an impossibly high standard which has endless implications! You want; ‘Don’t go to the movies’ or ‘Don’t drink alcohol’ or ‘Don’t eat this type of food’.” (Galatians For You)

“Who are the ‘false believers’ and ‘spies’ in the church today? This role is filled by people who introduce extra rules or practices they claim are necessary for salvation or full participation in the Christian life. Motivated by a desire for control or superiority, they each promote their own agenda or vision as if it came directly from God and twist Scripture to validate their opinions. They elevate nonessentials to the status of core essentials of the faith. Like the Pharisees, they are using their own ‘law’ as a basis for salvation and Christian growth. Certain rules and policies of conduct are not wrong or bad if they are aligned with Biblical principles, but they should never be used as requirements for salvation in Jesus. Otherwise, they enslave us to a set of rules in order to try to be made right with God rather than allowing us to live in freedom by faith, knowing we are forgiven by faith alone.” (Life Application Study Bible)

ACTION STEPS

1) Ask God to grow an outward-focused heart in you by praying Isaiah 6:8, “Here I am! Send me!”

2) Find one way that I can care for a brother or sister in Christ this week?