LESSON ONE:
LEAVING GRACE?
Paul writes: “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all.” GALATIANS 1:6–7
Big Picture: To avoid confrontation, we often accept someone else’s “truth” based on their stubborn insistence. Don’t be afraid to pause to consider how “grace” sets Christianity apart from every religion in the WORLD.
Question: Why do you think “grace” is so easily dismissed when considering our relationship to an Eternal God?
LESSON TWO
DEFENDING THE GOSPEL
Paul writes: “But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. . . . It came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.” GALATIANS 1:11–12 NKJV
Big Picture: Paul reminds us that the Gospel, the story of an Invitation to Redemption didn’t come by any man. It came through the revelation of Jesus Christ. (Note: Paul’s previous life was full of murder and torture. Guilt would easily have crippled him. But God’s invitation to experience Grace dominated the story of the gospel).
Question: Why do you think it’s important to grasp that this whole concept of ‘grace’ came from Jesus?
LESSON THREE
RIGHT WITH GOD
Paul emphasizes: “I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” GALATIANS 2:21
Big Picture: LESSON THREE reminds us that any attempt at following a check list of goodness would only serve to exalt those who claimed success and defeat those who second-guessed their actions. The Grace that Christ invites us to is the only true “absolute” to how to live righteous.
Story: Jumping the Grand Canyon
*The Law is the context for the powerful promise of grace given to us by God through Jesus Christ. 3:1-29
LESSON FOUR
FAITH ALONE!
Paul asks: “This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?”
GALATIANS 3:2 NKJV
Big Picture: LESSON FOUR reminds us of the power that comes through our faith in God - God’s power; God’s love; God’s forgiveness; God’s sovereignty. And ultimately it is our acceptance of God’s gift and not our own works that will bring us right before God. Just like Abraham, we are made right with God by FAITH alone.
Question to ask yourself: Where are you struggling to find the faith to believe?
LESSON FIVE
THE LAW AND THE PROMISE
Paul writes: “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us . . . so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.” GALATIANS 3:13–14
Big Picture: Christ not only offered us a gift of grace, but also took our place by taking on the penalty of sin for all of us.
Question: What causes us to reject such a gift?
LESSON SIX
THE PURPOSE OF THE LAW
Paul explains: “Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.” GALATIANS 3:24–25 NKJV
Big Picture: Okay. So now LESSON SIX answers an obvious question: If people are not saved by trying to follow God’s rules, what was the purpose of those rules in the first place? Galatians 3:19 Why, then was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come.
Conclusion: Through Jesus Christ we are given the gracious gift of becoming God’s children and heirs of his promises. Galatians 4:1-31
LESSON SEVEN
CHILDREN OF GOD
Paul points out: “So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.”
GALATIANS 4:7
Big Picture: LESSON SEVEN works to relate that we are “heirs” with Jesus. We now have the privileges and rights that come by being joint-heirs with Jesus ; no longer a slave but God’s child.
Conclusion: God is indeed building a family.
LESSON EIGHT
BECOMING LIKE CHRIST
Paul reflects: “My infirmity which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. GALATIANS 4:14 NKJV
Big Picture: LESSON EIGHT tries to teach us that the goal of the Christian life is not about gaining more knowledge, memorizing large chunks of the Bible or comprehending a boatload of theology. It’s not about activity or a “to-do” list. Christ’s ultimate desire for each of us is to make us like himself.
Conclusion: We are being transformed into the image of God’s Son.
Lucado, Max. Life Lessons from Galatians. HarperChristian Resources. Kindle Edition.
