Galatians 5:1-15

March 19, 2023

Discussion Questions:

Read Galatians 5:1-15. Summarize the main point of this passage in your own words.

Why do you think this is the main point?

Did anything from the sermon stand out to you or raise questions for you?

What is the freedom that is found in the grace of God? How is it familiar or different from other types of freedom?

Have you ever come close to losing (or actually lost) your gospel freedom? How did this happen? What lessons can you draw from it?

Do you react to your successes and failures in a gospel way, or a works-righteousness-based way?

The whole law is summed up in a single commandment ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’. What enables us to follow this commandment?

Galatians 4:21-5:1

March 12, 2022

Discussion Questions:

Abraham and Sarah relied on themselves to make God’s promises come to pass.

Have you ever done something similar? What were the results?

When have you seen God do something that seemed impossible in your own life or that of someone around you?

Paul uses an allegory drawn from Hagar and Sarah (Gal. 4:21-31) to emphasize that we are children of God, heirs of the promise, and thus have all the rights and freedoms that this affords us.

Why was Paul’s allegory helpful in explaining Law and grace?

List some of the rules and regulations which Christians imagine will make them acceptable to God.

How does your position as a child of God grant you freedom?

Galatians 5:1 reminds us to stand fast in the liberty we have in Christ.

What does it mean to you that Christ has made you “free?” What implications does that have for your life?

What are some ways you can enjoy the freedom you have in Christ – in your relationships, in your attitudes, in your behavior?

Galatians 4:8-20

March 5, 2023

Discussion Questions:

1. Are there any traditions, rules, or rhythms in your life that have become idols for you? How do we avoid becoming enslaved by legalism?

2. Was there ever a time in your life when you felt especially in step with the Gospel and its message of grace/freedom? What did that look like?

3. Are there any folks in your life that you are desiring to see come to Jesus or to see him become more fully formed in them? How might you pray for/serve them?

Galatians 3:26-4:7

February 26, 2023

Galatians 3:15-26

Galatians 3:6-14

February 12, 2023

Discussion Questions

Paul seems to argue that the undeniable marker that someone is a child of God is that God gives you, His Spirit. God’s own spirit makes the presence of Jesus alive in our hearts and experienced in our everyday lives.

• In what ways have you experienced the Spirit?

Read Galatians 3:6-9.

• How does having righteousness credited to us change the way we see ourselves? Our Christian lives? Jesus Christ?

• How does knowing that salvation is the result of God’s grace make you feel? How does knowing that God maintains your salvation by His grace make you feel?

Have you experienced, or witnessed others experiencing, the psychological “curse” of living by the law?

Which truth in Galatians 3:13-14 excites you most today?

Conclude your time in prayer and silence, reflecting on what God revealed to you today.

Galatians 3:1-3

February 5, 2022

Discussion Questions

Paul urges the Galatians not to change course. They initially accepted God’s grace as a free gift but were now trying to earn God’s favor through their actions.

• What has been your experience with Christianity? Did you initially understand it as something based on faith or on rules? How has your perspective changed over the years?

Are you in danger of forgetting that the gospel is the source of your ongoing acceptance? How, and why?

• What difference does it make when you base your relationship with God upon how well you keep a list of rules rather than living in light of the truth that God accepts you through faith?

Paul’s words, “before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified” suggest the message of Jesus’ sacrificial death painted a portrait that the Galatians were able to see. Russell also pointed to the conversion of Lydia in Acts 16 – scripture says, ‘The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.’

• Who is the Spirit bringing into your life who needs to hear and understand the gospel?

• How might you help ‘paint a portrait’ of the gospel?

• Are you regularly praying for the Lord to ‘open hearts to respond’ to the gospel?

Pray for people that the Spirit is bringing to mind as a group.

Galatians 1:11-2:21

January 29, 2022

Discussion Questions

• Jesse talked about how reading the New Testament epistles (or letters) is like listening to one side of phone call and trying to figure out what the conversation is about. Why would it matter whether or not we know what the conversation is about in Galatians? What would happen if we made the wrong assumptions about the circumstances of this letter? How would you go about figuring out what this letter is really about?

• Paul has a lot to say about his own conversion and his relationship with the other apostles. Why is all this relevant to the nature of the letter? What does this have to do with Paul’s public criticism of Peter (2:11). What was the nature of their dispute?

• It seems that the Galatian church was being tempted to add a number of extra things (e.g. lifestyle requirements) to the gospel. Paul adamantly urges them to return to the gospel of grace. Do you think that modern-day Christians can be tempted to add something to the gospel, also? Can you think of any examples? How can we keep from making the same error that the Galatian churches made?

• Read Gal 2:15-21.

  • What does it mean to say that someone is justified by faith in Jesus? (Some translations say “justified by the faith of Jesus, would this change your understanding of this text?)

  • Paul talks about dying and being crucified with Christ, but also about being alive in Christ. What does this mean, what part of him is alive, and what is dead?

  • What are the “works of the law” that Paul refers to in this passage?

Acts 13:1-13

January 22, 2023

Discussion Questions:

• Read Acts 13:1-13. What stands out to you, raises question for you, or sparks curiosity about this passage?

• If someone where to ask you to describe the mission of God, what would you tell them? Given your definition of God’s mission, how have you engaged in it?

• Paul and Barnabas were uniquely called by God’s Spirit to travel to different places, telling others about the good news of Jesus.

• Do you have any clarity on how God has uniquely called you? If so, what is it? If not, how do you think you might go about discerning it?

• How did you hear about the good news of Jesus? Who stepped out to make sure you heard the gospel?

• Can you remember and describe ‘Antioch Moments’ in the life of Philpott church (or another church you used to attend)?

Galatians 1:6-10

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January 15, 2023

Discussion Questions:

Russell suggested a main thrust of the book of Galatians is that we are free in Christ. “Christ has set you free; stay free.” – Paul.

1. What does it mean to be free in Christ?

2. How would you describe what it means to be ‘free in Christ’ to someone who is not a believer?

The Apostle Paul is astonished that the Galatians are turning from the gospel they received from Him to another gospel. The gospel they are turning to, was so fundamentally different that Paul said it ‘is really no gospel at all’.

1. How important is gospel truth to you? How is this shown in your life?

2. How can we ensure the gospel we believe is actually true?

3. How might you recognize a drift from the gospel?

How is seeking the approval of God different from seeking the approval of men? In what ways or situations do you seek the approval of man? How can you change the way you approach that situation so that you are seeking to please God?

Russell suggested one way we drift from the gospel is toward feeling the need to earn our salvation through good works.

1. Why do you think we feel that way at times?

2. Since our works cannot help us obtain salvation, should we practice good works at all? If so, why should practice them?