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April 20, 2008)
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April 20, 2008 – Mark 12.30a (Galatians
3:26-4:7)
Open It
1. What
would be the advantages of growing up in a multiethnic neighborhood?
2. If
you could become part of another family, which family would you choose?
3. What
was the family status of the Galatian believers? (3:26)
4. How
are Christians joined to Christ? (3:27)
5. What
new garments did the Galatians put on? (3:27)
6. How
does God cut across cultural and human distinctions in the family of faith?
(3:28)
7. How
were the Galatians heirs of the promise to Abraham? (3:29)
8. How
are those who live under the Law immature? (4:1-2)
9. Before
the Galatians became Christians, how were they like slaves? (4:3)
10. How
did the coming of Jesus perfectly satisfy the requirements of the Law? (4:4-5)
11. How
did the believers benefit by becoming part of God's family? (4:5)
12. Whom
did God send into the lives of the Galatian Christians? (4:6)
13. How
did the Spirit move the believers to address God? (4:6)
14. Since
the Galatians were no longer slaves, what had they become? (4:7)
Get It
15. How
would you describe your spiritual clothing?
16. What
is your favorite way to address God?
17. If
you were a Galatian Christian, how would you feel after learning of your
position in God's family?
18. As
a child of God, do you behave like a slave or more like an heir?
19. In
what ways do even Christians discriminate or value some types of people over
others?
20. How
do many churches hold on to cultural barriers even as they represent Christ?
21. In
what ways should churches work to break down barriers between groups?
Apply It
22. How
can you take action to step beyond your cultural boundaries in befriending
Christians who are different from you?
23. How
can you develop more intimacy with and trust in your heavenly Father during the
coming days?
Galatians 3:26-27: By becoming Christians and being baptized, the Galatian believers
were becoming spiritually grown up and ready to take on the privileges and
responsibilities of the more mature. Paul was saying that they had laid aside
the old clothes of the law, and were putting on Christ's new robe of
righteousness
Galatians 3:28: It's our natural inclination to feel uncomfortable around people
who are different from us and to gravitate toward those who are similar to us.
But when we allow our differences to separate us from our fellow believers, we
are disregarding clear Biblical teaching.
Galatians 3:29: The original promise to Abraham was intended for the whole world,
not just for Abraham's descendants. All believers participate in this promise
and are blessed as children of Abraham.
Galatians 4:3-7: The "basic principles of the world" are the elementary
stages of religious practice, whether in the Jewish or pagan religion. Paul
uses the illustration of slavery to show that before Christ came and died for
sins, people were in bondage to the law. Thinking they could be saved by it,
they became enslaved to trying-and failing-to keep it. But we who were once
slaves are now God's very own children who have an intimate relationship with
him. Because of Christ, there is no reason to be afraid of God. We can come
boldly into his presence, knowing that he will welcome us as his family
members.
4:4 "When the time had fully come," God sent Jesus to earth
to die for our sins. For centuries the Jews had been wondering when their
Messiah would come-but God's timing was perfect. We may sometimes wonder if God
will ever respond to our prayers. But we must never doubt him or give up hope.
At the right time he will respond. Are you waiting for God's timing? Trust his
judgment and trust that he has your best interests in mind.
4:4-5 Jesus was born of a woman-he was human. He was born as a Jew-he
was subject to God's law and fulfilled it perfectly. Thus Jesus was the perfect
sacrifice because, although he was fully human, he never sinned. His death
bought freedom for us who were enslaved to sin so that we could be adopted into
God's family.
4:5-7 Under Roman law, an adopted child was guaranteed all legal rights
to his father's property, even if he was formerly a slave. He was not a
second-class son; he was equal to all other sons, biological or adopted, in his
father's family. Abba is an
Aramaic word for father. It was used by Christ in his prayer in Mark 14:36. As
adopted children of God, we share with Jesus all rights to God's resources. As
God's heirs, we can claim what he has provided for us-our full identity as his
children (see Romans 8:15-17).
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