Introduction to the “Living Our Faith” series.
TOOL: “Using Prayer Time to Cultivate Ministry“
Chapter 5 Verse 1:
In what ways do Christians frequently think about the will of God that creates a sense of fear? Often we can think of God’s will as a needle in a haystack. There are things we know that are outside God’s will (sin; negative commands; “do not”) and things we know are in God’s will (positive commands; “do”). However, many Christians live in fear of missing something hidden within those parameters (which car, house, job, school, activity, etc…?). Part of the Christian liberty Paul speaks of in Galatians 5 is the freedom (even the responsibility) to choose based upon our God given talents and interests those matters that are not delineated by God’s negative or positive commands.
Chapter 5 Verse 2
“A Yoke of Slavery”
(Click Here for the PDF Handout)
Where there is slavery, there is a yoke. Where there is a prisoner, there is a prison. This is so much easier to grasp when the bondage is physical, but in Galatians 5 Paul is not speaking of a physical bondage. The “yoke” was made of wood and placed on the neck of an ox, but the yoke made of guilt, fear, insecurity, or doubt (“yoke emotions”) is embedded in the heart of God’s children.
Galatians 5:1 echoes Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” The question we must ask ourselves is, “Do I experience condemnation in the form of yoke emotions?”
First, we should examine our heart, life, thoughts, and relationships to discern whether there is sin to be repented of (I Cor 11:28) or discord to be made right (Matt 5:23-24). Based upon the context of Galatians 5 we will assume the primary problem is not here.
Second, we should examine the beliefs that undergird our yoke emotions. This is where Paul was challenging the Galatians. If certain laws and rituals are necessary in addition to faith in Christ, how do we know which ones and on what do we rely when we break one of those?
To assist in identifying this underlying belief(s) give attention to the emotional triggers: time, place, your actions, people, preceding events, etc… What significance or history do these things have? What “law” are you following in their presence or whose acceptance are you seeking / earning by keeping that “law”?
Third, we should understand how the Gospel transforms this belief. Paul was not against circumcision as a Jewish custom, but only as a pursuit of God. Chances are your “yoke” will either reveal a practice you have given undue significance in the pursuit of God or something / someone you have begun to treat as a god (idol). Seeing this allows you to strip off the “yoke of slavery” (repent) and return to the freedom of Christ (faith).
Chapter 5 Verses 3-4
Why would getting circumcised obligate someone to keep the entire law? Imagine this scenario: a parent has a child with a 4.0 grade point average (perfect) and says to their child, “When you get your grades up I will buy you a new car.” Nothing can be added to a 4.0. There is no “up.” If the obviously well-studied child tries to improve his/her grades, no amount of studying will result in any progress. Nothing can be added, so the effort to improve will result in infinite exhaustion. We have the righteousness of Christ by faith in His work on the cross. If we seek to add to it, our efforts would be caught in the same exhausting trap of trying to improve upon perfection (see Isaiah 64:6 for another refute of salvation by works).
Chapter 5 Verse 7
Why would Paul ask a question that he and his audience already knew the answer to? Paul and the Galatians knew it was the Judaizers who caused the conflict. In this case, the answer is found in Paul’s objective. Paul was more concerned in this letter to win the Galatians than he was to attack the Judaizers. The Judaizers were (or had been) friends to the Galatians. Paul wanted to focus upon the Judaizers actions, values, and beliefs more than their persons. If Paul were seeking to evangelize the Judaizers or writing a letter to them his purpose would be different. Here Paul did not want to allow the allegiances that develop in relationships to cloud the evaluation of sound doctrine on a matter as important as salvation. In what situations might we find ourselves in a scenario of being more concerned about winning one person than refuting another person or group (i.e., a teenager with questionable new friends) and what can we draw from Paul’s example in Galatians?
Posted 2 years, 6 months ago at 8:08 pm. Add a comment
Chapter 6 Verse 1:
What are the errors that we fall into that prevent us (the church) from being as effective as we ought at restoring fallen believers? I believe there are errors on both sides of restoration which hinder the church. On the aggressive or prideful side, we can tend to play “sin cop.” We can become more focused on eradicating sin than upon seeing sinners redeemed. This can take the forms of legalism or truth without incarnation. On the passive or neglectful side, we can view those areas of life in which we feel are “no one else’s business.” It is uncomfortable and awkward to address these areas so we avoid them or pretend they do not exist.
Chapter 6 Verse 1:
To see Paul develop the posture/attitude of those who seeking to restore others further, consider 1 Thessalonians 5:14, “And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.”
Chapter 6 Verse 3:
In how many ways can comparative thinking distract and/or distort the way we think about life, ourselves, and our relationship with God? When we compare ourselves to others we inevitably create some type of “scoring system.” This system assigns value or usefulness to each individual. From that point forward all of life is about what we have (or don’t have) to offer. We lose sight of the fact that God created us to receive glory from how He uses our strengths and weaknesses. Once we fall into comparative thinking we will either succumb to pride or insecurity. It is only when we capture Paul’s mindset in Galatians 6:14 that we are able to live with a Christ-centered confidence that is neither prideful nor insecure because (finally) life is not about us.
Chapter 6 Verses 7-9:
“Becoming a Balanced Sower”
(Click Here for the PDF Handout)
There is so much to sow. Sowing to the Spirit involves everything that pertains to life and godliness (2 Pet. 1:3). There are more “good things” I “ought” to be doing than can be done in a single week. And God is not mocked. If I neglect sowing in one area of life, there will be a lack of harvest in that area. What can I do?
It is important to maintain two key things: (1) priorities and (2) balance. There needs to be a hierarchy to my relationships and activities. There also needs to a breadth. Too often we choose to only emphasize one of these wise sowing principles. We become so committed to the top priorities that life loses balance or we are so diversified in our activities that priorities are never enacted. And then the harvest comes.
Use the chart below (chart with grid lines available in PDF handout) to begin to think through the priorities and balance of your life. Prayerfully consider how God would have you sow during your current season of life.
Life Area Rank Hours/Week Key Changes Bible Study/Prayer
Church/Fellowship
Marriage
Family
Work
Sleep/Rest
Hobbies
Financial Management
Evangelism
Serving Others/Giving
Household Chores
Other
Introduction to the “Living Our Faith” series.
TOOL: “Using Prayer Time to Cultivate Ministry“
Posted 2 years, 7 months ago at 8:15 pm. Add a comment
Chapter 5 Verse 17:
What is the “fingerprint” of your flesh? A key word in this passage to express the function of the flesh is “desire.” Our flesh expresses itself through desire. This word should not (based upon its Greek meaning or the context of the passage) be given a strictly sexual or sensual meaning. How would you summarize the two to three desires that most often lead you into sin? We should be able to answer this question as quickly as we give our phone number if we are serious about doing battle with our flesh (in a day of automated memory cell phones and PDA’s that buys some of us a little time). Being able to answer this question will help us feel a bit less “ambushed” when the enemy’s attack comes over the same wall again.
Chapter 5 Verses 19-21
Eight of the fifteen “works of the flesh” mentioned are strictly relational sins (hatred, strife, jealousy, anger, selfish ambition, dissension, factions, and envy); many of the others are commonly practiced in social contexts. Why would Paul’s list focus so much on the social aspect of life is the Christian life if a personal relationship with God (loaded question, I know)? Remember it was just five verses ago (5:14) that Paul said the whole law is summarized in the command to love your neighbor as yourself. It appears that Paul is trying to bring conviction regarding the well used phrase, “You know that wasn’t really me talking.” When I speak fleshly words it is “me” talking (Luke 6:45). It is “me” following my flesh (see question about characteristic desires). It is “me” saying my desires are more important than the Second Great Commandment. Until we recognize that our words do reveal our heart we will spend most of our time trying to put to death the flesh of our spouse, kids, parents, family, friends, co-workers, boss, and acquaintances. We will miss (or dismiss) the majority of what God intends to do in our lives.
For an interesting read on this subject consider the blog entry “An Interesting Quote from Eugene Peterson on the TrinityBCH_Gal5_Handout“ for a page and a half reflection on the role of how our wants, needs, and feelings drive our relationships.
Chapter 5 Verses 24
“A Crucified Flesh”
(Click Here for the PDF Handout)
“Maybe Paul doesn’t really know me after all. My flesh doesn’t seem that dead.” Has that thought crossed your mind as you read this verse? If not, skip Galatians 6, do not pass go, do not collect $200, and read I John 1:8.
I believe there are at least two significant marks of 21st century American Christianity, which account for this struggle. It should be noted every culture in every historic era has and will feed sin in some way.
First, we mistake shame for repentance because we believe we are good people who sometimes do bad things. As I go through my day, it looks like most people have it together. I know more of my “flesh” thoughts than anyone else’s. [Note, some people use this to build pride instead of shame.] From this when I “feel bad” for my shortcomings it is as much embarrassment as it is conviction. I fear not measuring up to social norms and peer expectations more than God’s character. Repentance is remedied at the cross. Shame is remedied (unsuccessfully) with positive self-talk, denial, distractions, shopping sprees, and other shame-building activities.
APPLICATION: Embrace the freedom of repentance and faith over shame.
Second, we believe that we are supposed to crucify our individual flesh individually and therefore fight the majority of our battle in private. The majority of the works of the flesh are social. The fruit of the Spirit are most often expressed socially. Why, then, do we try to engage the crucifying of the flesh and the feeding of the Spirit privately? Read Hebrews 3:12-14. Let it challenge how you seek to live out Galatians 5:16-26.
APPLICATION: The courage (faith) to live in the light (Body of Christ) is a key way God drives the darkness (flesh) from our heart (guiding desire).
Introduction to the “Living Our Faith” series.
TOOL: “Using Prayer Time to Cultivate Ministry“
Posted 2 years, 7 months ago at 8:12 pm. Add a comment
Chapter 2 Verse 16:
When you sin what do you do to “help” the “stink” of sin wear off? Often we treat sin like a bad perfume or cologne. We believe that God is turned off by its presence on us and we want to make ourselves more presentable before we come to Him in prayer. We develop our habits or rituals to make ourselves more presentable (i.e., spending time with our kids, being nice to our spouse, withdrawing from people that make us feel guilty, giving extra to the church, reading our Bible extra, beating ourselves up repeatedly, etc…). These are activities that when we use them to make up for our sin Paul would consider “works of the law.” What habits do you have? How did they develop? How have they replaced embracing God’s grace? How have they eroded your joy in things that should be a blessing?
Chapter 2 Verses 19-21:
“Handling Ongoing Guilt”
(Click Here for PDF Handout)
The question is frequently raised, “How do I handle ongoing guilt?” Often it is said, “You just need to forgive yourself.” There are at least two reasons to be leery of this answer. First, our sin is against God and a violation of His will not self (Psalm 51:4). Second, there is no passage in the Bible that commands, teaches, or provides an example of self-forgiveness. If forgiving myself was essential to good mental health, the Bible would not have left it out.
There are many things a struggle with ongoing guilt can reveal. This handout does not attempt to deal with them all, but to provide a general outline.
First, we deal with guilt by accepting God’s grace by faith. Our sin is as bad (or worse) than we think it is. However, the price has been paid in full. Rehearsing forgiven sin is like trying to make payments on a car that has already been paid off.
Second, we worship and accept/correct the consequences of past sin through our acts of faith and thanksgiving. We must not believe that the forgiveness of sin means the removal of consequences. Forgiveness means the relational barrier between us and God has been removed.
If we get these two backwards we are trapped. We begin to work in order to ease our guilt and then try to muster enough faith to worship. Because working off guilt is impossible we never feel like we are in a place to worship or good enough for God.
If you struggle with ongoing guilt, at first do not do anything. Action before embracing the reality of forgiveness will inevitably result in “works of the law.” Also, do not repent over and over again. Instead, pray thanking God for his complete forgiveness with a heart of “I believe. Help my unbelief (Mark 9:24).” God is patient and more concerned that you understand the cross than His is needy (blasphemous word) for your service. Then, out of the relief and joy that emerges, love people, study God’s word, and offer the lost the hope you have found.
Posted 2 years, 8 months ago at 3:24 am. Add a comment
Chapter 4 Verse 8:
“By Nature Are Not gods”
(Click Here for Printable PDF Handout)
How can you be a slave to something that does not exist? You bypass the question of truth and skip to the question of pragmatics. Can this (which is not what I believe it to be) get me what I want? If I begin to dream of the life I want and can imagine this thing giving it to me, I will serve it!
Didn’t this tendency die out with the advent of science? No! Do we really still do this? Absolutely! This is the daily, moment-by-moment functioning of the human heart. We long for things and look for ways to attain them.
What are the modern things to which we become enslaved? In the list below rank the items on a scale of 1 to 10. (1 least compelling; 10 most driving).
_____ Approval of Others
_____ Affection of a Loved One
_____ Power, Influence, Position
_____ Education & Knowledge
_____ Popularity
_____ Entertainment (non-boredom)
_____ Peace & Order
_____ Accomplishments
_____ Money & Nice Things
_____ Other: __________________
These are the kind of things that we tend to build our life around and think, “If only I had more of this my life would be complete.” When we begin to base our contentment, security, identity, or confidence around one of these items we begin to make them our functional god. They begin to determine right and wrong; worth my time and not worth my time; hope and despair.
“But, wait a minute, these things are not bad. I thought idols had to be evil or false. These things are good and real.” You are right on the last point. These things are real and good. But you are mistaken on the first point. To be an idol all something has to do is to take God’s place in our lives.
Begin to recognize what you elevate to the level of God in your life. Then your goal is to submit it (not eliminate it) to “the one who by nature is God.” The items in the list above are good desires but cruel masters. As idols, they make promises of fulfillment they can never keep. Monitor your levels of anxiety, depression, guilt, planning, hoarding, secrecy, and daydreaming regarding these items. When one of these levels become intense you likely need to take Galatians 4:8 to heart.
Chapter 4 Verse 17:
“The Danger of Isolation”
(Click Here for Printable PDF Handout)
Galatians 4:17 (NIV)
“Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good.
What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them.”
Isolation is a sign of danger in both relationships and religion. When a relationship, teacher, or organization begins to ask you to leave behind most or all of your relationships you should be very leery.
Isolation Red Flags (not meant to be exhaustive)
- Being asked to isolate from Christian because they are Christians
- Being asked to isolate from family for non-moral reasons
- Being asked to not participate in same sex social outings
- Being asked to not socialize with “people who do not like me”
- Being made to feel guilty or demanding to come on normal social outings (i.e., grocery, post office, family reunions, etc…)
- Posing your relationship as an all-or-nothing (i.e., “If you want to be in relationship with me, then you will not talk with [name].”)
- Being threatened about reporting or confronting illegal or immoral activities
Effects of Prolonged Isolation
- Increases the influence of the controlling person or organization
- No outside relationships by which to measure “normal”
- “Facts” of the controlling person or organization cannot be verified
- Legitimate and good social outlets/resources begin to feel threatening
- Self-doubt increases due to social awkwardness and fear
Posted 2 years, 8 months ago at 7:51 pm. Add a comment
Chapter 3 Verse 26: 
To help you in understanding “Relating to God as Father” I have sermon available. This message was originally delivered to a youth audience, but should be applicable to all ages.
Sermon by Brad Hambrick on MP3 “Knowing God as Father” (please “right click” and select “save target as” to download the MP3 file).
Posted 2 years, 8 months ago at 7:44 pm. Add a comment
