Sons of God - Galatians 3:26-4:7
Understand It
- What was the family status of the Galatian believers? (3:26)
- How are Christians joined to Christ? (3:27)
- What new garments did the Galatians put on? (3:27)
- How does God cut across cultural and human distinctions in the family of faith? (3:28)
- How were the Galatians heirs of the promise to Abraham? (3:29)
- How are those who live under the Law immature? (4:1-2)
- Before the Galatians became Christians, how were they like slaves? (4:3)
- How did the coming of Jesus perfectly satisfy the requirements of the Law? (4:4-5)
- How did the believers benefit by becoming part of God’s family? (4:5)
- Whom did God send into the lives of the Galatian Christians? (4:6)
- How did the Spirit move the believers to address God? (4:6)
- Since the Galatians were no longer slaves, what had they become? (4:7)
Apply It
- How can you take action to step beyond your cultural boundaries in befriending Christians who are different from you?
- How can you develop more intimacy with and trust in your heavenly Father during the coming days?
Paul's Concern for the Galatians - Galatians 4:8-20
Understand It
- Before becoming Christians, to what were the Galatians enslaved? (4:8)
- After they became believers, how did the Galatians turn back to their paganism? (4:9-10)
- Why did these Christians go back to observing the Mosaic calendar? (4:9-10)
- How did Paul express his concern for the Galatians? (4:11)
- Why did Paul tell the Christians to follow his example? (4:12)
- What had been Paul’s experience with the Galatian believers? (4:12-14)
- How had the Galatians esteemed Paul? (4:15)
- Why did the believers turn away from Paul? (4:16)
- What motivated the Judaizers to turn the Galatians against Paul? (4:17)
- What did Paul say in defense of zealousness? (4:18)
- How did Paul express his attitude toward the Galatians? (4:19-20)
- How did Paul want his "dear children" to change? (4:19)
- Why did Paul want to be with the believers? (4:20)
Apply It
- What is one step you can take, starting today, to increase the joy in your life?
- What friendship can you mend this week for the sake of Christ?
Hagar and Sarah - Galatians 4:21-31
Understand It
- Before the Galatians truly gave themselves over to the Law, what did Paul ask them to consider? (4:21)
- Why did Paul appeal to the example of Abraham? (4:22)
- What was the difference in status between Abraham’s two sons? (4:22)
- How were Abraham’s sons conceived? (4:23)
- How did Hagar represent the covenant at Mount Sinai? (4:24)
- How did Paul refer to the birth of Abraham’s sons? (4:24-27)
- In what way did Hagar typify first-century Jerusalem? (4:25)
- How was Sarah an example of the "Jerusalem that is above"? (4:26-27)
- How did Paul apply an ancient prophecy to Sarah’s history? (4:27)
- How were the Galatians like Isaac (the child of promise)? (4:28)
- How were the Judaizers like Ishmael (the child of slavery)? (4:29)
- Based on his illustration, how did Paul expect the Galatians to deal with the legalists? (4:28-30)
- How did Paul compare Ishmael’s persecution of Isaac to the legalists’ opposition to the Christians? (4:29-30)
- How did Paul align himself with the Galatians and Sarah? (4:31)
Apply It
- What can you do this week to encourage other Christians to enjoy their freedom in Christ?
- What will help you avoid unfairly imposing your own standards on others?
- How can you start drawing on your inheritance in Christ today?
