Here are some questions that Rusty complied for last week's reading. We discussed most of these at our small group meeting on Sunday. For those of you who missed (or were there, but want to see what we didn't get to), here they are:
Galatians 1 - Paul is clearly angry at the Judaizers (v. 6-9). Who were they and what were they doing?
Twice in this passage Paul reminds the Galatians of his past. What is his purpose in doing this?
If you had to convince someone that Christ is real by giving an example of your own life, what would you say?
Galatians 2 - In verse 6, Paul says that “God does not judge by external appearances.” What man-made standards do we impose on others today?
Why do you think that Paul spoke to Peter “in front of them all” rather than privately?
Do you think this was the right thing to do?
Galatians 3 - In verse 3, Paul reminds the Galatians that they are still trying to please God by observing the law. What are some things that we do today that are religion driven rather than faith driven?
What does it mean to be clothed with Christ?
Galatians 4 - What makes the story of Hagar and Sarah such a powerful message for the Galatians?
The story of Hagar and Sarah is symbolic and has a deeper meaning than first appears. The two women represent two covenants: Hagar the covenant of the law and Sarah the covenant of grace. The covenant of the law given at Mt Sinai produced slavery; thus Hagar, a slave girl, fitted that covenant. Hagar represents Jerusalem (vs 25), the center for unsaved Israelites who were still seeking to obtain righteousness by keeping the law. For Paul to link unbelieving Israelites with Hagar rather than with Sarah was a stinging characterization. True believers are born of God and faith in Jesus (vs 28) but they will often be persecuted and mocked by those born of the flesh, just as Ishmael mocked Isaac (vs 29). Paul goes on to encourage the Galatians to listen to the verdict of scripture (vs 30) that it is impossible to inherit God's blessings on the basis of human merit or effort; furthermore, those who trust in Christ have no connection with the law as a means of obtaining divine favor. They (and we) are the children of Sarah, the free woman.Deuteronomy 8 - As you look back on your life, how have you seen God lead you as you wandered in the wilderness?
Deuteronomy 10:12-22 - According to these verses, what are our duties to God?
Deuteronomy 15:1-11 - Verse 9 speaks of wicked thoughts. Are wicked thoughts sins, and are they just as bad as the physical act of sinning? How do we often justify having wicked thoughts?
Schedule for March 14-20
Sunday - Deut. 26; Gal. 5
Monday - Deut. 28:1-19; Gal. 6
Tuesday - Deut. 31:1-8; Ps. 40; 1 Cor. 1
Wednesday - Deut. 33:26-29; 1 Cor. 2
Thursday - Josh. 1; Ps. 37
Friday - Josh. 3; 1 Cor. 4
Saturday - Josh. 7; 1 Cor. 5
See you Sunday evening.
At the risk of being a SS nerd and commenting TWICE...
ReplyDeleteDeut 15: I think Satan does an incredible job of helping us get to the point of justification when it comes to our thoughts. Its much too easy to believe that the thoughts we have are "natural" or our "human nature..." and therefore ok. And its almost equally as easy to find someone who will agree with us...tell us that its ok to have those thoughts as long as we don't act on them. It makes sense to me that, if God commands us to love him with our whole bodies AND minds (and souls), then he would want us to be holy in all those same areas as well. But that could just be my human mind kicking in...
Thanks, Suzanne. Something you said brought to mind something that we often use to justify our thoughts or actions as well.
ReplyDeleteWe do often say that it's "human nature", or "that's just the way I am" when we refer to our faults or mistakes. However, the problem with that line of thinking is that we are all sinners. We have a sinful "human nature", and being sinful is "just the way were are." We are called to strive for perfection (Matthew 5:48) and not be content with our default sinful nature.
I think it comes down to doing what 1 Corinthians 10:5-6 (which we'll read on March 25) says we need to do. It says, "We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete."
While we can't stop a thought from entering our mind, we can choose not to entertain it and dwell on it. Those thoughts that we should not have, we take captive and recognize it as inappropriate, and dismiss immediately.
Both of your comments are very powerful. Having sinful thoughts is a HUGE deal I believe because it is something that noone else knows about except you and God, and it can be something that is a private matter. And to say "that's just the way I am", as you put it Scott, is a lie that Satan wants us to believe. I can't find the reference, but the bible says something to the effect "what is done in the dark will be made light"- so what we think is our private sinful thought will be broadcast eventually. Which is even more evidence of taking every thought captive and search it.
ReplyDeleteI'm crazy!!!! I was reading the reading for today, and the reference that I couldn't put my finger on is 1 Corinthians 4:5. Forgive me.
ReplyDelete