ONE ANOTHER GROUP LEADER S GUIDE BEWITCHED: PAUL S LETTER TO THE GALATIANS THE BACKSTORY GALATIANS 1:11-24 SEPTEMBER 17, 2017 Thank you for the commitment you have made to lead a One Another Group! Your investment is vital to the health and growth of CBC, so please know that we not only appreciate you, we are praying for you and your group. Our target for group discussion is approximately 45 to 60 minutes, but you are free to expand or contract the time based on the tolerance of your group. Read aloud or paraphrase the text in BOLD SMALL CAPS when facilitating group discussion. The text in Italics provides guidance for answering each question. To ensure that discussion flows smoothly and naturally, we recommend that you read completely through this guide prior to your meeting. Also, we ve included a section called Tips and Guidelines for OAG Leaders to help you better lead your group. If you have any questions, comments, or feedback, please don t hesitate to reach out to Pastor Pete (petem@cbcwaterford.org, mobile: 209.840.1242), or Pastor Rich (richw@cbcwaterford.org, mobile: 209.330.3023). INTRODUCTION WELCOME TO WEEK TWO OF OUR NEW SERIES THROUGH PAUL S LETTER TO THE GALATIANS. WHAT IS THE TITLE OF THIS SERIES, AND WHO CAN BRIEFLY EXPLAIN WHAT IT MEANS? The title is Bewitched a reference to Galatians 3:1 where Paul expresses his dismay that the churches in the region had been deceived or enchanted into embracing a distorted ( different or another Gal. 1:6-7) gospel. POP QUIZ! WHO CAN REMEMBER THE TEN WORD GOSPEL THAT PASTOR RICH HAS BEEN SHARING FROM THE PULPIT EACH WEEK? Christ died for our sins, and rose from the dead. OKAY, LET S TAKE A MOMENT TO REVISIT THE POINTS TO REMEMBER, REALLY BIG IDEA, AND TAKING IT HOME FROM LAST WEEK S SERMON WHO HAS THOSE WRITTEN DOWN? Have people pull out their bulletins and share the points they wrote down. Make sure that the Fill-in-the-Blanks are correct.
POINTS TO REMEMBER The story of a life changed by the Gospel usually includes 1. The conversion of a rebel. (Gal 1:13-14) 2. A call to serve. (Gal. 1:15-17) 3. Confirmation of a change. (Gal. 1:18-23) THE REALLY BIG IDEA Use your history to tell His story! TAKING IT HOME 1. What was life like before you encountered the Gospel? 2. When did you finally embrace the Gospel? 3. How did life change after you experienced the Gospel? QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION NOW LET S TURN OUR ATTENTION TO THE MAIN PASSAGE WE LL BE DISCUSSING THIS WEEK: GALATIANS 1:11-24. YOU MIGHT ALSO WANT TO PUT A BOOK MARK IN LUKE S ACCOUNT OF PAUL S CONVERSION IN ACTS 9 AS WE WILL BE SPENDING A LOT OF TIME THERE THIS EVENING. REMEMBER, LUKE COMPILED HIS GOSPEL AND ACTS FROM EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS OF THE APOSTLES AND OTHERS, WHICH ADDS CREDIBILITY AND DETAIL TO PAUL S BACKSTORY IN GALATIANS. OKAY, WHO WOULD LIKE TO READ GALATIANS 1:11-24 ALOUD FOR US? The passage references in this guide are based on the English Standard Version (ESV), and are included at the end of this section for your convenience. Participants are encouraged to read from their Bibles, but the ESV, New American Standard (NASB), New International Version (NIV), or New King James (NKJV) are preferred for discussion purposes. 1. WHAT SIMILARITIES DO YOU NOTICE BETWEEN VERSES 11-12 AND VERSE 1? WHY DOES PAUL PLACE SO MUCH EMPHASIS ON THE SOURCE OF HIS MESSAGE? Paul reminds his readers, both here and at the beginning of the letter, that his calling, and the Gospel he preaches were given to him directly from Jesus Christ no human agent or authority influenced his understanding of the true Gospel of grace. 2
2. LET S LOOK AT SOME OF PAUL S BACKSTORY READ ACTS 9:1-8 AND PHILIPPIANS 3:3-6. WHAT DO THESE TWO ACCOUNTS TELL US ABOUT PAUL S KNOWLEDGE AND COMMITMENT TO JUDAISM, AND THE CLAIMS HE MAKES IN GALATIANS 1:13-14? Paul ( Saul until Acts 13:9) was clearly a well-trained, Jewish scholar, known for protecting his faith by persecuting Christians (those belonging to the Way ). In other accounts of Paul s conversion 1, he admits to an even greater degree of violence against the followers of Jesus than recorded in Acts 9. In Galatians, however, he shares only enough detail to remind his readers of his former ways. As Pastor Rich said in his sermon, Our goal is not to glamorize our sin, but to glorify the Savior. 3. HOW MIGHT VERSES 13-16 HELP BUILD CREDIBILITY WITH PAUL S READERS? HOW MIGHT THEY HELP REFUTE THOSE WHO OPPOSE PAUL AND THE TRUE GOSPEL? Paul s history is one of opposition to the Gospel of grace, not support for it. Based on his education and experience, if there was anybody who would advocate for a gospel of grace + works, it would be Paul! Judaism teaches that righteousness is obtained through observance of the Law, not faith in the grace of God. From the backstory he shares, no critic could ever claim that before Christ Paul was soft on the Law, or a friend of Gentiles and sinners! 4. LET S READ A LITTLE MORE ABOUT HOW PAUL CAME TO SERVE THE LORD READ ACTS 9:10-15. IN GALATIANS 1:15-16, PAUL SAYS THAT GOD SET HIM ASIDE BEFORE HE WAS BORN, AND CALLED HIM TO PREACH. HOW DOES THIS HELP PAUL S CREDIBILITY WITH THE GALATIANS? HOW DO THESE ACCOUNTS CONFIRM PAUL AS AN APOSTLE (A MESSENGER, ONE WHO IS SENT)? From the revelation to Ananias in Acts, and the description of how God set me apart before I was born (Gal. 1:15), it is clear that God s plan was to set Paul apart for His purposes long before he had ever heard of Jesus. The Lord loved Paul, and despite his sin He had a plan to use the sum total of Paul s knowledge and experiences to reach a people who were far away from Him; the Galatians are among the first of those people. The words, he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name (Acts 9:15) are a literal description of what an apostle is and does. 5. READ PSALM 139:13-16. DOES GOD KNOW YOU FROM BIRTH? WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT TO YOUR OWN BACKSTORY? 1 See Acts 22:1-21 and Acts 26:1-23 for further, personal study. 3
The passage referenced above speaks to the fact that God knows each one of us personally, and He sees how our lives will unfold before we are even born. In other words, He saved us before we even knew we needed saving! The second part of this question will have many different answers. It is designed to help people reflect on the course of their life, how they came to know the Lord, and how this may help them connect with others. 6. READ ACTS 9:17-21. HOW DOES THIS COMPARE WITH PAUL S ACCOUNT IN GALATIANS OF WHAT HE DID IMMEDIATELY AFTER HIS CONVERSION? In comparing the two passages, Acts supports Paul s claim that he did not go to Jerusalem immediately after his conversion to compare, or get approval for the Gospel he received. He began preaching the message immediately in Damascus. 7. READ ACTS 9:26-29. HOW DID PAUL S BACKSTORY INITIALLY HURT HIS ACCEPTANCE BY THE DISCIPLES IN JERUSALEM? HOW DID IT HELP WHEN BARNABAS TOOK HIM TO MEET THE APOSTLES (PETER, AKA CEPHAS, AND JAMES GAL. 1:18-19)? At first, Paul s reputation caused fear and concern among the disciples they didn t believe someone like him could follow Christ! Barnabas was a trusted member of the early church. His support for Paul and his conversion story obviously swayed the two most influential leaders in Jerusalem, Peter and James 2. While there is no record in Acts 9 of the content of Paul s Gospel, or what he said to Peter and James, he apparently angered many of the Greek-speaking Jews who heard his presentation during his brief, initial visit to Jerusalem. This may be where Paul s opponents first heard and took issue with the message of grace. 8. HOW DID THE NEWS OF PAUL S CONVERSION AND PREACHING AFFECT THE CHURCHES? (GAL. 1:22-24). IS THIS RESPONSE TRUE TODAY WHEN WE HEAR A PERSON S STORY? Paul s reputation continued to precede him as he traveled into the Gentile world. People familiar with his past glorified God over the change in Paul s attitude toward Christians and the Gospel of grace. 2 Many scholars cite Mark 3:21, 31-35 (Matt. 12:46-50; Luke 8:19-21) as evidence that Jesus half-brother, James, was most likely not one of His followers until after the post-resurrection appearance referenced in 1 Corinthians 15:7 (cf. Acts 1;14). 4
This reaction holds true today when we hear about the salvation of those who led notorious lives apart from the Lord. While encouraging, and certainly a benefit in reaching people with a similar past, the conversion of a famously lawless man is no less a miracle than the changing of an innocent child s heart because of our sin nature, we all like sheep have gone astray (Isa. 53:6), and all fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). 9. WHAT IS YOUR BACKSTORY? REVISIT THE REALLY BIG IDEA AND TAKING IT HOME POINTS AND BRIEFLY SHARE A COUPLE OF STORIES (TIME PERMITTING) WITHIN YOUR GROUP. Give people 2-3 minutes to come up with a simple, brief account of their own conversion. Emphasize that we are not looking for a complete, detailed re-telling of their conversion and life before Christ. Remind the group that an exercise like this is helpful in preparing a short presentation that can be used as a follow-up to a Gospel presentation. Your life is the So What? of the Ten Word Gospel, so make sure you know it! REFERENCED PASSAGES Galatians 1:11 24 (ESV) 11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man s gospel. 12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. 14 And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, 16 was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord s brother. 20 (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!) 21 Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only were hearing it said, He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy. 24 And they glorified God because of me. 5
Acts 9:1-8 (ESV) 1 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? 5 And he said, Who are you, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do. 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. Philippians 3:3-6 (ESV) 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh 4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. Acts 9:10-15 (ESV) 10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Here I am, Lord. 11 And the Lord said to him, Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight. 13 But Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name. 15 But the Lord said to him, Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. Psalm 139:13-16 (ESV) 13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother s womb. 14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in 6
secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. Acts 9:17 21 (ESV) 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; 19 and taking food, he was strengthened. For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. 20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, He is the Son of God. 21 And all who heard him were amazed and said, Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests? Acts 9:26-29 (ESV) 26 And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him. 7
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TIPS AND GUIDELINES FOR OAG LEADERS 1. Start on time. End on time. To honor the sacrifice your group members make each week, try to adhere to your agreed upon Start and End times. 2. Come prepared. Encourage each group member to bring their Bible, and a copy of the weekly bulletin so that they will have the ability to follow along with the questions as you go. 3. Open with prayer. While our time together should be fun, we need God s Holy Spirit to guide our discussions, and lead us in all truth and application. (John 16:13; Rom. 12:2) 4. Encourage each member to participate. Be sensitive to the fact that some people are more talkative, assertive, or better informed about the Bible than others. Pay attention to those who may be reluctant to answer or speak up, and gently encourage them to participate from time to time. You should also try and tactfully move the conversation along if a group member carries on too long, strays off topic, or begins pontificating on a particular subject. 5. If you get stumped, move on. Some questions may not make sense to you or your group, or generate meaningful discussion or application. Don t worry or belabor the point just continue on to the next question. So that we can prepare better materials, please let Pastor Pete know when you encounter a difficult question, or if you need clarification on any point. 6. Close with prayer for one another. At the end of your meeting, have a member write down requests, pass around a sheet, or give members an index card to record items for prayer and praise. If time allows, you may distribute the cards, or assign items from the sheet and pray for each other as a group. You may also want to distribute the requests via email. Whichever method you choose, prayer requests should be kept confidential within your group. 7. Distribute the load. Depending on where and when your group meets, it is advisable that you share responsibilities so that everyone has a sense of ownership in the group, and no one member is unduly burdened. Snacks, childcare, host home, clean up, and discussion facilitation are just a few items that you might want to share among the group. 8. Confirm the expectation. At the end of your meeting, confirm details for your next meeting time, location, snack responsibility (if applicable), and any other important information your group needs to know. An email follow-up after the meeting is always recommended. 9
9. Practice the One Anothers. The purpose of your group is to grow together in your relationship with the Lord, and each other. Community is vital to the health and growth of our church, so please make sure that you are observing and encouraging the various one another commands found in the New Testament (see attached). The goal when you meet is not to answer every question, it is to make sure that every member is encouraged in their walk with the Lord, cared for, and connected (see Acts 2:42-47). Sometimes this may require that you set aside the material for that week and just talk or pray for a particular member. That s okay (on occasion), and should be expected. For guidance on how to provide appropriate counsel and support on sensitive matters, please contact Pastor Pete or Pastor Rich. If you d like additional One Another cards for you or your group members, contact the church office at (209) 874-2532. 10