GALATIANS BOOKS OF FAITH SERIES Leader Session Guide David Housholder Minneapolis
CONTENTS Introduction 5 What Happens to People Pleasers? 9 1 Galatians 1:1-24 Is There One, and Only One, Gospel (Good Message)? 21 2 Galatians 2:1-21 So... What about God s Rules Now? 35 3 Galatians 3:6-29; 5:18 How Do We Live by the Spirit? 47 4 Galatians 3:1-5; 5:1-26; 6:8-10
Galatians 3:6-29; 5:18 So... What about God s Rules Now? Leader Session Guide Focus Statement We are justified by faith, and with the help of the Spirit we are called to live out that faith in a way that pleases God and serves our neighbors. Session Preparation Before You Begin... If you ve read much of the Bible, you will notice that most of us Christians are no longer keeping all of the instructions that we find throughout the book. Think about why that is. Actually, the letter to the Galatians has a lot to do with this. Paul had a critical decision to make as he was evangelizing among those who were not Jews. He wondered: What do I do about the Bible? Do I instruct them in the commandments, or do I just introduce them to the living Christ, and bypass the expectations of the biblical law? Paul decided for the latter, and history changed forever. Session Instructions 1. View the Session Prep Video. Key Verse The one who is righteous will live by faith. Galatians 3:11b Focus Image Cusp / SuperStock 2. Read this Session Leader Guide completely. Note especially the highlighted portions of the overview, which contain the key aspects of the session. Be sure to acquaint yourself with the leader tips, definitions, and any Bonus Activities you may wish to do. 3. Review the session to determine if any materials might be needed, such as a DVD player, chart paper and markers, a concordance, hymnals, and so forth. 4. Keep in mind the conversational nature of Book of Faith Adult Bible Studies. Your role is to facilitate the conversation so that everyone has an opportunity to contribute to the discussion. In keeping with this interactive vibe, please ensure everyone brings or has access to a Bible; have some available just in case. Actual Bible use is at the heart of the purpose of the course. Session Overview In this session, you and your learners will explore the questions: Why did God send the law? What do we do with it now? In addition, the session focuses on four key themes or questions: Who was Abraham, and why does Paul use him to bolster his argument against imposing the law on the Galatian converts? What is the nature of the law and its relationship to grace? What are the potent implications of the unity verse (3:28)? What does it mean to be in Christ? Session 3: Galatians 3:6-29; 5:18 35
Historical Context Review, quickly, the Historical Context segment from your leader guide from the last two sessions, just to refresh, in your mind, the big picture. Remind yourself of what happened at the Apostolic Council and what was at stake there. Bear in mind the following when preparing and teaching: Many of Paul s Gentile converts were unfamiliar with Judaism and/or the Bible. The earliest church was unclear about what to do with Gentile converts. What would be expected of them? Paul s solution was at once bold, brazen, and inspired: They must not be required to submit to Jewish law or custom to become Christians. Historically speaking, Abraham came centuries before the law was given to Moses. The last point is particularly important in this session. You might want to use the sports term end run to describe Paul s bypassing the law of Moses and going back to Abraham. Using the timeline and brief descriptions in this section, you and the learners will explore the connections between key figures in the Old Testament and how Paul uses the Scriptures of the Jewish people to make his points about the law. Literary Context We will take a literary look at the Bible as first-century Jews knew it. Of course, Paul was just beginning to write the New Testament with Galatians (which may have been the first New Testament book written down), so there was nothing to go on here. Paul had access to a Greek version of the Old Testament. The Old Testament (OT) is also sometimes referred to as the Hebrew Bible. Paul s Greek version of the OT was known as the Septuagint; abbreviated LXX in Bible study literature. In the original Hebrew language, the OT was divided into three major segments: The Torah (accent on the first syllable). First five books in the English Bible. Also called Books of Moses in the New Testament. Called the Pentateuch in Greek. Often called the nomos (Greek), or law. The Nevi im (emphasis on the first and third syllables). The Prophets. This section includes many of the books we call history (Joshua through 2 Kings) and most of the prophets, such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, and so forth. 36 Galatians Leader Guide
The Ketuvim (emphasis on the last syllable). The writings. All of the books in the Old Testament that don t fit under Torah or Nevi im. This includes the writings such as Psalms, Proverbs, and Job. Informally speaking, most Jews in Paul s day saw these three segments as having descending authority, with Torah as most binding and Ketuvim as least binding. Jesus talked this way too. He used common labels like the law and the prophets to refer to Scripture. He also referred to the Torah as Moses. When Paul refers to the law, he is using the Greek term nomos. In one sense, he is referring to the Torah. But in another sense, he is referring to the entire global sense of God s rules and expectations of us. So the primary literary learning is how the book of Galatians reaches back and makes major claims about the Torah/nomos revolutionary claims! Lutheran Context In this section you and your group will look at basic Lutheran understandings of law and gospel, the use of the Ten Commandments, and the Lutheran perspective on the authority of Scripture. We will simply introduce law and gospel. An in-depth study of the different uses of the law is beyond the scope of this study, but it is helpful to keep in mind at least two uses. One use might be called a civil use of the law. The law exists as a means of protecting the community and encouraging just and fair treatment for all. A second use might be called a spiritual use of the law. The law reveals the depth of our sin and inability to measure up to God s standards. This use helps us to see our need for Jesus and the gracious forgiveness he provides. The Ten Commandments are from the Torah/nomos. Most of us assume that they are still binding. If you were raised Lutheran, you probably memorized them, and they weren t called the Ten Suggestions. Luther placed them first in his Small Catechism, which is one of the most printed booklets of all human history. In this sense he felt they were an important part of basic Christian teaching. Some of us may have learned in Sunday school or confirmation that we are obligated to follow them. It s interesting to wonder what Paul, according to what we read in Galatians, may have taught new converts about the Ten Commandments. Would it have been on his short list of things to Session 3: Galatians 3:6-29; 5:18 37
teach to new Christians? It seems doubtful, and yet he does not suggest that Christians throw out the law completely. Lutherans use the phrase final authority in matters of faith and life to describe the Bible. This concept is the one of sola scriptura, or scripture alone. But what becomes of this Bible authority (especially the commandments) if Paul says that we are no longer subject to the law (Galatians 5:18)? And what do we do about the fact that Paul seems to be in conflict with Jesus on this matter (see Matthew 5, beginning with verse 17)? These two ways of looking at the law (Paul and Jesus) are hard to harmonize. This is a really, really big issue. It s one thing to say that the Bible has authority for us (and it does), but it can be harder to sort out the way the Bible has authority. All passages are inspired Scripture, but all may not have the same level of authority. Remind the learners that these Bible-centered conversations are about this very thing how to read and interpret the meaning of Bible through guided study and discussion together with others in the community of faith. Devotional Context Here, the concepts of living out our faith and the unity verse (3:28) will be our devotional focus. What does life in Christ look like with regard to following the law? If following the law is not the goal of a faithful Christian, what is? How can you help the learners see that faithful living that pleases God flows from faith? Following the law cannot save anyone, but those who are saved by faith seek to love others. The learners will explore what it means to be in Christ. What difference does this make in their lives? Facilitator s Prayer God of Abraham, God of the promise, I ask you to bring me into clarity about your expectations of me. Give me an open mind to see this your way if I am in error. Help me to open the minds of this group to your thoughts, your presence, and your promise. Guide this class so that we get closer to you and further away from any confusion about what you ask of us. In Christ s name. Amen. 38 Galatians Leader Guide