Sermon Cloud

Don’t Be An Idiot

 Sermon Questions for Galatians 3:1-14

 We have added numbers to the questions, but if you are pressed for time, look for the top eight to ten questions (marked with a “*”). If you have feedback, please let David Fuquay know at ';h2029803003='jacksonvillechapel.org';document.write('' + linktext + ''); .  

 SHARING

            A new ministry program for 18-29 year olds kicks off this Wednesday, May 30^th and runs until August 1^st.We are calling it Hot Seat and you can find more information here: www.chapelnj.org/hot-seat. Please spend time in prayer for this crucial age group. Pray we proclaim the Gospel clearly and that those who do not know Christ will come to know Him. Pray that we will be able to reach and minister to this important age group. Pray also that this is a ministry to people who need it, not a program.

 SCRIPTURE

Crawl:

1. *Before this message series began, would you have thought that you needed to hear the Gospel again? What would you say now?
2. Do you agree with Dave’s sentiment that: “the more I understand the gospel, the more I want to hear it?” What is God showing you about the Gospel that you did not see clearly before?
3. How confident are you in sharing the Gospel message with someone who knows nothing about grace? How can you increase your confidence?

Walk:

4. *As we walk through Galatians, has the Spirit revealed any new implications of the Gospel to you? How is He working in your heart?
5. Is your default mode to think God likes you more when you pray, read the Bible, go to church, give, etc…?
6. *If God does not need us, but wants us, then why do good works at all? Why serve His call?[1]

Read Galatians 1:1-5

7. Christianity is not about what you do, but what was done. Discuss this concept.
8. Why is keeping the cross central to all we do and say so difficult?
9. *What was going on in your life, what were the circumstances, surrounding your acceptance of the Gospel message the first time?
10. When did you begin a relationship with Jesus? How did that change you immediately? How did that change you over time?
11. Does our obedience bring God’s blessing, or does God’s grace and kindness bring obedience? Which comes first? (see John 14:15)
12. *Do you ever fall into the trap of beginning with the Spirit and then trying to be made mature (or perfected) by works (or flesh)? (verse 3) How can you better avoid this trap?
13. Why is a works based sanctification (growth toward maturity) attractive? Why is it dangerous?
14. *Why does God do good things in our lives? Why does he heal people? Or change circumstances? Or bless us?[2]
15. Why is it that when we pray the first thing that comes to mind is how we performed? Could it be that in our hearts, the thing that gives us contentment and makes us feel like things are okay, is basically our performance?
16. How can we remind ourselves (and each other) that everything flows from God’s grace?

Read Galatians 3:6-9

17. *What is it that gave Abraham a good relationship with God? (See Genesis 12:3 and 15:6)
18. When we are faced with a difficult circumstance, what is God calling us to do? (hint: it’s repeated in verses 6-7)
19. How do we know if we are trusting in the promises of God?

Read Galatians 10-14

20. Why does God give us rules in the first place?
21. What is the standard we need to live up to? Why do we try to make the standard other people? Why is this destructive to us and others?
22. *What does it mean to redeem something?
23. *What helps remind you of God’s love and acceptance being a free gift of grace?
24. How have you been blessed by the Spirit’s presence in your life? (LifeGuide)
25. In what ways would keeping the law actually rob you of blessings?

Run:

26. *There are several key words in Galatians 3:1-14 which describe what Christ has done for us. Identify some of these, then spend time thanking God for each one. (LifeGuide)
27. Discuss how you can make this a reality: If I see something in God’s law that I’m just messing up, and I want to change that thing in my life—like, “Man, every time I go into a store I just buy too much stuff! And I hate that! I don’t need any more clothes, but I buy three more shirts! I know it’s materialistic, and I want to change that!” You know what I’ve found? I don’t change by focusing really hard on that thing. Do you follow me? I change by focusing on Jesus.

Key Words and Further Study:

Foolish- "[A]n attitude of heart as well as a quality of mind. It refers not to bluntness but to a sinful neglect to use one's mental power to the best advantage... not necessarily dull, but thoughtless... not stupid, but foolish.” William Hendriksen, Exposition of Galatians (Grand Rapids Michigan: Baker Book House, 1968), page 92. See also Alfred Edersheim, The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, one volume edition (Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1971), page 111. (Borrowed from LifeChange Series.)

Redeem To deliver from bondage by paying a price. This word was used of purchasing one who had been enslaved in order to free him. (Borrowed from LifeChange Series.)

 SERVICE

            We need picnic volunteers! Please think about giving one hour of your time to help us feed and create a fabulous fellowship for the people of the congregation. Consider serving as a small group! What fun you can have together. Click here to sign up http://www.jacksonvillechapel.org/picnic/

 [1] “The customary response to this, of course, is to ask about the place of following God and serving his cause. There is plenty of call for this in the Bible. But the reality is that all God has to do is reveal himself to you, and you’ll gladly join the mission in service to his kingdom. He doesn’t force the issue; he just has to reveal himself as he is: mighty, wondrous, gracious, loving, and radically saving. No man goes back to saltine crackers when he’s had filet mignon.” Matt Chandler Explicit Gospel (pp. 31-32).