Session 2 – Small Group Study Guide
Download: PDF | Download: Word Doc
Review of Sermon Notes
Key Idea: We must remember that in a world of false gospels, only the real gospel saves.
- The real gospel is rooted in real truth
Question: Who is preaching its version of truth to my heart? - The real gospel deals with the real enemy
Question: Practically, what do I see as the greatest danger? - The real gospel offers a real Savior
Question: Who or what am I looking to for hope? - The real gospel is about real glory
Question: Who or what is at the center of my world?
When we rightly acknowledge the glory of God in salvation, we are encouraged to rightly trust God for all of life.
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Word: How this truth should be understood
- The apostle Paul uses the words “grace and peace” in his salutation to the Galatians. What is the connection between “grace” (God’s free and unmerited favor toward sinful mankind, supremely demonstrated in the work of redemption accomplished by Christ) and “peace” (a state of wholeness which for the Christian comprises of peace with God and on that foundation peace with others and peace within oneself)? See Romans 5:1 and Colossians 1:20.
- In verse 4 Paul described several aspects of redemption – its means (“Christ gave/sacrificed himself”), its purpose (“for our sins,” “to deliver us from the present evil age”), and its origin (“the will of our God and Father”). How do these insights of the true gospel contrast with the false gospel that the Galatians were encountering or false gospels that you might hear and know of today?
Worship: How this truth affects your heart
- A fuller understanding of the gospel should encourage us to greater worship and stronger faith. In the message it was discussed how the gospel is about justification (freedom from the penalty of sin), sanctification (freedom from the power of sin), and glorification (freedom from the presence of sin; heaven). Is there one aspect you don’t focus on enough? How might meditating on justification, sanctification, or glorification encourage you to love and trust Jesus in new and greater ways? Consider the following verses to meditate on (Note: Some of the verses address more than just one aspect of our salvation):
- Justification (Isa 53:3-6; Rom 3:23-26; Rom 5:1; 5:6-11; Gal 2:16, 21)
- Sanctification (Phil 1:6; 2:13; 1 John 1:9; 1 Thess 5:23; 2 Cor 5:17)
- Glorification (Col 3:4; 2 Tim 4:8; Rom 8:30; 1 Pet 1:4-5)
- Our text describes that Jesus gave himself for our sins “to deliver us from the present evil age” (v.4). This tells us that as Christians we are living in an “already but not yet” situation. We are justified and being sanctified but still awaiting our glorification. We are already delivered from sin but are not yet sinless. We are already perfect in Christ but not yet perfected. We are rescued from the present evil age through Christ’s death and yet we must be warned not to revert back to the old era. How does knowing this reality that we are living between the times help you to live the Christian life more faithfully?
Work: How this truth works out in your life
- There are many ways that we can stray from the gospel and take our eyes off of Christ. Two main ways that we can minimize the importance of the cross in our lives is by “performing” or “pretending” as seen in the graphics below (refer to the download section for the graphics). What are the specific ways that you might “perform” or “pretend” in your walk with Christ?
- If you use social media, how can you guard against the false gospels it presents? How can you use it to point yourself and others to Christ?
Sharing and Prayer
- As you think about this season and our study in Galatians, what is one area in which you’d like to grow in living out your faith? Write this down and prepare to follow-up and track God’s work in our future sessions!
- What are some ways that you’d like to apply what you just learned to that one area you’d like to grow in living out your faith?
- Share other prayer requests.
