Here’s how the study works: Read the chapter mentioned in the heading several times during the week and share any words, thoughts, verses that stood out to you. Having a week for a chapter creates the opportunity to reread it several times and make additional comments as you feel inclined as well as make comments on other people’s insights.
The thing that has struck more than previous times when I have read Galatians is how strongly Paul felt about freedom. I mean I don’t go around saying, “You foolish Christians” to those who are caught up in following rules. Paul couldn’t wait to get into his message of freedom and now it is the last thought he leaves them with, “what counts is a new creation” v.15 (and what doesn’t count is following the law).
Thanks to everyone who join in this study. Let me know if you are interested in studying another book. I’m happy to host it, unless there is someone else who would like to? I was thinking of something slightly longer like Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians or maybe Hebrews. Let me know your thoughts.
The thing that has struck more than previous times when I have read Galatians is how strongly Paul felt about freedom. I mean I don’t go around saying, “You foolish Christians” to those who are caught up in following rules. Paul couldn’t wait to get into his message of freedom and now it is the last thought he leaves them with, “what counts is a new creation” v.15 (and what doesn’t count is following the law).
Thanks to everyone who join in this study. Let me know if you are interested in studying another book. I’m happy to host it, unless there is someone else who would like to? I was thinking of something slightly longer like Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians or maybe Hebrews. Let me know your thoughts.
“brethren, even if…” even if…
what a powerful clause in verse one. he is willing to acknowledge that people can go too far with their freedom. but it sounds to paul like it’s not the end of the world. like it is not the HUGE thing, or the BIG DEAL, that it can get made out to be.
he seems very calm in what he says. very matter of fact. and that’s one of the things i love about scripture. paul says two seemingly opposite things in the span of 3 verses. v2. “bear one another’s burdens…” & v5. “…each one shall bear his own load.”
hey. we’re free. each one has been given this gift by god and none of us should seek to take it from another. if you believe one to have gone astray, talk with them gently. but understand that things will work themselves out naturally as well. for god is not mocked. we will reap what we sow. and that is between them and god. no one else.
verse 11 is one of my all time favorite verses in scripture. i used to put the reference at the bottom of letters i wrote when i was a teenager.
i got a better example! smoking. replace circumcision with smoking for a better and more culturally relevant idea of what paul is talking about here (and in the whole letter).
Gal 6:12-15 “Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to quit smoking. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. Not even those who don’t smoke obey the law, yet they want you to stop smoking that they may boast about your flesh. May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Neither smoking nor not smoking means anything; what counts is a new creation.”
“and those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the israel of god.”
absolutely susan. i would love to study another. i cannot speak for anyone else, but i have benefited greatly from our studies together. in fact, they have revolutionized my life. if you would really like to study something longer, by all means. i will let the host pick. i will certainly be at the study, but i have taken on too much right now with the parties and regular work and setting up zaavan co. and writing schedules and training sheets and stuff for all of zaavan’s PCA’s.
let me know where the party is, and i’ll be there. blessings to you all.
jmgeeje
“brethren, even if…” even if…
what a powerful clause in verse one. he is willing to acknowledge that people can go too far with their freedom. but it sounds to paul like it’s not the end of the world. like it is not the HUGE thing, or the BIG DEAL, that it can get made out to be.
he seems very calm in what he says. very matter of fact. and that’s one of the things i love about scripture. paul says two seemingly opposite things in the span of 3 verses. v2. “bear one another’s burdens…” & v5. “…each one shall bear his own load.”
hey. we’re free. each one has been given this gift by god and none of us should seek to take it from another. if you believe one to have gone astray, talk with them gently. but understand that things will work themselves out naturally as well. for god is not mocked. we will reap what we sow. and that is between them and god. no one else.
verse 11 is one of my all time favorite verses in scripture. i used to put the reference at the bottom of letters i wrote when i was a teenager.
i got a better example! smoking. replace circumcision with smoking for a better and more culturally relevant idea of what paul is talking about here (and in the whole letter).
Gal 6:12-15 “Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to quit smoking. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. Not even those who don’t smoke obey the law, yet they want you to stop smoking that they may boast about your flesh. May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Neither smoking nor not smoking means anything; what counts is a new creation.”
“and those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the israel of god.”
absolutely susan. i would love to study another. i cannot speak for anyone else, but i have benefited greatly from our studies together. in fact, they have revolutionized my life. if you would really like to study something longer, by all means. i will let the host pick. i will certainly be at the study, but i have taken on too much right now with the parties and regular work and setting up zaavan co. and writing schedules and training sheets and stuff for all of zaavan’s PCA’s.
let me know where the party is, and i’ll be there. blessings to you all.
jmgeeje
i havent read this book in a while, so i thought to myself.
can 6 get any better or more rlevant than 5?”
i think for me and where i am, the answer is yes…nice
thanks for bringing us here to study this..it has helped…we reap whatw e sow
i havent read this book in a while, so i thought to myself.
can 6 get any better or more rlevant than 5?”
i think for me and where i am, the answer is yes…nice
thanks for bringing us here to study this..it has helped…we reap whatw e sow
you don’t know me…i stumbled on your page through Herschel and Cheryl’s blogs. I’m Beki from Trilla, IL. I had never thought of doing an online bible study like this. If ya’ll start another one I’d definatly check it out!
you don’t know me…i stumbled on your page through Herschel and Cheryl’s blogs. I’m Beki from Trilla, IL. I had never thought of doing an online bible study like this. If ya’ll start another one I’d definatly check it out!
so… is there another in the works? would another faithful like to host or is susan going to have us over again? hersch? would you invite us to join in with the illinois faithful?
nogovafy
so… is there another in the works? would another faithful like to host or is susan going to have us over again? hersch? would you invite us to join in with the illinois faithful?
nogovafy
This morning at church the words of the first song we sang were, “A song of freedom in on my lips today” which seems so appriopriate.
I need a few days to think through some of the issues raised in Galatians before I move on to something else. So if no one else would like to host I will start again on about Thursday.
In the meantime I have been reading a few other things that I would like to post about. Hope you can stick around.
This morning at church the words of the first song we sang were, “A song of freedom in on my lips today” which seems so appriopriate.
I need a few days to think through some of the issues raised in Galatians before I move on to something else. So if no one else would like to host I will start again on about Thursday.
In the meantime I have been reading a few other things that I would like to post about. Hope you can stick around.
I think what strikes me about this chapter is that paul reminds us we are to reach out to our fallen brotherns with kindness and meekness. We are not to lose our temper with them but we are to let them know that we love them and will share whatever burdens they have.
Many of us, including ministers of the gospel, fail at this. We want to remind they have have sinned and pound it into them that whatever happened was their fault. We should render our tempers to God and show those who have strayed they truely are forgiven.
I would love to continue doing this. It amazes me how much I learn from the bible each time I read it.
I think what strikes me about this chapter is that paul reminds us we are to reach out to our fallen brotherns with kindness and meekness. We are not to lose our temper with them but we are to let them know that we love them and will share whatever burdens they have.
Many of us, including ministers of the gospel, fail at this. We want to remind they have have sinned and pound it into them that whatever happened was their fault. We should render our tempers to God and show those who have strayed they truely are forgiven.
I would love to continue doing this. It amazes me how much I learn from the bible each time I read it.
absolutely. i am REALLY enjoying this. if no one else steps forward to host, susan, if it is no trouble to you, i will be back here for more. if you don’t mind all of us trampling through here again.
i had never been to austrailia before. it’s nice. thank you for the opportunity. honestly, it is mindblowing to me that i was quoted in a devotional in austrailia. not in a “good for me” kind of way, but rather i am encouraged to know that our conversation here, with the ones who are involved, is actually beginning to have a GLOBAL IMPACT for the body of christ in this world. i don’t know about you, but i take these conversations back to my home body. and we are beginning to talk about these things there as well. rallying the troops, so to speak, in our physical worlds to begin acting on the things we are learning here in the mental and spiritual realms. i think something very important is going on here, and i am humbled to be a part of it. that’s all.
and i’m glad that each one of you has been here to engage in this. susan in austrailia, hersch in illinois, wendy in canada (i assume), dee in pennsylvania, and myself in minnesota. that’s just great.
anybody know anyone in britain or china that might want in on this action?
tqvomwxi
(oh yeah. i always am amused at the ridiculous things i am forced to type in in order to leave a comment on the blogs with word verification. i always get a kick out of sharing it. i think it’s funny in a silly kind of way. they’re just so random and sometimes, very complex.)
absolutely. i am REALLY enjoying this. if no one else steps forward to host, susan, if it is no trouble to you, i will be back here for more. if you don’t mind all of us trampling through here again.
i had never been to austrailia before. it’s nice. thank you for the opportunity. honestly, it is mindblowing to me that i was quoted in a devotional in austrailia. not in a “good for me” kind of way, but rather i am encouraged to know that our conversation here, with the ones who are involved, is actually beginning to have a GLOBAL IMPACT for the body of christ in this world. i don’t know about you, but i take these conversations back to my home body. and we are beginning to talk about these things there as well. rallying the troops, so to speak, in our physical worlds to begin acting on the things we are learning here in the mental and spiritual realms. i think something very important is going on here, and i am humbled to be a part of it. that’s all.
and i’m glad that each one of you has been here to engage in this. susan in austrailia, hersch in illinois, wendy in canada (i assume), dee in pennsylvania, and myself in minnesota. that’s just great.
anybody know anyone in britain or china that might want in on this action?
tqvomwxi
(oh yeah. i always am amused at the ridiculous things i am forced to type in in order to leave a comment on the blogs with word verification. i always get a kick out of sharing it. i think it’s funny in a silly kind of way. they’re just so random and sometimes, very complex.)
I’ve also really enjoyed having all of you “trampling through” which is why I am happy to host again and it is really not much trouble.
I find this global conversation brings different perspectives and different ideas from the ones I generally hear which is very stimulating.
I’ve also really enjoyed having all of you “trampling through” which is why I am happy to host again and it is really not much trouble.
I find this global conversation brings different perspectives and different ideas from the ones I generally hear which is very stimulating.
v.15 Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation.
I like the way The Message puts this verse: "Can't you see the central issue in all this? It is not what you and I do—submit to circumcision, reject circumcision. It is what God is doing, and he is creating something totally new, a free life!"
When we keep the law (of circumcision etc.) we are focussing on what we do instead of focussing on what God is doing.
v.15 Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation.
I like the way The Message puts this verse: "Can't you see the central issue in all this? It is not what you and I do—submit to circumcision, reject circumcision. It is what God is doing, and he is creating something totally new, a free life!"
When we keep the law (of circumcision etc.) we are focussing on what we do instead of focussing on what God is doing.
v.9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Perseverance is seriously under- valued in modern society.
v.9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Perseverance is seriously under- valued in modern society.
v.10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers
Do good – especially to believers. Sometimes we emphasis doing good to those outside the faith but we are suppose to start by doing good to believers.
Loving others starts with those closest to us and moves out from there.
v.10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers
Do good – especially to believers. Sometimes we emphasis doing good to those outside the faith but we are suppose to start by doing good to believers.
Loving others starts with those closest to us and moves out from there.
The sign God's people had always relied on in showing that they were His, was that they had been circumsized, as He directed them to be. Now, though, with the coming of Christ and the Spirit, that was to be no longer, as He now was going inside of us by His Spirit, and circumsize our hearts. The good that would result was because of the work He is and will do in us. This sets us free from us "having" to do something outwardly, and us "letting" Him do something inwardly. God's people, at this time, had to learn to let go of the old, and embrace tne new, as we are still doing today as we grow in understanding of what it means to surrender more and more to Him.
The sign God's people had always relied on in showing that they were His, was that they had been circumsized, as He directed them to be. Now, though, with the coming of Christ and the Spirit, that was to be no longer, as He now was going inside of us by His Spirit, and circumsize our hearts. The good that would result was because of the work He is and will do in us. This sets us free from us "having" to do something outwardly, and us "letting" Him do something inwardly. God's people, at this time, had to learn to let go of the old, and embrace tne new, as we are still doing today as we grow in understanding of what it means to surrender more and more to Him.
Good to "see" you again, Patti.
Yes, circumcision is about outward appearance and the challenge today is indeed "letting" Him do something inwardly.
Good to "see" you again, Patti.
Yes, circumcision is about outward appearance and the challenge today is indeed "letting" Him do something inwardly.