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Read 1 Thessalonians 1:3 …remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. Reflect We know that we can’t earn our salvation (Romans 3:20) and that are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). Given that, what is the relationship between true saving faith and works? Imagine that someone close to you repeatedly hurt, offended, and opposed you. Understandably, your relationship with that individ

Read 1 Thessalonians 1:2 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Reflect We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers… In 2022, Gallup released a poll about the happiness, satisfaction, and contentment of the average American. The results were

Read 1 Thessalonians 1:1 Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. Reflect Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace. There are a lot of false religions out there and many of them promise peace for your soul. But there aren’t very many religions that teach that s

Read Galatians 2:16 Know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified. Reflect How would you summarize the main idea of Paul’s letter to the Galatians? We have reached the end of our study on Galatians. Thank you for joining us! If a friend asked you what you learned fr

Read Galatians 6:14-18 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your sp

Read Galatians 6:11-13 See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. Reflect Prayerfully consider your motivation for serving in the ministries tha

Read Galatians 6:9-10 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are in the household of faith. Reflect Prayerfully consider how generous you were with your time, money, and talents this past year. How will you continue or increase blessing others with the things that God has given you this year? Have you ever grown weary of doing good?

Read Galatians 6:7-8 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Reflect Based on how you’ve sown in the past year, what kind of a harvest are you expecting? How can you sow more seeds to the Spirit? I live in the Cornhusker State. Here in Nebraska, we understand that if you sow seed cor

Read Galatians 6:6-7 Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. Reflect How do your spending and giving habits expose your priorities? If there’s one thing we’ve learned through our study of Galatians so far it’s that solid, biblical teaching matters. I am not exaggerating when I say it is a matter of life or death and spiritual freedom or spiritual sl

Read Galatians 6:3-5 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load. Reflect Have you ever felt spiritually superior to other believers? Why does Paul say that those who do so are deceiving themselves? Have you ever played the spirituality comparison game? For example, have you ever felt a tw

Read Galatians 6:1-2 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Reflect According to Paul, as brothers and sisters in Christ, what responsibilities do we have for each other? We live in a “gotcha” culture. What I mean is, our culture seems to relish a scandalous news story, especially if it

Read Galatians 5:22-26 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. Reflect Since you became a Christian, what has been the biggest cha

Read Galatians 5:16-21 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealo

Read Galatians 5:11-15   But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves! For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one a

Read Galatians 5:5-10   For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion is not from him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you

Read Galatians 5:1-4   For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.     Reflect   Is there anything in your life that is cau

Read Galatians 4:27-31   For it is written, “Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than those of the one who has a husband.” Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woma

Read Galatians 4:21-26   Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise. Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Ar

Read Galatians 4:17-20   They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them. It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you, my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you! I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.     Reflect   Has someone ever buttered you up enough that yo

Read Galatians 4:12-16   Brothers, I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong. You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first, and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me.

Read Galatians 4:8-11   Formerly, when you did not God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? You observe days and months and seasons and years! I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain.     Reflect   Like the Galatians, have you slipped back into the lice

Read Galatians 4:4-7   But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”     Reflect   How is being an heir with a father different from being a slave with a master?     Yesterday, we examined Paul’s analogy that children are similar to slaves an

Read Galatians 4:1-3   I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world.     Reflect   How is being a child similar to being a slave?     Did your parents ever say something along the lines of, “as long as you live under my roof, you’ll

Read Galatians 3:23-29   Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slav