Abundant Life Lessons luke 1 26 28 1

Free Indeed - Galatians 6

1 Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each others burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, 5 for each one should carry his own load. 6 Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor. 7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 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. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. 11 See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand! 12 Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 Not even those who are circumcised obey the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your flesh. 14 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. 15 Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation. 16 Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, even to the Israel of God. 17 Finally, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen. - Galatians 6

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS:
1) How are believers to fulfill the law of Christ? (v.1-2) 
2) What warning and instruction does Paul give the mature believer? (v.1,3-5)
3) What principles of sowing and reaping does Paul teach? (v.6-10)
4) What does Paul emphatically say the Judaizers wanted to boast about? (v.11-13)
5) According to the Apostle Paul, what are believers to boast in? (v.14-15)
6) What is Paul's prayer for those who receive his teachings? (v.16-18)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
1) Have you ever known, or heard, of a believer who was overcome by habitual sin?
2) If so, what did you do to help them (e.g., pray for them)? 
3) What do you do to encourage other believers in their times of need, regardless the cause for their distress?
4) Have you ever attempted to assist a believer and found that their need was greater than what you were able to handle?
5) If so, please describe what happened?

LIFE LESSONS:
1) God calls and equips His people to minister to fellow believers.
2) Every believer is not called to minister to the needs of every other believer in spiritual distress.
3) Whatever we sow to determines what we will reap in this life.
4) There are times when God may only call us to pray for those in spiritual distress. 
5) When our motive in helping others is to glorify ourselves, our efforts are of no eternal significance.

Free Indeed - Galatians 5:16-26

16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. 19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. - Galatians 5:16-26

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS:
1) How do believers refrain from gratifying the desires of the sinful nature? (v.16)
2) What is the sinful nature in opposition to? (v.17)
3) What keeps the believer from living a Spirit-led life? (v.18)
4) What is the "fruit" of living according to the sinful nature, rather than the Spirit? (v.19-21)
5) What is the "fruit" of living a Holy Spirit led life? (v.22-23)
6) What must the believer do to live a Spirit controlled life? (v.24-26)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
1) Since giving your life to Christ, have you had difficulty in one (or more) area(s) of your spiritual walk?
2) If so, please describe your area of difficulty.
3) What can you do to experience victory in your area(s) of weakness?

LIFE LESSONS:
1) The Law reveals our sin but can never keep us from sinning.
2) To live a Holy Spirit led life we must crucify (put to death) the deeds of the sinful nature.
3) Our victory in Christ is assured when we live a Holy Spirit controlled life.

Free Indeed - Galatians 5:1-15

1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. 2 Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3 Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4 You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5 But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. 7 You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? 8 That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. 9"A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough." 10 I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion will pay the penalty, whoever he may be. 11 Brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. 12 As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves! 13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. 14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." 15 If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. - Galatians 5:1-15

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS:
1) Why did Christ set us free? (v.1)
2) Since Christ did this for us, what should we not be burdened by? (v.1)
3) What will bondage to the law do for us? (v.2-3)
4) From what, and whom, has a bound Christian fallen away and been alienated? (v.4)
5) What does a Christian hope for and by what does (s)he receive it? (v.5-6)
6) How had perversion of the Gospel impacted the Gospel, the Galatians and the Judaizers? (v.7-12)
7) What were the Galatians called to and why? (v.13-15) 

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
1) Has any pastor, or other church leader, insisted that you observe religious rituals to prove your faith?
2) If so, did you grow as a result of following their teachings? Please explain.
3) How does religious ritual (i.e., tradition) help us to grow in grace and the knowledge of God?

LIFE LESSONS:
1) Once a believer is liberated from bondage to the law, (s)he is to remain free.
2) Christ did not call us to freedom to live a sinful life, but to be led by His Spirit.
3) The law of love frees us from the law of sin and death.

Free Indeed - Galatians 4:21-31

21 Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman.23 His son by the slave woman was born in the ordinary way; but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a promise. 24 These things may be taken figuratively, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written: "Be glad, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth and cry aloud, you who have no labor pains; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband." 28 Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 At that time the son born in the ordinary way persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. 30 But what does the Scripture say? "Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman's son." 31 Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman. - Galatians 4:21-31

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS:
1) What does Paul imply about the Galatians? (v.21)
2) What does Paul say about the two women who gave birth to Abraham's two sons? (v.22)
3) Which woman birthed the son of promise (the slave or free woman)? (v.23)
4) According to the Apostle, what do the two women represent? (v.24-27)
5) What does Paul say the Galatians are like? (v.28-29)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
1) Are you, as a believer, bound to the law (religious practices and doctrine) or a child of God?
2) Is there any area of your life that you do out of a sense of duty, rather than the Holy Spirit's leading?
3) If so, will you ask the Lord to liberate you through His inerrant Word (the Bible)?
4) Do you have faith in God no matter what your circumstances are? Please explain.

LIFE LESSONS:
1) Christ died for all people so that we would no longer have to be slaves to sin, or the law.
2) The children of promise are those who have the faith of Abraham.
3) People only become children of God by faith in God's promises, not by human effort.

Free Indeed - Galatians 4:8-20

8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you know God--or rather are known by God--how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? 10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! 11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you. 12 I plead with you, brothers, become like me, for I became like you. You have done me no wrong. 13 As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you. 14 Even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. 15 What has happened to all your joy? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17 Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you [from us], so that you may be zealous for them. 18 It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always and not just when I am with you. 19 My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, 20 how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you! - Galatians 4:8-20

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS:
1) What did the Galatians do when they did not know God? (v.8)
2) What did the Galatians do after their conversion? (v.9-10)
3) Why was Paul concerned for them? (v.11)
4) What did Paul urge the Galatians to do to replace their legalistic practices? (v.12)
5) Why did the apostle first preach the Gospel to the Galatians? (v.13)
6) How did the church respond to Paul at that time? (v.14-15)
7) Why was Paul perplexed about the Galatians? (v.16-20)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
1) After your conversion, have you ever done anything to please others rather than Christ?
2) If so, what happened?
3) How was the matter finally resolved?

LIFE LESSONS:
1) The truth within the Bible will keep us from believing the lies that are in the world.
2) Our lives should line up with the Word of God, rather than the opinions of men.
3) Believers cannot live the truth unless they know the truth.

Free Indeed - Galatians 4:1-7

1 What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. 2 He is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. 3 So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. 4 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, 5 to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. 6 Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ""Abba", Father." 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir. - Galatians 4:1-7

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS:
1) What are the spiritually immature no different from and what do they possess? (v.1)
2) Who are the spiritually immature subject to and for how long? (v.2)
3) What are the spiritually immature slaves to? (v.3)
4) When do the spiritually immature receive their full rights as children of God? (v.4-5)
5) What do we receive in our hearts as children of God? (v.6)
6) If we are children of God, what else are we? (v.7)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
1) Are we fully mature, in Christ, the moment that we profess faith in Christ?
2) After you professed faith in Christ, what did you understand about living the Christian life? 
3) Who helped you to understand how to live a life of faith?
4) What helped you to grow in your knowledge of God, as well as in your faith in Him?
5) How long did it take for you to begin relying on the promises of God, rather than yourself?

LIFE LESSONS:
1) After spiritual rebirth, we are no different than human infants.
2) God uses spiritual leaders to raise us up in Christ.
3) Salvation is immediate, but sanctification is a life long process.

READ TODAY'S DEVOTIONAL

Free Indeed - Galatians 3:15-29

15 Brothers, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. 16 The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say "and to seeds," meaning many people, but "and to your seed," meaning one person, who is Christ. 17 What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. 18 For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise. 19 What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was put into effect through angels by a mediator. 20 A mediator, however, does not represent just one party; but God is one. 21 Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. 22 But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe. 23 Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. 24 So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. 25 Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free,male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. - Galatians 3:15-29

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS:
1) To whom were God's promises given? (v.15-16)
2) Why was the law given and did it nullify God's promise to Abraham? (v.17-18)
3) What was the purpose of the law? (v.19-25)
4) What makes us children of God? (v.26-27)
5) Who is the seed of Abraham? (v.28-29)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
1) How do you know that you're a child of God?
2) Who, or what, made it possible for you to become a child of God?
3) What promises are you believing God for because of your position in Christ?

LIFE LESSONS:
1) We can never be saved by keeping the law.
2) The children of Abraham are heirs of the promises God made to Abraham.
3) Christians receive the the promises of God through faith in Jesus Christ.