Free Indeed - Galatians 2:1-10

1 Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also. 2 I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did this privately to those who seemed to be leaders, for fear that I was running or had run my race in vain. 3 Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. 4 [This matter arose] because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. 5 We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you. 6 As for those who seemed to be important--whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not judge by external appearance--those men added nothing to my message. 7 On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as Peter had been to the Jews. 8 For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles. 9 James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews. 10 All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do. - Galatians 2:1-10

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS:
1) How many years did it take for Paul to return to Jerusalem and who went with him? (v.1)
2) What two reasons did Paul give for why he returned to Jerusalem? (v.2)
3) Who did he go to talk with and how? (v.2)
4) Who was Titus and what did he refuse to do to prove that he was saved? (v.3)
5) Who was insisting that the Gentiles submit to the law and why? (v.4)
6) Why didn't the Paul listen to the brothers who insisted that the Gentile abide by the law? (v.5-6)
7) What did the Jewish brothers realize about Paul and why? (v.7-8)
8) In what four ways did James, Peter and John finally acknowledge and respond to Paul? (v.9-10)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
1) Have you ever had a disagreement with a brother or sister in Christ concerning church doctrine and/or practices?
2) If so, please describe what happened?
3) Was the situation resolved?
4) If so, how was it resolved?
5) What concessions, if any, did you have to make to "keep the peace"?

LIFE LESSONS:
1) Differences between church members are inevitable but should never be irreconcilable.
2) The body of Christ in never more unified than when we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us into all Truth.
3) Peaceful resolutions, to differences in the body, often require the surrender of individual convictions.