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.

Free Indeed - Galatians 1:11-24

11 I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up.12 I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. 14 I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus. 18 Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter and stayed with him fifteen days. 19 I saw none of the other apostles--only James, the Lord's brother. 20 I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie. 21 Later I went to Syria and Cilicia. 22 I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23They only heard the report: "The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy." 24 And they praised God because of me. - Galatians 1:11-24

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS:
1) From whom, and how, did the Apostle Paul receive the Gospel that he preached? (v.11-12)
2) What did the Apostle Paul do to the church of God prior to his conversion? (v.13)
3) What did the Apostle Paul have to boast about in his former religion? (v.14)
4) When was Paul set apart for the cause of Christ? (v.15)
5) What was Paul called to do? (v.15-16)
6) What did Paul do after he was called? (v.17-21)
7) How did the churches in Judea respond to Paul? (v.22-24)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
1) From whom did you hear the Gospel that you have received?
2) What was your life like prior to your conversion?
3) What was your life like after your conversion?
4) What has the Lord called you to do?
5) How have you responded to your calling?

LIFE LESSONS:
1) A changed life is evidence that we have received the right Gospel message.
2) God's plan for your life is often completely different from your plan for your life.
3) The Lord has a purpose and a plan for the lives of all who respond to His call.

READ TODAY'S DEVOTION

Free Indeed - Galatians 1:1-10

1 Paul, an apostle--sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead-- 2 and all the brothers with me, To the churches in Galatia: 3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel-- 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned! 10 Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. - Galatians 1:1-10 NIV

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS:
1) "Apostle" means "sent one." Who wrote this letter (epistle), who sent him and who was this epistle written to? (v.1-2)
2) Who was the salutation from and what did the apostle write about our Lord Jesus Christ (what did He do  and why)? (v.3-5)
3) Why was Paul astonished by the members of the church of Galatia? (v.6-7)
4) What was Paul's warning to the church? (v. 8-9)
5) Who was Paul trying to please by issuing his warning? Whom did the apostle serve and try to please? (v.10)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
7) Have you ever heard of another brother or sister in the Christ who did not believe the same gospel of grace that all other Christians believe? If so, briefly describe what their beliefs were and how their beliefs were different from the gospel of grace?
8) What, if anything, did you do to share the truth of the gospel of grace with them?

LIFE LESSONS:
12) The Gospel of Grace is that Christians are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, and nothing else.
13) Those believers who insist on earning salvation through "self effort" or other "works of the flesh" are in error.
14) Salvation by good works (external behavior) is a false gospel.

READ TODAY'S DEVOTIONAL

Noah's Sons - Genesis 9:18-29

18 The sons of Noah who came out of the ark were Shem, Ham and Japheth. (Ham was the father of Canaan.) 19 These were the three sons of Noah, and from them came the people who were scattered over the earth. 20 Noah, a man of the soil, proceeded to plant a vineyard. 21 When he drank some of its wine, he became drunk and lay uncovered inside his tent. 22 Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father's nakedness and told his two brothers outside. 23 But Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it across their shoulders; then they walked in backward and covered their father's nakedness. Their faces were turned the other way so that they would not see their father's nakedness. 24 When Noah awoke from his wine and found out what his youngest son had done to him, 25 he said, "Cursed be Canaan! The lowest of slaves will he be to his brothers." 26 He also said, "Blessed be the LORD, the God of Shem! May Canaan be the slave of Shem. 27 May God extend the territory of Japheth; may Japheth live in the tents of Shem, and may Canaan be his slave." 28 After the flood Noah lived 350 years. 29 Altogether, Noah lived 950 years, and then he died.- Genesis 9:18-29

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS:
1) What were the names of Noah's sons?
2) What became of their descendants?
3) What two shameful things did Noah do?
4) What did Ham do when he saw his father's shameful condition?
5) What did Ham's brothers do after Ham told them what happened?
6) Why did Noah curse Canaan?
7) How did Noah bless Ham's brothers?

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
1) Have you recently learned of a shameful situation concerning a brother or sister in Christ?
2) How did you handle the situation?
3) How should believers handle the sinful actions of our brothers and sisters in Christ?
4) Do you believe that God is more pleased when we expose the sins of others, or when we cover them? 
5) Why, or why not?

LIFE LESSONS:
1) "Love covers a multitude of sins."
2) The Lord always extends His grace and mercy to a penitent sinner.
3) The Lord expects His children to extend the same grace and mercy to the brethren.

READ TODAY'S DEVOTIONAL

God's Covenant - Genesis 9:8-17

8 Then God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying: 9 "And as for Me, behold, I establish My covenant with you and with your descendants after you, 10 and with every living creature that is with you: the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you, of all that go out of the ark, every beast of the earth. 11 Thus I establish My covenant with you: Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood; never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth." 12 And God said: "This is the sign of the covenant which I make between Me and you, and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: 13 I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. 14 It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud; 15 and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 The rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth." 17 And God said to Noah, "This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth."- Genesis 9:8-17

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS:
1) Who did God establish His covenant with?
2) What was the covenant?
3) What was the sign of the covenant?
4) What would God say He would do when He saw the sign of the covenant?
5) Who was the sign for?

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
1) Have you ever entered into a covenant agreement with anyone?
2) What was the sign of the covenant?
3) What are/were the terms of the covenant?
4) If you, or the other(s) that you were in agreement with, have kept the agreement, what have been the rewards?
5) If you, or the other(s) that you were in covenant with, broke the agreement, what were the ramifications?

LIFE LESSONS:
1) God takes covenant seriously.
2) God's covenant with man does not depend upon whether man keeps covenant with God, or not.
3) God's covenant's are unconditional.
4) Covenant agreements between people are usually conditional.

READ TODAY'S DEVOTIONAL

God's Blessing and Caveat - Genesis 9:1-7

1 So God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them: "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth. 2 And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be on every beast of the earth, on every bird of the air, on all that move on the earth, and on all the fish of the sea. They are given into your hand. 3 Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs. 4 But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood. 5 Surely for your lifeblood I will demand a reckoning; from the hand of every beast I will require it, and from the hand of man. From the hand of every man's brother I will require the life of man. 6 "Whoever sheds man's blood, By man his blood shall be shed; For in the image of God He made man. 7 And as for you, be fruitful and multiply; Bring forth abundantly in the earth And multiply in it." - Genesis 9:1-7

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS:
1) In what three ways did the Lord bless Noah and his sons?
2) Over what did the Lord give Noah and his descendants dominion?
3) What did the Lord allow Noah and his descendants to do, that He did not allow Adam and Eve to do? 
4) How did the blessing over Noah and his descendants differ from the blessing given to Adam and Eve?
5) Under what circumstances, and why, did the Lord allow man to take the life of another man?

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
1) How has the Lord blessed you and your family?
2) What has the Lord given His people dominion over?
3) In what areas of your life do you exercise your God-given dominion (authority)?
4) Why do you think that the Lord allowed man to murder anyone who shed the blood of another man?
5) Do you value the lives of everyone the Lord has brought into your life? How do you demonstrate that?

LIFE LESSONS:
1) The Lord always prospers the righteous spiritually, if not materially.
2) The Lord has allowed man to rule over all living creatures (that includes self-rule).
3) The Lord highly esteems the life of everything that He has created.  

READ TODAY'S DEVOTIONAL 

God's Promise - Genesis 8:20-22

20 Then Noah built an altar to the LORD and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it. 21 The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: "Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done. 22"As long as the earth endures, seed time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease." - Genesis 8:20-22

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS:
1) What was the first thing that Noah did after leaving the ark?
2) Was the Lord pleased with what Noah did?
3) What did the Lord promise not to do? 
4) Who did He make the promise to?

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
1) What is the first thing that you do after surviving a difficult trial?
2) Is the Lord pleased with how you respond when He delivers you from a trial?
3) If so, how do you know?

LIFE LESSONS:
1) Our first response, after deliverance from a trial, ought to be worship!
2) The Lord's promises to His people can be found in His word!
3) The Lord promises are unconditional and enduring.

READ TODAY'S DEVOTIONAL