Coming to a Close (Sarah Ann)

To wrap up our study on the book of Galatians, I'd like to leave you with a little message to take with you into the summer. Below I've listed verses and topics from our study and set them to an acrostic of Galatians. (I like to play with words, can you tell?)  :) 

As much as I've learned throughout this study, I have so much more yet to learn! I hope you continue to read and study God's Word, establishing a pattern that works for you. I'm not a morning person, so I enjoy my quiet time at night...when things are quiet. :) Maybe mornings work well for you. Maybe you are able to find a quiet moment in the afternoon. My challenge to you (and to myself as well!) is to seek after God all through the day--morning, noon, and night! We can do that by listening to praise music, praying while driving, recalling scripture verses committed to memory, and of course--by reading the Bible.

Have a fabulous summer everyone, and we will see you in the fall!!!

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (1:3)
Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness. (3:6) 
Law or grace?
And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God. (2:20)
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (5:22-23)
If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. (5:25)
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. (6:9)
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? (4:9)
So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. (6:10)

Coming to a close (Justine)

I agree with Sarah Beth - I can't believe we are already done with Galatians!

As I have taken the time to review this week, I have realized how easy it is to get caught up with pleasing people and living a life of slavery instead of freedom.  Going through Galatians has left me with some great statements to post on my mirror + to preach to myself!  I also realized how much more balanced and settled I feel when I am in the Word daily.  Just the chance to sit down + focus on God + His Truths stayed with me throughout the next day.  There is an obvious reason why God wants us to meet with Him daily!  He is our heart's encourager + peace!

I have loved getting to know the women in my group + was encouraged by the different questions, responses, and comments on our passages we read each week.  I so appreciated the accountability to get in the Word every night and to apply what I was reading to my life.

I am so thankful for the opportunity to do this Online Bible Study with each of you!  May the routine you set through this study continue through the summer until we rejoin for the fall!  See you then!

Justine

Coming to A Close (Sarah Beth)

It is hard to believe that we are at the end of our study on the book of Galatians.  For those who participated in the online portion of this study, we spent 14 weeks looking at the book of Galatians.  But for those of us who led discussion groups, we have been camped out in this book for about six months, half a year, twenty-four weeks.  However you look at it, that's a significant amount of time to spend in one book.  And yet, I feel like I have barely scratched the surface of truly understanding and applying the truths in this book.  I'm sure I could spend another six months and not have it all down.

But there are a few verses that have stuck out in my mind and I feel capture the spirit of the book, the main points if you will.  You probably have other verses that spoke to you and sum up the book for you.  I'd love to hear your thoughts.

²⁰ I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. ²¹ I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness^[c] were through the law,then Christ died for no purpose.


As I read these verses, I realize I could sit and meditate on these verses every day and let the truth of Christ living in me, and how that looks in my daily life, truly sink into my brain.

I pray that you also had verses you will carry with you from this time in study.  May God use your time in His word these past weeks to build your faith in Him.

God bless you all!  We hope to see you this fall in our next study.

Week Thirteen

Ahh.. our last verses of Galatians!  How does it feel to have completed this study?  I hope you are all finishing well + are looking forward to next week's review time.  We've received quite an arsenal of mini-sermons that we can be speaking to our hearts as we live out our lives.  It can do our souls good to hear the primary truths of Galatians:  For my freedom Christ came!

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I am not looking forward to this week.  I'm losing my best friend of the last three and a half years to grad school in Iowa + it has really caused me to think back on life four years ago.  As a rule, I'm not a fan of change but this friendship {+ my 2 other close friendships} was a result of it.  These three girls were freshmen at overflow + in my girls' Bible study at the time + I didn't really like them!  For the three years of my undergrad, we had our girl friend group set + tight + awesome.  Then, graduation hit + some left, some got married, some stopped coming to overflow.. + these girls came in.  I totally held off on getting to know them + just went on wishing after the way things used to be.  We joke about it now, but I was just not okay with them taking over + being the new batch of leaders at overflow.

I should have known.. God had a different plan. Spring of 2010, they joined me in creating overflow's annual "social justice weeks" which required Friday lunches and afternoons at my house + I joined the overflow leadership team.  Before we knew it, those Friday afternoons were a staple, we were staying after the LT meetings until the UNK student union kicked us out... + we were tight friends.  Since then, we have gone through some very difficult + very exciting times together, which brings us to this week: we're sending Leslie off to the greater purpose God has for her.

In the midst of the everyday mundane, it can be challenging to stay focused on the purpose of why we are here.  Oftentimes I question if I am where I'm supposed to be, doing what I am purposed to do.  Then, a week like this comes + I realize that four years ago in the midst of living for others, God brought three lovely women into my life to regain my focus.  How true this is: "Because of that Cross, I have been crucified in relation to the world, set free from the stifling atmosphere of pleasing others and fitting into the little patterns that they dictate. 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!" {gal. 6:15+16 | msg}

As I read these last verses in Galatians, I feel like God is gently whispering to me: "See?  It's not about you, not about them.  It's about Me.  Lean into what I am doing."  From three years ago when He opened my hands to build into the lives of these women to now, losing the daily connection with one of them, God is creating our lives anew.  I don't want to live my life with my eyes pointed in front of me.  I want to live my life with my eyes lifted to God, so that I recognize the significance of Him moving around us.  Confident that Christ came for our freedom, I encourage you to scoop up the many lessons in Galatians + live in freedom to what God has for you.  I expect the ride to be hard + joyful at times - but more than that, I expect it to be fully freeing!

Justine

Week 12: Doing Good to All

Hello everyone! Week 12 already! School is winding down, plans for summer are gearing up...and our Galatians study is coming to an end. This week we focus on the first 10 verses of the last chapter in Galatians. While working my way through this passage, several truths stand out to me.

Growing up in Chicagoland, I never knew any farming families. I never really thought about farms or the people who farm for a living. Living here has changed that. Now I'm blessed with several "farmer friends." :) Some of you are farmers! Where am I going with this? Well, this city girl has learned that this time of year is planting season for farmers. Along those lines, God has some timely words for us this week.

Galatians 6:7-8
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 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."

With my attitudes and actions, am I sowing to please the Spirit? Or am I sowing to please my sinful nature? These are some penetrating questions for each of us to consider.

In busy times like these, it's easy to become weary, isn't it? I grow weary of running at 110% throughout the day. I grow weary of feeling the need to be everything to everybody in my home. As women, we sometimes just feel weary. In Galatians 6:9 we are reminded of this:

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

In the race of life, let's keep our minds focused on the promised harvest. My middle school son learned last night in youth group that our eternal purpose is this: "To know, love, and enjoy the Creator of the Universe through the atonement of Jesus Christ!" As we live out our eternal purpose and not become weary in doing good, God's Word encourages us to not give up! He promises us a harvest!

To wrap up this scripture passage, we're instructed to "do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."  When siblings in a family do good to one another, parents are pleased and blessings abound. In the same way, when we do good to our brothers and sisters in Christ, God is pleased! To God be the glory!

May you find hope and strength in God's Word this week. :)
Sarah Luke

Week Eleven

Hello, ladies!

First of all, how are you all doing with the daily readings + posts?  I hope you are all seeing them as a tool for connecting with God and not as another "works" thing.  I know for me, especially when I come to the end of something like this I catch myself just trying to push through + get done instead of truly seeing it for what it is.  I hope you are each meeting up with God + are hearing Him speak through Galatians.

As we are in the middle of the week, a few things have stuck out to me while nearing the end of chapter five.

• Yesterday, I posed this question to my group: "What does walking by the Spirit mean to you?" (vs. 16) One response was constant prayer.  I know this is so true for me.  When I specifically set apart time for journaling/reading/listening with God, I definitely notice a difference in my thoughts + actions.  Then Paul follows it up with why we need to be walking with the Spirit: because our flesh + our Spirit is fighting against each other.
  
  Paul doesn't say "fight against your flesh", he says "walk by the Spirit".  This made me think of Exodus 14:14: "The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still."  I am confident that if I walk hand-in-hand with God, I will have an advocate through Christ + through the Holy Spirit!  Since we're talking of freedom.. that's pretty freeing! 

• The other thing that has stood out to me is vs. 13 - It feels instinctual to hold on to things I receive, including (+ maybe especially) my freedom.  This is so not the plan God has for us, though!  Paul shows us that by keeping our freedom to ourself and to use it for our benefit will destroy it; but to grow freedom, to experience that true freedom, we are to give it away.  

So, knowing this what are you doing with your freedom?  vs. 13 makes it clear that the question isn't if we are made for freedom, it's what we are doing with it.  Who in your life are you sharing your Freedom with?  So, walking by the Spirit, we fight our flesh's desire to use our freedom for ourselves + instead we do what God intended: serve, love others.  Whether that is your family, your neighbors, your local church, your nation, your world.  I encourage you to join me as I evaluate my life + take some hard looks at where my Freedom is going, then make the necessary changes according to Galatians 5:13.

I so hope you feel the freedom ringing loudly in these passages!  We are getting some awesome tools for experiencing Freedom in Christ!  Praying for each of you..

Justine

Week 10

HE IS RISEN!

As I sit here this morning, it is Easter Sunday.  The reality of reading about our freedom in Christ on Easter Sunday morning is not lost on me today.  Freedom is something we take for granted in our society.  I think sometimes American Christians don't fully understand persecution and freedom in our faith the way others around the world do.  But, without Christ's death and resurrection almost 2000 years ago, we would all be living lives of slavery to sin and the law.

PRAISE GOD FOR THE WORK OF HIS SON!

We are getting near the end of the book of Galatians, near the end of our time together.  And I just love this section at the beginning of Chapter 5.  I especially love verse 6: "For in Christ neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love."

That is a powerful verse.  No matter what we do on earth to try to keep the law, it won't do us any good in God's economy.  Only our faith working through love makes a difference.  No amount of good works, law abiding, or trying to do our best will gain us anything.  Our freedom in Christ is not of our own doing, but our only hope for righteousness is through our faith in His death and resurrection.

What a great think to ponder this Easter Sunday morning.

I pray your week goes well as we dig in deeper to these verses and continue to learn about the freedom that was bought with the blood of Christ.  May we all grow in our love for Jesus this week.

Week 9: Walk in the Spirit

As I researched this week's passage in Galatians, one phrase in a Bible commentary jumped out at me: "In all of the New Testament, there is perhaps not a more difficult passage to interpret." (BibleGateway.com)

That being said, I'm going to offer simple conclusions/applications from Galatians 4:21-31. I'm all about keeping it simple! :) I gathered these applications together from Bible Gateway.

• Paul's descriptions of Hagar and Sarah emphasize the identification of believers in Christ: "Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman." ~Galatians 4:31
• The children of the free woman (Sarah), who were born by the power of the Spirit (v. 29) must learn to express their freedom by walking in the Spirit. They must not submit to slavery under the law or gratify the desires of the flesh.
• Identity is the basis of behavior: a clear understanding of who we are in Christ guides our conduct in the Spirit.

How do I apply this to my life? Well, here's what God's teaching me this week. I hope you don't mind a personal testimony!

My 7 year old son (Aaron) is battling a form of epilepsy. We're trying to manage it with medications, but so far have not found anything that works. I've lost track of how many different dosage changes he's endured in our quest to find the right one for him. Throughout this process, my flesh is filled with worry and fear. These medicines are powerful and potentially damaging to his liver, among other nasty side effects. Living with uncontrolled epilepsy makes normal, everyday activities potentially dangerous: bike riding, swimming, etc. I wake up every morning with a choice: am I going to walk in the Spirit and let God guide my conduct as I submit my fears and release my son's life to Christ? Or am I going to let fear and anxiety rule my heart?

I'm learning it's not a once-and-for-all decision. It's day by day and moment by moment. (1Thessalonians 5:17) I can tell when I'm living in fear and not walking in the Spirit. I parent my kids differently. I might favor Aaron over his brothers. I over-analyze Aaron's health and google his symptoms until my eyes cross. When I'm walking in the Spirit, I'm not held captive by that behavior. When it comes down to it, do I want to live in slavery to fear, or in freedom through Christ? Living in freedom doesn't mean giving up the pursuit of Aaron's healing through medical care. But it does mean that I put my trust and faith in God when everything in my flesh is crying out in fear. I choose freedom through Christ.

This is my personal battle right now. I'm sure all of you reading this have your own struggles and challenges which bring you to the same decision I face every day: Will we choose to walk in the Spirit and let Christ guide our conduct? Or will we choose to live in slavery to the things that hold us captive? From one sister in Christ to another, I challenge you to choose freedom through Christ! Let's live like children of the free woman!
Sarah Luke

Week 8: Holy Adoption!

As we step into Chapter 4, we are greeted with an overarching theme of "family"!  Since we all are a part of family - no matter what type - this is easily relatable.  Paul starts it off in the first few verses when he explains that we have been emancipated (freed from legal, social, or political restrictions).. + adopted as His children!  Isn't it so like the character of God to always go one step further?  Freedom from the law would have been enough but He doesn't stop there.  He goes on to bring us intimately + permanently into His family!

I love the concept of adoption + I fully believe God uses this word knowing how powerfully it would speak to our hearts.  My husband has a niece and a nephew that are adopted + it is so neat to watch how they so specifically fit into the family.  Being around them, you would never guess they are adopted - + the funny thing is, his nephew is hispanic in a white family!  I can think of numerous families with adopted children that I am absolutely shocked to find out they're adopted!

In vs. 5-7 Paul explains that when we are adopted we have access to such a beautiful, intimate conversation with the Heavenly Father.  When we are adopted we are set free to experience that heritage (the MSG version even says our "rightful" heritage!) and become a child of the Lord.

In review of the first 3 chapters of Galatians, this chapter really gives me a sense of peace.  I have felt stretched + challenged up to this point, + now I just feel like soaking in the promise of God.  I hope you each have enjoyed the study so far + thanks for sticking with us still!  -Justine

In vs. 8 Paul talks about being enslaved to gods with no divinity + in vs. 9 asks how anyone could go back to them after knowing - or rather being known by - God.  What in your life is God gently showing you is a god with no divinity?  Through this study, I hope you gain a strong sense that God knows you so intimately + has chosen you!  And embracing this, I hope we can all find freedom from the things of this world.

Week 7

All this talk about Law and the Promise has made me have to really clear out the cobwebs and read over this text numerous times.  Ultimately, this section of scripture offers so much hope to those of us trying to do this life under our own power or control.  For those of us who have at times tried to follow the "rules" to the letter, understand that it is impossible to follow every rule of the law under our own power.  And we were never meant to do that!  We were never meant to live this life on our own or by our good works follow the law.  No, we were meant to have the law point us to the Promise, point us to Jesus.  Only through the work He did at the cross can we find any liberation from the prison sin puts us in.

vs. 22 says, "The Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, beign given trhoguh faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe."

vs. 25 says, " now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law."

The law no longer applies to us.  We no longer have to live in its prison.  We are liberated through our faith in Jesus Christ.  And I don' t know about you, but that is the most wonderful news I could have ever been told.  To know that my eternity does not depend upon my ability to fulfill the law give such great comfort to me every day.

Questions to Consider:
What about you?  Do you still struggle with being in the prison where the law places you?  Or have you been able to experience the liberation of fatih in Christ Jesus?

Week 6: Faith or the law?

Like many of you, my Bible is full of notes in the margins. Sermons, Bible studies, chapel services in college...taking notes helps me understand what I'm reading and helps me remember what I learned. When I found out I was assigned to write the weekly blog post for week 6, it sure was nice to open my Bible and find some notes in the margins!

Paul begins chapter 3 with, "You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you?" Those are pretty strong words. I can only imagine the emotions that must have been behind those words. Why was Paul so stirred up? In this portion of Galatians, we see Paul rebuking the mentality of working to keep salvation. Galatians 3:4 says, "Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?"

Talk about taking one step forward and two steps back! Like the Galatians, we need to challenge ourselves to begin with the Spirit--and then we need to remain there! We are redeemed from the curse of the law because our Savior became a curse for us. Paul sums it up in verse 14. "He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit."

Some thoughts to ponder today:

• Am I living foolishly like the Galatians, trying to work to keep my salvation?
• If so, what does that say about Jesus's sacrifice on the cross?
• Is there anyone in my life who needs to hear the freeing message of living by faith?

God, give us Your Spirit and work miracles among us. We receive You by faith!

Sarah Ann

Week Five

Galatians 2:11-21

Good evening, ladies!  I can't believe we are at week five of our study + coming to the end of chapter two.  I had planned to reflect on the different parts of these last few verses, but the more I read it the more I just wanted to settle on this:

17 Have some of you noticed that we are not yet perfect? (No great surprise, right?) And are you ready to make the accusation that since people like me, who go through Christ in order to get things right with God, aren't perfectly virtuous, Christ must therefore be an accessory to sin? The accusation is frivolous.18 If I was "trying to be good," I would be rebuilding the same old barn that I tore down. I would be acting as a charlatan [fraud].

19 What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn't work. So I quit being a "law man" so that I could be God's man.20 Christ's life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not "mine," but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.21 I am not going to go back on that. Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God's grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died unnecessarily. [MSG]

Throughout all that we have read so far in Galatians, we know that this life is simply not about us.  This Greater Story being written has Christ as the center, so very graciously allowing us to play a part in God being glorified.  So as we go throughout the rest of this week + then open chapter three, I want us to slightly pause + do some authentic heart-work: 

am I "working my head off to please God"?  If so.. why?  

what is inhibiting my ability to be called "God's man" instead of "law's man"?

This is such a struggle for me, so know that you are not alone!  I pray that God would use this Word as a turning point for you - so that you would be known as God's woman, living free of the rule-keeping, people-pleasing nonsense that the enemy is trying to keep you in.  

I hope you are blessed greatly in the weeks to come!

Justine

Week 4

Galatians 2:1-10


This week we embark on Galatians Chapter 2.  I have sat at my desk here and read, and re-read the first 10 verses of this chapter several times.  My eyes keep being drawn back to two different verses.

vs. 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."

Maybe it is just me, but I think many of us can relate to feeling like there are false brothers and sisters that infiltrate our lives.  Those people who profess to be Christian, but are more concerned about the rules, and rule following.  They want to "make us slaves" to the law, to duty, to the man-made rules we ought to follow.  What I love most about freedom in Christ Jesus is that there is nothing more we can do for our salvation.  All the "oughts" can be left at the cross.  We do not need to enslave ourselves to our past, our sin nature, or the rules and laws placed on us by others, no matter how well meaning they may be.


vs. 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."


Often times pastors will listen to and read other pastors messages to aid them in their study and encourage them in their walk.  Over the years I have found myself doing the same from time to time.  It is so easy to find yourself critiquing the pastor and placing some above others.  And I would guess that often times it isn't even based on the biblical nature of what they said but on the popularity of what they said.  Paul here warns us not to think too highly of others, to not put them in a place of importance beyond where they belong.  As he says, God doesn't judge the external and they add nothing to our message.  If we are following God's call on our lives, living in the freedom we have in Christ Jesus, then these "important" people hold no bearing on the importance of our lives.

Questions to Ponder:

• What about you?  Are you the type of person who usually "goes with the crowd" or do you "do your own thing?"

• How do you feel when your beliefs are contrary to popular opinion?  On what issue do you need to stand alone?  

Week 3: Paul Called By God

Galatians 1:11-24

This week we're reading about Paul's calling. Paul makes it very clear in this passage that the gospel he preached "is not something that man made up."~verse 11 Rather, Paul received the gospel "by revelation from Jesus Christ."~verse 12 Paul was called by God.

In Paul's previous life, he persecuted God's church and tried to destroy it. He admits he was "extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers."~verse 14 Paul tells how he was converted from this way of life and commissioned by God to preach the gospel of Christ. Paul was called for God's purposes.

Several things stand out to me in this passage, and challenge me to live out my own calling from God. First, Paul describes himself as set apart. "But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles."~verses 15,16a Am I living my life as one who is set apart? Is God pleased to reveal his Son in me? Second, when Paul realized his calling, he "did not consult any man."~verse 16b How sure am I of God's calling in my life? Do I look to others for affirmation or significance, or do I look only to God?

These are some thought-provoking questions. How might we apply this to our lives today? For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to fit in. I want to be accepted. Who doesn't, right? So, what does it mean to be set apart? I believe it involves the realization that I am not living my life for myself. My life serves a purpose greater than merely getting through another day, another week, or another year. I have been called by God to be set apart for Him. When I live as one who is set apart, God is pleased to reveal his Son in me. WOW! Living like that means that I am really living. God uses my words and my actions to reveal Himself to those around me. Every peak and every valley of my life has an eternal purpose. Like Paul, I am called by God for God's purposes.

As Paul brings the first chapter of Galatians to a close, he succinctly describes the fruit of God's calling upon his life. "And they praised God because of me."~verse 24 For God to completely transform Paul's life into one that brings Him praise, is nothing short of miraculous. This realization increases my faith today. God can take the messiest parts of my life and turn them into praises to His name. Now, that is a calling I don't want to miss out on!

-Sarah Ann

Week 2: Time to Dig In

Here we are at the onset of our 2nd week. 


How are you all doing with this format so far?


I trust that this is as much of a joy to each of you as it has been to me (Sarah Beth) this past week.  I have enjoyed getting to know each of the women in my groups and hearing your thoughts, prayer requests, and questions as we read through the entire book of Galatians.




There are so many aspects of this study that excite me.  

1. Hearing thoughts and ideas from women in many different stages of life
2. Being able to connect any time of day and in any location
3. Knowing that women in FOUR different states are involved in the same study
4. Serving with wonderful women- Justine & Sarah Ann

But most of all there is one thing that excites me the most about this study:

Being in the Word on a daily basis!  

All of us - all throughout the week.  

In my life there is only one place I have been able to find any truth that has changed my life, and that is in the Word of God.  I love to read and often read wonderful books that support what the Lord is teaching me in His Word.  But NOTHING I have ever found works on my heart to make life change the way being in scripture does.  Only there do I hear from my Lord in a most personal way.

I have seen in my own life, and the lives of countless women around me, how when the Word of God is the power for change in our lives, women become better wives, mothers, workers, employers.  And THAT is what excites me so much about knowing this wonderful group of nearly 45 women are in the Word on a daily basis.  

So - don't be discouraged if you didn't make it through every chapter last week.  Don't be discouraged if you don't make it to your online chat board each day.  Just keep in the Word.  Keep reading His Truth and join us along the way.

I look forward to seeing how God uses this time to change all of our lives!

week one - Galatians Chapter 1

3 So I greet you with the great words, grace and peace! 4 We know the meaning of those words because Jesus Christ rescued us from this evil world we're in by offering himself as a sacrifice for our sins. God's plan is that we all experience that rescue. 5 Glory to God forever! Oh, yes!  (MSG Version)

I (Justine) love how Paul greets the Galatians.  I believe he sets the stage for this first chapter by putting front and center that Jesus is here to save + that God's plan is that we all - no matter who you used to be or are - experience His Rescue.  Who better to state this than Paul?  We read this letter with the knowledge that his Rescue came smack dab in the middle of purposefully killing Christians (Acts 8:1-3; Acts 9:1-19).  So with this foundation, Paul continues the letter.

I have often caught myself rationalizing the truth that God's Grace reaches everyone.  Everyone surely can't mean everyone, right?  Only those that are truly repentant.  Only if you make a lasting change.  Only if you believe the right way, act a certain way, stop dressing that way, and start living this way.  I am relieved to say that our Father's character is so very far from that!  Paul's message is simple: people can change.  There are no stipulations, age requirements or prerequisites.  We don't have to turn in our bank statements, our diplomas, our speeding tickets or debt history.  Caught in the middle of people-pleasing, power-wielding, killing sprees, and downright awfulness, Paul's story exemplifies perfect Grace.

This radical change in Paul's life didn't go unnoticed.  How could it?  Let's imagine for a minute.  Three days ago, breaking news came on our tv's, smart phones, and radios saying, "Saul, a known Christian-killer and persecutor is at it again.  He was just spotted storming about the latest town dragging men, women, and little children out of their houses and throwing them in prison.  He even authorized a killing in the streets recently that rocked the community.  Local authorities are begging all Christians to try to find a safe hiding place as soon as possible.  Red Cross has set up a disaster site in many areas.  Please contact the number below if you are in need of immediate refuge."  Can't you just hear it?

Fast forward to an hour ago.  This time, the breaking news didn't cause fear.  It caused absolute awe.  "I - I guess I am at a loss for words.  This just in... Saul, whom we just reported on three days ago, has.. well, I guess I don't know how to say this.  During a turn of events from the last time we reported, Saul became blind after having an encounter with God.  Yes, you heard me.. God!  Someone named Ananias is seen in this video clip going into Saul's house.  Something amazing just went on inside that house because after he came out Saul not only has stopped persecuting Christians, he has joined their side proclaiming Jesus as Lord!  Praise God!!"  Status likes and retweets go viral: "He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy."  Just like He Who Must Not Be Named in Harry Potter, they don't even dare say Saul's name!

God always wins out, doesn't He?  Just like Paul states in vs. 15, God had Paul's story written out in a beautiful language that still makes us speechless even before he was born!  It makes sense that Paul's response to the Galatians for abandoning the faith was astonishment.  The IVP New Testament Commentary says, "In contrast to Paul's ego-centered former life, God himself is the central subject in Paul's conversion. God is the subject of all the verbs: God, who set me apart . . . called . . . was pleased to reveal. God abruptly interrupted Paul's life and turned him around." And when God made a mighty change in Paul the people around him glorified God!  God had chosen to be the center of Paul's life and Paul allowed Him that place.

Where is God for you?  On the side, in a box, out of view, or right in the center?  Does your life cause others around you to glorify God?  Like me, have you ever struggled to accept that God's grace reaches everyone and is enough - no matter what their history is?  Maybe that Truth needs to sink in for you: "Jesus Christ rescued us from this evil world we're in by offering himself as a sacrifice for our sins. God's plan is that we all experience that rescue." If you're in need of rescuing, take a look back over the chapter and let God show You - through Paul's life story - that He is faithful to rescue, even if you're one of the most well-known Christian killers of all time.

Justine

Welcome to Connect + Grow in Galatians

Several years ago I (Sarah Beth) took a class on how to study the Bible.  While I remember the big spiral bound book we studied and am sure it is tucked away in my treasure trove in the basement, many things from that class are memories lost.  However, one tactic remains, and is something I have followed all these years whenever I study a new book of the Bible.  It is the idea that guided me when developing the reading plan for the book of Galatians.

PREVIEW THE STUDY
The concept?  Read the entire book through from beginning to end first.  Then go back and break it down into smaller pieces to study.  The reason?  This gives you a context for what you will later read piece by piece.  Knowing what came before and is coming up next helps us to frame the thoughts of the scripture we are reading each day.

DIG IN DAILY
Once we read through the book we will start to break it down into smaller pieces to use our S.O.A.P. method.
S - write out the SCRIPTURE
O- write down any OBSERVATIONS
A - write down any APPLICATIONS
P - write down your PRAYERS
Each day will consist of an average of two verses.  Some are longer.  Some are shorter.  The idea was to try to keep thoughts together and not break them up just because the verse ended.

REVIEW WHAT WE LEARNED
Finally, we will end with a review.  I think it is just as important to go back and revisit what we have learned as it is to take the time to preview what we are going to study.  Looking back at each week's notes and prayers can be such great encouragement as we see how God has worked in our lives and how He has maybe already answered some of our prayers during that time.