7 Rules for Life – Week 4
Icebreaker:
- When you think about what gives your life value, what do you think about?
- What “family ties” (blessings and curses) have been handed down to you?
Rule #1: Never forget your purpose
Rule #2: Don’t be conformed by the world
Rule #3: Seek out people who will tell you the truth
Rule #4: Your life can only be justified by Jesus Christ
Going deeper:
- In light of this week’s sermon, what is new information, challenged, or stood out to you?
Read aloud Galatians 3: 1-29
- How does Paul’s appeal to their experience in the six questions of verses 1-5 validate what he argued for in 2:15-16?
- Paul appeals to their suffering (v.4), their experience (vv. 2-5), and Christ’s death (2:21).
- Why?
- How does all that add up to expose the foolishness and futility of human effort?
- How does the example of Abraham (vv.6-9) extend Paul’s argument?
- How is our faith in Christ a fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham?
- How do each of these four Old Testament references (vv. 10-13) expose the problem of trying to be right with God by trusting in one’s ability to keep his law?
- How does Jesus solve this problem for us (vv.13-14)?
- What is the distinction here between “seeds” and “Seed?”
- What is the parallel Paul wants to make between the types of covenants (wills) people make, and the covenant promise (3:8) God made to Abraham?
- Since the law was not to take the place of the promise, how do verses 19 and 23 explain what the law’s purpose actually is (see also Romans 3:20)?
- Relating to God by the law is like what:
- Being kept in prison?
- Scolded by a harsh disciplinarian?
- Tutored by a remedial ed teacher?
- All three?
- How does Christ change all this?
- Why then would anyone go back to the law?
Reflect:
- How have you faced the tension of trusting in Christ’s work or your own?
- What “Christian” rules seem to be important in your circle?
- Why?
- How would you explain the promised “righteousness” (v.6), “blessing” (vv. 8-9, 14), “curse” (v.10) and “spirit” (v.14) to a prospective convert?
- Would you say anything different to a new believer?
- Why?
- How do Paul’s various arguments here touch your everyday life?
- Why might they seem obscure?
- How could you clarify Paul’s arguments for someone who could care less about such find distinctions?
- How would you use this passage with someone who thought that keep the Golden Rule or the Ten Commandments is enough to get right with God?
- What experience helped you see your need to let the rules drive you to Jesus to find mercy?
