The Battle for Freedom

The Battle for Freedom

A Series of Thirteen Discussions for People of Sport from the book of Galatians

Galatians 1:1-10

·      Read the text aloud.

·      Discussion Questions:

·      Who is the author of this letter and how did he become an Apostle? (v. 1)

·      What is an apostle? (v.1)

·      Why would it be important for him to mention this in the first sentence of the letter?

·      To whom is Paul writing? (v. 2)

·      Where is Galatia? (v. 2)

·      What are some of the aspects of “this present evil age” from which you have been delivered by the Lord Jesus? (vv.3-5)

·      What does Paul find amazing about the Galatians?

·      What is this different gospel of which he writes? (v. 6)

·      How were people distorting the gospel in that day?

·      How does the gospel get distorted in our day?

·      What are some ways people in sport are offered counterfeits of God-honoring fulfillment?

·      When do you find yourself conflicted between pleasing people and pleasing God? (vv.9-10)

Galatians 1:11-24

·      Read the text aloud.

·      Discussion Questions:

·      What does Paul assert as being the origin of his message? (vv.11-12)

·      How would you describe Paul’s life prior to committing his life to Jesus? (vv. 13-14)

·      How did he come to know Christ and to develop as a believer?  (vv. 15-17) See also Acts 9:1-31

·      What were some characteristics of your life before you became a Christian and how have things changed since?

·      With whom did Paul meet three years after becoming a follower of Christ? (vv. 18-20)

·      What was the news which circulated among the Palestinian churches of that time?

·      How might some coaches respond to news that a player has committed his/her life to Christ?

·      Is that fair or reasonable?  Why or why not?

·      How have your teammates, friends and family who knew you before you became a believer reacted when they heard that you had become one?

Galatians 2:1-10

·      Read the text aloud.

·      Discussion Questions:

·      How long did Paul wait before returning to Jerusalem? (v. 1)

·      Who went with him and what can you tell us about these men? (vv. 1-3)

·      Why would he take Titus and Barnabas along?

·      With whom did they meet and why would Paul seek them out? (vv. 2-3)

·      What was the big issue for these false brothers who opposed Paul and his teammates?

·      What could be the big issues for those who might seek to tie you up with legalism today?

·      How did Paul’s team respond to their opposition?  Why? (vv. 3-5)

·      What was similar and what was different about Paul’s and Peter’s ministries of the Gospel?  (vv. 7-9)

·      Why did James, Peter and John give Paul and Barnabas their affirmation?  (v. 9)

·      When have you experienced similar affirmation from respected leaders?

·      What does Paul eagerly agree with these men to do? (v. 10)

·      Who are the poor in our world whom we should remember?

Galatians 2:11-21

·      Read the text aloud.

·      Discussion Questions:

·      Where is Antioch and why would Peter go there? (v. 11)

·      Why did Paul oppose Peter to his face? (vv. 11-13)

·      Why would this be such a big deal to Paul? (vv.15-19)

·      What are some matters of faith and sport over which you’d oppose someone to his face?

·      Note the verbs in verse 20 and classify each one as present, past or past perfect tense, then discuss the significance of each

o   …have been crucified

o   I who live…

o   …lives in me.

o   …live in the flesh

o   I live by faith…

o   …loved me

o   …delivered Himself up

·      How does Paul emphasize the inadequacy of the Law to make us right with God? (v. 21)

·      What are some ways people today work to be right with God? 

·      Why do our efforts to make ourselves right with God always fall short? (v. 21)

Galatians 3:1-14

·      Read the text aloud.

·      Discussion Questions:

·      Why would Paul say his friends were foolish and had been bewitched? (vv. 1-3)

·      In verses 2-5, Paul asks five rhetorical questions.  What are the expected answers to each?

·      According to verses 6 and 7, what makes someone a child of Abraham?

·      Why is that so significant to these people? (vv. 8-9)

·      Which parts of Paul’s argument regarding the futility of the Law (vv. 10-12) most strongly resonate with you?

·      How did Jesus having become a curse for us afford us the promise of the Spirit by faith? Describe the process for us as seen in verses 13 and 14.

 Galatians 3:15-29

·      Read the text aloud.

·      Discussion Questions:

·      Why would Paul in verse 15 refer to his argument as being in human relations or legal terms?  (Even those are accepted as being binding.)

·      How was God’s promise to Abraham ratified 430 years before the Law came into existence? See Genesis chapter 15 for the process.

·      From reading verses 19-24, what would you say is the purpose of the Law?

·      As the Law kept us aware of our bondage to sin, it also made us hunger for freedom by faith in Christ; what parts of sport act as a tutor until one learns to play in freedom?

·      How many of Paul’s readers does he say are children of God through faith in Jesus? (v. 26)

·      What would it look like to be clothed with Christ? (v. 27)

·      What is a similar aspect of being specially clothed in sport?

·      How does being clothed in a uniform or in Christ nullify the normal divisions of class and gender? (vv. 27-28)

·      Why is it important to belong to Christ, to be Abraham’s children and therefore his heirs? (v. 29)

Galatians 4:1-11

·      Read the text aloud.

·      Discussion Questions:

·      How are the child-heir and the slave alike until the heir is of legal age? (vv. 1-2)

·      How were we similarly held down by the Law and sin until we found freedom through being adopted as God’s children?

·      When you read verse 6, what do you hear in your heart?  Does it remind you of any particular moments in your life?  Tell us about one.

·      How are we now, being heirs of God, different from those who are still enslaved by legalism? (v. 7)

·      What sorts of non-gods enslave people of sport whom you know? (v. 8)

·      How have things changed for those who are known by God? (v. 9)

·      Why would people revert to a life of legalism after having been liberated? (v. 9)

·      Why would Paul fear for them? (vv. 10-11)

·      Let’s pray for those in our world who are enslaved by legalistic people.

Galatians 4:12-20

·      Read the text aloud.

·      Discussion Questions:

·      How was Paul received by the Galatians and what were the circumstances which led to his being with them? (vv. 12-15)

·      What quality of his life does he want the Galatians to emulate? (v. 12)

·      Have you ever felt like you had become someone’s enemy for telling him/her the truth? (v. 16)

·      Was the conflict worth the discomfort and how did it affect your relationship? 

·      What do Paul’s enemies wish to do to the Galatians and why would Paul be perplexed about them?  (vv. 16-20)

·      How does Paul describe the pain he’s experiencing with his friends? (v. 19)

·      For whom do you similarly ache for them to know freedom in Christ?  Let’s pray for them this evening.

Galatians 4:21-31

·      Read the text aloud.

·      Discussion Questions:

·      By whom did Abraham have his two sons? 

·      What were the women’s names and how were they different? (vv. 21-28)

·      What were Abraham’s sons’ names?  How were they different?

·      What is the significance of these two mountains?  What do they each represent in Paul’s argument with legalism?  (vv. 24-26)

·      How did the mothers and sons relate to each other?  (vv. 29-30)

·      When have you encountered similar attitudes and actions by legalistic people?

·      If we are children of the free woman and live in Jerusalem, what kind of people are we? (vs. 31- Free!!)

Galatians 5:1-15

·      Read the text aloud.

·      Discussion Questions:

·      What was the purpose in Christ Jesus’ setting us free? (v. 1)

·      How is a lifestyle of legalism like being in a yoke of slavery?

·      How does one stand firm against such legalism?

·      What does Paul list as the consequences of submitting to a legalistic lifestyle? (vv. 2-4)

·      From reading verses 5 and 6, what has replaced legalistic distinctions for Christian people?

·      What sort of athletic situations do you hear in verse 7?

·      When have you had someone hinder you as you ran your life of faith?

·      Paul uses strong language in verses 7 through 12.  Which phrases catch your attention?  How do you think the Galatians would have reacted to him?

·      How do verses 13 through 15 bring a healthy clarity to the argument between freedom and commandment keeping?

Galatians 5:16-26

·      Read the text aloud.

·      Discussion Questions:

·      When do you most often feel the conflict between your flesh and Christ’s indwelling Spirit? (vv. 16-17)

·      Verses 19 through 21 list the deeds of the flesh; which of these seem most common to people in sport?

·      Why are these things listed as behaviors which are outside of God’s kingdom? (v. 21)

·      Verses 22 and 23 list the fruit of the Spirit; how and when do you see these qualities being demonstrated by sportspeople who love Jesus?

·      If our flesh has been crucified (executed), how much influence should its passions and desires have over us? (v. 24)

·      Verses 25 and 26 draw some sharp contrasts; if we live and walk by the Spirit, what will we not do?

·      Where and when do these divisive actions and attitudes appear in sport?

Galatians 6:1-10

·      Read the text aloud.

·      Discussion Questions:

·      What does Paul expect the goal to be for those who learn of someone’s trespass or sin? (v. 1)

·      After five chapters of fighting legalism, what does Paul say fulfills the Law of Christ? (v. 2)

·      How do we do that in our lives in sport with our teammates?

·      Verses 3 through 5 contain some guidelines for attitudes.  Which one speaks to you most strongly?

·      How do verses 6 through 10 influence your attitude towards investing in those around you?

·      Here are some simple points of application from these verses:

o   Think of some good things which you can share with those who teach you.

o   The law of sowing and reaping states that we always reap after we sow, we always reap more than we sow and we always reap exactly what we sow.

o   Don’t quit, the harvest is coming.

o   Take advantage of every opportunity to do good things for others.

Galatians 6:11-18

·      Read the text aloud.

·      Discussion Questions:

·      Why would Paul include verse 11 in this letter? See chapter 4:13-15

·      The summary in verses 12 and 13 goes right to the legalists’ motives; what do those motives appear to be?

·      What does Paul say is his only cause for boasting? (v. 14)

·      What is the rule which Paul says will result in its adherents receiving peace and mercy? (vv. 15-16)

·      When you read verse 17 aloud, what does it sound like?

·      What would those brand-marks look like?  How would Paul have acquired them?  See II Corinthians 11:23-28.

·      What are the brand-marks which command respect among people in sport?

·      Paul closes this letter to his friends in Galatia by blessing them with the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.  How do you bless your friends and teammates with grace?  What do you say or do?

·      Let’s bless each other as we complete this study.